The Meaning of Exodus 4:1 Explained

Exodus 4:1

KJV: And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

YLT: And Moses answereth and saith, 'And, if they do not give credence to me, nor hearken to my voice, and say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee?'

Darby: And Moses answered and said, But behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah has not appeared to thee.

ASV: And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  answered  and said,  But, behold, they will not believe  me, nor hearken  unto my voice:  for they will say,  The LORD  hath not appeared  unto thee. 

What does Exodus 4:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 4:1-9 - God's Signs To Confirm Moses' Words
This wonderful chapter tells us how Moses' three misgivings were tenderly and sufficiently dealt with by his heavenly Friend. To his first misgiving God made answer by giving him three signs. Here first we meet with that rod which was so often stretched out, over the land of Egypt, over the sea, and during the sojourn in the Wilderness. Moses was but a rod, but what cannot a rod do, if handled by an Almighty hand!
Leprosy was the type of sin, and the cleansed hand suggests God's marvelous power in cleansing, and so qualifying for service, all who yield themselves to Him. The third sign of the water turned to blood was not less significant, revealing the divine power operating through this feeble human instrument to produce wonderful effects in the world of nature. We must not live on signs, but on the Holy Spirit, though the outward sign reassures and strengthens us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 4

1  Moses's rod is turned into a serpent
6  His hand is leprous
10  He loathes his calling
13  Aaron is appointed to assist him
18  Moses departs from Jethro
21  God's message to Pharaoh
24  Zipporah circumcises her son
27  Aaron is sent to meet Moses
29  The people believe them

What do the individual words in Exodus 4:1 mean?

And answered Moses and said but suppose not they will believe me or listen to my voice suppose they say has appeared to you Yahweh
וַיַּ֤עַן מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר וְהֵן֙ לֹֽא־ יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ לִ֔י וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּקֹלִ֑י כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ יְהוָֽה

וַיַּ֤עַן  And  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
מֹשֶׁה֙  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
וַיֹּ֔אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
וְהֵן֙  but  suppose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ  they  will  believe 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
לִ֔י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
יִשְׁמְע֖וּ  listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקֹלִ֑י  to  my  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
כִּ֣י  suppose 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יֹֽאמְר֔וּ  they  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נִרְאָ֥ה  has  appeared 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֵלֶ֖יךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.