Exodus 4

Moses Given Powerful Signs

1 Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'" 2 The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, i "A staff." 3 And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail" - so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand - 5 "that they may j believe that the Lord, k the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 Again, the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." 1 And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was l leprous 2 like snow. 7 Then God said, "Put your hand back inside your cloak." So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, m it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 "If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile n will become blood on the dry ground."

10 But Moses said to the Lord, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but o I am slow of speech and of tongue." 11 Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and p I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." 13 But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else." 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, q he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 r You shall speak to him and s put the words in his mouth, and p I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 t He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and u you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand v this staff, with which you shall do the signs."

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Moses went back to w Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for x all the men who were seeking your life are dead." 20 So Moses took y his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took z the staff of God in his hand.

21 And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the a miracles that I have put in your power. But b I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, c Israel is my d firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I e will kill your firstborn son.'"

24 At a lodging place on the way f the Lord met him and g sought to put him to death. 25 Then h Zipporah took a i flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' 3 feet with it and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, "A bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.

27 The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness j to meet Moses." So he went and met him at the k mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses l told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all m the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron n went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 o Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people p believed; and when they heard that the Lord had q visited the people of Israel and that he had r seen their affliction, s they bowed their heads and worshiped.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 4:17
    And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.
    Exodus 4:20
    So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 19:9
    And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 3:6
    And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 12:10
    When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
    2 Kings 5:27
    Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
  5. Cross References
    2 Kings 5:14
    So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 7:19
    And the Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 6:12
    But Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?
    Jeremiah 1:6
    Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 3:12
    He said, "But I will be with you, and this shal...
    Isaiah 50:4
    The Lord God has given me the tongue of those w...
    Jeremiah 1:9
    Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my m...
    Ezekiel 33:22
    Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the e...
    Matthew 10:19 - 20
    When they deliver you over, do not be anxious h...
    Mark 13:11
    And when they bring you to trial and deliver yo...
    Luke 12:11 - 12
    And when they bring you before the synagogues a...
    Luke 21:15
    For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which n...
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 4:27
    The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 7:1 - 2
    And the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 22:38
    Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to y...
    Numbers 23:5
    And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth and s...
    Numbers 23:12
    And he answered and said, "Must I not take care...
    Numbers 23:16
    And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his m...
    Deuteronomy 18:18
    I will raise up for them a prophet like you fro...
    2 Samuel 14:3
    Go to the king and speak thus to him." So Joab ...
    2 Samuel 14:19
    The king said, "Is the hand of Joab with you in...
    Isaiah 51:16
    And I have put my words in your mouth and cover...
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 4:12
    Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
  13. Cross References
    Exodus 4:30
    Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people.
  14. Cross References
    Exodus 7:1
    And the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
    Exodus 18:19
    Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 4:2
    The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff.
    Exodus 7:15
    Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. Stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that turned into a serpent.
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 2:18
    When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come home so soon today?
  17. Cross References
    Exodus 2:15
    When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
    Exodus 2:23
    During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.
    Matthew 2:20
    Saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.
  18. Cross References
    Exodus 18:2 - 4
    Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 17:9
    So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.
    Numbers 20:8 - 9
    "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 3:20
    So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
  21. Cross References
    Exodus 7:13
    Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he woul...
    Exodus 7:22
    But the magicians of Egypt did the same by thei...
    Exodus 8:15
    But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, ...
    Exodus 8:32
    But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, ...
    Exodus 9:12
    But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and...
    Exodus 9:35
    So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he di...
    Exodus 10:1
    Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh,...
    Exodus 14:8
    And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king...
    Romans 9:17 - 18
    For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this ve...
    Deuteronomy 2:30
    But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us ...
    Joshua 11:20
    For it was the Lord 's doing to harden their he...
    Isaiah 63:17
    O Lord, why do you make us wander from your way...
  22. Cross References
    Hosea 11:1
    When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
  23. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:9
    With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
  24. Cross References
    Exodus 11:5
    And every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
    Exodus 12:29
    At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.
  25. Cross References
    Numbers 22:22
    But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
    1 Chronicles 21:16
    And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 17:14
    Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.
  27. Cross References
    Exodus 2:21
    And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah.
  28. Cross References
    Joshua 5:2 - 3
    At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.
  29. Cross References
    Exodus 4:14
    Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
  30. Cross References
    Exodus 3:1
    Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
  31. Cross References
    Exodus 4:15 - 16
    You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.
  32. Cross References
    Exodus 4:3 - 9
    And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.
  33. Cross References
    Exodus 3:16
    Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt.
  34. Cross References
    Exodus 4:16
    He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.
  35. Cross References
    Exodus 4:8 - 9
    If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.
    Exodus 3:18
    And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
  36. Cross References
    Exodus 3:16
    Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 2:25
    God saw the people of Israel - and God knew.
    Exodus 3:7
    Then the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings.
  38. Cross References
    Exodus 12:27
    You shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord 's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
    Genesis 24:26
    The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord
    1 Chronicles 29:20
    Then David said to all the assembly, "Bless the Lord your God." And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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