Exodus 4:3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

◄ Exodus 4:3 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

English Standard Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Then He said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

King James Bible
And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake. Moses ran from it,

International Standard Version
Then God said, "Throw it to the ground." He threw it to the ground and it became a snake. Moses ran away from it.

American Standard Version
And he said, Cast in on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said: Cast it down upon the ground. He cast it down, and it was turned into a serpent: so that Moses fled from it.

Darby Bible Translation
And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

Young's Literal Translation
and He saith, 'Cast it to the earth;' and he casteth it to the earth, and it becometh a serpent -- and Moses fleeth from its presence.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:1-9 Moses objects, that the people would not take his word, unless he showed them some sign. God gives him power to work miracles. But those who are now employed to deliver God's messages to men, need not the power to work miracles: their character and their doctrines are to be tried by that word of God to which they appeal. These miracles especially referred to the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It belonged to Him only, to cast the power of the devil out of the soul, and to heal the soul of the leprosy of sin; and so it was for Him first to cast the devil out of the body, and to heal the leprosy of the body.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. the Lord said, … What is that in thine hand?—The question was put not to elicit information which God required, but to draw the particular attention of Moses.

A rod—probably the shepherd's crook—among the Arabs, a long staff, with a curved head, varying from three to six feet in length.