Moses’ Staff

1  וַיַּ֤עַן (And answered) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (and said), וְהֵן֙ (And if) לֹֽא־ (not) יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ (they will give credence) לִ֔י (to me) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִשְׁמְע֖וּ (they will listen) בְּקֹלִ֑י (to my voice). כִּ֣י (For) יֹֽאמְר֔וּ (they will say), לֹֽא־ (Not) נִרְאָ֥ה (has appeared) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (to you) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).’

2  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) אֵלָ֛יו (to him) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), מַזֶּה (What is) בְיָדֶ֑ךָ (in your hand)?

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), מַטֶּֽה׃ (A staff).

3  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And He said), הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ (Cast it) אַ֔רְצָה (on the ground). וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ (And he cast it) אַ֖רְצָה (to the earth), וַיְהִ֣י (and it became) לְנָחָ֑שׁ (a serpent); וַיָּ֥נָס (and fled) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) מִפָּנָֽיו׃ (from before it).

4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), שְׁלַח֙ (Stretch out) יָֽדְךָ֔ (your hand) וֶאֱחֹ֖ז (and seize it) בִּזְנָב֑וֹ (by its tail)— וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (and he stretched out) יָדוֹ֙ (his hand) וַיַּ֣חֲזֶק (and grasped hold) בּ֔וֹ (of it), וַיְהִ֥י (and it became) לְמַטֶּ֖ה (a staff) בְּכַפּֽוֹ׃ (in his palm)— 5  לְמַ֣עַן (So that) יַאֲמִ֔ינוּ (they may believe) כִּֽי־ (that) נִרְאָ֥ה (has appeared) אֵלֶ֛יךָ (to you) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) אֲבֹתָ֑ם (of their fathers), אֱלֹהֵ֧י (the God) אַבְרָהָ֛ם (of Abraham), אֱלֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִצְחָ֖ק (of Isaac), וֵאלֹהֵ֥י (and the God) יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (of Jacob).

Moses’ Hand

6  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) ל֜וֹ (to him) ע֗וֹד (furthermore), הָֽבֵא־ (Put) נָ֤א (now) יָֽדְךָ֙ (your hand) בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ (into your bosom). וַיָּבֵ֥א (And he put) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) בְּחֵיק֑וֹ (into his bosom), וַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּ (and he took it out), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), יָד֖וֹ (his hand) מְצֹרַ֥עַת (was leprous) כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ (like snow).

7  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And He said), הָשֵׁ֤ב (Return) יָֽדְךָ֙ (your hand) אֶל־ (into) חֵיקֶ֔ךָ (your bosom).

וַיָּ֥שֶׁב (And he returned) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) אֶל־ (into) חֵיק֑וֹ (his bosom) וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙ (and he took it out) מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ (from his bosom). וְהִנֵּה־ (And behold), שָׁ֖בָה (it was restored) כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃ (like his flesh).

8  וְהָיָה֙ (And it shall come to pass), אִם־ (if) לֹ֣א (not) יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ (they will give credence) לָ֔ךְ (to you) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִשְׁמְע֔וּ (they will listen) לְקֹ֖ל (to the voice) הָאֹ֣ת (of the sign) הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן (the first), וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּ (then they will give credence) לְקֹ֖ל (to the voice) הָאֹ֥ת (of the sign) הָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃ (the latter). 9  וְהָיָ֡ה (And it shall come to pass), אִם־ (if) לֹ֣א (not) יַאֲמִ֡ינוּ (they will give credence) גַּם֩ (even) לִשְׁנֵ֨י (to two) הָאֹת֜וֹת (signs) הָאֵ֗לֶּה (these), וְלֹ֤א (and will not) יִשְׁמְעוּן֙ (listen) לְקֹלֶ֔ךָ (to your voice), וְלָקַחְתָּ֙ (then you shall take) מִמֵּימֵ֣י (from the waters) הַיְאֹ֔ר (of the River), וְשָׁפַכְתָּ֖ (and you shall pour them on) הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה (the dry land). וְהָי֤וּ (And it will happen) הַמַּ֙יִם֙ (that the waters) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) תִּקַּ֣ח (you take) מִן־ (from) הַיְאֹ֔ר (the River)— וְהָי֥וּ (they will become)— לְדָ֖ם (blood) בַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת׃ (on the dry land).

The Appointment of Aaron

10  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH), בִּ֣י (Please) אֲדֹנָי֒ (my Lord), לֹא֩ (not) אִ֨ישׁ (a man) דְּבָרִ֜ים (of words) אָנֹ֗כִי (am I), גַּ֤ם (neither) מִתְּמוֹל֙ (yesterday) גַּ֣ם (nor) מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם (from the day before yesterday) גַּ֛ם (nor) מֵאָ֥ז (from the time) דַּבֶּרְךָ (You have spoken) אֶל־ (to) עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (Your servant). כִּ֧י (For) כְבַד־ (slow) פֶּ֛ה (of mouth), וּכְבַ֥ד (and slow) לָשׁ֖וֹן (of tongue) אָנֹֽכִי׃ (I am).

11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), מִ֣י (Who) שָׂ֣ם (has made) פֶּה֮ (a mouth) לָֽאָדָם֒ (for the man)? א֚וֹ (Or) מִֽי־ (who) יָשׂ֣וּם (makes) אִלֵּ֔ם (mute), א֣וֹ (or) חֵרֵ֔שׁ (deaf), א֥וֹ (or) פִקֵּ֖חַ (seeing), א֣וֹ (or) עִוֵּ֑ר (blind)? הֲלֹ֥א (Is it not) אָנֹכִ֖י (I) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH)? 12  וְעַתָּ֖ה (And now) לֵ֑ךְ (go), וְאָנֹכִי֙ (and I)— אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה (I will be) עִם־ (with) פִּ֔יךָ (your mouth), וְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָ (and I will teach you) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (what) תְּדַבֵּֽר׃ (you shall say).

13  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), בִּ֣י (Please) אֲדֹנָ֑י (my Lord), שְֽׁלַֽח־ (send), נָ֖א (please), בְּיַד־ (by the hand of another) תִּשְׁלָֽח׃ (whom You send).

14  וַיִּֽחַר־ (And burned) אַ֨ף (the anger) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH) בְּמֹשֶׁ֗ה (against Moses), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and He said), הֲלֹ֨א (Is not) אַהֲרֹ֤ן (Aaron) אָחִ֙יךָ֙ (your brother), הַלֵּוִ֔י (the Levite)? יָדַ֕עְתִּי (I know) כִּֽי־ (that) דַבֵּ֥ר (speaking) יְדַבֵּ֖ר (speaks) ה֑וּא (he). וְגַ֤ם (And also), הִנֵּה־ (behold), הוּא֙ (he) יֹצֵ֣א (is coming out) לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָ (to meet you); וְרָאֲךָ֖ (and he will see you), וְשָׂמַ֥ח (and he will be glad) בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃ (in his heart). 15  וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ (And you shall speak) אֵלָ֔יו (to him) וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ (and put) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the words) בְּפִ֑יו (in his mouth), וְאָנֹכִ֗י (and I)— אֶֽהְיֶ֤ה (I will be) עִם־ (with) פִּ֙יךָ֙ (your mouth) וְעִם־ (and with) פִּ֔יהוּ (his mouth), וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י (and I will teach) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֵ֖ת (-) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (what) תַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ (you⁺ shall do). 16  וְדִבֶּר־ (And will speak) ה֥וּא (he) לְךָ֖ (for you) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֑ם (the people). וְהָ֤יָה (And it shall come to pass) הוּא֙ (that he) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) לְּךָ֣ (to you) לְפֶ֔ה (as a mouth), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) תִּֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) לּ֥וֹ (to him) לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃ (for God). 17  וְאֶת־ (And) הַמַּטֶּ֥ה (the staff) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) תִּקַּ֣ח (you shall take) בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (in your hand), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) תַּעֲשֶׂה־ (you shall perform) בּ֖וֹ (with) אֶת־ (-) הָאֹתֹֽת׃פ (the signs).

Moses Leaves for Egypt

18  וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (And went) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) וַיָּ֣שָׁב׀ (and returned) אֶל־ (to) יֶ֣תֶר (Jethro) חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ (his father-in-law), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) לוֹ֙ (to him), אֵ֣לֲכָה (Let me go), נָּ֗א (please), וְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ (and return) אֶל־ (to) אַחַ֣י (my brothers) אֲשֶׁר־ (who are) בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם (in Egypt), וְאֶרְאֶ֖ה (and see) הַעוֹדָ֣ם (whether they are still) חַיִּ֑ים (alive).

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) יִתְר֛וֹ (Jethro) לְמֹשֶׁ֖ה (to Moses), לֵ֥ךְ (Go) לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (in peace).

19  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) בְּמִדְיָ֔ן (in Midian), לֵ֖ךְ (Go), שֻׁ֣ב (return) מִצְרָ֑יִם (to Egypt), כִּי־ (for) מֵ֙תוּ֙ (are dead) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖ים (who were seeking) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (your life). 20  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ (his wife) וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנָ֗יו (his sons), וַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙ (and he set them) עַֽל־ (on) הַחֲמֹ֔ר (the donkey), וַיָּ֖שָׁב (and he returned) אַ֣רְצָה (to the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt). וַיִּקַּ֥ח (And took) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) מַטֵּ֥ה (the staff) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (in his hand).

21  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁה֒ (Moses), בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֙ (When you go) לָשׁ֣וּב (to return) מִצְרַ֔יְמָה (to Egypt), רְאֵ֗ה (see) כָּל־ (all) הַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ (the wonders) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) שַׂ֣מְתִּי (I have put) בְיָדֶ֔ךָ (in your hand), וַעֲשִׂיתָ֖ם (and you do them) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) פַרְעֹ֑ה (Pharaoh). וַאֲנִי֙ (And I) אֲחַזֵּ֣ק (will strengthen) אֶת־ (-) לִבּ֔וֹ (his heart) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יְשַׁלַּ֖ח (he will send out) אֶת־ (-) הָעָֽם׃ (the people).

22  וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (And you shall say) אֶל־ (to) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (Pharaoh), כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): בְּנִ֥י (My son), בְכֹרִ֖י (My firstborn) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (is Israel). 23  וָאֹמַ֣ר (And I say) אֵלֶ֗יךָ (to you), שַׁלַּ֤ח (send out) אֶת־ (-) בְּנִי֙ (My son), וְיַֽעַבְדֵ֔נִי (that he may serve Me). וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן (And if you refuse) לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹ (to send him out), הִנֵּה֙ (behold), אָנֹכִ֣י (I) הֹרֵ֔ג (am killing) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְךָ֖ (your son), בְּכֹרֶֽךָ׃ (your firstborn).

24  וַיְהִ֥י (And it came to pass) בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (on the way) בַּמָּל֑וֹן (at the lodging place) וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ (that met him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (and sought) הֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ (to put him to death). 25  וַתִּקַּ֨ח (And took) צִפֹּרָ֜ה (Zipporah) צֹ֗ר (a sharp stone), וַתִּכְרֹת֙ (and cut off) אֶת־ (-) עָרְלַ֣ת (the foreskin) בְּנָ֔הּ (of her son), וַתַּגַּ֖ע (and she touched it) לְרַגְלָ֑יו (to his feet), וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), כִּ֧י (Surely) חֲתַן־ (a bridegroom) דָּמִ֛ים (of blood) אַתָּ֖ה (you are) לִֽי׃ (to me).

26  וַיִּ֖רֶף (And He let alone) מִמֶּ֑נּוּ (from him) אָ֚ז (at that time). אָֽמְרָ֔ה (She said), חֲתַ֥ן (You are a bridegroom) דָּמִ֖ים (of blood), לַמּוּלֹֽת׃פ (because of the circumcision).

The People Believe Moses and Aaron

27  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), לֵ֛ךְ (Go) לִקְרַ֥את (to meet) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה (in the wilderness). וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (And he went) וַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ (and he met him) בְּהַ֥ר (on the mountain) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God), וַיִּשַּׁק־ (and he kissed) לֽוֹ׃ (him). 28  וַיַּגֵּ֤ד (And told) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) לְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (with which) שְׁלָח֑וֹ (He had sent him), וְאֵ֥ת (and) כָּל־ (all) הָאֹתֹ֖ת (the signs) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) צִוָּֽהוּ׃ (He had commanded him).

29  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And went) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) וְאַהֲרֹ֑ן (and Aaron) וַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּ (and they gathered together) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) זִקְנֵ֖י (the elders) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 30  וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (And spoke) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֔ים (the words) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) דִּבֶּ֥ר (had spoken) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses).

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And he did) הָאֹתֹ֖ת (the signs) לְעֵינֵ֥י (before the eyes) הָעָֽם׃ (of the people). 31  וַֽיַּאֲמֵ֖ן (And believed) הָעָ֑ם (the people) וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֡וּ (and they heard) כִּֽי־ (that) פָקַ֨ד (had visited) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), וְכִ֤י (and that) רָאָה֙ (He had seen) אֶת־ (-) עָנְיָ֔ם (their affliction). וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ (And they bowed) וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃ (and worshiped).