Exodus 4:3
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.

New Living Translation
“Throw it down on the ground,” the LORD told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.

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.

Berean Standard Bible
“Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran 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.

New King James Version
And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

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

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy 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.

Amplified Bible
Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a [living] serpent [like the royal symbol on the crown of Pharaoh]; and Moses ran from it.

Christian Standard Bible
“Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from 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,

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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said, “Throw it on the ground”, and he cast it on the ground, and it was a snake and Moshe fled from before it.

Brenton Septuagint 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 it.

Contemporary English Version
"Throw it down!" the LORD commanded. So Moses threw the stick on the ground. It immediately turned into a snake, and Moses jumped back.

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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it.

Good News Translation
The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." When Moses threw it down, it turned into a snake, and he ran away 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.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
and He says, “Cast it to the earth”; and he casts it to the earth, and it becomes a serpent—and Moses flees from its presence.

Majority Standard Bible
“Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

New American Bible
God said: Throw it on the ground. So he threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and Moses backed away from it.

NET Bible
The LORD said, "Throw it to the ground." So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it.

New Revised Standard Version
And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses drew back from it.

New Heart English Bible
He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses ran away from it.

Webster's 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.

World English Bible
He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses' Staff
2And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. 3“Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4“Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.…

Cross References
Exodus 4:4
"Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail," the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

Exodus 7:10
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.

Exodus 7:15
Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

it became.

Exodus 4:17
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Exodus 7:10-15
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent…

Amos 5:19
As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

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Cast Casteth Earth Fled Fleeth Ground Moses Presence Ran Running Serpent Snake Threw Throw
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.














(3) A serpent.--The word here used (nakhash) is a generic one for a snake of any kind, and tells us nothing as to the species. A different word (tannin) is used in Exodus 7:10, while nakhash recurs in Exodus 7:15. Tannin is, like nakhash, a generic term.

And Moses fled from before it--It was natural for Moses to remember his alarm, and record it. Any-later writer would have passed over so small a circumstance. (See the Introduction, p. 3.)

Verse 3. - It became a serpent. The word here used for "serpent," nakhash, is a generic word applicable to any species of snake. We cannot assume that the cobra is the serpent meant, though no doubt Moses, when he fled from before it, believed it to be a venomous serpent. Various reasons for God's choice of this particular sign have been given. Perhaps the best is, that a trick of the kind was known to the Egyptian conjurors, who would be tempted to exhibit it in order to discredit Moses, and would then be discredited themselves by his stick swallowing theirs. (See Exodus 7:10-12.) It is fanciful to suppose a reference either to the serpent of Genesis 3. (Keil and Delitzsch) or to the uraeus (cobra), which the Egyptian kings bore in their headdress as a mark of sovereignty {Canon Cook)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Throw
הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ (haš·lî·ḵê·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

it on the ground,”
אַ֔רְצָה (’ar·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

said [the Lord].
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

So [Moses] threw
וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּ (way·yaš·lî·ḵê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

it on the ground,
אַ֖רְצָה (’ar·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and it became
וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a snake,
לְנָחָ֑שׁ (lə·nā·ḥāš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5175: A serpent

and [he]
מֹשֶׁ֖ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

ran
וַיָּ֥נָס (way·yā·nās)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

from it.
מִפָּנָֽיו׃ (mip·pā·nāw)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT Law: Exodus 4:3 He said Throw it on the ground (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 4:2
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