Exodus 4:3
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֥הוּ
And he cast
H7993
וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֥הוּ
And he cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
2 of 10
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
אַ֖רְצָה
it on the ground
H776
אַ֖רְצָה
it on the ground
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
3 of 10
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֥הוּ
And he cast
H7993
וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֥הוּ
And he cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
4 of 10
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
אַ֖רְצָה
it on the ground
H776
אַ֖רְצָה
it on the ground
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
5 of 10
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וַיְהִ֣י
H1961
וַיְהִ֣י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
6 of 10
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וַיָּ֥נָס
fled
H5127
וַיָּ֥נָס
fled
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
8 of 10
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
Historical Context
Egyptian magicians used serpent-charming techniques, sometimes employing cobra catalepsy (pressure on snake's neck induces rigidity, appearing like a rod). But Moses' sign was genuine miraculous transformation, not sleight of hand. The serpent sign directly challenged Egyptian religious symbolism—the cobra (uraeus) represented royal power and the goddess Wadjet. God was demonstrating His authority over Egypt's sacred symbols.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Moses' fleeing from the serpent teach about initial fear when God reveals His power through us?
- How does the rod-to-serpent transformation illustrate God's power to overcome forces of evil represented by Satan (the serpent)?
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Analysis & Commentary
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 (וַיֹּאמֶר הַשְׁלִיכֵהוּ אַרְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִכֵהוּ אַרְצָה וַיְהִי לְנָחָשׁ וַיָּנָס מֹשֶׁה מִפָּנָיו)—Cast it on the ground—obedience precedes miracle. The rod becomes a serpent (נָחָשׁ, nachash), and Moses fled (וַיָּנָס)—natural reaction to a snake. The serpent imagery is significant: serpents represented Egyptian power (uraeus on pharaoh's crown), divine authority, and satanic opposition (Genesis 3:1). Moses' rod-turned-serpent will later swallow Pharaoh's magicians' serpents (7:12), symbolizing YHWH's supremacy over Egypt's gods and Satan's power. Moses must learn to handle what terrifies him—through God's power.