Exodus 4:4

2 And 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.

“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.

5 “This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

6 Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“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.
KJV
And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
WEB
The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand, and take it by the tail.” He stretched out his hand, and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.
ASV
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail: (and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand:)
DARBY
And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand and take it by the tail and he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand
BLB
And YHWH said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and seize [it] by its tail”—and he stretched out his hand and grasped hold of it, and it became a staff in his palm—
ÅB
Og Herren sa til Moses: Rekk ut din hånd og grip den i halen! Så rakte han ut hånden og grep fatt i den, og den ble til en stav i hans hånd.
OTB
Da sa Herren til Moses: «Rekk ut hånden og grip den i halen.» Så rakte han ut hånden, grep den, og den ble til en stav i hånden hans igjen.
B1930
Og Herren sa til Moses: Rekk ut din hånd og grip den i halen! Så rakte han ut hånden og grep fatt i den, og den blev til en stav i hans hånd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Mark 16:18

    they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

    Read in context
  • Acts 28:3–6

    Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.

    Read in context
  • Luke 10:19

    Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 91:13

    You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent.

    Read in context
  • John 2:5

    His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 22:1–2

    Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.

    Read in context