Exodus 4:3

ESV 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.

NIV The Lord said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

NASB 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.

CSB "Throw it on the ground," he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it.

NLT 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.

KJV 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.

NKJV 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.

What does Exodus 4:3 mean?

When told to go represent God before the Egyptian king (Exodus 3:10), Moses expressed doubts (Exodus 3:11). Among those was a concern that no one would believe that he'd spoken with the real God (Exodus 4:1). Here the Lord gives Moses the first of several signs he can use to prove the divine power behind his message. This one involves Moses' walking staff.

Despite any doubts, Moses obeys when God tells him to throw the staff on the ground. It becomes a snake—and obviously a dangerous one as Moses immediately runs from it. Next, the Lord will tell Moses to grab the snake by the tail, at which time it turns back into a staff. In the Israelite mindset, serpents were associated with evil and death (Genesis 3:1–3). Even one of the tribes of Israel was described as "a serpent in the way" when predicting a dire future (Genesis 49:17).

Cobras were among the important religious symbols of ancient Egypt. When Moses shows this sign—using Aaron's staff instead—Pharaoh's advisors seem able to do the same. But Aaron's staff-serpent eats theirs (Exodus 7:8–13). This sign will also be crucial in convincing the elders of Israel that Moses has truly been sent by God (Exodus 4:30–31).

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