Exodus 4:6

ESV Again, the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

NIV Then the Lord said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous —it had become as white as snow.

NASB The Lord furthermore said to him, 'Now put your hand inside the fold of your robe.' So he put his hand inside the fold, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

CSB In addition the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow.

NLT Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Now put your hand inside your cloak.' So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease.

KJV And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

NKJV Furthermore the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow.

What does Exodus 4:6 mean?

God responds to Moses' concern about evidence (Exodus 4:1) by providing miraculous signs. These begin with the ability to throw a staff on the ground, where it will become a snake. When Moses picks it up, the snake turns back into a staff (Exodus 4:2–5). Here, the Lord provides a second sign.

The Hebrew term used here is from the root word tsara', which can refer to a wide variety of skin diseases. In modern terms, the condition also called "leprosy" is Hansen's disease. This doesn't generally create white patches. However, fungal infections, rashes, and eczema can create a whitish appearance. The ancient world considered those afflicted with incurable skin disorders as cursed. They were cast out of society for medical and spiritual reasons. After the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:41), God will provide medical laws regarding those conditions (Leviticus 13).

In this context, the point of this sign is proving God's control over life and health. The Lord can inflict and restore as He sees fit. Some might dismiss the staff becoming a serpent as a trick. But causing a living body part to instantly vary between horrific disease and health (Exodus 4:7) would be harder to ignore (Exodus 4:8). Unfortunately for Egypt, God's primary demonstration of this divine power over life would be the plague which killed the nation's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–30).

Expand

What is the Gospel?

Download the app: