Exodus 7:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.

NIV: So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.

NASB: So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and so they did, just as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it turned into a serpent.

CSB: So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent.

NLT: So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent!

KJV: 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.

NKJV: So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Moses and Aaron are obeying the Lord's command (Exodus 7:8–9) to once again (Exodus 5:1–3) confront the Egyptian king, known by the title "Pharaoh." They are using one of the signs which God provided to prove the truth of their message (Exodus 4:2–4). Aaron's staff becomes a snake. Besides being a supernatural act, it also carries symbolism. Snakes are associated with evil and judgment (Genesis 3:1; 49:17; Numbers 21:6–9), so this implies that God's servants are prepared to deliver catastrophe to Egypt.

Further symbolism comes after the Egyptian sorcerers seem to duplicate the feat (Exodus 7:11). But the serpent associated with God consumes the snakes of the Egyptian magicians. Whatever strength Pharaoh may think he has, it is helpless against the power of the Lord.

Nothing in Scripture suggests that Moses and Aaron are engaged in trickery or puppet work when changing the staff into a serpent. The purpose is to prove that the Lord is behind their message. This is also among the motives behind the upcoming plagues (Exodus 3:20; 6:6). This is a supernatural transformation of an actual staff into an actual snake. There is some debate as to whether the Egyptian version is also real, or an illusion, but there is no question that Israel's side of the contest is legitimate.

Exodus 7:8–13 depicts a faceoff between Moses and Aaron, against Pharoah and his Egyptian magicians. As instructed (Exodus 4:2–5), Aaron drops his staff, which becomes a snake. Pharaoh's sorcerers manage to duplicate this, but Aaron's snake devours theirs. So, the Egyptian king remains stubborn and will not listen to pleas for Israel's release. This triggers the first of the ten great plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7:17–18).

God again repeats (Exodus 3:19–20; 4:19–23; 6:6) the basic outline of how Israel will be freed from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:11–14). He then commands Moses and Aaron to show Pharaoh one of the miraculous signs given for that purpose (Exodus 4:2–5). Egyptian magicians seem to duplicate the feat, so Pharaoh still refuses to hear Mo-ses' message. This results in the first plague: all water in Egypt, including the Nile river, becomes blood. This lasts seven days. The Lord then tells Moses to repeat the demand for Israel's release.

God commissioned Moses (Exodus 3:10) and commanded him to confront Egypt's ruler, the pharaoh (Exodus 4:19–23). When Moses obeyed (Exodus 5:1–3), the immediate result was even worse oppression for Israel (Exodus 5:19–21). This inspired Moses to doubt (Exodus 5:22–23). The Lord responded with reassurances (Exodus 6:1–8). Chapter 7 completes this declaration and begins the cycle of plagues (Exodus 3:19–20), starting with turning the Nile river into blood. These catastrophes will continue (Exodus 8—11) until Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.