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Exodus Chapter Study

Moses Receives Signs from God

Exodus 4 (KJV)

Exodus 4 shows God equipping Moses with miraculous signs, answering his objections, appointing Aaron as his spokesman, and sending him back to Egypt.

What You'll Learn

• Why Moses feared that Israel would not believe him
• How God turned Moses' rod into a serpent
• What the sign of Moses' leprous hand revealed
• Why God gave Moses signs to confirm His message
• How Moses continued to struggle with his calling
• Why God appointed Aaron as Moses' spokesman
• How Moses returned toward Egypt with the rod of God
• Why Pharaoh's heart would be hardened
• What the covenant incident with Zipporah teaches
• How Israel responded when Moses and Aaron delivered God's message

Exodus 4 teaches that God equips the people He calls, even when they feel weak, afraid, or unqualified.

Bible Translation Note Scripture Verse-by-Verse Study Chapter Synopsis Prayer Personal Application Weekly Actions Chapter Summary

Bible Translation Note: All Scripture on this page is quoted from the King James Version (KJV) and presented in full without alteration.

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

Exodus 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

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.

Exodus 4:4 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:

Exodus 4:5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

Exodus 4:6 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.

Exodus 4:7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

Exodus 4:8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Exodus 4:9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Exodus 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

Exodus 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Exodus 4:13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

Exodus 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Exodus 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Exodus 4:17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Exodus 4:18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

Exodus 4:19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

Exodus 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Exodus 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Exodus 4:24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

Exodus 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

Exodus 4:26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

Exodus 4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

Exodus 4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

Exodus 4:29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

Exodus 4:30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Exodus 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Exodus 4:1

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

Study: Moses fears rejection from the people of Israel. Even after hearing God's promise, he worries that others will not believe the message.

Exodus 4:2

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

Study: God begins with what Moses already has in his hand. The ordinary shepherd's rod will become a sign of God's authority.

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.

Study: The rod becomes a serpent, showing God's power over creation and over the symbols of Egypt. Moses' fear reminds us that God's power is not casual or small.

Exodus 4:4

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:

Study: Moses obeys God's command and takes the serpent by the tail. What frightened him is brought back under control by the power of God.

Exodus 4:5

That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

Study: The sign is given so Israel may believe that the covenant God has truly appeared to Moses. The miracle confirms the message.

Exodus 4:6

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.

Study: God gives Moses a second sign. His hand becomes leprous, showing that the Lord has authority over disease, uncleanness, and restoration.

Exodus 4:7

And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

Study: God restores Moses' hand completely. The same Lord who exposes uncleanness also has the power to heal and make whole.

Exodus 4:8

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Study: God provides multiple witnesses to confirm His word. He patiently answers Moses' fear by giving signs that speak to the people.

Exodus 4:9

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Study: The third sign points toward judgment on Egypt. The Nile, a source of life for Egypt, will become a sign of God's power and coming confrontation.

Exodus 4:10

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Study: Moses now objects because of his speech. He focuses on his weakness instead of the God who is sending him.

Exodus 4:11

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

Study: God reminds Moses that He made the mouth. The Creator is not limited by Moses' weakness and is fully able to supply what Moses lacks.

Exodus 4:12

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Study: God's command is clear: go. His promise is also clear: He will be with Moses' mouth and teach him what to say.

Exodus 4:13

And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Study: Moses essentially asks God to send someone else. His hesitation has moved from concern to resistance.

Exodus 4:14

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

Study: The Lord is angry with Moses' reluctance, yet He still provides Aaron. God's patience does not excuse unbelief, but His mercy still equips Moses.

Exodus 4:15

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Study: God promises to guide both Moses and Aaron. The mission will still depend on God's words, God's instruction, and God's presence.

Exodus 4:16

And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Study: Aaron will speak for Moses, and Moses will receive God's message. God establishes order for how His word will be delivered.

Exodus 4:17

And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Study: Moses is commanded to carry the rod. What once represented shepherding now becomes a visible instrument of God's power.

Exodus 4:18

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

Study: Moses begins to obey. He returns to Jethro, asks permission to go, and receives a peaceful blessing for the journey.

Exodus 4:19

And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

Study: God removes a major fear from Moses' path. The men who sought his life are dead, and the time to return has come.

Exodus 4:20

And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

Study: Moses returns to Egypt with his family and the rod of God. The shepherd's staff is now identified with God's authority.

Exodus 4:21

And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Study: God prepares Moses for Pharaoh's resistance. The signs will be done, but Pharaoh will not immediately let Israel go.

Exodus 4:22

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Study: God identifies Israel as His firstborn son. This reveals the covenant relationship between the Lord and His people.

Exodus 4:23

And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Study: Pharaoh's refusal will bring judgment on Egypt's firstborn. The conflict is not merely political; it is a confrontation between Pharaoh and the Lord.

Exodus 4:24

And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

Study: This difficult verse shows the seriousness of covenant obedience. Moses cannot publicly represent God's covenant while neglecting covenant responsibility in his own household.

Exodus 4:25

Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

Study: Zipporah acts quickly by circumcising her son. The moment is intense, but it shows that covenant obedience could not be ignored.

Exodus 4:26

So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

Study: The danger passes after the covenant sign is performed. God's messenger must walk in obedience before leading others.

Exodus 4:27

And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

Study: God is working in Aaron as well as Moses. The brothers meet at the mountain of God, confirming that the Lord is arranging the mission.

Exodus 4:28

And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

Study: Moses shares God's words and signs with Aaron. Before they speak to Israel, Aaron must understand the message and mission.

Exodus 4:29

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

Study: Moses and Aaron begin by gathering Israel's elders, just as God had instructed. Obedience now moves from preparation to action.

Exodus 4:30

And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Study: Aaron speaks God's words, and the signs are performed before the people. God's message is confirmed exactly as He promised.

Exodus 4:31

And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Study: Israel believes and worships when they hear that God has seen their affliction. The chapter ends with faith, hope, and reverence before the Lord.

Exodus 4 continues the conversation between God and Moses at the burning bush. Moses fears that Israel will not believe him, so God gives him signs to confirm that the Lord has truly appeared to him.

The first sign turns Moses' rod into a serpent and then back into a rod. The second sign makes Moses' hand leprous and then restores it. God also gives Moses a third sign involving water from the Nile turning into blood.

Moses then objects because he feels unable to speak well. God reminds Moses that He made man's mouth and promises to be with his mouth and teach him what to say. When Moses still asks God to send someone else, the Lord becomes angry but appoints Aaron to help him.

Moses returns to Jethro, receives permission to go, and begins the journey back to Egypt with his family and the rod of God. Along the way, God prepares him for Pharaoh's resistance and reveals that Israel is His firstborn son.

The chapter also includes a serious covenant moment involving Zipporah and circumcision. It ends with Moses and Aaron meeting the elders of Israel, speaking God's words, performing the signs, and seeing the people believe and worship.

Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping those You call. Help me stop focusing on my weakness and start trusting Your strength. Give me courage to obey, faith to believe Your promises, and humility to follow Your instructions. Teach me to honor You in both public service and private obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

• Read Exodus 4 again and note every objection Moses gives
• Memorize Exodus 4:12
• Write down one area where fear has delayed your obedience
• Identify one ordinary resource God may want you to use for His purpose
• Pray for courage to obey even when you feel unqualified
• Ask God to reveal any private area where obedience needs attention
• Spend time worshiping God for seeing and caring about your burdens

Exodus 4 shows God equipping Moses for the mission of deliverance. When Moses fears that Israel will not believe him, God gives him miraculous signs. When Moses objects because of his speech, God reminds him that He made man's mouth and promises to teach him what to say. When Moses continues to resist, God appoints Aaron as his spokesman. Moses then returns toward Egypt with the rod of God in his hand. The chapter closes with Moses and Aaron speaking to Israel's elders, performing the signs, and the people believing that God has seen their suffering and visited them.

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