Signs for Moses
Exodus 4:1-17
Exo.4.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויען: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- והן: PART
- לא: PART_NEG
- יאמינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ישמעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בקלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- כי: CONJ
- יאמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- נראה: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.3.18 (structural): God had just assured Moses that the elders of Israel would heed him; Exod 4:1 records Moses' immediate doubt, creating a structural contrast between divine promise and human unbelief.
- Exod.4.10 (thematic): Moses continues to object to his mission by claiming lack of eloquence; both verses record Moses' reluctance and concern that he will not be believed or heeded.
- Num.12.2 (thematic): Aaron and Miriam question Moses' unique prophetic authority ('Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?'), reflecting the theme of disputing or doubting a claimed divine messenger.
- Isa.53.1 (verbal): The rhetorical complaint 'Who has believed our report?' parallels the motif of people refusing to accept or believe a proclaimed divine message.
- Acts 7.35 (allusion): Stephen summarizes Israel's rejection of Moses ('this Moses, whom they refused'), echoing the theme that God's chosen messenger may not be believed or accepted by the people.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses answered and said, But behold, they will not believe me nor listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘YHWH has not appeared to you.’
- And Moses answered and said, "But look, they will not believe me and will not listen to my voice, for they will say, 'YHWH has not appeared to you.'"
Exo.4.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מה: PRON,int
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.4.3 (structural): Immediate continuation: the rod in Moses' hand is miraculously transformed into a serpent — the same object introduced in 4:2 and used to demonstrate God’s power.
- Exod.4.17 (verbal): God reiterates the rod as Moses’ sign and instrument for performing wonders before Pharaoh and the Israelites, echoing the identification of the object in 4:2.
- Exod.7.9-12 (thematic): Aaron’s rod becomes a serpent before Pharaoh and is copied by the Egyptian magicians — a later development of the rod/serpent motif introduced in 4:2–3.
- Num.17.1-11 (thematic): Aaron’s rod that buds serves as a divine sign of priestly authority; thematically parallels the rod as a sign/instrument of divine appointment and power first highlighted in Exod 4:2.
- 1 Sam.17.40 (thematic): David takes a simple hand‑held implement (staff/sling) and uses it as God’s instrument against Goliath — analogous motif of a common object in one’s hand being used by God for decisive acts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to him, What is that in your hand? And he said, A staff.
- And YHWH said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A staff."
Exo.4.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- השליכהו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg+3,m,sg(obj)
- ארצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וישליכהו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg+3,m,sg(obj)
- ארצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לנחש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וינס: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפניו: PREP+3ms
Parallels
- Exodus 4:2 (verbal): Immediate context: God asks “What is that in your hand?” and commands Moses to cast the staff — the same instruction that leads to the staff becoming a serpent.
- Exodus 4:4–5 (structural): Direct continuation/contrast: Moses touches the serpent (verse 4) and God tells him to put his hand into his cloak (verse 5) — the pair of signs (staff ↔ serpent; hand ↔ leprous/healed) forms the sign sequence tied to Exodus 4:3.
- Exodus 7:10–12 (verbal): Aaron’s rod is cast down before Pharaoh and becomes a serpent; Egyptian magicians likewise produce serpents — a close verbal and narrative parallel to the staff/serpent sign in Moses’ commissioning.
- Numbers 21:6–9 (thematic): Divine use of serpents as instruments of judgment and means of healing (bronze serpent lifted by Moses) — echoes serpent imagery and Moses’ role in signs involving snakes.
- Acts 7:33 (quotation): Stephen recounts Moses’ commissioning and explicitly cites the command to cast the staff on the ground so that it became a serpent — an early New Testament citation of Exodus 4:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said, Throw it to the ground. And he threw it to the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
- And he said, "Throw it to the ground." And he threw it to the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
Exo.4.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- ואחז: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בזנבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3ms
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויחזק: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בכפו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cs,3ms
Parallels
- Exodus 4:2 (verbal): Immediate context: God asks Moses 'What is that in your hand?' introducing the rod that is then used in the sign (sets up the rod/serpent motif).
- Exodus 4:3 (verbal): Direct counterpart: Moses' rod is cast down and becomes a serpent — the other half of the same sign sequence (rod→serpent), which 4:4 resolves when Moses grasps it and it returns to a rod.
- Exodus 4:5 (thematic): A second sign given to authenticate Moses: God instructs Moses to put his hand into his cloak so it becomes leprous and is healed, paralleling the pattern of miraculous, reversible bodily/objet signs.
- Exodus 7:10-12 (structural): Repetition of the rod→serpent motif before Pharaoh: Aaron (and the Egyptian magicians) perform similar rod-to-serpent signs, showing the same miraculous token used in the confrontation with Egypt.
- Numbers 17:8 (thematic): Aaron's rod that buds is a related motif of a rod serving as a divine sign of authority and selection—the rod as an instrument of divine authentication and leadership.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to Moses, Stretch out your hand and seize it by the tail. And he stretched out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand.
- And YHWH said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand and grasp it by the tail." And he stretched out his hand and took hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand.
Exo.4.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למען: PREP
- יאמינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- נראה: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אבתם: NOUN,m,sg,3,m,pl,cs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אברהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.3.6 (verbal): God speaks to Moses and uses the identical formula ‘the LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,’ grounding Moses’ commission in the patriarchal revelation.
- Exod.3.15 (quotation): God gives Moses the divine name and instructs him to tell Israel that ‘the LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham…’ has sent him—same self-identification used to authenticate the appearance.
- Exod.4.29-31 (thematic): Narrative fulfillment: Moses performs the signs before the elders and the people ‘believed’ that the LORD had visited the Israelites—echoes the purpose stated in 4:5 (so that they may believe).
- Matt.22.32 (cf. Mark 12.26; Luke 20.37) (allusion): Jesus cites the formula ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’ (drawing on Exodus 3) to argue about God’s relation to the patriarchs and the living—shows later interpretive use of the Exodus self‑identification.
Alternative generated candidates
- So that they may believe that YHWH, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.
- "This is so that they may believe that YHWH, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."
Exo.4.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- הבא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- נא: PART
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- בחיקך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,prs
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בחיקו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,prs
- ויוצאה: VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,sg
- והנה: ADV
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מצרעת: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- כשלג: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.4.7 (structural): The immediate paired sign to 4:6: after Moses' hand becomes 'leprous like snow,' God commands him to put it back and it is restored—completing the two-sign sequence given to authenticate Moses.
- Exod.4.2-5 (structural): The other sign God gives Moses (rod to serpent and back) in the same commissioning scene—both signs function as corroborating miracles to prove Moses' divine commission.
- Num.12.10 (verbal): Miriam is struck with 'tzara'at' and described as 'white as snow,' echoing the language and imagery of a hand becoming leprous; a close verbal and thematic parallel concerning disease as divine sign/judgment.
- Lev.13.2-3 (thematic): The priestly laws for diagnosing tzara'at provide the ritual and social context for 'leprosy' imagery in Exodus 4:6—linking the physical symptom (white/bright discoloration) with impurity and communal implications.
- Mark.1.40-42 (thematic): Jesus' cleansing of a leper demonstrates divine authority over the same ailment and its social/ritual consequences; parallels Exodus thematically in miracle, restoration, and signifying God's action.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to him further, Put now your hand into your bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom, and he brought it out, and behold, his hand was leprous, like snow.
- And YHWH said to him again, "Please put your hand into your bosom." And he put his hand into his bosom; and he took it out, and behold, his hand was leprous like snow.
Exo.4.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- השב: VERB,hif,imp,2,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- אל: NEG
- חיקך: NOUN,m,sg,suff2ms
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- חיקו: NOUN,m,sg,suff3ms
- ויוצאה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- מחיקו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff3ms
- והנה: ADV
- שבה: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- כבשרו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff3ms
Parallels
- Exodus 4:1-6 (structural): Immediate context — the two miraculous signs God gives Moses (staff/serpent and hand turned leprous) are presented as a pair and the hand-sign is described in the surrounding verses.
- Exodus 7:8-12 (thematic): Another instance where Moses and Aaron perform miraculous signs before Pharaoh (rod to serpent), showing the motif of God-given signs to authenticate Moses’ mission.
- 2 Kings 5:1-14 (thematic): Naaman’s healing from leprosy by Elisha connects to biblical treatment of leprosy as a visible divine condition and its reversal as a mark of divine power/mercy.
- Matthew 8:2-4 (thematic): Jesus cleansing a leper illustrates the New Testament continuation of leprosy as both impurity and a locus for divine healing, paralleling the motif of disease and restoration.
- Acts 7:35-36 (allusion): Stephen’s speech recalls Moses’ signs and wonders performed by God’s power — an early Christian retelling that echoes the function of Moses’ Egyptian signs (as in Exod. 4).
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said, Return your hand to your bosom. And he returned his hand to his bosom, and he brought it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his own flesh.
- And he said, "Return your hand to your bosom." And he returned his hand to his bosom; and he took it out from his bosom, and behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
Exo.4.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- יאמינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ישמעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לקל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הראשון: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והאמינו: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,pl
- לקל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- האחרון: ADJ,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exod.4.1 (verbal): Immediate verbal parallel — Moses raises the same objection: 'What if they will not believe me or listen to my voice?' (same concern about unbelief before the signs).
- Exod.4.9 (structural): Direct continuation specifying the 'latter sign' mentioned in v.8 (the third sign of turning river water to blood), showing the verse's place in the sign-sequence.
- John 4:48 (thematic): Jesus says 'Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe,' echoing the theme that people demand miraculous signs as the basis for belief.
- Deut.18:22 (thematic): Provides a canonical criterion for testing prophets by whether their sign/prophecy comes to pass — relates to the function of signs as proof of a messenger's authority.
- Matt.12:39 (thematic): Jesus' rebuke that an 'evil and adulterous generation' seeks a sign connects to the motif of requesting signs to compel belief and the ambiguous role of signs in eliciting true faith.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it shall be, if they do not believe you and do not listen to the voice of the first sign, they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
- And it shall be, if they do not believe you and do not listen to the voice of the first sign, then they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Exo.4.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- יאמינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- גם: ADV
- לשני: PREP+NUM,card,dual,m
- האתות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- ישמעון: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- לקלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ולקחת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ממימי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const
- היאר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ושפכת: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- היבשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- המים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תקח: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- היאר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- לדם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביבשת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 4:3-4 (structural): Part of the same triadic set of signs given to Moses (rod → serpent). This is the first sign that parallels the water‑to‑blood sign as part of Moses' demonstration of divine authority.
- Exodus 4:6-8 (structural): The second sign in the same sequence (hand becoming leprous and healed). Together with 4:9 these three signs form a linked structural unit of confirming wonders.
- Exodus 7:17-21 (verbal): Repeats and expands the water‑to‑blood motif in the confrontation with Pharaoh (the Nile and all waters become blood), using language and imagery very close to 4:9.
- Psalm 78:44; Psalm 105:29 (thematic): Poetic retellings of the Exodus plagues that echo the turning of waters into blood as a sign of God's judgment and power on behalf of Israel.
- Revelation 8:8-9 (allusion): An apocalyptic echo of Exodus' water‑to‑blood imagery (a third of the sea/ waters become blood), showing how the Exodus motif is reused as cosmic judgment in later scripture.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs and do not listen to your voice, you shall take from the water of the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you take from the Nile shall become blood on the dry ground.
- And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs and do not listen to your voice, then you shall take from the water of the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.
Exo.4.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- גם: ADV
- מתמול: ADV,temp
- גם: ADV
- משלשם: PREP+ADV,there
- גם: ADV
- מאז: ADV
- דברך: NOUN,m,sg,poss,2m
- אל: NEG
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- כי: CONJ
- כבד: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- פה: ADV
- וכבד: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- לשון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 3:11 (thematic): Moses expresses reluctance when called by God ('Who am I?'), a parallel instance of hesitation to accept divine commission.
- Exodus 6:30 (verbal): Moses again protests his fitness for speaking tasks, saying the people will not heed him because of his 'uncircumcised lips'—a direct reprise of his speech-related objection.
- Jeremiah 1:6 (thematic): The prophet objects to his call with a claim of inadequacy in speech ('I do not know how to speak'), echoing Moses' complaint about being slow of speech.
- Isaiah 6:5 (allusion): Isaiah's confession ('unclean lips') after a divine encounter parallels the motif of impaired or inadequate speech in the presence of God's summons.
- 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 (thematic): Paul emphasizes that he did not come with rhetorical eloquence but with demonstration of the Spirit and power, reflecting the theme of divine work despite human lack of eloquence.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said to YHWH, Please, my Lord, I am not a man of words, neither yesterday nor the day before, nor since you spoke to your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue.
- And Moses said to YHWH, "Please, my Lord, I am not a man of words, neither yesterday nor the day before nor since you spoke to your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue."
Exo.4.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- שם: ADV
- פה: ADV
- לאדם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- או: CONJ
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- ישום: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אלם: ADJ,m,sg
- או: CONJ
- חרש: ADJ,m,sg
- או: CONJ
- פקח: ADJ,m,sg
- או: CONJ
- עור: ADJ,m,sg
- הלא: PART
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 94:9 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language attributing the planting/formation of the ear and the making of the eye to God, echoing Exodus' rhetorical question about who makes mouth/ear/eye.
- Jeremiah 1:9 (allusion): God touches Jeremiah's mouth and equips him to speak—a closely related motif of divine empowerment for speech in response to human protest about inability to speak.
- Mark 7:37 (verbal): The crowd declares 'He makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak,' a New Testament affirmation of the same divine prerogative over hearing and speech present in Exodus.
- Isaiah 35:5-6 (thematic): Proclaims that the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped—the prophetic theme of God as healer/restorer of sensory faculties parallels Exodus' claim of God as their creator/controller.
- Job 33:4 (thematic): Attributes human life and faculties to the Spirit/Breath of God; thematically supports Exodus' assertion that the LORD is the one who forms and determines human speech and senses.
Alternative generated candidates
- And YHWH said to him, Who has made the human mouth, or who makes one mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, YHWH?
- And YHWH said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, YHWH?"
Exo.4.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- ואנכי: PRON,1,sg
- אהיה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- עם: PREP
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- והוריתיך: VERB,hiph,impf,1,m,sg+suff:2,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תדבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod. 4:15 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same commissioning scene: God promises to be with Moses' mouth and to put words in Aaron's mouth ('put the words in his mouth; I will be with your mouth and with his mouth'), directly echoing 4:12.
- Exod. 3:12 (verbal): Earlier commissioning promise: 'I will be with you'—the same assurance of God's personal presence given to Moses as the basis for his mission and speech.
- Jer. 1:7-9 (verbal): God's call to Jeremiah parallels Moses' commissioning language: God tells Jeremiah not to fear and then says (v.9) 'Behold, I have put my words in your mouth,' a near-verbal parallel about divine provision of words.
- Luke 12:11-12 (thematic): Jesus promises that the Spirit will teach his followers what to say when they are brought before authorities—a New Testament echo of divine enablement for prophetic or missionary speech.
- Isa. 50:4 (thematic): Isaiah speaks of receiving 'the tongue of those who are taught' from the Lord—a thematically related image of God giving and teaching speech to his servant.
Alternative generated candidates
- So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall speak.
- "And now go, and I will be with your mouth, and I will instruct you what you shall speak."
Exo.4.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נא: PART
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תשלח: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 3:11 (thematic): Moses expresses reluctance and doubts his fitness to go to Pharaoh ('Who am I that I should go?'), a parallel to asking God to send someone else.
- Exodus 4:10 (verbal): Moses objects to the mission on grounds of inadequate speech ('I am not eloquent'), part of the same dialogue of protest that culminates in 4:13.
- Exodus 4:14 (structural): Immediate narrative response: God is angry and provides Aaron as the one who will be sent — the direct resolution to Moses' request in 4:13.
- Numbers 11:11-15 (thematic): Moses complains about the burden of leadership and wishes relief or death; like 4:13 this passage shows Moses' reluctance and desire to be excused from God’s commission.
- Jeremiah 1:6 (thematic): The prophet protests his inability ('I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth'), a common prophetic motif of reluctance and perceived inadequacy similar to Moses' request in 4:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said, Please, my Lord, send, I pray, by the hand of whom you will send.
- And he said, "Please, my Lord, send, please, by the hand of the one you will send."
Exo.4.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחר: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- אף: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- במשה: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הלא: PART
- אהרן: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- הלוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ידעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,?,sg
- כי: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- וגם: CONJ
- הנה: PART
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לקראתך: PREP,NOUN,m,sg,cs,suff,2,m,sg
- וראך: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+PRON,2,m,sg
- ושמח: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בלבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.4.16 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same commissioning: God designates Aaron to be Moses’ spokesman, echoing the solution offered in 4:14 that Aaron will speak for him.
- Exod.4.10-13 (verbal): Moses’ earlier protest about being ‘slow of speech’ frames God’s anger and the appointment of Aaron as a remedy for Moses’ claimed inability to speak.
- Exod.7.1 (verbal): God later reiterates and formalizes Aaron’s role: Aaron is appointed as Moses’ prophet who will speak for him before Pharaoh, reflecting the same functional solution.
- Num.11.14-15 (thematic): Moses expresses inability to carry leadership burdens alone and asks for relief—parallel motif of a leader overwhelmed and needing assistance.
- Jer.1.6-9 (thematic): The prophet’s protest ‘I cannot speak’ and God’s commission/call parallels the prophetic commissioning motif and divine provision for a prophet’s perceived inability to speak.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the anger of YHWH burned against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite? I know that he can surely speak; and moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart.
- And the anger of YHWH burned against Moses, and he said, "Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite? I know that he will surely speak. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; and when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart."
Exo.4.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ודברת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ושמת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בפיו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m
- ואנכי: PRON,1,sg
- אהיה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- עם: PREP
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- ועם: CONJ+PREP
- פיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- והוריתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,c,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תעשון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Exod.4.16 (verbal): Continues the same instruction: Aaron will speak for Moses, and God will be with both mouths — virtually the same wording and immediate parallel.
- Exod.7.1 (structural): Same mediator–spokesman relationship: God makes Moses like God to Pharaoh and appoints Aaron as his prophet/speaker.
- Deut.18.18 (verbal): God promises to raise a prophet and explicitly says, “I will put my words in his mouth,” echoing the language and role of God placing words in another’s mouth.
- Jer.1.9 (verbal): God touches Jeremiah’s mouth and declares He has put His words in the prophet’s mouth — a direct verbal parallel in commissioning a spokesman.
- Num.11.17 (thematic): God promises to put some of the Spirit from Moses on others so they can bear responsibility and speak — thematically related to transferring speech/authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you shall do.
- "And you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will instruct you both what you shall do."
Exo.4.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ודבר: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לפה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- תהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 4:14-15 (verbal): Immediate context: God appoints Aaron as Moses’ spokesman and repeats the language of being a mouth for Moses and Moses acting 'as God' to Aaron.
- Exodus 7:1 (verbal): Restates the same commissioning: Moses is set 'as God' to Pharaoh and Aaron will act as his prophet/spokesman — the same role-language transferred to a public confrontation.
- Deuteronomy 18:18-19 (thematic): God promises to raise a prophet and 'put my words in his mouth' — a recurring motif of God providing a spokesman who speaks divine words on another’s behalf.
- Jeremiah 1:9 (verbal): God touches Jeremiah's mouth and declares He has put His words there — a direct verbal parallel to the imagery of providing a mouth to speak God's words.
- Numbers 12:6-8 (allusion): Contrast/clarification of prophetic communication: God distinguishes Moses’ unique 'face to face' speech and 'mouth to mouth' intimacy with the language of speaking through a mouth, highlighting the special nature of Moses’ role even as Aaron serves as his spokesman.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he shall speak for you to the people; and he shall be for you as a mouth, and you shall be to him as God.
- "And he shall speak for you to the people; and it shall be that he will be a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God."
Exo.4.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- המטה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- תקח: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תעשה: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האתת: NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- Exodus 4:2-4 (verbal): Immediate context where God has Moses throw down his staff and it becomes a serpent — the same staff/rod is the instrument of the sign mentioned in 4:17.
- Exodus 4:20 (structural): A near parallel narrative verse in which Moses takes the rod of God with him when he sets out for Egypt, repeating the command to carry the rod as the vehicle of signs.
- Exodus 7:10-12 (quotation): Aaron’s rod is cast down before Pharaoh and becomes a serpent, a direct repetition of the earlier miracle and the rod-as-sign motif used to confront Pharaoh.
- Numbers 17:8 (thematic): Aaron’s rod that budded serves as a later cultic/authority sign — echoes the function of a divinely empowered rod as proof of God’s choice and power.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this staff you shall take in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.
- "And this staff you shall take in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."
And Moses answered and said, "But behold, they will not believe me, and they will not listen to my voice, for they will say, 'YHWH has not appeared to you.'" And YHWH said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A staff." And he said, "Throw it to the ground." And he threw it to the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And YHWH said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand and seize it by the tail." And he stretched out his hand and took hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand.
"So that they may believe that YHWH, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." And YHWH said to him again, "Please put your hand into your bosom." And he put his hand into his bosom, and he brought it out, and behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. And he said, "Return your hand to your bosom." And he returned his hand to his bosom, and he brought it out from his bosom, and behold—it was restored like his flesh. And it shall be that if they do not believe you and do not listen to the voice of the first sign, then they will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs and do not listen to your voice, then you shall take from the water of the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you take from the Nile shall become blood on the dry ground. And Moses said to YHWH, "Please, my Lord, I am not a man of words, neither yesterday nor the day before, nor since you spoke to your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue." And YHWH said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes one mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, YHWH?"
"And now, go, and I will be with your mouth, and I will instruct you what you shall speak." And he said, "Please, my Lord, send, I pray, by the hand of whomever you will send." And the anger of YHWH burned against Moses, and he said, "Is there not Aaron your brother the Levite? I know that he surely speaks; moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart."
"And you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will instruct you both in what you shall do."
"And he shall speak for you to the people; and it shall be that he shall be to you as a mouth, and you shall be to him as God."
"And this staff you shall take in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."