Exoduschapter 4

31 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th or 13th century BC · The Law

In Jewish life

The reading

Weekly portion 13 of 54

שְׁמוֹת Shemot, Exodus 1:1 to 6:1

Read with it: Isaiah 27:6 to 28:13 and 29:22 to 29:23 in Ashkenazi use, and Jeremiah 1:1 to 2:3 in Sephardi use.

The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →

How it is read

This is the one chapter of the span where the corpus carries three commentators with their text. Ramban holds that the signs were given for the people rather than for Moses. God showed Moses wonders "in order that they believe him" (Ramban on Exodus 4:5:1, the Chavel translation, Shilo, 1971 to 1976). Rashi reads the water poured out on dry ground in verse 9 as a warning aimed at Egypt's god. The first plague, he says, will "exact retribution from their deity", because Egypt worshipped the Nile that fed it (Rashi on Exodus 4:9:1, the Metsudah Rashi Chumash, 2009). Sforno reads the promise of verse 15 as more than words supplied. God will help both brothers speak, so that Pharaoh "will absorb the words with his heart" (Sforno on Exodus 4:15:1, the Eliyahu Munk translation). All three translations are recent and carry a CC-BY licence, so each quotation here is kept short. Rashi's notes on the rod, on the leprous hand and on the meeting at the lodging place stand by reference alone (Rashi on Exodus 4:3:1, 4:6:1 and 4:24:1).

What the rabbis say

The rabbis take up Moses pleading heavy speech at Bamidbar Rabbah 21:15 and Devarim Rabbah 1:1. On the answer about who makes the mouth they taught in Bereshit Rabbah 1:5. On the men who sought Moses' life they taught at Avodah Zarah 5a:18. On the rod that became a serpent they taught at Bava Batra 110a:3 and Midrash Lekach Tov, Exodus 4:3:1.

The text, verse by verse

Each word shows the Hebrew, the English under it, how it sounds and its Strong’s number. A rule between verses marks where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

The Rod, the Hand, the Water

4:1

וַיַּ֤עַןand he answeredvaiyaanH6030 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 וַיֹּ֔אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 וְהֵן֙and here!vehenH2005 לֹֽא־notlo'-H3808 יַאֲמִ֣ינוּthey will believeyaaminuH539לִ֔י<to> <the> meliוְלֹ֥אand notvelo'H3808 יִשְׁמְע֖וּthey will listenyishmeuH8085 בְּקֹלִ֑יto voice mybekoliH6963 כִּ֣יforkiH3588 יֹֽאמְר֔וּthey will sayyomeruH559 לֹֽא־notlo'-H3808 נִרְאָ֥הhe appearednirahH7200 אֵלֶ֖יךָto youʾeleikhaH413 יְהוָֽה׃YahwehyahwehH3068

Ramban on Exodus 4:1

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

BUT, BEHOLD, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE ME, NOR HEARKEN UNTO MY VOICE. “At that moment, Moses spoke improperly. The Holy One, blessed be He, had told him, And they shall hearken to thy voice, 246 Above,:18. and he said, But, behold, they will not believe me.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

4:2

וַיֹּ֧אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 אֵלָ֛יוto himʾelavH413 יְהוָ֖הYahwehyahwehH3068 מַה־זֶּ֣הwhat [is] this?mah-zeh-H4100 בְיָדֶ֑ךָ[is] in hand yourveyadekhaH3027 וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מַטֶּֽה׃a staffmatehH4294

4:3

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he saidvaiyomerH559 הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּthrow ithashlikhehuH7993 אַ֔רְצָה[the] ground towardsʾartzahH776 וַיַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּand he threw itvaiyashlikhehuH7993 אַ֖רְצָה[the] ground towardsʾartzahH776 וַיְהִ֣יand it becamevayhiH1961 לְנָחָ֑שׁ<into> a snakelenachashH5175 וַיָּ֥נָסand he fledvaiyanosH5127 מֹשֶׁ֖הMosesmoshehH4872 מִפָּנָֽיו׃from before itmipanavH6440

4:4

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָה֙YahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 שְׁלַח֙stretch outshelachH7971 יָֽדְךָ֔hand youryadekhaH3027 וֶאֱחֹ֖זand holdveechozH270 בִּזְנָב֑וֹon tail itsbiznavoH2180 וַיִּשְׁלַ֤חand he stretched outvaiyishlachH7971 יָדוֹ֙hand hisyadoH3027 וַיַּ֣חֲזֶקand he took holdvaiyachazekH2388בּ֔וֹon <the> itboוַיְהִ֥יand it becamevayhiH1961 לְמַטֶּ֖ה<into> a stafflematehH4294 בְּכַפּֽוֹ׃in hand hisbekhapoH3709

4:5

לְמַ֣עַןso thatlemaanH4616 יַאֲמִ֔ינוּthey may believeyaaminuH539 כִּֽי־thatki-H3588 נִרְאָ֥הhe appearednirahH7200 אֵלֶ֛יךָto youʾeleikhaH413 יְהוָ֖הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֱלֹהֵ֣י[the] GodʾeloheiH430 אֲבֹתָ֑םancestors theirʾavotamH1 אֱלֹהֵ֧י[the] God ofʾeloheiH430 אַבְרָהָ֛םAbrahamʾavrahamH85 אֱלֹהֵ֥י[the] God ofʾeloheiH430 יִצְחָ֖קIsaacyitzchakH3327 וֵאלֹהֵ֥יand [the] God ofveloheiH430 יַעֲקֹֽב׃JacobyaakoH3290

4:6

וַיֹּאמֶר֩and he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָ֨הYahwehyahwehH3068ל֜וֹto <the> himloע֗וֹדagainodH5750 הָֽבֵא־puthave'-H935 נָ֤אpleasena'H4994 יָֽדְךָ֙hand youryadekhaH3027 בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָin bosom yourbecheikechaH2436 וַיָּבֵ֥אand he putvaiyave'H935 יָד֖וֹhand hisyadoH3027 בְּחֵיק֑וֹin bosom hisbecheikoH2436 וַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּand he brought out itvaiyotziahH3318 וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!vehinehH2009 יָד֖וֹhand hisyadoH3027 מְצֹרַ֥עַת[was] leprousmetzoraatH6879 כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃like <the> snowkashalegH7950

4:7

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 הָשֵׁ֤בreturnhashevH7725 יָֽדְךָ֙hand youryadekhaH3027 אֶל־intoʾel-H413 חֵיקֶ֔ךָbosom yourcheikechaH2436 וַיָּ֥שֶׁבand he returnedvaiyashevH7725 יָד֖וֹhand hisyadoH3027 אֶל־intoʾel-H413 חֵיק֑וֹbosom hischeikoH2436 וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙and he brought out itvaiyotziahH3318 מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹfrom bosom hismecheikoH2436 וְהִנֵּה־and there!vehineh-H2009 שָׁ֖בָהit had turned backshavahH7725 כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃like flesh hiskivsaroH1320

4:8

וְהָיָה֙and it will bevehayahH1961 אִם־ifʾim-H518 לֹ֣אnotlo'H3808 יַאֲמִ֣ינוּthey will believeyaaminuH539לָ֔ךְ<to> <the> youlakhוְלֹ֣אand notvelo'H3808 יִשְׁמְע֔וּthey will listenyishmeuH8085 לְקֹ֖לto [the] voice oflekolH6963 הָאֹ֣תthe signhaotH226 הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן<the> formerharishonH7223 וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּand they will believeveheeminuH539 לְקֹ֖ל<to> [the] voice oflekolH6963 הָאֹ֥תthe signhaotH226 הָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃<the> latterhaacharonH314

4:9

וְהָיָ֡הand it will bevehayahH1961 אִם־ifʾim-H518 לֹ֣אnotlo'H3808 יַאֲמִ֡ינוּthey will believeyaaminuH539 גַּם֩alsogamH1571 לִשְׁנֵ֨י<to> [the] twolishneiH8147 הָאֹת֜וֹתthe signshaototH226 הָאֵ֗לֶּה<the> thesehaelehH428 וְלֹ֤אand notvelo'H3808 יִשְׁמְעוּן֙they will listen !yishmeunH8085 לְקֹלֶ֔ךָto voice yourlekolechaH6963 וְלָקַחְתָּ֙and you will takevelakachtaH3947 מִמֵּימֵ֣יsome of [the] water ofmimeimeiH4325 הַיְאֹ֔רthe RiverhayorH2975 וְשָׁפַכְתָּ֖and you will pour [it] outveshafakhtaH8210 הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑הthe dry groundhaiyabashahH3004 וְהָי֤וּand they will becomevehayuH1961 הַמַּ֙יִם֙the watershamayimH4325 אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichʾasherH834 תִּקַּ֣חyou will taketikachH3947 מִן־frommin-H4480 הַיְאֹ֔רthe RiverhayorH2975 וְהָי֥וּand they will becomevehayuH1961 לְדָ֖ם<into> bloodledamH1818 בַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת׃on the dry groundbaiyabashetH3006

Slow of Speech; Aaron Will Speak

4:10

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מֹשֶׁ֣הMosesmoshehH4872 אֶל־toʾel-H413 יְהוָה֮YahwehyahwehH3068 בִּ֣יpardon mebiH994 אֲדֹנָי֒O LordʾadonaiH136 לֹא֩notlo'H3808 אִ֨ישׁ[am] a man ofʾishH376 דְּבָרִ֜יםwordsdevarimH1697 אָנֹ֗כִיIʾanokhiH595 גַּ֤םneithergamH1571 מִתְּמוֹל֙from yesterdaymitemolH8543 גַּ֣םnorgamH1571 מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔םfrom three days agomishilshomH8032 גַּ֛םnorgamH1571 מֵאָ֥זfrom thenmeazH227 דַּבֶּרְךָspeaking youdaberkhaH1696 אֶל־toʾel-H413 עַבְדֶּ֑ךָservant yourʾavdekhaH5650 כִּ֧יforkiH3588 כְבַד־[am] heavy ofkhevad-H3515 פֶּ֛הmouthpehH6310 וּכְבַ֥דand heavy ofukhevadH3515 לָשׁ֖וֹןtonguelashonH3956 אָנֹֽכִי׃IʾanokhiH595

4:11

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָ֜הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֵלָ֗יוto himʾelavH413 מִ֣יwho?miH4310 שָׂ֣םdid he makesamH7760 פֶּה֮a mouthpehH6310 לָֽאָדָם֒of <the> personlaadamH120 א֚וֹorʾoH176 מִֽי־who?mi-H4310 יָשׂ֣וּםdoes he makeyasumH7760 אִלֵּ֔םdumbʾilemH483 א֣וֹorʾoH176 חֵרֵ֔שׁdeafchereshH2795 א֥וֹorʾoH176 פִקֵּ֖חַseeingfikeachH6493 א֣וֹorʾoH176 עִוֵּ֑רblindʾiverH5787 הֲלֹ֥א¿ nothalo'H3808 אָנֹכִ֖י[do] IʾanokhiH595 יְהוָֽה׃YahwehyahwehH3068

4:12

וְעַתָּ֖הand thereforeveatahH6258 לֵ֑ךְgolekhH1980 וְאָנֹכִי֙and IveanokhiH595 אֶֽהְיֶ֣הI will beʾehyehH1961 עִם־withʾim-H5973 פִּ֔יךָmouth yourpikhaH6310 וְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָand I will teach youvehoreitikhaH3384 אֲשֶׁ֥ר[that] whichʾasherH834 תְּדַבֵּֽר׃you will saytedaberH1696

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 4:12

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

Behold, God did not now. As our verse may be taken to imply. promise Moses that He would remove the slowness of his tongue.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

4:13

וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 בִּ֣יpardon mebiH994 אֲדֹנָ֑יO LordʾadonaiH136 שְֽׁלַֽח־sendshelach-H7971 נָ֖אpleasena'H4994 בְּיַד־by [the] hand ofbeyad-H3027 תִּשְׁלָֽח׃[whoever] you will sendtishlachH7971

Ramban on Exodus 4:13

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

“This means by the hand of him whom You are accustomed to send, and that is Aaron.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

4:14

וַיִּֽחַר־and it burnedvaiyichar-H2734 אַ֨ף[the] anger ofʾafH639 יְהוָ֜הYahwehyahwehH3068 בְּמֹשֶׁ֗הon MosesbemoshehH4872 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he saidvaiyomerH559 הֲלֹ֨א¿ nothalo'H3808 אַהֲרֹ֤ן[is] AaronʾaharonH175 אָחִ֙יךָ֙brother yourʾachikhaH251 הַלֵּוִ֔יthe LevitehaleviH3881 יָדַ֕עְתִּיI knowyada'tiH3045 כִּֽי־thatki-H3588 דַבֵּ֥רwell <speak>daberH1696 יְדַבֵּ֖רhe speaksyedaberH1696 ה֑וּאhehu'H1931 וְגַ֤םand alsovegamH1571 הִנֵּה־there!hineh-H2009 הוּא֙hehu'H1931 יֹצֵ֣א[is] coming outyotze'H3318 לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָto meet youlikratechaH7122 וְרָאֲךָ֖and he will see youveraakhaH7200 וְשָׂמַ֥חand he will be gladvesamachH8055 בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃in heart hisbeliboH3820

Ramban on Exodus 4:14

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

I KNOW THAT HE [Aaron] CAN SPEAK WELL. That is to say, “It is revealed before Me that, out of his love for you, Aaron will willingly speak on your behalf even if I were not to command him.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976