Keraia
Exodus 4

Exodus 4:6

Moses’ Hand · Exodus 4:6–9
Read Exodus 4

Translations

Modern
Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And furthermore YHWH said to him, “Put now 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.
Latin
Dixitque Dominus rursum: Mitte manum tuam in sinum tuum. Quam cum misisset in sinum, protulit leprosam instar nivis.

Original

Hebrew
English
Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.

Notes

Exodus 4:6

leprous: The Hebrew word for this phrase has traditionally been translated as leprosy. But the symptoms described in the Bible do not match leprosy (Hansen's disease). The biblical term probably refers to various highly contagious skin inflammations and lesions.

Exodus 4:1–9

The third protest of Moses was that he did not have enough power. He felt unable to do what God asked him to do.

God answered by showing his own great power. He performed signs immediately. He turned the staff of Moses into a snake. He also caused a serious skin disease to appear and then disappear at once.

Exodus 3:11–4:17

Moses, in his response to God, presented four reasons why he was not the one to fulfill God’s call. Although each reason supposedly relates to Moses and his ability, God’s answers show that they were really questions about God.

Exodus 3:1–4:28

This section describes the mission God gave Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. It is divided into two parts, 3:1–4:17 and 4:18–28.

The first part describes God's call. The second part describes the full consequences of accepting that call. Moses not only experienced a career change, but he also had to completely change his life.

Theme notes and profiles

Aaron Egypt Moses

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Bronze Snake, Bronze Serpent Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Joshua, Book of Moses Prophecy Prophet, Prophetess Sign White

Topics

Call: To Special Religious Duty: Moses Communion: Moses Condescension of God: Reasons with Moses Israel: Moses Commissioned As the Deliverer Leprosy: Parts Affected by The Hand Leprosy: Turned the Skin White Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God: Moses and Aaron: Hand Made Leprous Miracles: Catalogue of Moses' Leprosy Miracles: Design of Moses: His Rod Miraculously Turned Into a Serpent, and his Hand Was Made Leprous, and Then Restored Sign: Asked for By, and Given to Moses Token: Miracles of Moses, of the Divine Authority of his Missions