Exodus 4:3

3 The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

Exodus 4:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the LORD told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 "Throw it on the ground." He threw it. It became a snake; Moses jumped back - fast!
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 And he said, Cast in on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 Then He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake. Moses ran from it,
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." So Moses threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake. He ran away from it.

Exodus 4:3 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 4:3

And he said, cast it on the ground
That is, the rod or staff: and he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent;
not in appearance only, but in reality, it was changed into a real living serpent; for God, who is the author of nature, can change the nature of things as he pleases; nor is it to be supposed that he would only make it look to the sight as if it was one, by working upon the fancy and imagination to think it was one, when it was not; no doubt but it was as really turned into a true serpent, as the water was turned really and truly into wine by our Lord; this was the first miracle that ever was wrought, that we know of. Dr. Lightfoot F8 observes, that as a serpent was the fittest emblem of the devil, ( Genesis 3:1 ) ( Revelation 12:9 ) so was it a sign that Moses did not these miracles by the power of the devil, but had a power over and beyond him, when he could thus deal with the serpent at his pleasure, as to make his rod a serpent, and the serpent a rod, as he saw good: and Moses fled from before it;
the Jews say F9 it was a fiery serpent, but for this they have no warrant: however, without supposing that it might be terrible and frightful, inasmuch as a common serpent is very disagreeable to men, and such an uncommon and extraordinary one must be very surprising, to see a staff become a serpent, a living one, crawling and leaping about, and perhaps turning itself towards Moses, whose staff it had been. Philo the Jew F11 says, it was a dragon, an exceeding large one.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 Works, vol. 1. p. 702.
F9 Pirke Eliezer, c. 40.
F11 De Vita Mosls, l. 1. 614.

Exodus 4:3 In-Context

1 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?”
2 Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
3 The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
4 Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
5 “This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

Cross References 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.