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Exodus 4:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 4:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs.
Exodus 4:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? 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.
15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.
17And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs.
18And 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 that are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
19And Jehovah said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.
20And 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 4:16Exodus 4:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shall take this rod in thine hand, etc.] Which he then had in his hand, and was no other than his shepherd’s staff: wherewith thou shall do signs: wondrous things, meaning the ten plagues inflicted on Egypt.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Take this rod - The staff or crook he carried as a shepherd, that he might not be ashamed of that mean condition out of which God called him. This rod must be his staff of authority, and must be to him instead, both of sword and sceptre. Exodus 4:19”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 4:2, Exo 7:9, Exo 7:19; Co1 1:27 Exodus 4:18”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification