Exodus 4

English Standard Version

from Crossway
1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” (Ex 4:17; Ex 4:20)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.4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—5 “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.” (Ex 3:6; Ex 19:9)6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.”[1] And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous[2] like snow. (Nu 12:10; 2Ki 5:27)7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. (2Ki 5:14)8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” (Ex 7:19)10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Ex 6:12; Jer 1:6)11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Ex 3:12; Isa 50:4; Jer 1:9; Eze 33:22; Mt 10:19; Mr 13:11; Lu 12:11; Lu 21:15)13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. (Ex 4:27)15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. (Ex 4:12; Ex 7:1; Nu 22:38; Nu 23:5; Nu 23:12; Nu 23:16; De 18:18; 2Sa 14:3; 2Sa 14:19; Isa 51:16)16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. (Ex 4:30; Ex 7:1; Ex 18:19)17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.” (Ex 4:2; Ex 7:15)18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” (Ex 2:18)19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” (Ex 2:15; Ex 2:23; Mt 2:20)20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. (Ex 17:9; Ex 18:2; Nu 20:8)21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. (Ex 3:20; Ex 7:13; Ex 7:22; Ex 8:15; Ex 8:32; Ex 9:12; Ex 9:35; Ex 10:1; Ex 14:8; De 2:30; Jos 11:20; Isa 63:17; Ro 9:17)22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, (Jer 31:9; Ho 11:1)23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” (Ex 11:5; Ex 12:29)24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. (Ge 17:14; Nu 22:22; 1Ch 21:16)25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’[3] feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” (Ex 2:21; Jos 5:2)26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. (Ex 3:1; Ex 4:14)28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. (Ex 4:3; Ex 4:15)29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. (Ex 3:16)30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. (Ex 4:16)31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. (Ge 24:26; Ex 2:25; Ex 3:7; Ex 3:16; Ex 3:18; Ex 4:8; Ex 12:27; 1Ch 29:20)

Exodus 4

New International Version

from Biblica
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.’6 Then the Lord said, ‘Put your hand inside your cloak.’ So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous[1] – it had become as white as snow.7 ‘Now put it back into your cloak,’ he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.8 Then the Lord said, ‘If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second.9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.’10 Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’11 The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’13 But Moses said, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.’14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.17 But take this staff in your hand so that you can perform the signs with it.’18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, ‘Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.’ Jethro said, ‘Go, and I wish you well.’19 Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, ‘Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.’20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.21 The Lord said to Moses, ‘When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.22 Then say to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,23 and I told you, ‘Let my son go, so that he may worship me.’ But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.” ’24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses[2] and was about to kill him.25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it.[3] ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said.26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said ‘bridegroom of blood’, referring to circumcision.)27 The Lord said to Aaron, ‘Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.’ So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites,30 and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people,31 and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped.

Exodus 4

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica
1 Moses answered, ‘What if the elders of Israel won’t believe me? What if they won’t listen to me? Suppose they say, “The LORD didn’t appear to you.” Then what should I do?’2 The LORD said to him, ‘What do you have in your hand?’ ‘A walking stick,’ he said.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.4 Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Reach your hand out. Take the snake by the tail.’ So he reached out and grabbed the snake. It turned back into a walking stick in his hand.5 The LORD said, ‘When they see this sign, they will believe that I appeared to you. I am the LORD, the God of their fathers. I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.’6 Then the LORD said, ‘Put your hand inside your coat.’ So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took it out, the skin had become as white as snow. His hand was covered with a skin disease.7 ‘Now put it back into your coat,’ the LORD said. So Moses put his hand back into his coat. When he took it out, the skin was healthy again. His hand was like the rest of his skin.8 Then the LORD said, ‘Suppose they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign. Then maybe they will believe the second one.9 But suppose they do not believe either sign. Suppose they will not listen to you. Then get some water from the River Nile. Pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will turn into blood on the ground.’10 Moses spoke to the LORD. He said, ‘Lord, I’ve never been a good speaker. And I haven’t got any better since you spoke to me. I don’t speak very well at all.’11 The LORD said to him, ‘Who makes human beings able to talk? Who makes them unable to hear or speak? Who makes them able to see? Who makes them blind? It is I, the LORD.12 Now go. I will help you speak. I will teach you what to say.’13 But Moses said, ‘Lord, please send someone else to do it.’14 Then the LORD became very angry with Moses. He said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you. He will be glad to see you.15 Speak to him. Tell him what to say. I will help both of you speak. I will teach you what to do.16 He will speak to the people for you. He will be like your mouth. And you will be like God to him.17 But take this walking stick in your hand. You will be able to do signs with it.’18 Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro. He said to him, ‘Let me return to my own people in Egypt. I want to see if any of them are still alive.’ Jethro said, ‘Go. I hope everything goes well with you.’19 The LORD had said to Moses in Midian, ‘Go back to Egypt. All those who wanted to kill you are dead.’20 So Moses got his wife and sons. He put them on a donkey. Together they started back to Egypt. And he took the walking stick in his hand. It was the stick God would use in a powerful way.21 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, ‘When you return to Egypt, do all the amazing things I have given you the power to do. Do them in the sight of Pharaoh. But I will make him stubborn. He will not let the people go.22 Then say to Pharaoh, “The LORD says, ‘Israel is like an eldest son to me.23 I told you, “Let my son go. Then he will be able to worship me.” But you refused to let him go. So I will kill your eldest son.’ ” ’24 On the way to Egypt, Moses stopped for the night. There the LORD met him and was about to kill him.25 But Zipporah got a knife made out of flint. She circumcised her son with it. Then she touched Moses’ feet with the skin she had cut off. ‘Surely, you are a husband who has forced me to spill my son’s blood,’ she said.26 So the LORD didn’t kill Moses. When she said ‘husband who has forced me to spill my son’s blood,’ she was talking about circumcision.27 The LORD said to Aaron, ‘Go into the desert to see Moses.’ So Aaron greeted Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say. Moses also told him about all the signs the LORD had commanded him to do.29 Moses and Aaron gathered all the elders of Israel together.30 Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs in the sight of the people.31 And they believed. They heard that the LORD was concerned about them. He had seen their suffering. So they bowed down and worshipped him.

Exodus 4

King James Version

1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.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.4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.6 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.7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land : and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land .10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man' mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? 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.15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.18 And 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 which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.20 And 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.21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art , because of the circumcision.27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Exodus 4

Einheitsübersetzung 2016

from Katholisches Bibelwerk
1 Mose antwortete: Was aber, wenn sie mir nicht glauben und nicht auf mich hören, sondern sagen: Der HERR ist dir nicht erschienen?2 Der HERR entgegnete ihm: Was hast du da in der Hand? Er antwortete: einen Stab.3 Da sagte er: Wirf ihn auf die Erde! Er warf ihn auf die Erde. Da wurde er zu einer Schlange und Mose wich vor ihr zurück.4 Der HERR aber sprach zu Mose: Streck deine Hand aus und fasse sie am Schwanz! Er streckte seine Hand aus und packte sie. Da wurde sie in seiner Hand wieder zu einem Stab.5 So sollen sie glauben, dass dir der HERR erschienen ist, der Gott ihrer Väter, der Gott Abrahams, der Gott Isaaks und der Gott Jakobs.6 Weiter sprach der HERR zu ihm: Leg deine Hand in deinen Gewandbausch! Er legte seine Hand hinein. Als er sie herauszog, war seine Hand von Aussatz weiß wie Schnee.7 Darauf sagte er: Leg deine Hand noch einmal in deinen Gewandbausch! Er legte seine Hand noch einmal hinein. Als er sie wieder herauszog, siehe, da war sie wieder unversehrt.8 Wenn sie dir nicht glauben und sich durch das erste Zeichen nicht überzeugen lassen, werden sie auf das zweite Zeichen hin glauben.9 Glauben sie aber selbst nach diesen beiden Zeichen nicht und hören nicht auf dich, dann nimm etwas Nilwasser und schütt es auf trockenen Boden! Das Wasser, das du aus dem Nil geholt hast, wird auf dem Boden zu Blut werden.10 Doch Mose sagte zum HERRN: Aber bitte, Herr, ich bin keiner, der gut reden kann, weder gestern noch vorgestern, noch seitdem du mit deinem Knecht sprichst. Mein Mund und meine Zunge sind nämlich schwerfällig.11 Der HERR entgegnete ihm: Wer hat dem Menschen den Mund gegeben und wer macht taub oder stumm, sehend oder blind? Doch wohl ich, der HERR!12 Geh also! Ich bin mit deinem Mund und weise dich an, was du reden sollst. (De 18:18)13 Doch Mose antwortete: Aber bitte, Herr, sende doch, wen du senden willst!14 Da entbrannte der Zorn des HERRN über Mose und er sprach: Hast du nicht noch einen Bruder, den Leviten Aaron? Ich weiß, er kann reden; außerdem bricht er gerade auf und wird dir begegnen. Wenn er dich sieht, wird er sich von Herzen freuen.15 Sprich mit ihm und leg ihm die Worte in den Mund! Ich aber werde mit deinem und seinem Mund sein, ich werde euch anweisen, was ihr tun sollt,16 und er wird für dich zum Volk reden. Er wird für dich der Mund sein und du wirst für ihn Gott sein.17 Diesen Stab nimm in deine Hand! Mit ihm wirst du die Zeichen vollbringen.18 Darauf kehrte Mose zu seinem Schwiegervater Jitro zurück. Er sagte zu ihm: Ich will zu meinen Brüdern nach Ägypten zurückkehren. Ich will sehen, ob sie noch am Leben sind. Jitro antwortete Mose: Geh in Frieden![1] (Ex 2:18; Ex 3:1)19 Der HERR sprach zu Mose in Midian: Mach dich auf und kehr nach Ägypten zurück; denn alle, die dir nach dem Leben getrachtet haben, sind tot.20 Da holte Mose seine Frau und seine Söhne, setzte sie auf einen Esel und trat den Rückweg nach Ägypten an. Den Gottesstab hielt Mose in der Hand.21 Der HERR sprach zu Mose: Wenn du gehst und nach Ägypten zurückkehrst, halte dir alle Wunder vor Augen, die ich in deine Hand gelegt habe, und vollbring sie vor dem Pharao! Ich will sein Herz verhärten, sodass er das Volk nicht ziehen lässt.22 Dann sag zum Pharao: So spricht der HERR: Israel ist mein erstgeborener Sohn.23 Ich sage dir: Lass meinen Sohn ziehen, damit er mir dienen kann! Wenn du dich weigerst, ihn ziehen zu lassen, bringe ich deinen erstgeborenen Sohn um.24 Unterwegs am Rastplatz trat der HERR dem Mose entgegen und wollte ihn töten.25 Zippora ergriff einen Feuerstein und schnitt ihrem Sohn die Vorhaut ab. Damit berührte sie seine Füße und sagte: Ein Blutbräutigam bist du mir.26 Da ließ er von ihm ab. Blutbräutigam sagte sie damals wegen der Beschneidung.27 Der HERR sprach zu Aaron: Geh hinaus in die Wüste, Mose entgegen! Da ging er. Am Gottesberg traf er ihn und küsste ihn.28 Mose erzählte Aaron von dem Auftrag, mit dem der HERR ihn gesandt hatte, und von allen Zeichen, zu denen er ihn ermächtigt hatte.29 Mose und Aaron gingen und versammelten alle Ältesten der Israeliten.30 Aaron wiederholte vor ihnen alle Worte, die der HERR zu Mose gesprochen hatte, und er vollbrachte die Zeichen vor den Augen des Volkes.31 Da glaubte das Volk, und als sie hörten, dass der HERR sich der Israeliten angenommen und ihr Elend gesehen habe, verneigten sie sich und warfen sich vor ihm nieder. (Ex 14:31)