Exodus 4:4
"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:"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And the Lord said to Moses, put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail,.... Which to do might seem most dangerous, since it might turn upon him and bite him; this was ordered, partly that Moses might be assured it was really a serpent, and not in appearance only; and partly to try his courage, and it

suggested to him, that he need not be afraid of it, it would not hurt him: the above learned doctor observes (l), that he is commanded to take it by the tail; for to meddle with the serpent's head belonged not to Moses, but to Christ that spake to him out of the bush: and he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand; as it was before. Some think this refers to the threefold state of the Israelites, first to their flourishing estate under Joseph, when they were as a rod or staff, then to their dejected state, by this rod cast to the ground, and become a serpent, and lastly to their restoration and liberty, by its becoming a rod again: others refer it to Christ, who is the power of God, and the rod of his strength, and who in his state of humiliation was like this rod, cast to the ground and became a serpent, of which the brazen serpent was a type, and who by his resurrection from the dead regained his former power; but perhaps they may be most right who think it refers to the service and ministry of Moses, which seemed terrible to him at first, like a hurtful serpent, from which he fled; but after he was confirmed by the word of God, he readily undertook it. (l) De Vita Mosis, l. 1. 614.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (14 words)

H0559 אָמַר
Definition:

1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe 1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe

Possible Meanings:
  • lamb (semantic_range)
H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H4872 משֶׁה
Definition:

10, wheresee also older (abandoned) etymology); —׳מExodus 2:10+משֶׁ֑הExodus 2:15+; name occurs 706 t. in Hexateuch (Exodus 290 t, Leviticus 86 t., Numbers 233 t., Deuteronomy 38 t., Joshua 59 t.),Judg 10, wheresee also older (abandoned) etymology); —׳מExodus 2:10+משֶׁ֑הExodus 2:15+; name occurs 706 t. in Hexateuch (Exodus 290 t, Leviticus 86 t., Numbers 233 t., Deuteronomy 38 t., Joshua 59 t.),Judg

Possible Meanings:
  • Moses (semantic_range)
H7971 שָׁלַח
Definition:

18 +; Aramaicשְׁלַךְ,, SoBuhlBaEs 41compare Arabic(r = l),send forth, drivecattle to pasture,send messenger, etc., but then different √ for I.שֶׁלַךְ, Arabic,weapon; Assyrian probablyšalû(send, hurl?) 18 +; Aramaicשְׁלַךְ,, SoBuhlBaEs 41compare Arabic(r = l),send forth, drivecattle to pasture,send messenger, etc., but then different √ for I.שֶׁלַךְ, Arabic,weapon; Assyrian probablyšalû(send, hurl?)

H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H0270 אָחַז
Definition:

14+;אָֽחֲזָהJob 23:11;Isaiah 33:14; suffixאֲחָזַנִי2 Samuel 1:9; 1singular suffixאֲחַזְתִּיוSongs 3:4,etc.;ImperfectיאֹחֵזJob 17:9+;וַיּ֫אֹחֶז2 Samuel 6:6; 3feminine singularתּאֹחֵזDeuteronomy 32:41;ו 14+;אָֽחֲזָהJob 23:11;Isaiah 33:14; suffixאֲחָזַנִי2 Samuel 1:9; 1singular suffixאֲחַזְתִּיוSongs 3:4,etc.;ImperfectיאֹחֵזJob 17:9+;וַיּ֫אֹחֶז2 Samuel 6:6; 3feminine singularתּאֹחֵזDeuteronomy 32:41;ו

Possible Meanings:
  • he has grasped (semantic_range)
H2180 זָנָב
Definition:

4tail, also (figurative)end, stump(Late Hebrewid., AssyrianzibbatuHomNS 368, EthiopicArabic, Aramaic,דּוּנְבָּא,דַּנְבָּא) —׳זabsoluteJudges 15:4(twice in verse) + 5 t.; suffixזְנָבוֺJob 40:17; plural 4tail, also (figurative)end, stump(Late Hebrewid., AssyrianzibbatuHomNS 368, EthiopicArabic, Aramaic,דּוּנְבָּא,דַּנְבָּא) —׳זabsoluteJudges 15:4(twice in verse) + 5 t.; suffixזְנָבוֺJob 40:17; plural

Possible Meanings:
  • cut off (semantic_range)
  • smite (semantic_range)
  • the tail (semantic_range)
H7971 שָׁלַח
Definition:

18 +; Aramaicשְׁלַךְ,, SoBuhlBaEs 41compare Arabic(r = l),send forth, drivecattle to pasture,send messenger, etc., but then different √ for I.שֶׁלַךְ, Arabic,weapon; Assyrian probablyšalû(send, hurl?) 18 +; Aramaicשְׁלַךְ,, SoBuhlBaEs 41compare Arabic(r = l),send forth, drivecattle to pasture,send messenger, etc., but then different √ for I.שֶׁלַךְ, Arabic,weapon; Assyrian probablyšalû(send, hurl?)

H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H2388 חָזַק
Definition:

574t.;חָזָק֑2Chronicles 26:15; suffixחֲזָקוֺ2Chronicles 28:20, etc.;Imperfectיֶהֱז֑ק2Chronicles 28:7 (Baer) + 2 t.;וַיֶּחֱזַקGenesis 41:56+;יֶחֶזְקוּ2 Samuel 10:112t.;יֶחְזְקוּIsaiah 28:22;Imperativeח 574t.;חָזָק֑2Chronicles 26:15; suffixחֲזָקוֺ2Chronicles 28:20, etc.;Imperfectיֶהֱז֑ק2Chronicles 28:7 (Baer) + 2 t.;וַיֶּחֱזַקGenesis 41:56+;יֶחֶזְקוּ2 Samuel 10:112t.;יֶחְזְקוּIsaiah 28:22;Imperativeח

Possible Meanings:
  • strength (semantic_range)
H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)
H4294 מַטֶּה
Definition:

17(feminineMicah 6:9according toᵑ0, but dubious, see below)1staff, rod, shaft.2branch.3tribe(Ecclus 48:2staff, Ecclesiasticus 45:6; Ecclesiasticus 45:25tribe); — absolute׳מGenesis 38:25+; constructמַט 17(feminineMicah 6:9according toᵑ0, but dubious, see below)1staff, rod, shaft.2branch.3tribe(Ecclus 48:2staff, Ecclesiasticus 45:6; Ecclesiasticus 45:25tribe); — absolute׳מGenesis 38:25+; constructמַט

Possible Meanings:
  • that which is perverted (semantic_range)
  • perverted justice (semantic_range)
H3709 כַּף
Definition:

54hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, pan(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicid.,Assyriankappu, hand, pan, kippatu, hollow;Arabicpalm, hand) — absolute׳כJob 29:9+, so read probably alsoEzekiel 29:7b 54hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, pan(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicid.,Assyriankappu, hand, pan, kippatu, hollow;Arabicpalm, hand) — absolute׳כJob 29:9+, so read probably alsoEzekiel 29:7b

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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