Exodus 4:3 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses drew back from it.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he did so and it became a serpent [the symbol of royal and divine power worn on the crown of the Pharaohs]; and Moses fled from before it.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Common English Bible

The LORD said, “Throw it down on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it turned into a snake. Moses jumped back from it.

Catholic Public Domain Version

And the Lord said, "Cast it down upon the ground." He cast it down, and it was turned into a snake, so that Moses fled away.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

And the Lord said: Cast it down upon the ground. He cast it down, and it was turned into a serpent: so that Moses fled from it.

Exodus 4:3 Cross References

Exodus 4:17

Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”

Exodus 4:4

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and seize it by the tail”—so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand—

Exodus 7:9

“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a wonder,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.’ ”

Amos 5:19

as if someone fled from a lion and was met by a bear or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall and was bitten by a snake.