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

³ 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

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

³ 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)

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.

Common English Bible

³ 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

³ 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

³ 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.