Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 4:3
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.
3. a serpent ] The marg. ‘Heb. nsh’ is added for the purpose of shewing that the Heb. word used here is different from the one used in Exo 7:10-12 (P); see the marg. there.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A serpent – This miracle had a meaning which Moses could not mistake. The serpent was probably the basilisk or Uraeus, the Cobra. This was the symbol of royal and divine power on the diadem of every Pharaoh. The conversion of the rod was not merely a portent, it was a sign, at once a pledge and representation of victory over the king and gods of Egypt!
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. A serpent] Of what sort we know not, as the word nachash is a general name for serpents, and also means several other things, see Ge 3:1: but it was either of a kind that he had not seen before, or one that he knew to be dangerous; for it is said, he fled from before it. Some suppose the staff was changed into a crocodile; See Clarke on Ex 7:10.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It became a serpent, i.e. was really changed into a serpent; whereby it was intimated what and how pernicious his rod should be to the Egyptians.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he said, cast it on the ground,…. That is, the rod or staff:
and he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; not in appearance only, but in reality, it was changed into a real living serpent; for God, who is the author of nature, can change the nature of things as he pleases; nor is it to be supposed that he would only make it look to the sight as if it was one, by working upon the fancy and imagination to think it was one, when it was not; no doubt but it was as really turned into a true serpent, as the water was turned really and truly into wine by our Lord; this was the first miracle that ever was wrought, that we know of. Dr. Lightfoot h observes, that as a serpent was the fittest emblem of the devil, Ge 3:1 so was it a sign that Moses did not these miracles by the power of the devil, but had a power over and beyond him, when he could thus deal with the serpent at his pleasure, as to make his rod a serpent, and the serpent a rod, as he saw good:
and Moses fled from before it; the Jews say i it was a fiery serpent, but for this they have no warrant: however, without supposing that it might be terrible and frightful, inasmuch as a common serpent is very disagreeable to men, and such an uncommon and extraordinary one must be very surprising, to see a staff become a serpent, a living one, crawling and leaping about, and perhaps turning itself towards Moses, whose staff it had been. Philo the Jew k says, it was a dragon, an exceeding large one.
h Works, vol. 1. p. 702. i Pirke Eliezer, c. 40. k De Vita Mosls, l. 1. 614.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) A serpent.The word here used (nakhash) is a generic one for a snake of any kind, and tells us nothing as to the species. A different word (tannin) is used in Exo. 7:10, while nakhash recurs in Exo. 7:15. Tannin is, like nakhash, a generic term.
And Moses fled from before itIt was natural for Moses to remember his alarm, and record it. Any-later writer would have passed over so small a circumstance. (See the Introduction, p. 3.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 4:3 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.
Ver. 3. And it became a serpent. ] So doth the word to those that cast away the care of it; it stings them with unquestionable conviction and horror. With this rod Moses should guide the Israelites, sting the Egyptians. Isa 14:29 Jer 8:17
And Moses fled from before it,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
He [Jehovah] said, Occurs nine times in Exodus: Exo 4:3, Exo 4:7, Exo 4:14; Exo 15:26; Exo 15:24.; Exo 33:14, Exo 33:19, Exo 33:20; Exo 34:10. Compare notes on Exo 3:7 with Exo 6:10,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
it became: Exo 4:17, Exo 7:10-15, Amo 5:19
Reciprocal: 1Ki 13:3 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 4:3-4. It became a serpent Was really changed into a serpent. There was a significancy in this sign: it intimated what and how pernicious his rod would be to the Egyptians. It became a rod in his hand When stretched forth by the hand of Moses or Aaron, it became a token to Israel of guidance, encouragement, and protection; but to Egypt, like the bite of the most poisonous serpent, it betokened desolating judgments.