Exodus 4 שְׁמוֹת פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Exodus 4 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand answeredמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidוְהֵןve/HENbut beholdלֹא־יַאֲמִינוּlo-ya/a/MI/nuthey will not believeלִיlimeוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁמְעוּyish/me/Uhearkenבְּקֹלִיbe/ko/LIto my voiceכִּיkiforיֹאמְרוּyo/me/RUthey will sayלֹא־נִרְאָהlo-nir/Ahas not appearedאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   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. 2

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORD(מזה)mazah[מַה־זֶּה]ma-zewhat is thisבְיָדֶךָve/ya/DE/khain your handוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמַטֶּה׃mat/TEa staff

   And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהַשְׁלִיכֵהוּhash/li/KHE/hucast itאַרְצָהAR/tsaon the groundוַיַּשְׁלִכֵהוּvay/yash/li/KHE/huand he cast itאַרְצָהAR/tsaon the groundוַיְהִיvay/HIand it becameלְנָחָשׁle/na/CHASHa serpentוַיָּנׇסvay/YA/nosand fledמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesמִפָּנָיו׃mip/pa/NAYVfrom before it

   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. 4

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesשְׁלַחshe/LACHput forthיָדְךָya/de/KHAyour handוֶאֱחֹזve/e/CHOZand takeבִּזְנָבוֹbiz/na/VOby its tailוַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand he put forthיָדוֹya/DOhis handוַיַּחֲזֶקvay/YA/cha/zekand caughtבּוֹboitוַיְהִיvay/HIand it becameלְמַטֶּהle/mat/TEa staffבְּכַפּוֹ׃be/khap/POin his hand

   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. 5

   לְמַעַןle/MA/anthatיַאֲמִינוּya/a/MI/nuthey may believeכִּי־נִרְאָהki-nir/Athat has appearedאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEthe God ofאֲבֹתָםa/vo/TAMtheir fathersאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEthe God ofאַבְרָהָםAv/ra/HAMAbrahamאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEthe God ofיִצְחָקYits/CHAKIsaacוֵאלֹהֵיve/lo/HEand the God ofיַעֲקֹב׃Ya/a/KOVJacob

   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. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלוֹloto himעוֹדodfurthermoreהָבֵא־נָאha/VE-naput nowיָדְךָya/de/KHAyour handבְּחֵיקֶךָbe/che/KE/khainto your bosomוַיָּבֵאvay/ya/VEand he putיָדוֹya/DOhis handבְּחֵיקוֹbe/che/KOinto his bosomוַיּוֹצִאָהּvay/yo/tsi/Aand when he took it outוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdיָדוֹya/DOhis handמְצֹרַעַתme/tso/RA/atwas leprousכַּשָּׁלֶג׃kash/SHA/legas snow

   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. 7

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהָשֵׁבha/SHEVput againיָדְךָya/de/KHAyour handאֶל־חֵיקֶךָel-che/KE/khato your bosomוַיָּשֶׁבvay/YA/shevand he put againיָדוֹya/DOhis handאֶל־חֵיקוֹel-che/KOto his bosomוַיּוֹצִאָהּvay/yo/tsi/Aand he took it outמֵחֵיקוֹme/che/KOfrom his bosomוְהִנֵּה־שָׁבָהve/hin/NE-SHA/vaand behold it was turned againכִּבְשָׂרוֹ׃kiv/sa/ROas his flesh

   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. 8

   וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall come to passאִם־לֹאim-loif notיַאֲמִינוּya/a/MI/nuthey believeלָךְlakhyouוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁמְעוּyish/me/Uhearkenלְקֹלle/KOLto the voice ofהָאֹתha/OTthe signהָרִאשׁוֹןha/ri/SHONthe firstוְהֶאֱמִינוּve/he/e/MI/nuthat they will believeלְקֹלle/KOLto the voice ofהָאֹתha/OTthe signהָאַחֲרוֹן׃ha/a/cha/RONthe latter

   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. 9

   וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall come to passאִם־לֹאim-loif notיַאֲמִינוּya/a/MI/nuthey believeגַּםgamevenלִשְׁנֵיlish/NEto two ofהָאֹתוֹתha/o/TOTthe signsהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁמְעוּןyish/me/UNthey will hearkenלְקֹלֶךָle/ko/LE/khato your voiceוְלָקַחְתָּve/la/kach/TAthen you shall takeמִמֵּימֵיmim/me/MEof the water ofהַיְאֹרHay/ORthe Nileוְשָׁפַכְתָּve/sha/fakh/TAand pour itהַיַּבָּשָׁהhay/yab/ba/SHAupon the dry landוְהָיוּve/ha/YUand shall beהַמַּיִםham/MA/yimthe waterאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichתִּקַּחtik/KACHyou shall takeמִן־הַיְאֹרmin-Hay/ORout of the Nileוְהָיוּve/ha/YUshall becomeלְדָםle/DAMbloodבַּיַּבָּשֶׁת׃bay/yab/BA/shetupon the dry land

   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. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDבִּיbiOאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYLordלֹאlonotאִישׁisha manדְּבָרִיםde/va/RIMof wordsאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIam Iגַּםgamneitherמִתְּמוֹלmit/te/MOLheretoforeגַּםgamneitherמִשִּׁלְשֹׁםmish/shil/SHOMnor the day beforeגַּםgamneitherמֵאָזme/AZsinceדַּבֶּרְךָdab/ber/KHAyou have spokenאֶל־עַבְדֶּךָel-av/DE/khato your servantכִּיkibutכְבַד־פֶּהkhe/VAD-peheavy of mouthוּכְבַדu/khe/VADand heavy ofלָשׁוֹןla/SHONtongueאָנֹכִי׃a/no/KHIam I

    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. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himמִיmiwhoשָׂםsamhas madeפֶּהpea mouthלָאָדָםla/a/DAMfor manאוֹoorמִי־יָשׂוּםmi-ya/SUMwho makesאִלֵּםil/LEMdumbאוֹoorחֵרֵשׁche/RESHdeafאוֹoorפִקֵּחַfik/KE/achseeingאוֹoorעִוֵּרiv/VERblindהֲלֹאha/LOis it notאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIIיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

    And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

12. 12

    וְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowלֵךְlekhgoוְאָנֹכִיve/a/no/KHIand Iאֶהְיֶהeh/YEwill beעִם־פִּיךָim-PI/khawith your mouthוְהוֹרֵיתִיךָve/ho/re/TI/khaand teach youאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhatתְּדַבֵּר׃te/dab/BERyou shall speak

    Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidבִּיbiOאֲדֹנָיa/do/NAYLordשְׁלַח־נָאshe/LACH-nasend I prayבְּיַד־תִּשְׁלָח׃be/YAD-tish/LACHby the hand of whom you will send

    And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14. 14

    וַיִּחַר־אַףvay/YI/char-afand was kindled the anger ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבְּמֹשֶׁהbe/Mo/SHEagainst Mosesוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהֲלֹאha/LOis notאַהֲרֹןA/ha/RONAaronאָחִיךָa/CHI/khayour brotherהַלֵּוִיhal/Le/VIthe Leviteיָדַעְתִּיya/DA/tiI knowכִּי־דַבֵּרki-dab/BERthat speakיְדַבֵּרye/dab/BERcan speakהוּאhuheוְגַםve/GAMand alsoהִנֵּה־הוּאhin/NE-hubehold heיֹצֵאyo/TSEcomes forthלִקְרָאתֶךָlik/ra/TE/khato meet youוְרָאֲךָve/ra/a/KHAand when he sees youוְשָׂמַחve/sa/MACHhe will be gladבְּלִבּוֹ׃be/lib/BOin his heart

    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. 15

    וְדִבַּרְתָּve/dib/bar/TAand you shall speakאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himוְשַׂמְתָּve/sam/TAand putאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםet-had/de/va/RIMthe wordsבְּפִיוbe/FIVin his mouthוְאָנֹכִיve/a/no/KHIand Iאֶהְיֶהeh/YEwill beעִם־פִּיךָim-PI/khawith your mouthוְעִם־פִּיהוּve/IM-PI/huand with his mouthוְהוֹרֵיתִיve/ho/re/TIand will teachאֶתְכֶםet/KHEMyouאֵת־אֲשֶׁרet-a/SHERwhatתַּעֲשׂוּן׃ta/a/SUNyou shall do

    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. 16

    וְדִבֶּר־הוּאve/dib/BER-huand he shall speakלְךָle/KHAfor youאֶל־הָעָםel-ha/AMto the peopleוְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall come to passהוּאhuheיִהְיֶה־לְּךָyih/YE-le/KHAhe shall be to youלְפֶהle/FEfor a mouthוְאַתָּהve/at/TAand youתִּהְיֶה־לּוֹtih/YE-loshall be to himלֵאלֹהִים׃le/lo/HIMas God

    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. 17

    וְאֶת־הַמַּטֶּהve/ET-ham/mat/TEand the staffהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisתִּקַּחtik/KACHyou shall takeבְּיָדֶךָbe/ya/DE/khain your handאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwith whichתַּעֲשֶׂה־בּוֹta/a/SE-boyou shall do with itאֶת־הָאֹתֹת׃et-ha/o/TOTthe signs

    And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

18. 18

    וַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesוַיָּשׇׁבvay/YA/shovand returnedאֶל־יֶתֶרel-YE/terto Jetherחֹתְנוֹchot/NOhis father-in-lawוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלוֹloto himאֵלְכָהel/KHAlet me goנָּאnaI prayוְאָשׁוּבָהve/a/SHU/vaand returnאֶל־אַחַיel-a/CHAYto my brethrenאֲשֶׁר־בְּמִצְרַיִםa/SHER-Be/mits/RA/yimwho are in Egyptוְאֶרְאֶהve/er/Eand seeהַעוֹדָםha/o/DAMwhether they are yetחַיִּיםchay/YIMaliveוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיִתְרוֹYit/ROJethroלְמֹשֶׁהle/Mo/SHEto Mosesלֵךְlekhgoלְשָׁלוֹם׃le/sha/LOMin peace

    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. 19

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesבְּמִדְיָןbe/Mid/YANin MidianלֵךְlekhgoשֻׁבshuvreturnמִצְרָיִםMits/RA/yimto Egyptכִּי־מֵתוּki-ME/tufor are deadכׇּל־הָאֲנָשִׁיםkol-ha/a/na/SHIMall the menהַמְבַקְשִׁיםham/vak/SHIMwho soughtאֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ׃et-naf/SHE/khayour life

    And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

20. 20

    וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹet-ish/TOhis wifeוְאֶת־בָּנָיוve/ET-ba/NAYVand his sonsוַיַּרְכִּבֵםvay/yar/ki/VEMand set themעַל־הַחֲמֹרal-ha/cha/MORupon the donkeyוַיָּשׇׁבvay/YA/shovand he returnedאַרְצָהAR/tsato the land ofמִצְרָיִםMits/RA/yimEgyptוַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֶת־מַטֵּהet-mat/TEthe staff ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodבְּיָדוֹ׃be/ya/DOin his hand

    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. 21

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesבְּלֶכְתְּךָbe/lekh/te/KHAwhen you goלָשׁוּבla/SHUVto returnמִצְרַיְמָהMits/RAY/mato Egyptרְאֵהre/Eseeכׇּל־הַמֹּפְתִיםkol-ham/mof/TIMall the wondersאֲשֶׁר־שַׂמְתִּיa/SHER-SAM/tiwhich I have setבְיָדֶךָve/ya/DE/khain your handוַעֲשִׂיתָםva/a/si/TAMthat you do themלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeפַרְעֹהFar/OPharaohוַאֲנִיva/a/NIand Iאֲחַזֵּקa/chaz/ZEKwill hardenאֶת־לִבּוֹet-lib/BOhis heartוְלֹאve/LOand notיְשַׁלַּחye/shal/LACHhe shall let goאֶת־הָעָם׃et-ha/AMthe people

    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. 22

    וְאָמַרְתָּve/a/mar/TAand you shall sayאֶל־פַּרְעֹהel-Par/Oto Pharaohכֹּהkothusאָמַרa/MARsaysיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבְּנִיbe/NImy sonבְכֹרִיve/kho/RImy firstbornיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELis Israel

    And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

23. 23

    וָאֹמַרva/o/MARand I sayאֵלֶיךָe/LE/khato youשַׁלַּחshal/LACHlet goאֶת־בְּנִיet-be/NImy sonוְיַעַבְדֵנִיve/ya/av/DE/nithat he may serve meוַתְּמָאֵןvat/te/ma/ENand if you refuseלְשַׁלְּחוֹle/shal/le/CHOto let him goהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIIהֹרֵגho/REGwill slayאֶת־בִּנְךָet-bin/KHAyour sonבְּכֹרֶךָ׃be/kho/RE/khayour firstborn

    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. 24

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבַדֶּרֶךְvad/DE/rekhon the wayבַּמָּלוֹןbam/ma/LONat the lodging placeוַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּvay/yif/ge/SHE/huthat met himיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיְבַקֵּשׁvay/vak/KESHand soughtהֲמִיתוֹ׃ha/mi/TOto kill him

    And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

25. 25

    וַתִּקַּחvat/tik/KACHthen tookצִפֹּרָהTsip/po/RAZipporahצֹרtsora flintוַתִּכְרֹתvat/tikh/ROTand cut offאֶת־עׇרְלַתet-or/LATthe foreskin ofבְּנָהּbe/NAher sonוַתַּגַּעvat/tag/GAand touched itלְרַגְלָיוle/rag/LAYVto his feetוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidכִּיkisurelyחֲתַן־דָּמִיםcha/TAN-da/MIMa bridegroom of bloodאַתָּהat/TAare youלִי׃lito me

    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. 26

    וַיִּרֶףvay/YI/refso He let goמִמֶּנּוּmim/MEN/nuof himאָזazthenאָמְרָהa/me/RAshe saidחֲתַןcha/TANa bridegroom ofדָּמִיםda/MIMbloodלַמּוּלֹת׃lam/mu/LOTbecause of the circumcision

    So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

27. 27

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־אַהֲרֹןel-A/ha/RONto Aaronלֵךְlekhgoלִקְרַאתlik/RATto meetמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesהַמִּדְבָּרָהham/mid/BA/rainto the wildernessוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentוַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּvay/yif/ge/SHE/huand met himבְּהַרbe/HARin the mount ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוַיִּשַּׁק־לוֹ׃vay/yish/SHAK-loand kissed him

    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. 28

    וַיַּגֵּדvay/yag/GEDand toldמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesלְאַהֲרֹןLe/a/ha/RONAaronאֵת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵיet-kol-div/REall the words ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichשְׁלָחוֹshe/la/CHOhad sent himוְאֵתve/ETandכׇּל־הָאֹתֹתkol-ha/o/TOTall the signsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichצִוָּהוּ׃tsiv/VA/huHe had commanded him

    And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

29. 29

    וַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesוְאַהֲרֹןve/A/ha/RONand Aaronוַיַּאַסְפוּvay/ya/as/FUand gathered togetherאֶת־כׇּל־זִקְנֵיet-kol-zik/NEall the elders ofבְּנֵיbe/NEthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

    And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

30. 30

    וַיְדַבֵּרvay/dab/BERand spokeאַהֲרֹןA/ha/RONAaronאֵת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִיםet-kol-had/de/va/RIMall the wordsאֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּרa/SHER-dib/BERwhich had spokenיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didהָאֹתֹתha/o/TOTthe signsלְעֵינֵיle/e/NEin the sight ofהָעָם׃ha/AMthe people

    And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

31. 31

    וַיַּאֲמֵןvay/ya/a/MENand believedהָעָםha/AMthe peopleוַיִּשְׁמְעוּvay/yish/me/Uand when they heardכִּי־פָקַדki-fa/KADthat had visitedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־בְּנֵיet-be/NEthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelוְכִיve/KHIand thatרָאָהra/AHe had looked uponאֶת־עׇנְיָםet-on/YAMtheir afflictionוַיִּקְּדוּvay/yik/ke/DUthen they bowed their headsוַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ׃vay/yish/ta/cha/VUand they worshiped

    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.