Exodus 4:20
So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The text highlights Moses taking the "rod of God," not just his shepherd's staff, emphasizing that its power and purpose have shifted from personal use to divine authority for Israel's liberation. This transformation transforms a symbol of his past life into the instrument of God's miraculous intervention.
Having received God's commission and permission from his father-in-law, Moses now prepares for his return to Egypt, bringing his wife and sons with him. He entrusts them to a donkey, a humble mode of transport, while he takes hold of the "rod of God," the symbol of divine power he will use to confront Pharaoh and liberate Israel.
Moses is heading back to Egypt, but not alone! What does bringing his family show about his faith and his mission?
As Moses prepares to confront Pharaoh, he brings his wife Zipporah and their sons, Gershom and Eliezer. This isn't just a casual family trip; it's a profound statement of faith.
A Public Declaration
By taking his family, Moses publicly commits to his new calling. He's not just acting on a personal revelation but embarking on a mission that will impact his entire household. This shows he believes God's promises are real enough to bring his loved ones into the heart of the danger.
Trust in Provision
While the commentators note the humble means – a single donkey – it highlights Moses' trust. He relies on God's power and provision, not on worldly status or comfort. This act underscores that his strength comes not from his own resources but from the divine power accompanying him.
Moses picks up 'the rod of God.' What makes this shepherd's staff so significant, and how does it represent God's power?
The simple shepherd's staff in Moses' hand is transformed into 'the rod of God.' This transition is crucial to understanding God's power and Moses' role.
From Shepherd to Sign
This rod was formerly Moses' tool for managing his sheep in Midian. Now, it becomes a symbol and instrument of God's divine power, a tangible sign of God's authority and presence. It represents God's ability to protect, guide, and act decisively.
Divine Power, Humble Means
The commentators emphasize that the rod itself has no inherent power. Its effectiveness comes solely from God. The choice of such a humble, ordinary object to perform extraordinary miracles powerfully illustrates that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. It’s a stark contrast to the grandeur Pharaoh might expect, showing God’s victory doesn't depend on worldly might.
Understand the original words
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
Used to describe the staff that God empowered, signifying that the authority and power contained within the object belong entirely to God, not the human bearer. It highlights that Moses was merely an instrument of divine sovereign agency.
This passage captures Moses' return journey to Egypt, a pivotal moment where he transitions from a humble shepherd to God's appointed deliverer. The presence of his family and the symbolic 'rod of God' highlight the personal and divine weight of his mission.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Marries Zipporah
Moses marries Zipporah, daughter of Jethro, a priest in Midian. He lives as a shepherd for 40 years in this land.
c. 1406 BC
The Burning Bush Experience
God appears to Moses in a burning bush in Midian, commissioning him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery.
c. 1406 BC
Moses Seeks Permission to Leave Midian
Moses asks Jethro for permission to return to Egypt to check on his people, securing his father-in-law's reluctant blessing.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Moses Departs Midian with Family
Moses, accompanied by his wife Zipporah and their sons Gershom and Eliezer, begins his journey back to Egypt with the 'rod of God' in hand.
This passage echoes the importance of the 'rod of God' by showing it as the instrument through which God will speak to Pharaoh, underscoring its symbolic power and divine authority.
Numbers 20:8-11Here we see Moses again using the 'rod of God,' this time to strike a rock and bring forth water for the people. It highlights the rod's continued use as a tool for divine provision and power, though with a different outcome for Moses himself later.
Psalm 23:4The imagery of God's 'rod and staff' comforting the psalmist provides a powerful parallel to Moses' shepherd's staff, transforming it into a symbol of divine protection and guidance for both Moses and the people of Israel.
Hebrews 11:24-26This New Testament passage frames Moses' choice to identify with the suffering people of God, rather than the treasures of Egypt. His taking his family and the 'rod of God' reflects this decision to embrace God's call, even with humble means.
clarkeExodus 4:20: "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."
His wife and his sons - Both Gershom and Eliezer, though the birth of the latter has not yet been mentioned in the Hebrew text. See Clarke's note on Exodus 2:22 . Set them upon an ass - The Septuagint reads the word in the plural, εκι τα ὑποζυγια, upon asses, as it certainly required more than one to carry Zipporah, Gershom, and Eliezer…
gillExodus 4:20: "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."
And Moses took his wife, and his sons,.... Gershom and Eliezer; by which it appears that he intended to stay in Egypt, and that he believed that God would work deliverance by him: and set them upon an ass: which though with us a mean creature, yet in those times and countries were rode upon by great personages; and these, as Aben Ezra sa…
The text highlights Moses taking the "rod of God," not just his shepherd's staff, emphasizing that its power and purpose have shifted from personal use to divine authority for Israel's liberation. This transformation transforms a symbol of his past life into the instrument of God's miraculous intervention.
Having received God's commission and permission from his father-in-law, Moses now prepares for his return to Egypt, bringing his wife and sons with him. He entrusts them to a donkey, a humble mode of transport, while he takes hold of the "rod of God," the symbol of divine power he will use to confront Pharaoh and liberate Israel.
Having received God's commission and permission from his father-in-law, Moses now prepares for his return to Egypt, bringing his wife and sons with him. He entrusts them to a donkey, a humble mode of transport, while he takes hold of the "rod of God," the symbol of divine power he will use to confront Pharaoh and liberate Israel.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Exodus 4:20 is available in the Sola app.
c. 1406 BC
Encounter at the Passover Inn
On the journey, God confronts Moses, seemingly because his sons are not yet circumcised, and Zipporah circumcises their son Eliezer to avert disaster.
c. 1406 BC
Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh
Upon arriving in Egypt, Moses and his brother Aaron confront Pharaoh, demanding that he let the Israelites go.
"So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand." — The text highlights Moses taking the "rod of God," not just his shepherd's staff, emphasizing that its power and purpose have shifted from personal use to divine authority for Israel's liberation. Th…
