Exodus 4:6-7
Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "leprous like snow" isn't just describing a disease; it's highlighting God's power to bring about the absolute opposite of life and health, and then restore it just as quickly. This stark contrast between whiteness and the vitality of living flesh was meant to show Moses and the Israelites that God could instantly bring ruin or renewal.
Moses is at a loss for how to convince the Israelites he's been sent by God, so the Lord gives him two powerful signs. After the rod turning into a serpent, God instructs Moses to put his hand inside his cloak, and when he pulls it out, it's covered in a terrifying, snow-white leprosy. This shocking transformation, meant to demonstrate God's power over life and disease, is followed immediately by God telling Moses to put his hand back in, where it's miraculously healed.
Moses faced a huge task: leading a nation out of slavery. But his own doubts were a major hurdle. God met him with a miracle that was both terrifying and beautiful.
When God first called Moses, Moses hesitated, fearing the Israelites wouldn't believe him. God responded by giving Moses two powerful signs.
The Serpent Rod
The first sign involved Moses's shepherd's staff. When he threw it down, it transformed into a serpent. Moses, terrified, fled from it. Then, God commanded him to pick it up by its tail.
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The Leprous Hand
For the second sign, God instructed Moses to put his hand inside his cloak. When he pulled it out, his hand was covered in a snow-white leprosy.
The miracles God gave Moses weren't just for show; they were powerful demonstrations of divine authority meant to convince a stubborn people and a mighty king.
The two signs given to Moses—the rod becoming a serpent and his hand turning leprous—were profound displays of God's sovereign power over His creation.
Power Over Nature
The transformation of Moses's staff into a serpent and back again wasn't mere illusion. It showed God's ability to alter the very nature of things He created. This power was a credential for Moses, proving he was sent by God. It also served as a stark warning to the Egyptians: the God of Israel held dominion over the forces they might have relied on, including the natural world.
Power Over Purity
The leprosy that afflicted Moses's hand was a disease deeply feared and associated with impurity and divine displeasure. Its sudden appearance and disappearance powerfully illustrated that God alone held the power to bring about uncleanness and to cleanse it. This was especially significant given the Israelites' own state, often seen as 'leprous' in their sin and oppression. The miracle promised that through God's intervention, they could be made pure and whole again.
Credential and Warning
These signs were designed to equip Moses for his daunting task. They were meant to bolster his faith and to compel belief from both the Israelites and the Egyptians. The instantaneous and unnatural nature of these transformations set them apart from anything human power could achieve, marking them as divine interventions.
Moses wasn't an instant hero. He wrestled with doubt and fear. Yet, God didn't abandon him; instead, He patiently equipped him for the mission.
Exodus 4:6 reveals a pivotal moment in Moses's calling, showcasing both his human frailty and God's unwavering faithfulness.
Moses's Reluctance
The narrative highlights Moses's hesitance. He feared that the Israelites, accustomed to hardship and likely spiritually dulled, would not believe his message. This wasn't outright rebellion, but a deep-seated timidity born from his forty years in exile and his awareness of the people's potential hardened hearts. He was willing, but his faith wavered in the face of immense challenges.
God's Patient Provision
God's response was not one of rebuke but of patient provision. He offered Moses not just one, but a series of signs, each designed to build Moses's confidence and to serve as undeniable proof for the people. The transformation of his hand into a leprous state and then back to normal flesh demonstrated God's ultimate control and power over affliction and healing.
Strengthening Faith
These miracles were meant to be more than just external spectacles. They were internal strengtheners for Moses. By experiencing God's power directly, even in a frightening way, Moses could begin to trust that the same power would work through him. It was a way for God to say, 'I understand your fear, but I am with you, and My power is sufficient.'
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the one true God, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping nature. It is the name by which He made Himself known to His people.
metsora'ath · Hebrew Adjective
A collective term for various skin diseases in the Bible. It often symbolizes uncleanness, separation from the community, and the consequences of sin, requiring divine intervention for restoration.
This passage describes the specific appearance of leprosy, particularly the 'white leprosy' which had 'white hair' and the appearance of being 'deeper than the skin,' directly relating to the description of Moses' hand being 'leprous like snow.'
2 Kings 5:7This passage highlights the extreme seriousness and perceived incurability of leprosy, showing how its miraculous appearance and disappearance would be understood as undeniable proof of divine power.
John 9:1-7In this account, Jesus heals a man born blind with a touch and command, demonstrating divine power to instantly inflict and remove afflictions, mirroring the instantaneous and miraculous nature of the sign given to Moses.
Romans 4:17Paul's words here, that God 'calls things that are not as though they were,' perfectly capture the essence of this miracle where God instantly made something that was not (a leprous hand) appear as if it were, and then restored it.
Matthew 10:1This verse shows Jesus giving his disciples authority over unclean spirits and to heal every disease, paralleling the authority God gave Moses through these signs to bring judgment and deliverance.
gillExodus 4:6: "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."
And the Lord said furthermore unto him,.... Continued his discourse, and gave him another sign: put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom; within his coat, under that part of the garment next to his breast: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow; that is, whit…
calvinExodus 4:1-9: "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."
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.
Tunc dixit, Projice eum in terram. Et projecit in terram, et factus est serpens, et fugit Moses a conspectu ejus.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he…
The phrase "leprous like snow" isn't just describing a disease; it's highlighting God's power to bring about the absolute opposite of life and health, and then restore it just as quickly. This stark contrast between whiteness and the vitality of living flesh was meant to show Moses and the Israelites that God could instantly bring ruin or renewal.
Moses is at a loss for how to convince the Israelites he's been sent by God, so the Lord gives him two powerful signs. After the rod turning into a serpent, God instructs Moses to put his hand inside his cloak, and when he pulls it out, it's covered in a terrifying, snow-white leprosy. This shocking transformation, meant to demonstrate God's power over life and disease, is followed immediately by God telling Moses to put his hand back in, where it's miraculously healed.
Moses is at a loss for how to convince the Israelites he's been sent by God, so the Lord gives him two powerful signs. After the rod turning into a serpent, God instructs Moses to put his hand inside his cloak, and when he pulls it out, it's covered in a terrifying, snow-white leprosy. This shocking transformation, meant to demonstrate God's power over life and disease, is followed immediately by God telling Moses to put his hand back in, where it's miraculously healed.
"Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his han…" — The phrase "leprous like snow" isn't just describing a disease; it's highlighting God's power to bring about the absolute opposite of life and health, and then restore it just as quickly. This stark…
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