What Does Exodus 4:17 Mean in the King James?

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

Exodus 4:17 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The rod in Moses’ hand is a ⁨מַטֶּה⁩ (matteh, staff), the same Hebrew word that also means “tribe,” so one small object carries the language of a whole people.

THE MEANING

A sign takes form through an ordinary object already in hand. The Hebrew word for the rod also names a tribe, letting the instrument echo a whole people.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that a sign requires an extraordinary object: here, the staff already in hand becomes its visible means.

THE ROOT

מַטֶּה

matteh

GROWS FROM

נטה

n-t-h

to stretch out, extend, or incline

The verse uses ⁨מַטֶּה⁩ (matteh, staff or rod), a word linked to ⁨נָטָה⁩ (natah, stretch out or incline). Hebrew also uses ⁨מַטֶּה⁩ (matteh, tribe) for a people; the staff that carries the signs therefore echoes the people in the same word.

ALSO GROWS

matteh: staff, rod

מַטֶּה

This is the sense used here: an object held in the hand becomes the means through which the signs appear.

matteh: tribe, a collective people

מַטֶּה

The same word names a people, giving the sign-bearing staff a resonance beyond Moses himself.

THE PATTERN

A sign becomes visible through a tangible change in the world.

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.

Exodus 4:3 · KJVThe staff in Moses’ hand changes form, making the sign visible.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

John 2:11 · KJVThe sign at Cana becomes visible through a change in the water.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 3:7 · KJVThe healing becomes visible as the man’s body changes and he stands.

THE THREAD

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

Exodus 4:2 · KJV

The same Hebrew word, ⁨מַטֶּה⁩ (matteh, rod or staff), appears when Moses first names what is in his hand. The command to use it for signs gives that already-held staff a role, while the word’s other sense, tribe, lets it echo the people Moses is sent to address.

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