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.

EXODUS 4:6KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 4:6 (KJV)

What does Exodus 4:6 mean?

Exodus 4:6 describes how God told Moses to put his hand into his cloak, and when Moses took it out, his hand had become diseased with leprosy and was as white as snow. This was a sign God gave to Moses to show His power and to help convince the Israelites that Moses was truly sent by God.

In this scene, the LORD (God) is speaking directly to Moses, who is hesitant about his mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God uses this miracle to demonstrate His authority and to provide Moses with a sign he can show others. The sudden appearance of leprosy, a feared skin disease, and its dramatic whiteness, would have been a clear, unmistakable sign of divine intervention.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 4:6

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God, emphasizing that it is God Himself giving the sign, not just a generic deity.
  • bosom (חֵיק, ḥēq): This word refers to the fold or inside of a garment, often the chest area, showing that Moses was to place his hand close to his body, making the sign more personal and immediate.
  • leprous (מְצֹרַע, m'tsora): This term refers to a severe skin disease, not necessarily the modern disease called leprosy, but something visibly alarming and associated with ritual impurity.
  • snow (שָּׁלֶג, sheleg): The comparison to snow highlights the unnatural whiteness of Moses’ hand, making the sign even more striking and impossible to ignore.

Why Exodus 4:6 matters

  • Exodus 4:6 clears up that the sign was not just a magic trick but a specific act from God to prove His power and Moses’ calling.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness of leprosy in ancient times, showing that God could both inflict and heal, underlining His total control.
  • This sign connects to the larger story, where God gives Moses multiple signs to reassure him and to convince the Israelites, showing God’s patience with human doubts.

Where else these words appear

“leprous” Hebrew H6879 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 13:44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.
  • Numbers 5:2 Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:
  • 2 Kings 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

“snow” Hebrew H7950 · used in 20 verses

  • Numbers 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
  • Job 24:19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
  • Proverbs 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

“furthermore” Hebrew H5750 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
  • Genesis 46:30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
  • Judges 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

“bosom” Hebrew H2436 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
  • 1 Kings 17:19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
  • Proverbs 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.