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.

EXODUS 4:9KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 4:9 (KJV)

What does Exodus 4:9 mean?

Exodus 4:9 describes God telling Moses that if the Israelites do not believe the first two miraculous signs or listen to his voice, Moses is to take water from the Nile River and pour it on the dry ground, where it will turn into blood. This is given as a third sign to convince the people that God has truly sent Moses.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to Moses, who is worried that the Israelites will not believe he has been sent by God. The setting is at the burning bush, where God is equipping Moses with signs to prove his divine commission. The verse emphasizes God's patience with doubt and His willingness to provide clear evidence for His chosen messenger.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 4:9

  • "Signs" (אוֹתֹת, 'otot) means visible, miraculous events meant to prove a message is from God. Here, it highlights that God is providing not just one, but multiple proofs for Moses.
  • "River" (יְאֹר, ye'or) specifically refers to the Nile, which was central to Egyptian life and worship. Turning its water to blood would have been a powerful sign against Egypt’s gods and a clear message to both Israelites and Egyptians.
  • "Blood" (דָּם, dam) is not just a color change; in the ancient world, blood symbolized life and judgment. The transformation of water to blood would be seen as a dramatic act of divine power and warning.

Why Exodus 4:9 matters

  • Exodus 4:9 shows that God understands human hesitation and provides extra assurance when needed, not expecting blind faith.
  • The verse sets up the later plague of the Nile turning to blood, connecting Moses’ initial signs to the larger story of God’s power over Egypt.
  • By specifying the dry land and the river, the verse underlines the dramatic nature of the sign—taking something ordinary and essential (river water) and turning it into something shocking (blood) in plain sight.

Where else these words appear

“dry” Hebrew H3006 · used in 2 verses

  • Psalms 95:5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

“dry” Hebrew H3004 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
  • Exodus 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
  • Psalms 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

“river” Hebrew H2975 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
  • Exodus 7:25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.
  • Isaiah 37:25 I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

“signs” Hebrew H226 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
  • Deuteronomy 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
  • Psalms 65:8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.