And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

EXODUS 7:10KJV
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Exodus 7:10 (KJV)

What does Exodus 7:10 mean?

Exodus 7:10 describes how Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and, following God’s command, Aaron threw down his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and the staff turned into a serpent. This act was a sign meant to demonstrate God’s power to Pharaoh and his court.

In this scene, Moses and Aaron are confronting Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, as part of their mission to demand the release of the Israelites from slavery. God had instructed them to perform this sign as proof of divine authority. The transformation of Aaron’s rod into a serpent was a dramatic and public display, intended to challenge Pharaoh’s power and set the stage for the coming plagues.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 7:10

  • The word for "serpent" here is תַּנִּין (tannīn), which often refers to a large, fearsome creature—sometimes translated as "sea monster" or "dragon" elsewhere. In this context, it emphasizes the impressive and intimidating nature of the sign Aaron performed.
  • The word for "rod" is מַטֶּה (matteh), meaning staff or stick, which was a symbol of authority or leadership. Aaron’s use of his staff in this miracle highlights that the power being displayed comes from God, not from magic or trickery.
  • The verb "cast down" is שָׁלַךְ (shalakh), which means to throw or hurl. The deliberate action of throwing the staff down in front of Pharaoh and his servants underscores the boldness and public nature of the sign.

Why Exodus 7:10 matters

  • Exodus 7:10 clarifies that the sign was performed openly before Pharaoh and his officials, not in secret, making it a direct challenge to Egyptian authority and beliefs.
  • The use of the word תַּנִּין (tannīn) instead of the more common word for snake suggests that the miracle was meant to be especially striking and memorable, not an ordinary trick.
  • This verse sets the tone for the confrontations that follow, showing that Moses and Aaron are acting under God’s direct command and that the coming events are not just natural occurrences but acts of divine intervention.

Where else these words appear

“serpent” Hebrew H8577 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • Psalms 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
  • Jeremiah 10:22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

“down” Hebrew H7993 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
  • 2 Kings 2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
  • Isaiah 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.