When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

EXODUS 7:9KJV
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Exodus 7:9 (KJV)

What does Exodus 7:9 mean?

Exodus 7:9 describes God instructing Moses on how to respond when Pharaoh demands a sign or miracle to prove their message. God tells Moses to have Aaron throw down his rod before Pharaoh, and it will turn into a serpent as a miraculous sign.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, preparing him for his encounter with Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. The situation is tense: Moses and Aaron have come to demand the release of the Israelites, and Pharaoh is expected to ask for a demonstration of their authority. God gives specific instructions for Aaron to use his rod, which will become a serpent, showing a visible sign of divine power in front of Pharaoh.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 7:9

  • The word for "miracle" is מוֹפֵת (mophet), which often means a wonder or a sign, not just a magic trick but something meant to demonstrate divine authority. This highlights that the act is meant to show God's power, not just impress Pharaoh.
  • The word for "serpent" is תַּנִּין (tannin), which can refer to a large snake or even a sea monster in other contexts. Here, it emphasizes something striking and fearsome, not just an ordinary snake.
  • The word for "rod" is מַטֶּה (matteh), which means staff or rod, often a symbol of authority or leadership. Aaron’s rod turning into a serpent is a sign that God’s authority is behind Moses and Aaron’s message.

Why Exodus 7:9 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron are not random acts but are direct responses to Pharaoh’s demand for proof, showing that God anticipates and answers challenges to His authority.
  • The use of the word "tannin" for serpent suggests the sign was meant to be dramatic and possibly intimidating, not just a simple trick, which would have made a strong impression on Pharaoh and his court.
  • Exodus 7:9 sets the stage for the coming confrontations between God’s power and the magicians of Egypt, highlighting the theme of divine authority versus human resistance throughout the following chapters.

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.

“miracle” Hebrew H4159 · used in 35 verses

  • Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
  • Deuteronomy 29:3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
  • Psalms 105:27 They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

“cast” 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.