Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
- KJV And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
- NKJV So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
- NASB Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be overjoyed.
- NLT Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's anger burns at Moses' refusal, yet He provides Aaron as a spokesman. Divine displeasure and gracious provision meet together.
Overview
For the first time God's anger flares against Moses, marking the seriousness of resisting His call, yet even in displeasure God provides help in Aaron. The gift of a partner is mercy mingled with discipline; what Moses might have had alone he now shares. The episode shows God's grace overruling human weakness while not ignoring its cost, a pattern of patient sovereignty toward stubborn servants.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Exod 4:27Meanwhile, the LORD had said to Aaron, “Go and meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.
- Mark 14:13–15So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him,
- 1 Chr 21:7This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel.
- Luke 9:59–60Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
- 1 Kgs 11:9Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
- 2 Sam 6:7And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.
- Phil 2:21For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
- Acts 15:28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
- Exod 4:17But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”
- 1 Sam 10:1–7Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
- 1 Th 3:6–7But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
- 2 Cor 7:6–7But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
- 2 Cor 2:13I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 4:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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