Exodus 4 in the early church
193 passages quote, allude to, or echo Exodus 4, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 29 · 30
Exodus 4:1
Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:1 | Letter of the six bishops to Paul 5 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 264–269 |
| Exod 4:1–31 | On the Life of Moses 307 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 4:1–9 | Sermon 6.6 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 4:1–4 | Exodus, lines 168–195 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 4:2
And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:2 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.11 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:2–4 | Catechetical Lecture 4.30 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Exod 4:2 | Ancoratus 39.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374 |
| Exod 4:2 | Ancoratus 96.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374 |
| Exod 4:2–9 | Apostolic Constitutions 8.1.6 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 4:2–7 | On the Life of Moses 333 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 4:2 | Homilies on Matthew 31.3 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 4:2–4 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.28 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
Exodus 4:3
“Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
Exodus 4:4
“Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:4 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.27.27 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:4 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.11 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:4 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.31.1 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Exod 4:4 | Exposition of Psalm 118 3.24.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 4:4 | Exposition of Psalm 118 3.24.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 4:4 | On the Mysteries 9 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387–391 |
| Exod 4:4 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 15.6 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Exod 4:4 | On the Trinity 3.10 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
Exodus 4:6
Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.
Exodus 4:7
“Put your hand back inside your cloak,” said the LORD. So Moses put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his skin.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:7 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 28 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| Exod 4:7 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 55 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| Exod 4:7 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.11 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:7 | Catechetical Lecture 12.28 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Exod 4:7 | Catechetical Lecture 18.12 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Exod 4:7 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.31.4 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Exod 4:7 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.15 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
Exodus 4:8
And the LORD said, “If they refuse to believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe that of the second.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:8 | Commentary on John 32.269 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
Exodus 4:9
But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:9 | Commentary on John 32.270 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Exod 4:9 | Commentary on John 32.271 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Exod 4:9 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.31.4 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
Exodus 4:10
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:10 | 1 Clement 17.5 · Clement of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) |
| Exod 4:10 | Miscellanies 4.17.106 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Exod 4:10–12 | Against Marcion 4.39 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Exod 4:10 | Homily on Luke 5 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 233–250 |
| Exod 4:10 | Homily on Isaiah 6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 235–250 |
| Exod 4:10 | Homily on Isaiah 9 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 235–250 |
| Exod 4:10 | Homilies on Exodus 3.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 4:10 | Commentary on Romans 2.13 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Exod 4:10 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.9 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:10–17 | Demonstration 14.28 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 4:10 | Long recension, Magnesians 12 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | later 4th century (probable) |
| Exod 4:10 | Letter to Dracontius 3 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 355 |
| Exod 4:10–13 | Oration 1.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 4:10 | Homilies 15.1 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Exod 4:10 | On the Complaints of Job and David 3.26 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 383-390 |
| Exod 4:10 | On the Duties of the Clergy 1.17 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Exod 4:10 | Exposition of Psalm 118 18.34.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 4:10 | Exposition of Psalm 118 19.8.2 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 4:10 | Homilies on Matthew 56.2 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 4:10–14 | Commentary on Jeremiah 1.3 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Exod 4:10 | Part 1, chapter 34 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 4:11
And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:11 | Fragments on Genesis, column 69 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Exod 4:11 | Homily on Luke 16 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 233–250 |
| Exod 4:11 | Homily on Isaiah 6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 235–250 |
| Exod 4:11 | Homilies on Numbers 17.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 4:11 | Commentary on Matthew 13.6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Exod 4:11–12 | To Fortunatus 10 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 253 or 257 |
| Exod 4:11 | Homilies 2.43 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Exod 4:11 | Preparation for the Gospel 6.11.51 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:11 | Letters to Serapion 4.21 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 357–360 |
| Exod 4:11 | Book 1, chapter 14 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
Exodus 4:12
Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:12 | Homilies on Exodus 3.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 4:12 | Exposition of Psalm 118 3.24.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 4:12 | Hexameron (Exameron) 1.7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Exod 4:12 | Tractates 2 · Gaudentius of Brescia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 397-410 |
| Exod 4:12 | Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 2.20 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 420–421 |
Exodus 4:13
But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”
Exodus 4:14
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:14 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.10 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:14–17 | Part 1, chapter 34 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 4:15
You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:15 | Homilies on Exodus 3.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 4:15 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.10 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
Exodus 4:16
He will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and it will be as if you were God to him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:16 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.29.10 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:16 | Oration 10.3 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 4:16 | Oration 21.20 · Gregory of Nazianzus | echo, low confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 4:16 | Oration 32.17 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
Exodus 4:17
But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:17 | Dialogue with Trypho 86.1 · Justin Martyr | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Exod 4:17 | Tractates on the Psalms 124.7 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Exod 4:17 | In Praise of the Desert 7 · Eucherius of Lyon | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 427-428 |
Exodus 4:19
Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:19 | Defence of His Flight 17 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 357 |
Exodus 4:20
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:20 | On Idolatry 19 · Tertullian | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 196–211 |
| Exod 4:20 | On the Life of Moses 335 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 4:20–31 | Exodus, lines 222–248 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 4:21
The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:21 | On First Principles 3.1.7 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398) |
| Exod 4:21 | On First Principles 3.1.8 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398) |
| Exod 4:21 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 281 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Exod 4:21 | Homilies on Exodus 4.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 4:21 | Commentary on Romans 7.16 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Exod 4:21 | Homilies 2.43 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Exod 4:21 | Book of Heresies 128.1 · Philastrius of Brescia | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 380s |
| Exod 4:21 | On the Life of Moses 345 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 4:21 | On Grace and Free Will 23 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 426 |
Exodus 4:22
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
Exodus 4:23
and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:23 | On First Principles 3.1.9 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398) |
| Exod 4:23 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 281 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Exod 4:23 | Book of Rules 1 · Tyconius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
Exodus 4:24
Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.
Exodus 4:25
But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:25 | Commentary on Romans 2.13 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Exod 4:25 | Commentary on Philippians 3.4 · Marius Victorinus | allusion, low confidence | ca. 360–363 |
| Exod 4:25–26 | Question 16, section 2 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Exod 4:25 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.27.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Exod 4:25–26 | Book of Heresies 118.3 · Philastrius of Brescia | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 380s |
| Exod 4:25 | Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 35 · Evagrius of Gaul | quotation, high confidence | ca. 400 |
| Exod 4:25 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.11.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Exod 4:25 | Against Jovinianus 1.21 · Jerome | allusion, medium confidence | 393 |
Exodus 4:26
So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:26 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.27.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Exod 4:26 | Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 35 · Evagrius of Gaul | allusion, high confidence | ca. 400 |
Exodus 4:27
Meanwhile, 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:27 | Homilies on Exodus 3.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 4:27 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.27.22 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 4:27 | Oration 1.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
Exodus 4:29
Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:29–31 | On the Life of Moses 341 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Exod 4:29–31 | Part 1, chapter 34 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 4:30
and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses. And Moses performed the signs before the people,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:30 | Against Celsus 2.52 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 248 |