The Meaning of Exodus 4:20 Explained

Exodus 4:20

KJV: And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

YLT: and Moses taketh his wife, and his sons, and causeth them to ride on the ass, and turneth back to the land of Egypt, and Moses taketh the rod of God in his hand.

Darby: And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them riding upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

ASV: And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  took  his wife  and his sons,  and set  them upon an ass,  and he returned  to the land  of Egypt:  and Moses  took  the rod  of God  in his hand. 

What does Exodus 4:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 4:18-31 - Moses And Aaron Announce God's Purpose To Israel
So often the keenest tests of a man's fitness for his life-work are furnished by his behavior in his home. It may be that Zipporah had resisted the earlier imposition on her son of the initial rite of the Jewish faith and her proud soul had to yield. No man who has put his hand to God's plow can take counsel with flesh and blood, or look back. At whatever cost we must set our own house in order, before we can emancipate a nation.
When God designs it, He will contrive for us to meet the man, or men, who are to help us in our life mission. Our paths meet in the Mount of God. When the Alps were bored for the railway track, the work started on either side, and the workers met in the middle. Help is coming to you from unexpected quarters, and will meet you when you need it most. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 4

1  Moses's rod is turned into a serpent
6  His hand is leprous
10  He loathes his calling
13  Aaron is appointed to assist him
18  Moses departs from Jethro
21  God's message to Pharaoh
24  Zipporah circumcises her son
27  Aaron is sent to meet Moses
29  The people believe them

What do the individual words in Exodus 4:20 mean?

And took Moses - his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey and he returned to the land of Egypt the rod of God in his hand
וַיִּקַּ֨ח מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־ אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ וְאֶת־ בָּנָ֗יו וַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙ עַֽל־ הַחֲמֹ֔ר וַיָּ֖שָׁב אַ֣רְצָה מִצְרָ֑יִם מַטֵּ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדֽוֹ

וַיִּקַּ֨ח  And  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מֹשֶׁ֜ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ  his  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
בָּנָ֗יו  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙  and  set  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: רָכַב  
Sense: to mount and ride, ride.
הַחֲמֹ֔ר  a  donkey 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲמֹור 
Sense: (he)ass.
וַיָּ֖שָׁב  and  he  returned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אַ֣רְצָה  to  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
מַטֵּ֥ה  the  rod 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בְּיָדֽוֹ  in  his  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.