What Happened to Moses’ Hand?
When God called Moses at the burning bush and commissioned him to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses hesitated and expressed deep doubt about whether the Israelites would believe that God had truly appeared to him. In response, God provided Moses with a series of miraculous signs designed to authenticate his divine calling. One of these was the dramatic transformation of Moses’ hand.
1. The Context of the Sign
Moses had already questioned God:
“What if they do not believe me or listen to me?” (Exodus 4:1)
To reassure him, God gave three signs:
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The staff turning into a serpent
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Moses’ hand becoming leprous and then healed
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Water from the Nile turning to blood
The second sign—the change in Moses’ hand—was particularly personal and symbolic.
2. The Miracle: A Healthy Hand Becomes Leprous
God commanded Moses:
“Put your hand into your bosom.” (Exodus 4:6)
Moses obeyed. When he removed it:
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His hand had turned leprous, described as
“white as snow.”
In the ancient world, leprosy was one of the most feared conditions—disfiguring, isolating, and incurable by human means. Seeing his own flesh suddenly corrupted would have been terrifying.
This sign demonstrated God’s absolute power over the human body, health, and disease.
3. The Restoration: Healing at God’s Command
God then gave a second instruction:
“Put your hand into your bosom again.” (Exodus 4:7)
When Moses withdrew his hand, it was:
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Restored,
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Healthy,
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Just as it had been before.
The rapid reversal of such a dreaded condition emphasized that:
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The God who wounds also heals (Deuteronomy 32:39).
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The God who sends Moses is sovereign over life and death.
The quick transformation both to leprosy and from it made the sign undeniable.
4. Purpose of the Sign
A. To Convince Israel
God said these signs were given:
“…so that they may believe that the Lord has appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:5)
The leprous-hand miracle would show the Israelites that Moses was not relying on rhetoric or personal authority but on divine power.
B. To Strengthen Moses’ Own Faith
Moses repeatedly doubted:
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His worthiness,
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His abilities,
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His acceptance by the Israelites.
The sign served as reassurance for Moses himself. God showed that He could overcome any human weakness—physical or emotional.
C. To Reveal God’s Nature
The sign revealed that:
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God is a healer, not just a judge.
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God controls sickness and restoration.
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God’s power works both within creation and upon the human body.
5. Symbolic Meanings
Biblical scholars often see deeper symbolism in this miracle:
A. Israel’s Condition
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Leprous hand → Israel enslaved, afflicted
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Restored hand → Israel soon to be delivered and healed
B. Moses’ Role
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Moses himself would be an instrument in God’s plan
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Though seemingly weak or “unclean,” God would empower him
C. Divine Authority
The sign demonstrated that God, not Moses, would perform the wonders in Egypt.
6. A Sign with Lasting Impact
The episode of Moses’ hand stands as one of the most vivid demonstrations of God’s power in the early chapters of Exodus. It helped Moses accept his mission and provided Israel with undeniable evidence of the divine presence behind their deliverance.
Conclusion
What happened to Moses’ hand?
God transformed it miraculously:
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First into a leprous, diseased state,
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Then restored it fully and instantly.
This sign was given to show both Moses and Israel that God alone held supreme authority over creation, health, and the destiny of His people. It became one of the foundational miracles that prepared the way for Israel’s liberation from Egypt.