Exodus 4:6 records a second sign God gave Moses to prove that he was sent by God. Moses is told to put his hand inside his cloak, and when he draws it out, the skin is diseased, white as snow. The verse shows God giving Moses a visible, unsettling demonstration of his power so that Moses, and later Israel, would have grounds to trust the message. God speaks directly to Moses here, and Moses is the one who holds the hand and sees the result.
The LORD said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
Exodus 4:6 (WEB)
What Exodus 4:6 Means
The phrase “The LORD said furthermore to him” tells you this is a continuation. God has already turned Moses’s staff into a snake and back again, and now he adds a second sign. The word “furthermore” matters because Moses has been hesitant, and God is patiently building his case step by step rather than demanding faith all at once.
The instruction to “put your hand inside your cloak” sounds ordinary, but the result is startling. Moses’s hand becomes leprous, a term in the Old Testament that covers a range of skin conditions and that carried real social consequences. The verse describes the change plainly and without drama, which makes it more striking. What it does not promise is any explanation of how or why this happens; the text simply records God’s action and its effect.
It is worth being clear about what this verse does not say. It does not teach that disease is always a punishment, and it does not describe the cure, which comes in the next verse. Its focus is on God’s power over the body and over what people see, and on his willingness to give Moses evidence he can point to.
The Context of Exodus 4:6
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses, and it tells the story of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Chapter 4 finds Moses at the burning bush, where God has called him to lead the people out. Moses has raised objections, first that he is not a credible speaker and now that the Israelites will not believe he was sent. Verses 1 through 5 show God answering the second objection with the staff sign, and verse 6 continues that pattern with a second, more personal sign.
The surrounding verses change how this one reads. Verse 5 states the purpose outright: “That they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, has appeared to you.” The signs are not displays for their own sake; they are meant to establish trust in the God who keeps covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Verses 7 through 9 then add more signs and a contingency plan, which shows that God anticipates resistance and prepares Moses for it.
Key Phrases in Exodus 4:6
Exodus 4:7
He said, “Put your hand inside your cloak again.” He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh.
(WEB)
This verse follows immediately and shows God restoring Moses’s hand. Reading the two together shows the pattern of disruption followed by restoration that runs through Moses’s whole calling.
John 2:11
This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
(WEB)
Here Jesus performs his first sign at Cana, and the text explains that signs reveal glory and lead people to trust. It helps readers see how the Exodus signs point toward a larger pattern of God revealing himself through visible acts.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 4:6
Lord, you gave Moses signs when he doubted, and you have not changed in your patience with the people you call. Some days I feel unready for what you have placed in front of me, and I ask you to show me your faithfulness in small, real ways. Help me notice the places where you are at work, even in the things I would rather keep hidden. Give me courage to take the next step with you, trusting that you will go before me. Amen.
