Exodus 7:12

Exodus 7:12

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

a. NLT: They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And they cast down each his rod, and they become monsters, and the rod of Aaron swalloweth their rods; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: For they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint: And they cast down each his rod, and they became serpents, but the rod of Aaron swallowed up their rods.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Each cast down his staff and they became snakes; and the staff of Aron swallowed their staffs. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents…”

a. [For they]  cast [down] [Strong: 7993 shalak shaw-lak a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively):--adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.]

b. every man [Strong: 376 'iysh eesh contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

c. [his] rod [Strong: 4294 matteh mat-teh' or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from 5186; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread):--rod, staff, tribe.]

d. [and they] became [Strong: 1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

e. serpents [Strong: 8577 tanniyn tan-neen' or tanniym (Ezek. 29:3) {tan-neem'}; intensive from the same as 8565; a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or jackal:--dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale.]

2. “...but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.”

a. [but] Aaron [Strong: 175 'Aharown a-har-one' of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses:--Aaron.]

b. rod [Strong: 4294 matteh mat-teh' or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from 5186; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread):--rod, staff, tribe.]

c. swallowed up [Strong: 1104 bala` baw-lah' a primitive root; to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy:--cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).]

d. [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

e. [their] rods [Strong: 4294 matteh mat-teh' or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from 5186; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread):--rod, staff, tribe.]

1). Notice also that the magicians of Egypt could simulate some of the miracles. I personally believe that this was occultic miracles being done by demonic forces. These occultic followers, magicians, necromancers, sorcerers were a part of the leadership of many ancient nations, Egypt, Babylon, the nations of Canaan, and the devil used them to keep these nation under his grip. In the last days when the antichrist rises up, he will use occultic powers to deceive the world.

a). 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2). 1). First mention of drugs in Scripture (except possible reference in Genesis 30:14-18) is Exodus 7:10-13

a). Exodus 7:10-13 [Septuagint] And Moses and Aaron went in before Pharao, and [before] his servants, and they did so, as the Lord commanded them; and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharao, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.  

7:11 But Pharao called together the wise men of Egypt, and the sorcerers, and the charmers also of the Egyptians did likewise with their sorceries. 

7:12 And they cast down each his rod, and they became serpents, but the rod of Aaron swallowed up their rods. 

7:13 and the heart of Pharao was hardened, and he hearkened not to them, as the Lord charged them.

b). The N.T. Greek word for sorcerers is pharmakos [5333] and it means a magician or sorcerer. In Vine’s it says, an adjective signifying “devoted to magical arts”, is used as a noun, a sorcerer, especially one who uses drugs, potions, spells, enchantments. Zodhiates cites it as being used in Exodus 7:11.

c). The Greek word for sorceries is pharmakia [5331] Vine’s: primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then poisoning; then, socerery, used in Galatians 5:20 translated “witchcraft” in KJV, mentioned as one of the works of the flesh. See also Revelation 9:21; 18:23. Vine cites it as being used in Exodus 7:11. Vine goes on to say: “In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc,. professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer.