Aaron
Brother of Moses who spoke for him before Pharaoh, made the golden calf, and served as the first high priest of Israel.
34 passages · part 1 of 5
Aaron Appointed as Moses' Spokesman
14And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Then the LORD grew angry with Moses. He said, "What about your brother Aaron, from the family of Levi? I know he speaks well. He is already on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad."
15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
"You will talk to him and tell him what to say. I will help you both speak. I will teach you both what to do."
16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
"He will speak to the people for you. He will be like a mouth for you. And you will be like God to him."
17And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
"Take this stick in your hand. You will do the signs with it."
Aaron Meets Moses and Addresses the Elders
27And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
The LORD said to Aaron, "Go out to the dry, empty land to meet Moses." Aaron went. He met Moses at God's mountain and kissed him.
28And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.
Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had said when he sent him. He told him about all the signs God said to do.
29And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
Then Moses and Aaron went and called together all the leaders of the people of Israel.
30And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
Aaron told them every word the LORD had said to Moses. He also did the signs where the people could see.
31And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
The people believed. They heard that the LORD had come to help them. He had seen how much they were hurting. So they bowed their heads low and worshipped.
Moses and Aaron Demand Release from Pharaoh
1And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They said, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says this: Let my people go. They must hold a feast for me out in the empty desert."
2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD. I will not let Israel go."
3And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us walk three days into the desert. There we will give gifts to the LORD our God. If we do not, he may send sickness or war against us."
4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
The king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you stopping the people from working? Get back to your own work."
5And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
Pharaoh said, "Look how many of these people there are now. And you want them to stop working."
6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the bosses over the workers. He also spoke to the helpers who worked under them.
7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
"Do not give the people straw for making bricks anymore. Straw was mixed into the mud to hold the bricks together. Now let them go and find their own straw."
8And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
"But make them turn in the same number of bricks as before. Do not let them make even one less. They are lazy. That is why they cry out, 'Let us go and give gifts to our God.'"
9Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
"Pile more work on the men. Keep them busy. Then they will not listen to lies."
Aaron's Rod Becomes a Serpent
1And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
The LORD said to Moses, "Look, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Your brother Aaron will be your prophet, the one who speaks your words for you."
2Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
"Say everything I tell you to say. Aaron will tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his land."
3And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
"But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. I will do many signs and wonders in the land of Egypt."
4But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
"Pharaoh will not listen to you. So I will use my power against Egypt. I will punish Egypt in mighty ways. Then I will bring out my people, the Israelites."
5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
"When I reach out my hand against Egypt, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD. They will know it when I bring the Israelites out from among them."
6And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.
Moses and Aaron did exactly what the LORD told them to do.
7And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
Moses was eighty years old. Aaron was eighty-three. That is how old they were when they spoke to Pharaoh.
8And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:
9When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
"Pharaoh will say to you, 'Show me a miracle.' Then tell Aaron to throw his staff down in front of Pharaoh. It will turn into a snake."
10And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his helpers. It turned into a snake.
11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Then Pharaoh called for his wise men and his magicians. They did the same thing using their magic.
12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
Each man threw down his staff, and each staff turned into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up all their staffs.
13And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Still Pharaoh stayed stubborn. He would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.
Aaron Stretches His Rod, the Waters Turn to Blood
19And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to take his staff. Tell him to hold his hand out over all the water in Egypt. That means the streams, the canals, the ponds, and the pools. They will all turn into blood. There will be blood all over Egypt, even in wooden bowls and stone jars."
20And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
Moses and Aaron did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron lifted the staff and struck the river water. Pharaoh and his helpers watched him do it. All the water in the river turned into blood.
21And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
The fish in the river died. The river smelled awful, so the Egyptians could not drink its water. There was blood all over the land of Egypt.
22And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their magic. So Pharaoh stayed stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron. It happened just as the LORD had said.
23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
Pharaoh turned around and went into his house. He did not even think about what had happened.
24And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
All the Egyptians dug holes in the ground near the river. They were looking for water to drink, because the river water was ruined.
25And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.
Seven whole days went by after the LORD struck the river.
Aaron Brings up Frogs over Egypt
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
The LORD spoke to Moses. "Go to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Tell him the LORD says this: Let my people go, so they can worship me."
2And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
"If you will not let them go, I will fill your whole land with frogs."
3And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:
"The river will swarm with frogs. They will hop into your house, your bedroom, and onto your bed. They will get into the houses of your helpers and onto your people. They will get into your ovens and your bread bowls."
4And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.
"The frogs will climb on you, on your people, and on all your helpers."
5And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron this: Hold out your hand with your walking stick over the rivers, streams, and ponds. Make frogs come up onto the land of Egypt."
6And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
So Aaron held out his hand over the waters of Egypt. Frogs came up and covered the whole land.
7And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
But the magicians did the same thing with their magic. They also brought frogs up onto the land of Egypt.
8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go to worship the LORD."
9And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
Moses said to Pharaoh, "You may choose the time. That honor is yours. When should I pray for you, your helpers, and your people? Then the frogs will leave you and your houses. Only the ones in the river will stay."
10And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.
Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow." Moses said, "It will be just as you say. Then you will know that no one is like the LORD our God."
11And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.
"The frogs will leave you, your houses, your helpers, and your people. They will stay only in the river."
12And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh. Then Moses called out to the LORD about the frogs he had sent against Pharaoh.
13And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
The LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, in the yards, and in the fields.
14And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
People piled the dead frogs up in big heaps. The whole land smelled terrible.
15But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
But Pharaoh saw that the trouble had stopped. So he made himself stubborn again and would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.
Aaron Smites the Dust and Lice Come
16And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron this: Hold out your stick and hit the dust on the ground. The dust will turn into tiny biting bugs all over Egypt."
17And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
They did it. Aaron held out his hand with his stick and hit the dust. The bugs came onto people and animals. All the dust in the land turned into bugs all over Egypt.
18And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
The magicians tried to make bugs with their magic, but they could not. The bugs stayed on the people and the animals.
19Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
The magicians said to Pharaoh, "God himself did this." But Pharaoh stayed stubborn and would not listen to them. It happened just as the LORD had said.
Moses and Aaron Answer the Murmuring Congregation
2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
There in the desert, all the people complained about Moses and Aaron.
3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
They said, "We wish God had let us die in Egypt. There we sat by pots full of meat. We ate all the bread we wanted. But you brought us out to this empty land. Now we will all die of hunger."
4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Then God said to Moses, "Look, I will rain down bread from the sky for you. Each day the people must go out and gather enough for that one day. This will test them. I will see if they do what I say."
5And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
"On the sixth day they will bring in food and get it ready. It will be twice as much as they gather on other days."
6And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
So Moses and Aaron said to all the people, "Tonight you will know that God brought you out of Egypt."
7And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
"In the morning you will see God's glory, a bright light that shows he is here. He has heard you complain about him. We are only men. Why complain to us?"
8And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
Moses said more: "Tonight God will give you meat to eat. In the morning he will give you all the bread you want. He has heard you complain about him. Who are we? Your complaining is not against us. It is against God."
9And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.
Then Moses told Aaron, "Say this to all the people: 'Come close to God. He has heard your complaining.'"
10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
While Aaron was speaking to the people, they looked out toward the desert. And there was God's glory, shining in a cloud.
11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Then God spoke to Moses. He said,
12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
"I have heard the people of Israel complain. Tell them, 'This evening you will eat meat. In the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"
Every passage here is the King James text. Nothing on this page retells the story; it only puts the pieces in order.