One question that often arises when studying the life of Moses is how tall he was. While the Bible does not explicitly state Moses’ height, there are clues that suggest he was likely a tall man.
Moses was a Biblical character who was born in Egypt. He was a prophet and leader of the Israelites. He was also known as the Lawgiver, and he is believed to have written most of the Torah.
Moses’ height is not mentioned in the Bible, but there are some interesting details about his physical appearance that can help us estimate how tall he may have been.
From what we know about him, Moses may have been around 6 feet tall or taller. This estimation is based on several different factors including his age, his physical appearance and his social status.
One such clue is found in Numbers 13:32-33, which recounts the story of the spies who were sent to explore the land of Canaan. When the spies return to Moses, they describe the inhabitants of the land as “strong” and “tall” compared to the Israelites. This implies that Moses himself was also tall in stature.
Let’s take a look at these factors:
How Tall Was Moses in the Bible?
Many people have wondered about the height of Moses, as the Bible does not explicitly state his exact height. However, based on certain interpretations and references found in the scriptures, we can piece together some information that may give us an idea of how tall Moses might have been. Let’s explore this intriguing question and delve into various beliefs surrounding Moses’ height in the Bible.
Moses’ height is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, according to the Midrash, a collection of rabbinic writings that interpret and expand upon the Hebrew Bible, Moses was said to have stood at a height of ten cubits (approximately 15 feet) tall1. Some scholars believe that Moses may have been around 6 feet tall or taller, based on the fact that Pharaoh’s daughter described him as being “unusually tall” (Exodus 2:9)2. Another estimate based on archeological data suggests he may have been around 5’10.
Moses’ Height in the Bible
1. Exodus 2:9
In this verse, Pharaoh’s daughter finds baby Moses floating in a basket in the river and takes him in. She describes him as “unusually tall,” which some scholars interpret as an indication that Moses was taller than average.
2. Midrash
The Midrash, a collection of rabbinic writings, claims that Moses stood at a height of ten cubits, or approximately 15 feet tall. This interpretation is not found in the Bible itself, but it offers insight into how ancient Jewish scholars understood Moses’ stature.
3. Exodus 7:7
Exodus 7:7 states that Moses was eighty years old when he spoke to Pharaoh. While age and height are not directly correlated, it is worth noting that Moses was still active and powerful at an advanced age, which could potentially indicate above-average height.
4. Numbers 13:1-2
In Numbers 13, Moses sends twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. While this story does not directly address Moses’ height, it showcases his leadership and authority, qualities that could be associated with a physically imposing figure.
5. Exodus 34:29-30
Exodus 34:29-30 describes how Moses’ face shone with radiant light after speaking with God. While this transformation is not related to his height, it underscores Moses’ unique and powerful connection to the divine, which could be reflected in his physical appearance as well
| Estimate | Height |
|---|---|
| Midrash | 10 cubits (approximately 15 feet) |
| Pharaoh’s Daughter | Unusually tall |
| Archaeological Data | Around 5’10 |
How Tall Was Moses’ Staff?
One fascinating aspect related to Moses’ height is the size of his staff. The Bible portrays Moses’ staff as a significant tool that he used to perform various miracles, including the parting of the Red Sea. While the scripture does not explicitly state the height of Moses’ staff, some Jewish traditions and interpretations offer interesting insights. According to these traditions, Moses’ staff was said to be the height of the Israelites, representing their unity and strength.
It is important to note that these interpretations are derived from cultural symbolism rather than historical or factual evidence. The height of Moses’ staff can be understood metaphorically as a measure of the Israelites’ trust and reliance on God’s guidance. It signifies the power and authority bestowed upon Moses by the Divine, enabling him to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt and guide them to the Promised Land.
How Tall Was Moses’ Staff?
Another intriguing aspect of Moses’ life is the legendary staff he carried, which played a pivotal role in many of the miracles he performed. While the Bible does not provide specific measurements for Moses’ staff, it is believed to have been fairly tall based on the miraculous events it was involved in.One of the most famous stories involving Moses’ staff is found in Exodus 7:8-12, where Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh and Aaron’s staff miraculously transforms into a snake. This event demonstrates the power and authority that Moses’ staff possessed.
In Exodus 14:15-16, Moses is instructed by God to lift up his staff and part the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. This extraordinary feat further illustrates the supernatural abilities of Moses’ staff.
Overall, while the exact height of Moses and his staff may remain a mystery, the stories and miracles associated with them in the Bible continue to captivate and inspire readers to this day.
20 Rare Things about Moses from the Bible
1. Moses was the first abandoned child mentioned in the Bible.
Moses’ godly parents hid him for three months to protect him from the Egyptian edict that said all male Hebrew babies must be killed. When they could no longer hide him, they set him afloat in a basket on the Nile River (Ex. 2:3).
2. Moses’ name, “comes from the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) and is most likely derived from the Egyptian name Mes meaning ‘son,’ but could also possibly mean ‘deliver’ in Hebrew.”
There has been some debate about the meaning of his name, with some scholars relating it to a root “to bear, ” and found in such Egyptian names as Ahmose and Thutmose. In Exodus 2:10, the name given to him by the princess is connected with a Hebrew verb meaning “to draw out” (cf.2 Sam 22:17 ), but it could also have come from an Egyptian term meaning “son.”
3. Pharaoh’s daughter paid Moses’ mother to nurse him after she rescued him from the Nile River (Ex. 2:8-9)
“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.
4. Moses was the baby of the family.
He had an older sister, Miriam, and an older brother, Aaron.
5. Moses was a murderer.
Seeing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, Moses intervened and killed the Egyptian (Ex. 2:12). To hide his crime, he buried his victim in the sand.
6. Moses worked as shepherd while “on the lam.”
More than just a play on words, when Moses ran from the murder charge, he fled to the desert of Midian where he met Zipporah, the daughter of a shepherd, and began working with her father, Jethro. He married Zipporah and had two sons.
7. During the burning bush episode, Moses gave God five lame excuses for why he couldn’t be Israel’s deliverer
(Ex. 3-4). Not surprisingly, God rebutted every one.
8. Moses probably stuttered.
The New Living Translation of the Bible records Moses’s response to God’s call in Exodus 4:10: “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
9. When Moses insisted he couldn’t be Israel’s spokesperson, God agreed to allow his older brother, Aaron to speak for him.
After the first assignment, however, Moses was front and center, and Aaron takes a backseat to his little brother.
10. Not your typical octogenarian, Moses was 80 years old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Today most people his age would be firmly ensconced in their rocking chairs, but not Moses. His first 40 years in Pharaoh’s court had prepared him to lead, and his second 40 years had given him knowledge of the desert through which he and the Israelites would travel. Moses was fully prepared for God’s mission at the age of 80; the best was yet to come.
11. Moses was the original snake handler.
Three times during his tenure as leader, he used snakes to demonstrate God’s power. The first time God turned Moses’ rod into a snake, it scared him so much he turned tail and ran (Ex. 4:3).12. Moses had leprosy.
Briefly. After demonstrating his power by turning Moses’ rod into a snake, God told Moses to place his hand in his cloak. When he withdrew it, his hand was covered in leprosy. Thankfully, God cured the incurable disease almost immediately (Ex. 4:6-7).
13. Concerned, I’m sure, for his family’s safety and aware of his inability to care for them well while orchestrating the biggest exodus in human history, Moses sent his wife and sons back to his father-in-law’s house.
They were reunited after the exodus as the Israelites camped at the base of Mt. Sinai. (Ex. 18:7).
14. Moses was a songwriter.
Or, more accurately, he was a musical collaborator. After the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land, the waters closed up, drowning the mighty Egyptian army. To celebrate their deliverance, God composed a song and instructed Moses to write it down and teach it to the congregation. It became known as “The Song of Moses” (Deu. 32:1-43).
15. Moses didn’t write the Ten Commandments, God did.
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction’” (Ex. 24:12). Moses did, however, transcribe the law as given to him by God. These writings compose part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. (Ex. 24:4).