The LORD said to him: Good News Translation begins this clause with “So,” indicating that the LORD is answering another one of Moses’ excuses.

What is that in your hand? is an unexpected question in response to Moses’ question of “What if?” It suggests that Moses is standing by the burning bush with his rod in his hand. The word that must therefore be rendered according to this context. In some languages it will be necessary to retain the word hand as in the Hebrew. An alternative translation model for this clause, then, is “What is that thing that you are holding in your hand?”

The rod may be rendered as a “walking stick” (Good News Translation) or a “staff.” The precise meaning of this word must always be determined by the way it is used. It is often used in reference to a king’s scepter, but in the hand of a shepherd it refers to a sturdy stick, about four or five feet in length, that served as a walking stick as well as a staff for nudging the sheep and goats along. It should not be thought of as a magic wand that suddenly appeared in Moses’ hand. (See the comment at 4.20.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .