Exodus 4:10-17

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but ¹I am slow of speech and of tongue. ”

11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

12 Now therefore go, and ²I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak. ”

13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. ”

14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, ³he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

15 ⁴You shall speak to him and ⁵put the words in his mouth, and ⁶I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.

16 ⁷He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and ⁸you shall be as God to him.

17 And take in your hand ⁹this staff, with which you shall do the signs. ”

Exodus 4:10-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 4

This chapter is a continuation of the discourse that passed between God and Moses; and here Moses makes other objections to his mission; one is taken from the unbelief of the people of Israel, which is removed by giving him power to work miracles, by turning the rod in his hand into a serpent, and then into a rod again; and by putting his hand into his bosom at one time, when it became leprous, and again into the same place, when it became sound and whole, and by turning the water of the river into blood, Ex 4:1-9, another objection is formed from his want of eloquence, which is answered with an assurance, that God, that made man's mouth, would be with his mouth, and teach him what to say; and besides, Aaron his brother, who was an eloquent man, should be his spokesman, Ex 4:10-17 upon which he returned to Midian, and having obtained leave of his father-in-law to depart from thence, he took his wife and his sons, and returned to Egypt, Ex 4:18-20 at which time he received some fresh instructions from the Lord what he should do before Pharaoh, and what he should say unto him, Ex 4:21-23 then follows an account of what befell him by the way, because of the circumcision of his son, Ex 4:24-26 and the chapter is closed with an account of the meeting of Moses and Aaron, and of their gathering the elders of Israel together, to whom the commission of Moses was opened, and signs done before them, to which they gave credit, and expressed their joy and thankfulness, Ex 4:27-31.

Cross References

• 1. 4:10 [ch. 6:12; Jer. 1:6]
• 2. 4:12 [ch. 3:12; Isa. 50:4; Jer. 1:9; Ezek. 33:22; Matt. 10:19, 20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11, 12; 21:15]
• 3. 4:14 ver. 27
• 4. 4:15 ch. 7:1, 2
• 5. 4:15 Num. 22:38; 23:5, 12, 16; Deut. 18:18; 2 Sam. 14:3, 19; Isa. 51:16
• 6. 4:15 [See ver. 12 above]
• 7. 4:16 ver. 30
• 8. 4:16 [ch. 7:1; 18:19]
• 9. 4:17 ver. 2; ch. 7:15