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Exodus 4:11
New English Translation
Exodus 4:11
New English Translation
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave[a] a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?[b]
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- Exodus 4:11 tn The verb שִׂים (sim) means “to place, put, set”; the sentence here more precisely says, “Who put a mouth into a man?”sn The argumentation by Moses is here met by Yahweh’s rhetorical questions. They are intended to be sharp—it is reproof for Moses. The message is twofold. First, Yahweh is fully able to overcome all of Moses’ deficiencies. Second, Moses is exactly the way that God intended him to be. So the rhetorical questions are meant to prod Moses’ faith.
- Exodus 4:11 sn The final question obviously demands a positive answer. But the clause is worded in such a way as to return to the theme of “I AM.” Isaiah 45:5-7 developed this same idea of God’s control over life. Moses protests that he is not an eloquent speaker, and the Lord replies with reminders about himself and promises, “I will be with your mouth,” an assertion that repeats the verb he used four times in 3:12 and 14 and in promises to Isaac and Jacob (Gen 26:3; 31:3).
Luke 1:20
New English Translation
Luke 1:20
New English Translation
20 And now,[a] because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time,[b] you will be silent, unable to speak,[c] until the day these things take place.”
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- Luke 1:20 tn Grk “behold.”
- Luke 1:20 sn The predicted fulfillment in the expression my words, which will be fulfilled in their time takes place in Luke 1:63-66.
- Luke 1:20 sn Silent, unable to speak. Actually Zechariah was deaf and mute as 1:61-63 indicates, since others had to use gestures to communicate with him.
Luke 1:64
New English Translation
Luke 1:64
New English Translation
64 Immediately[a] Zechariah’s[b] mouth was opened and his tongue[c] released,[d] and he spoke, blessing God.
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- Luke 1:64 tn Grk “And immediately.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 1:64 tn Grk “his”; the referent (Zechariah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Luke 1:64 sn The mention of both mouth and tongue here is a figure called zeugma and emphasizes that the end of the temporary judgment came instantly and fully upon Zechariah’s expression of faith in naming the child. He had learned to trust and obey God during his short period of silence. He had learned from his trial.
- Luke 1:64 tn “Released” is implied; in the Greek text both στόμα (stoma) and γλῶσσα (glōssa) are subjects of ἀνεῴχθη (aneōchthē), but this would be somewhat redundant in English.
New English Translation (NET)
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