Exodus 4:10-17
Christian Standard Bible
10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”[a](A)
11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?(B) 12 Now go! I will help you speak[b] and I will teach you what to say.”(C)
13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”[c]
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say.(D) I will help both you and him to speak[d] and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”(E)
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Exodus 4:10-17
International Standard Version
10 Then Moses told the Lord, “Please, Lord, I’m not eloquent.[a] I never was in the past[b] nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly[c] and I have a speech impediment.”[d]
11 Then God asked him, “Who gives a person a mouth? Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech,[e] and I’ll teach you what you are to say.”
13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send somebody else.”[f]
14 Then the Lord was angry with Moses and said, “There’s your brother Aaron, a descendant of Levi, isn’t there? I know that he certainly is eloquent.[g] Right now he’s coming to meet you and he will be pleased to see you. 15 You’re to speak to him and tell him what to say.[h] I’ll help both you and him with your speech,[i] and I’ll teach both of you what you are to do. 16 He is to speak to the people for you as your spokesman[j] and you are to act in the role of[k] God for him. 17 Now pick up that staff with your hand. You’ll use it to perform the signs.”
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- Exodus 4:10 Lit. a man of words
- Exodus 4:10 Lit. either yesterday or the day before
- Exodus 4:10 Lit. heavy of mouth
- Exodus 4:10 Lit. heavy
- Exodus 4:12 Lit. will be with your mouth
- Exodus 4:13 Lit. by a hand send; i.e. by someone else’s hand send
- Exodus 4:14 Lit. he certainly speaks
- Exodus 4:15 Lit. put the words in his mouth
- Exodus 4:15 Lit. I’ll be with your mouth and with his mouth
- Exodus 4:16 Lit. be your mouth
- Exodus 4:16 Lit. be
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