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10 Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord,[a] I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”

11 Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”

13 Moses said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”

14 Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He will be your spokesman to the people. It will happen that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God. 17 You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

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Footnotes

  1. 4:10 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai”.

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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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 4:10 Lit. a man of words
  2. Exodus 4:10 Lit. either yesterday or the day before
  3. Exodus 4:10 Lit. heavy of mouth
  4. Exodus 4:10 Lit. heavy
  5. Exodus 4:12 Lit. will be with your mouth
  6. Exodus 4:13 Lit. by a hand send; i.e. by someone else’s hand send
  7. Exodus 4:14 Lit. he certainly speaks
  8. Exodus 4:15 Lit. put the words in his mouth
  9. Exodus 4:15 Lit. I’ll be with your mouth and with his mouth
  10. Exodus 4:16 Lit. be your mouth
  11. Exodus 4:16 Lit. be