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Exodus 4:10-17
New International Version
Exodus 4:10-17
New International Version
10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”(A)
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute?(B) Who gives them sight or makes them blind?(C) Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go;(D) I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”(E)
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”(F)
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned(G) against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet(H) you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth;(I) I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth(J) and as if you were God to him.(K) 17 But take this staff(L) in your hand(M) so you can perform the signs(N) with it.”
Exodus 4:10-17
International Standard Version
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.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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