Exodus 4:10

Translations

Modern

“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Traditional

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Literal

And Moses said to YHWH, “Please, my Lord, I am not a man of words, neither from yesterday nor from the day before yesterday nor from the time You have spoken to Your servant. For I am slow of mouth and slow of tongue.”

Latin

Ait Moyses: Obsecro, Domine, non sum eloquens ab heri et nudiustertius: et ex quo locutus es ad servum tuum, impeditioris et tardioris linguæ sum.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Notes

Exodus 4:10–17

The fourth and final protest of Moses was that he could not speak well. He seemed desperate to avoid this difficult task.

God was becoming angry at Moses for refusing to accept the truth. The outcome did not depend on the ability of Moses. Instead, it depended on his willingness to let God's power work through him.

Exodus 3:11–4:17

Moses, in his response to God, presented four reasons why he was not the one to fulfill God’s call. Although each reason supposedly relates to Moses and his ability, God’s answers show that they were really questions about God.

Exodus 3:1–4:28

This section describes the mission God gave Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. It is divided into two parts, 3:1–4:17 and 4:18–28.

The first part describes God's call. The second part describes the full consequences of accepting that call. Moses not only experienced a career change, but he also had to completely change his life.

Theme notes and profiles

Aaron Egypt Moses Miraculous Signs in the Gospel of John

Related verses

Jeremiah 1:6
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
Exodus 6:12
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?”
Acts 7:22
So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
Exodus 4:1
Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
2 Corinthians 11:6
Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
2 Corinthians 10:10
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
Job 12:2
“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
1 Corinthians 2:1–4
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Bronze Snake, Bronze Serpent Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Joshua, Book of Moses Prophecy Prophet, Prophetess

Topics

Call: To Special Religious Duty: Moses Communion: Moses Condescension of God: Reasons with Moses Despondency: when Sent on his Mission to the Israelites Doubting: Exemplified Faith: Trial of Moses, when Sent to Pharaoh Humility: Exemplified Humility: Moses Israel: Moses Commissioned As the Deliverer Low Self Esteem Preaching: Moses Was Slow of Speech Shy People Stammering of Moses

Exodus 4:10

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