Exodus 4:12
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just God promising to help Moses speak; it's a profound declaration that God will be the source of Moses' words. It means that every utterance, every argument, every plea Moses makes will be divinely authored, transforming his perceived weakness into a powerful instrument of God's will.
Moses expresses his deep inadequacy and fear about confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites, citing his lack of eloquence. In response, God reassures Moses, promising to be with his mouth and guide his words, and also reveals that Moses' brother Aaron, who is eloquent, will go with him and speak for him.
Moses felt inadequate, calling himself 'slow of speech.' But God’s promise wasn't about Moses's ability, but God’s presence.
Moses expresses a deep insecurity about his speaking ability, stating he is 'slow of speech and of a slow tongue' (Exodus 4:10). This wasn't just a minor hesitation; it was a core reason he felt unfit for the monumental task of confronting Pharaoh and leading Israel out of Egypt.
But notice God's direct response: 'I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.' This isn't a promise to magically make Moses eloquent overnight. Instead, it's a profound assurance that God's presence would empower him.
This highlights a crucial biblical principle: God often calls and equips those who feel inadequate. His power isn't demonstrated through our inherent strength, but through His enabling presence working through our weaknesses. The commentators note that while Moses was indeed a stammerer, Stephen later declared him 'mighty in word as well as deed' (Acts 7:22), showing how God can use even those with perceived limitations.
God didn't just promise to be with Moses; He promised to actively guide what Moses would say. It's a partnership!
The promise, 'I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak,' signifies a dynamic partnership between God and His messenger. It's not passive inspiration, but active instruction. God would not only grant Moses courage but also provide the precise words needed for each situation.
This is echoed in commentaries that speak of God's 'Word' being with Moses's mouth or His Spirit directing what to say. It means that in moments of divine commission, our role is to be receptive and obedient, trusting that the One who calls us will also guide our speech. This divine instruction ensures that the message delivered is precisely what God intends, not merely what human wisdom or eloquence might devise.
Even Aaron, who was known for his speaking ability, would need this divine guidance. As one commentary notes, 'Even Aaron, who could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God gave constant teaching and help.' This underscores that all effective ministry, whether speaking or leading, is dependent on God's ongoing enablement.
Understand the original words
im · Hebrew Preposition
Refers to the divine presence and guidance granted to a believer, ensuring that God is actively involved in and directing the actions or speech of His servant.
This moment highlights God's faithfulness to His promises, even when His chosen messenger feels inadequate. It underscores that God equips those He calls, working through human weakness to display His power and teach us to rely on Him.
c. 1446 BC
Moses flees to Midian
After killing an Egyptian taskmaster, Moses flees Egypt and lives as a shepherd in Midian for forty years.
c. 1406 BC
The Burning Bush
God appears to Moses in a burning bush, commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
c. 1406 BC
Moses's Hesitation
Moses expresses his self-doubt and lack of eloquence to God, requesting a different messenger.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Aaron Appointed as Spokesperson
God appoints Moses's brother, Aaron, to speak for him, reassuring Moses that God will be with both their mouths.
c. 1406 BC
Jesus echoes God's promise to Moses, assuring His disciples that the Holy Spirit will provide the words they need when they face opposition.
Jeremiah 1:9This passage shows God's empowerment of a prophet, similar to Moses, by placing His words directly into their mouths to speak His message.
2 Corinthians 3:5This verse highlights that our sufficiency as ministers comes from God, not from ourselves, just as Moses' ability to speak was a gift from God.
1 Samuel 15:22This verse emphasizes that obedience is more important than eloquent speech, mirroring God's gentle correction of Moses' hesitation and His promise to equip him.
Acts 7:22Stephen recounts Moses' upbringing and education, noting he was 'mighty in his words,' which contrasts with Moses' own self-assessment and highlights God's transformative power.
gillExodus 4:12: "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth,.... And put words into it, and cause it to speak readily and powerfully; and so it appears that he was mighty in words, as well as in deeds, Acts 7:22 , and teach thee what thou shalt say; to Pharaoh, to the Israelites, and to Aaron, that was to speak for him, as is hereafter observed.
clarkeExodus 4:12: "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."
I will be with thy mouth - The Chaldee translates, My Word, meimeri, shall be with thy mouth. And Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases, I and my Word will be with the speech of thy mouth. See Clarke on Genesis 15:1 (note), and Leviticus 25:10 (note).
This verse isn't just God promising to help Moses speak; it's a profound declaration that God will be the source of Moses' words. It means that every utterance, every argument, every plea Moses makes will be divinely authored, transforming his perceived weakness into a powerful instrument of God's will.
Moses expresses his deep inadequacy and fear about confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites, citing his lack of eloquence. In response, God reassures Moses, promising to be with his mouth and guide his words, and also reveals that Moses' brother Aaron, who is eloquent, will go with him and speak for him.
Moses expresses his deep inadequacy and fear about confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites, citing his lack of eloquence. In response, God reassures Moses, promising to be with his mouth and guide his words, and also reveals that Moses' brother Aaron, who is eloquent, will go with him and speak for him.
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God Grants Signs
God empowers Moses with two signs: his staff turning into a serpent and his hand becoming leprous and then healed, to convince the people.
c. 1406 BC
Return to Egypt
Moses, accompanied by his wife and children and now assured of Aaron's support, returns to Egypt to confront Pharaoh.
"Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”" — This verse isn't just God promising to help Moses speak; it's a profound declaration that God will be the source of Moses' words. It means that every utterance, every argument, every plea Moses mak…
