Bible Strands
Exodus 4:10
“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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Yahweh directly during his initial reluctance to accept the commission to confront Pharaoh. He voices this objection immediately after God outlines two signs to validate his mission.
The words — The phrase בִּי אֲדֹנָי (bi 'a.do.Nai) literally means "pardon me O Lord," framing the request as a formal appeal for mercy. The clause לֹא אִישׁ (lo 'ish) literally translates "not a man of," introducing his specific claim of lacking eloquence.
The thread — This pattern of prophetic reluctance appears in Jeremiah 1:6, where the prophet cites his youth as a barrier, and resurfaces in Exodus 6:12 when Moses raises a second objection about Pharaoh's refusal. Acts 7:22 contrasts this self-assessment by noting Moses was previously educated and "powerful in speech and action" under Egyptian training.
Why it lands — The text records that divine commissioning proceeds despite human self-perceived inadequacy. It requires the reader to separate actual capability from claimed incapacity when facing a direct assignment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 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 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.