Bible Strands
Exodus 4:12
Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God speaks to Moses, who has just protested that he is not eloquent (4:10). This is the second of God's counter-responses; Moses will immediately raise a new objection in 4:13.
The words — אָנֹכִי ('a.no.Khi, "I") is the intensive first-person pronoun, used here for emphasis: it is not merely "I" but "I, specifically, who will be with your mouth." The Hiphil of הָרָה (ho.rei.Ti, "I will teach") carries the sense of causing to know, directing the content of speech.
The thread — The same pattern recurs in Jeremiah 1:9, where the LORD puts His words in Jeremiah's mouth, and in Matthew 10:19 / Luke 12:11–12, where the Spirit supplies the words in the hour of trial.
Why it lands — The verse answers the specific fear of not knowing what to say by locating the source of speech outside the speaker. It asks the reader to act on the promise rather than wait for a feeling of readiness.
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
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Luke 12:11 When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
- Matthew 10:19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
- Luke 21:14 So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
- Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
- Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- Luke 11:1 One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
- Psalms 25:4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.