Exodus 4:15

You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses after his objection regarding speech, commanding him to meet Aaron and deliver specific instructions. The exchange occurs at the moment Moses is being appointed to lead Israel with Aaron as his designated spokesperson.

The words — The text centers on דִּבַּרְתָּ (dibbartā, "you will speak") and שַׂמְתָּ (samta, "you will put") regarding הַדְּבָרִים (haddevarim, "the words") placed in Aaron's mouth. God then uses אֶהְיֶה (ehyeh, "I will be") to declare His active presence in enabling their speech and directing their actions.

The thread — The pattern of God placing speech into a spokesperson's mouth appears in Isaiah 51:16, Numbers 23:5, and Numbers 23:12. These passages share the structural claim that prophetic utterance originates from divine insertion rather than human preparation.

Why it lands — The verse commands Moses to instruct Aaron while explicitly stating that God will equip both men to speak and guide their steps. It requires the reader to accept that authoritative proclamation depends on divine provision, not personal rhetorical skill.

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

וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ve./di.bar.Taand/ you will speak אֵלָ֔יו'e.La/vto/ him וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ve./sam.Taand/ you will put אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַדְּבָרִ֖יםha./de.va.Rimthe/ words בְּפִ֑יוbe./Fi/vin/ mouth/ his וְאָנֹכִ֗יve./'a.no.Khiand/ I אֶֽהְיֶ֤ה'eh.YehI will be עִם־'im-with פִּ֙יךָ֙pi./khamouth/ your וְעִם־ve./'im-and/ with פִּ֔יהוּPi./humouth/ his וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣יve./ho.rei.Tiand/ I will teach אֶתְכֶ֔ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you אֵ֖ת'et<obj.>אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher[that] which תַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ta.'a.Su/nyou will do/ !

King James Version

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Cross-references

Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
Numbers 23:5 Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
Numbers 23:12 But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”
Numbers 23:16 And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”
Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
Luke 21:15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Isaiah 59:21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.
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.
Exodus 4:12 Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 7:1 The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.