Just a little something I was wondering about.

[oyster67]

I've been curious about the part in Exodus 4:10 where Moses says that he is slow of speech and of tongue. I didn't understand what that meant.

I'm not sure either, but I think the take-away lesson from it is that God will never ask us to do something that He won't give us the ability to accomplish. We need not hesitate, procrastinate, or second guess God's will, desire, and plan for us. A passage that comes to mind:

2 Corinthians
12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Godspeed

 

[Tararose]

There are many variations of this verse in all The many versions of the bible. (The ones below may or may not help.)

What I do note is consistent in most, if not all, of the versions quoted so far by others and here in my response, is that Moses states clearly he NEVER WAS eloquent/good with words etc. in the past. That indicates to me it is not a matter of simply forgetting how to efficiently use a language he once excelled in. He was just slow in his responses or at worst had a stutter which slowed his speech down.

But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”(NLT)


Good News Translation
But Moses said, "No, LORD, don't send me. I have never been a good speaker, and I haven't become one since you began to speak to me. I am a poor speaker, slow and hesitant."

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Moses replied to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent--either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant--because I am slow and hesitant in speech."

International Standard Version
Then Moses told the LORD, "Please, LORD, I'm not eloquent. I never was in the past nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly and I have a speech impediment."

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.(KJV)

 

[Blackpowderduelist]

I think more than anything,he was making excuses because he was afraid to go back to Egypt. He feared he would be outted for killing the guard and then he would be put to death himself.

 

[Scribe]

There are many variations of this verse in all The many versions of the bible. (The ones below may or may not help.)

What I do note is consistent in most, if not all, of the versions quoted so far by others and here in my response, is that Moses states clearly he NEVER WAS eloquent/good with words etc. in the past. That indicates to me it is not a matter of simply forgetting how to efficiently use a language he once excelled in. He was just slow in his responses or at worst had a stutter which slowed his speech down.

But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”(NLT)


Good News Translation
But Moses said, "No, LORD, don't send me. I have never been a good speaker, and I haven't become one since you began to speak to me. I am a poor speaker, slow and hesitant."

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Moses replied to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent--either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant--because I am slow and hesitant in speech."

International Standard Version
Then Moses told the LORD, "Please, LORD, I'm not eloquent. I never was in the past nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly and I have a speech impediment."

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.(KJV)

But we do have a bit more detail about Moses from Stephen in Acts 7:22
And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
The sentence context connects the 'might in words' with his upbringing in the wisdom of the Egyptians. That is an interpretation that is natural to the context. Or, Stephen might have been referring to Moses being mighty in Word when he was before Pharaoah. One or the other. If it was when he was being brought up in the wisdom of the Egyptians then he lost his familiarity with the language and attempting to recall it he was slow at it and mindful of this weakness. Or.. if Stephen is referring to his standing before Pharaoh what we have then is either a healing of any speech impediement or a recall of his past skill with words in Pharaohs language, either way Stephen is showing us that himself and it is assumed those biblical scholars before him undserstood Moses to be MIGHTY in words when he spoke to Pharoah. This whole speech issue Moses feared had been resolved. Hallelujah!

Also of the translations you posted only the HCSB is a functional equivalent translation (attempt at a word for word from the Hebrew) the others are Free Translations which freely take liberties to explain possible meanings. They are like commentaries in that regard. HCSB is well respected along with ESV, NASB, and KJV as an good word for word functional equivalent. An interlineal being a Formal Equivalent.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Maybe it's just one of those unanswered questions about the Bible.

Maybe it was just false modesty on the part of Moses. As we see later, Moses was fluent, articulate, and very effective as the leader of the Israelites.

Many people deliberately underrate themselves, or believe that false modesty is a good thing. God would not allow Moses to get away with that.

 

[Lanolin]

I take it to mean He had a fear of public speaking, which a lot of us have. God just got his brother Aaoron to speak for him.

Have you ever seen the movie 'the Kings speech'? King George actually had a real speech impediment which is not good when you need to reassure your subjects!

Maybe there was something about Moses that inspired people aside from his speaking voice, otherwise its kinda shades of Milli Vanilli, at least they were honest and admitted they couldnt sing in the end.

 

[Lanolin]

Moses probably did mean he wasnt confident in speaking Hebrew i.e not really fluent. Having been brough up in an egyptian household, he might not have had the command of the Hebrew language he would if he was brought up with Hebrew speaking parents.

Having a stutter doesnt necessarily mean you are slow actually people that stutter talk very fast because they try to jam all the sounds together.

 

[Infinite_Ark]

It does not seem that Aaron really had to speak for him once things got rolling. Moses probably recovered his old mastery of the words he was once mighty in growing up in Egypt.

Maybe God helped him overcome?

 

[Tararose]

But we do have a bit more detail about Moses from Stephen in Acts 7:22
And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
The sentence context connects the 'might in words' with his upbringing in the wisdom of the Egyptians. That is an interpretation that is natural to the context. Or, Stephen might have been referring to Moses being mighty in Word when he was before Pharaoah. One or the other. If it was when he was being brought up in the wisdom of the Egyptians then he lost his familiarity with the language and attempting to recall it he was slow at it and mindful of this weakness. Or.. if Stephen is referring to his standing before Pharaoh what we have then is either a healing of any speech impediement or a recall of his past skill with words in Pharaohs language, either way Stephen is showing us that himself and it is assumed those biblical scholars before him undserstood Moses to be MIGHTY in words when he spoke to Pharoah. This whole speech issue Moses feared had been resolved. Hallelujah!

Also of the translations you posted only the HCSB is a functional equivalent translation (attempt at a word for word from the Hebrew) the others are Free Translations which freely take liberties to explain possible meanings. They are like commentaries in that regard. HCSB is well respected along with ESV, NASB, and KJV as an good word for word functional equivalent. An interlineal being a Formal Equivalent.

Yes that’s Very good point about what was written in Acts. Thanks for that. I had forgotten Moses was mentioned there. Bless you.

 

[Tararose]

I think that because Aaron was acting under Moses’ instruction and on his behalf, the words of God that Aaron said and the miracles God Did using Aaron’s staff and his words, were Often attributed to Moses - in the records as it were. Just as we sometimes would say the word of God says... or God says... when quoting any prophet or apostles written words In the bible because they spoke (As per His instruction) on His behalf. Below are some of the portions of scripture that lead me to this conclusion.

Acts 7
36 He (Moses) brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. (All Credit went to Moses in Stephens speech despite the following verses often crediting both men or Aaron as acting or speaking)

Gen 4

16 And he (Aaron) shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou (Moses) shalt be to him instead of God.
.,,,,,
29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
30 And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Exodus 7 and 8

And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land
....
thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent
...
Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood.
...
Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up
...
Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice
...
Exodus 9
3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

Exodus 11
10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh:

Exodus 14
43 And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: