Exodus 4 15

Exodus 4:15 kjv

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.

Exodus 4:15 nkjv

Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.

Exodus 4:15 niv

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

Exodus 4:15 esv

You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.

Exodus 4:15 nlt

Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do.

Exodus 4 verses

Exodus 4 15 Meaning

Exodus 4:15 describes God's direct promise to Moses and Aaron, assuring them of divine enablement for their appointed task. God pledges to supply Moses with the exact words to convey to Aaron, and further, promises His direct presence and guidance with both their mouths. This extends to instructing them fully on what actions they are to take, signifying God as the complete source of their words and their work.

Exodus 4 15 Context

Exodus 4:15 is a crucial response from God following Moses' protracted resistance and list of objections to God's call. Moses' primary protest in verse 10 was his claim of being "slow of speech and slow of tongue." In response, God had initially highlighted His power over human physical abilities (Exod 4:11-12) and promised to teach Moses what to say. However, when Moses continued to plead for another to be sent (Exod 4:13), God's anger was kindled. Yet, out of grace and practical necessity, God provided a solution by appointing Aaron as Moses' spokesman (Exod 4:14).

This verse (Exod 4:15) then details the divine plan for this unique partnership: Moses will convey God's words to Aaron, and God Himself will oversee both of their communications. This is not merely a logistical arrangement but a profound declaration of God's active, enabling presence in their joint mission. The broader historical context is God preparing His chosen instruments to confront Pharaoh and deliver Israel from slavery, underscoring that the entire enterprise rests not on human capability but on divine initiative and provision. It asserts God's ultimate sovereignty over His messengers and their message.

Exodus 4 15 Word analysis

• "You shall speak to him" (וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו - ve'dibarta elav):

  • "You": Refers to Moses, emphasizing his foundational role as the direct recipient of God's revelation, despite Aaron being the spokesman.
  • "speak" (דִבַּרְתָּ - dibarta, from דָּבַר - davar): Indicates deliberate, articulate communication. It’s a divine command to transmit information from God (through Moses) to Aaron.
  • "to him": Refers to Aaron, designating him as the immediate recipient of Moses' communicated divine instructions.

• "and put the words in his mouth" (וְשַׂמְתָּ֤ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים֙ בְּפִ֔יו - ve'samta et ha'devarim be'fiv):

  • "put" (שַׂמְתָּ - samta, from שִׂים - sim): Signifies placing something directly and specifically. It's an intentional act of transference. Moses is not to create words but to faithfully transmit those given to him.
  • "the words" (הַדְּבָרִים֙ - ha'devarim): This term signifies specific messages or pronouncements. It underscores that what Aaron speaks are not his own thoughts, nor Moses's, but precisely God's dictated message. This is divine revelation intended for Pharaoh and Israel.
  • "in his mouth" (בְּפִיו - be'fiv): Identifies Aaron's mouth as the conduit through which these specific divine "words" will be vocalized. This is a vivid metaphor for speaking on someone else's behalf, echoing Moses' initial concern and God's solution.

• "and I will be with your mouth" (וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶה֙ עִם־פִּ֔יךָ - ve'anochi ehyeh im pika):

  • "I" (אָֽנֹכִי - anochi): An emphatic pronoun for "I," emphasizing God's personal and active involvement.
  • "will be" (אֶֽהְיֶה֙ - ehyeh): This verb form connects to God's self-revelation "I AM WHO I AM" (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה) in Exod 3:14. It implies active presence, enabling power, and sustained support.
  • "with your mouth": Reinforces God's direct presence and enabling grace with Moses himself. Though Moses is not the primary spokesman for the people, God is still directly equipping his verbal faculties to receive and transmit the divine message to Aaron. It affirms that God does not abandon Moses because Aaron is introduced; rather, God partners with Moses in a different capacity.

• "and with his mouth" (וְעִם־פִּ֔יהוּ - ve'im pihu):

  • This is a concise yet powerful extension. It ensures Aaron's capacity to speak is divinely sustained as well. It guarantees unity of message and power, making Aaron's utterances as effective as if God spoke them directly. The partnership is under God's total anointing.

• "and teach you what you are to do" (וְהֽוֹרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשׂוּן֙ - ve'horeti etkhem et asher ta'asun):

  • "and teach" (וְהֽוֹרֵיתִ֖י - ve'horeti, from יָרָה - yarah): The verb "teach" or "instruct" frequently pertains to teaching God's law or divine revelation. It speaks of divine instruction, guidance, and direction. It means more than simply providing information; it implies training for effective action.
  • "you" (אֶתְכֶ֔ם - etkhem): This is the plural form, explicitly encompassing both Moses and Aaron. It shows that God's teaching and guidance apply to both, solidifying their shared mission and ensuring their complete reliance on divine direction for all aspects of their task, not just speaking.
  • "what you are to do": This extends beyond mere speech to actions, strategies, and the comprehensive conduct of their mission. It signifies God's complete oversight and instruction for every aspect of their responsibilities. God doesn't just provide words, but comprehensive strategic direction.

Exodus 4 15 Bonus section

• The Principle of Delegation and Divine Unison: While God could have directly transformed Moses' speech, His chosen method involves delegating authority and speech through multiple individuals (Moses, Aaron). This demonstrates God's sovereignty working through human partnership, maintaining unity of purpose even with different roles.
• Polemic against Human Eloquence: This verse subtly stands as a polemic against the ancient world's high esteem for human oratorical skill as the sole determinant of leadership. God shows that He chooses and equips according to His will, often working through apparent weaknesses, rendering human pride in skill irrelevant in His divine plan. The true power lies in the divine utterance, not the human speaker.
• Precursor to Prophetic and Apostolic Office: This model—God giving words, being with the mouth, and teaching "what to do"—is foundational for understanding the prophetic office (God giving words, e.g., Jer 1:9) and the apostolic ministry (God empowering witnesses and giving them speech, e.g., Matt 10:19-20). Moses is effectively serving as a prophet and Aaron as his priestly spokesman.

Exodus 4 15 Commentary

Exodus 4:15 encapsulates a core principle of divine commissioning: God provides fully for His calling. When Moses protested his speech inadequacy, God did not remove the challenge, but rather empowered and partnered to overcome it. This verse illustrates the complete sufficiency found in God's presence and instruction.

It establishes a divine communication chain: God speaks to Moses, Moses speaks to Aaron, and Aaron speaks to the people/Pharaoh. Critically, God's promise "I will be with your mouth and with his mouth" indicates that the true authority and enabling presence reside not in human eloquence or talent, but in God Himself empowering the vessels. It moves beyond merely supplying words to granting a spirit of utterance and wisdom. Furthermore, "and teach you what you are to do" highlights comprehensive divine guidance, covering both the verbal message and the practical actions required. This implies that ministry success relies entirely on divine word, divine presence, and divine wisdom. It underscores a fundamental partnership: humans are called to be faithful conduits, while God remains the active force and source of all truth and effective action. This principle resonates for all believers in service, reminding us that our capabilities for God's work stem from His enablement, not our own.