Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
- KJV Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
- NKJV Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
- NASB Now then go, and I Myself will be with your mouth, and instruct you in what you are to say.”
- NLT Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God commands Moses to go, promising to be with his mouth and teach him what to say. Divine presence and instruction answer human inadequacy.
Overview
God meets Moses' objection with a command joined to a promise: go, for I will be with your mouth. The assurance is not that Moses will become eloquent but that God Himself will supply the words. This promise echoes throughout redemptive history—to the prophets, and to disciples told the Spirit would give them words—culminating in Christ's pledge of His presence with His sent people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Jer 1:9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Luke 12:11–12When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
- Matt 10:19–20But 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 21:14–15So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- Mark 13:11But 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.
- Isa 50:4The 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.
- John 14:26But 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.
- Eph 6:19Pray 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,
- Luke 11:1One 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.”
- Ps 25:4–5Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
- Isa 49:2He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.
- Ps 143:10Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
- Ps 32:9Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 4:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.