Exodus 4:1 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

The reluctance of Moses to undertake the part of leader, indicated by his first reply at his first calling, "Who am I that I should go?" etc. ( Exodus 3:11 ), was not yet overcome. God had promised that he would succeed; but he did not see how he could succeed, either with the people or with Pharaoh. It was not enough for him that God had declared, "They (the people) shall hearken unto thy voice" ( Exodus 3:18 ); he does not, cannot believe this, and replies: "Behold, they will not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

Divine supplements for human infirmity. "Now therefore go, and I will be with thee," etc. ( Exodus 4:12 .) It is not at all clear whether the four objections urged by Moses against receiving the Divine commission were presented at one interview with the manifested God, or whether the controversy recorded Ex 3:1-4:17, occupied weeks or months. The probabilities are in favour of some considerable time. See Exodus 4:10 , and specially in the Hebrews In dealing with this particular plea,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 4:1

With this chapter begins the series of miracles which resulted in the deliverance of Israel. The first miracle was performed to remove the first obstacle, namely, the reluctance of Moses, conscious of his own weakness, and of the enormous power with which he would have to contend. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 4:1

Exodus 4:1. They will not believe me He means, they would not take his bare word, unless he showed them some sign. He remembered how they had once rejected him, and feared it would be so again. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

God gives his power to Moses (4:1-17)In reply to Moses’ further complaints that the people of Israel would not believe God had sent him, God enabled Moses to perform three startling signs. The Israelites had no doubt seen magicians in Egypt and such signs would impress them. But they would see that what Moses demonstrated was more than mere magic (4:1-9).At times Moses himself showed a tendency towards the same disbelief as he suspected in his fellow Israelites. Whether his claim to be... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 4:1

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . they will not = suppose they will not. The LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 4:1

"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee."Moses, in these verses, records his sins and weakness with the same fullness and impartiality seen in all that he wrote. That Moses was clearly at fault here lies in the fact that God had already assured him that the people would believe him (Exodus 3:18). In respect to the natural weakness of the flesh, God was not displeased with him, but gave... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 4:1

Exodus 4:1. Moses answered—behold, they will not believe me— The plain meaning of these words, as is evident from the miracles which God immediately wrought, and gave Moses also power to perform, is, that his bare word would be insufficient to convince the people, without some extraordinary signs to confirm the truth of his mission: "the people will say, the LORD hath not appeared unto thee: if he had, he would certainly have enabled thee to give some sign: shew us therefore such a sign, or we... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 4:1

1. But, behold—Hebrew, "If," "perhaps," "they will not believe me."—What evidence can I produce of my divine mission? There was still a want of full confidence, not in the character and divine power of his employer, but in His presence and power always accompanying him. He insinuated that his communication might be rejected and he himself treated as an impostor. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 4:1-9

God gave Moses three miracles to convince the Israelites that the God of their fathers had appeared to him. They also served to bolster Moses’ faith. Moses had left Egypt and the Israelites with a clouded reputation under the sentence of death, and he had been away for a long time. He needed to prove to his brethren that they could trust and believe him. Not only were these miracles strong proofs of God’s power, but they appear to have had special significance for the Israelites as well (cf.... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 4:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 4:1

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 4:1

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 4:1

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 4:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 4:1

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 4:1-9

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