Exodus 4:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

Moses still continues backward to the service for which God had designed him, even to a fault; for now we can no longer impute it to his humility and modesty, but must own that here was too much of cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in it. Observe here, I. How Moses endeavours to excuse himself from the work. 1. He pleads that he was no good spokesman: O my Lord! I am not eloquent, Exod. 4:10. He was a great philosopher, statesman, and divine, and yet no orator; a man of a clear head, great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:16

And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people ,.... And open to them Moses's commission from God, and the end of his mission into Egypt, and to them, and declare what signs had been, and would be done, in confirmation of it: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth ; or an interpreter, as all the Targums explain it, and so Jarchi; as he was an orator and master of language, he should speak to the people for Moses, and explain his sense and meaning, and put it into... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:16

He shall be thy spokesman - Literally, He shall speak for thee (or in thy stead) to the people. He shall be to thee instead of a mouth - He shall convey every message to the people; and thou shalt be to him instead of God - thou shalt deliver to him what I communicate to thee. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:16

Verse 16 16.And he shall be thy spokesman. God destroys the pretext for his exemption, by assigning to his brother the office of spokesman, and yet does He not put the other in his place; nay, so merciful is the arrangement, that while He yields to His servant’s prayer, He yet confers honor upon him in spite of himself. The offices are thus divided — Moses is to have the authority, Aaron is to be the interpreter. Thus Moses is set before his brother, from no respect to his own dignity; because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

Slow of speech. The longer Moses pondered the mission on which he was sent, the more he shrank from it. The difficulty which now oppressed him was his want of eloquence. It seemed to him that in this respect he was the least qualified person God could have chosen. There was needed for such a work a man of persuasive tongue, of fluent, forcible, and impressive speech; and his own utterance was hesitating and heavy. Overwhelmed with the sense of unfitness, he again appeals to God, and asks... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

God's wrath will fall where his service is declined. I. MOSES ' OBJECTION AND GOD 'S ANSWER (10-12). 1 . He deems himself unfit to occupy the place even of spokesman to the Lord. The objection was based upon a real infirmity, which so far God had not removed. The same objection urged as a reason to-day for not engaging in Sunday-school work, etc. The want of power may be real, but is it a sufficient reason for refusal? 2 . God's answer. Our weakness will merely afford... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:13-16

Moses, taking a step too far, is suddenly arrested. In Exodus 4:13 we must evidently look at the spirit of the words, rather than the words themselves. There is nothing wrong in the words. Uttered in a different tone and in different circumstances they might have drawn forth the approval of God rather than his anger. They might be used as expressing the most devout submissiveness, the consciousness of one who, though he is treading forth into darkness and danger, is sure that he is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:14-16

Diversities of gifts a benefit both to individuals and to the Church. After all, the self-distrust of Moses was turned by God to good. Without it Moses would have been sole leader of the entire enterprise, must have appeared alone before the elders and before the monarch, must have undertaken the entire charge, direction, superintendence of everything, must have had upon his mind an unshared burden which it would have been most trying to bear. God's strength might indeed have been... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:14-16

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