Verse

Exodus 4:11

ESV Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man 's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
NIV The Lord said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
NASB But the Lord said to him, 'Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
CSB The Lord said to him, "Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
NLT Then the Lord asked Moses, 'Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?
KJV And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
NKJV So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

What does Exodus 4:11 mean?

Instead of acknowledging Moses' excuse about poor speaking (Exodus 4:10), God reminds Moses of the God to whom he is speaking. These questions are rhetorical: the answers are assumed to be obvious, so they are really statements. The Creator who formed mankind's body (Genesis 1:27), and Moses' body (Psalm 139:15–17), can guide that body when He chooses to.

God is not asking Moses to prove himself worthy of this great task (Exodus 3:10). The Lord is simply telling Moses to obey—to go—and expecting that Moses will do so. This is the proper response when the Lord calls. Isaiah responded with enthusiasm (Isaiah 6:8). Jeremiah made an excuse much like Moses (Jeremiah 1:5–10) and the Lord offered a similar answer. Moses' reaction (Exodus 4:13) suggests hesitation deeper than a simple concern about speech.
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