Exodus 4:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.

NIV: He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.

NASB: He shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

CSB: He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him.

NLT: Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.

KJV: And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

NKJV: So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.

The Lord is sending Aaron, Moses' brother, to act as the public speaker for Moses' mission (Exodus 4:10–15). Despite what movies, cartoons, and art suggest, it was Aaron—not Moses—publicly passing along the words which God gave to Moses.

Here, God describes the role Aaron would play. First, Aaron would speak on behalf of Moses. Since Moses was either a poor speaker (Exodus 4:10) or simply hesitant (Exodus 4:13), it would be Aaron delivering most of the public messages. That would include conversations with Egypt's Pharaoh and the people of Israel. In this way, Moses would act somewhat like God: giving instructions and information to be distributed by someone. The description may also refer to Aaron's reverence and caution that he would not change what Moses said, since the message came from the Lord.

The first practical record of this special relationship is found later in this chapter (Exodus 4:30). "Moses and Aaron" first appear before Pharaoh in the next passage (Exodus 5:1). The command given here is also repeated in Exodus 7:1–2. As with public speaking, sometimes it was Aaron, acting under Moses' instruction, who acted as a conduit for the Lord's power (Exodus 7:19; 8:16). The first plague would take place through Aaron as Moses told him to turn the water of the Nile into blood (Exodus 7:20).

Exodus 4:10–17 records Moses resisting God's call by pointing out his poor speaking ability. When God says He will endow Moses with the right words at the right time, Moses is still overwhelmed and skeptical. Though angry at the lack of faith, God responds by appointing Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the public spokesman, bringing words from God through Moses.

While speaking with God in the form of a supernaturally burning bush, Moses expresses a lack of confidence. God gives Moses several miraculous signs so he can prove the source of his message. Moses is still unsure because of his poor speech. Though irritated, God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the spokesman while Moses relays the words of God. Moses returns to Egypt. Along the way, he nearly dies due to God's anger over some issue related to circumci-sion. After meeting his brother, Moses convinces the elders of Israel that his mission is genuine.

Moses, born an Israelite (Exodus 2:1) but raised by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:10) fled into exile after killing an abu-sive Egyptian taskmaster (Exodus 2:14–15). Later, Moses meets God (Exodus 3:6) and receives the initial command to challenge Pharaoh for the freedom of the Israelites (Exodus 3:18–20). In this chapter, Moses makes excuses about his public speaking and nearly dies because of an uncircumcised son. Israel's elders believe Moses' story. But in the next chapter, Moses' early confrontation with Pharaoh goes poorly; the people are worked even hard-er (Exodus 5:5–9) and they begin to turn against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.