SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:10
¶ Entonces dijo Moiss al SEOR: ¡Ruego Seor! Yo no soy hombre de palabras de ayer ni de anteayer, ni aun desde que t hablas a tu siervo; porque soy pesado de boca y pesado de lengua.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:10
Verse 10. I am not eloquent] yrbd ya al lo ish debarim, I am not a man of words; a periphrasis common in the Scriptures. So Job xi. 2, ytp ya ish sephathayim, a man of lips, signifies one that is talkative. Psa. cxl. 11, wl ya ish lashon, a man of tongue, signifies a prattler.
But how could it be said that Moses was not eloquent, when St. Stephen asserts, Acts vii. 22, that he was mighty in words as well as in deeds? There are three ways of solving this difficulty: 1. Moses might have had some natural infirmity, of a late standing, which at that time rendered it impossible for him to speak readily, and which he afterwards overcame; so that though he was not then a man of words, yet he might afterwards have been mighty in words as well as deeds. 2. It is possible he was not intimately acquainted with the Hebrew tongue, so as to speak clearly and distinctly in it. The first forty years of his life he had spent in Egypt, chiefly at court; and though it is very probable there was an affinity between the two languages, yet they certainly were not the same. The last forty he had spent in Midian, and it is not likely that the pure Hebrew tongue prevailed there, though it is probable that a dialect of it was there spoken. On these accounts Moses might find it difficult to express himself with that readiness and persuasive flow of language, which he might deem essentially necessary on such a momentous occasion; as he would frequently be obliged to consult his memory for proper expressions, which would necessarily produce frequent hesitation, and general slowness of utterance, which he might think would ill suit an ambassador of God. 3.
Though Moses was slow of speech, yet when acting as the messenger of God his word was with power, for at his command the plagues came and the plagues were stayed; thus was he mighty in words as well as in deeds: and this is probably the meaning of St. Stephen.
By the expression, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant, he might possibly mean that the natural inaptitude to speak readily, which he had felt, he continued to feel, even since God had begun to discover himself; for though he had wrought several miracles for him, yet he had not healed this infirmity. See on "chap. vi. 12".
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-17 - Moses continued backward to the work God designed him for; there wa much of cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in him. We must not judg of men by the readiness of their discourse. A great deal of wisdom an true worth may be with a slow tongue. God sometimes makes choice of those as his messengers, who have the least of the advantages of art of nature, that his grace in them may appear the more glorious. Christ' disciples were no orators, till the Holy Spirit made them such. God condescends to answer the excuse of Moses. Even self-diffidence, when it hinders us from duty, or clogs us in duty, is very displeasing to the Lord. But while we blame Moses for shrinking from this dangerou service, let us ask our own hearts if we are not neglecting duties mor easy, and less perilous. The tongue of Aaron, with the head and hear of Moses, would make one completely fit for this errand. God promises I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth. Even Aaron, who coul speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God gave constan teaching and help; for without the constant aid of Divine grace, the best gifts will fail.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 משׁה 4872 אל 413 יהוה 3068 בי 994 אדני 136 לא 3808 אישׁ 582 דברים 1697 אנכי 595 גם 1571 מתמול 8543 גם 1571 משׁלשׁם 8032 גם 1571 מאז 227 דברך 1696 אל 413 עבדך 5650 כי 3588 כבד 3515 פה 6310 וכבד 3515 לשׁון 3956 אנכי׃ 595
