The Meaning of Exodus 4:12 Explained

Exodus 4:12

KJV: Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

YLT: and now, go, and I -- I am with thy mouth, and have directed thee that which thou speakest;'

Darby: And now go, and I will be with thy mouth, and will teach thee what thou shalt say.

ASV: Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore go,  and I will be with thy mouth,  and teach  thee what thou shalt say. 

What does Exodus 4:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 4:10-17 - God's Promises Overcome Moses' Reluctance
To Moses' second misgiving God made a promise of exceeding beauty, which all who speak for God should consider. Compare Exodus 4:12 with Jeremiah 1:7-9 and 1 Corinthians 2:4. If we looked at our natural powers as Paul used to do, we should glory in our lack of eloquence, as affording a better platform on which God might work. See 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
In answer to the third misgiving God gave him his brother as assistant. Indeed, he was already on his way; but he was a weak man, and gave to Moses a great amount of anxiety and pain in their afterlife. After all, it is best for a man to lean only on God for counsel and ready help. If we step forth with this supreme alliance, we shall escape the hampering association with Aarons. We may as well get all we need at first-hand. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 4

1  Moses's rod is turned into a serpent
6  His hand is leprous
10  He loathes his calling
13  Aaron is appointed to assist him
18  Moses departs from Jethro
21  God's message to Pharaoh
24  Zipporah circumcises her son
27  Aaron is sent to meet Moses
29  The people believe them

What do the individual words in Exodus 4:12 mean?

now therefore go and I will be with your mouth and I will teach what you shall say
וְעַתָּ֖ה לֵ֑ךְ וְאָנֹכִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה עִם־ פִּ֔יךָ וְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּדַבֵּֽר

וְעַתָּ֖ה  now  therefore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
לֵ֑ךְ  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְאָנֹכִי֙  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
פִּ֔יךָ  your  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וְהוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָ  and  I  will  teach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
תְּדַבֵּֽר  you  shall  say 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.