The Meaning of Exodus 4:13 Explained

Exodus 4:13

KJV: And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

YLT: and he saith, 'O, my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand Thou dost send.'

Darby: And he said, Ah Lord! send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

ASV: And he said, Oh, Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  O  my Lord,  send,  I pray thee, by the hand  [of him whom] thou wilt send. 

What does Exodus 4:13 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 4:13 mean?

But he said please my Lord send I pray by the hand You will send
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י שְֽׁלַֽח־ נָ֖א בְּיַד־ תִּשְׁלָֽח

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר  But  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בִּ֣י  please 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בִּי  
Sense: if it please, pray excuse me, excuse me please.
אֲדֹנָ֑י  my  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
שְֽׁלַֽח־  send 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
נָ֖א  I  pray 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
בְּיַד־  by  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
תִּשְׁלָֽח  You  will  send 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.