The Meaning of Exodus 4:16 Explained

Exodus 4:16

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.

YLT: and he, he hath spoken for thee unto the people, and it hath come to pass, he -- he is to thee for a mouth, and thou -- thou art to him for God;

Darby: And he shall speak for thee unto the people; and it shall come to pass that he shall be to thee for a mouth, and thou shalt be to him for God.

ASV: And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 4:16 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 4:16 mean?

So will speak he for you to the people and he shall be for you as a mouth and you shall be to him as God
וְדִבֶּר־ ה֥וּא לְךָ֖ אֶל־ הָעָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה הוּא֙ יִֽהְיֶה־ לְּךָ֣ לְפֶ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־ לּ֥וֹ לֵֽאלֹהִֽים

וְדִבֶּר־  So  will  speak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
לְךָ֖  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
הָעָ֑ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יִֽהְיֶה־  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְּךָ֣  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
לְפֶ֔ה  as  a  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וְאַתָּ֖ה  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
תִּֽהְיֶה־  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לּ֥וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
לֵֽאלֹהִֽים  as  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 4:16?

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