Exodus 4:10 records Moses telling God that he is not a good speaker, and he has never been one, not before God called him and not since. Moses is objecting to the assignment God has just given him: to go to Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt. His objection is about his own ability to speak, and it shows the fear behind his reluctance.
Moses speaks these words directly to the LORD, in the middle of a conversation at the burning bush. He is responding to God’s call and offering his honest reason for hesitating.
Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
Exodus 4:10 (WEB)
What Exodus 4:10 Means
Moses begins by addressing God as “O Lord,” a respectful opening that acknowledges who is speaking to him. He then says he is “not eloquent,” meaning he does not speak with fluency or persuasive skill. The phrase “neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant” tells us that the problem is not new. Moses is saying his speaking has never been strong, and God’s call has not changed that.
The final clause, “I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue,” repeats the same concern in more concrete words. Many readers understand this as a real difficulty in speaking clearly or quickly, though the text does not specify the exact nature of the problem. What the verse does establish is Moses’ honest self-assessment. It does not promise that Moses will suddenly become a polished orator, and it does not claim that his weakness is imaginary.
The Context of Exodus 4:10
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses himself and was written for the people of Israel as they came out of slavery in Egypt and began to understand themselves as God’s covenant people. Chapter 4 belongs to the account of the call of Moses, which starts at the burning bush in chapter 3. Just before verse 10, God gives Moses signs to perform, including a staff that becomes a snake and a hand that becomes leprous and is healed, so that the people will believe he was sent by God.
Just after verse 10, the LORD answers Moses by asking who made the human mouth, and then promises, “I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.” Seen in this setting, Moses’ objection is a response to God’s power demonstrated through the signs, and God’s reply shifts the focus from Moses’ skill to God’s own presence and provision.
Key Phrases in Exodus 4:10
Exodus 4:12
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
(WEB)
This verse contains God’s direct reply to Moses’ objection, promising both his presence and his teaching. It completes the exchange that begins in verse 10, showing that God answers the concern about speech by offering himself as the source of Moses’ words.
Jeremiah 1:6-7
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord the LORD! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
(WEB)
Jeremiah voices a similar objection, saying he is too young to speak, and God responds by telling him not to say he is only a child. The parallel shows a recurring pattern in Scripture where God calls people who feel inadequate and sends them with his assurance.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 4:10
Lord, you know how unsure I feel when I try to speak for you or to the people I love. I bring you my weak words and my fear of getting things wrong. Help me to be honest with you about my limits, and remind me that you are the one who made my mouth. Be with me when I speak, and teach me what to say at the moment I need it. Amen.
