EXO 4:10 Parallel View

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The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

OET (OET-RV) “Oh my master,” Mosheh responded, “I’m not very good at speaking to others—I never have been and still aren’t. I seem to get tongue-tied easily.”

4:10 Note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

Key: yellow:verbs, red:negative, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And Moses said to Yahweh, “Oh my Lord, I am not a man of words; not since yesterday, nor since three days ago, nor since you spoke to your servant. For I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue.”

UST Then Moses said to Yahweh, “But Lord, I am not good at speaking to people. I have never been and you talking to me has not made me better. I speak slowly and never know what to say.”

BSB § “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

OEB No OEB EXO book available

WEB Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord,[fn] 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.”

4:10 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai”.

WMB Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord,[fn] 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.”

4:10 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai”.

NET Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

LSV And Moses says to YHWH, “O my Lord, I [am] not a man of words, either yesterday, or before, or since Your speaking to Your servant, for I [am] slow of mouth, and slow of tongue.”

FBV Then Moses said to the Lord, “Pleased excuse me, but I'm not someone who is good with words—not in the past, and not from the time you have been speaking with me, your servant. My speech is slow and I don't say things well.”[fn]

4:10 “My speech is slow and I don't say things well”: literally, “I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue.”

T4T Moses/I replied, “O Yahweh! I am not an eloquent speaker! I was not an eloquent speaker before, and I have not become one since you started talking to me! I am not a good speaker [MTY], and I speak very slowly.”

LEB And Moses said to Yahweh, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words, neither recently nor in the past nor since your speaking[fn] to your servant, because Iam heavy of mouth and of tongue.”

?:? Literally “also from yesterday also from the day before also from then your speaking”

BBE And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not a man of words; I have never been so, and am not now, even after what you have said to your servant: for talking is hard for me, and I am slow of tongue.

MOF No MOF EXO book available

JPS And Moses said unto the LORD: 'Oh Lord, I am not a man of words, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.'

ASV And Moses said unto Jehovah, Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

DRA Moses said: I beseech thee, Lord. I am not eloquent from yesterday and the day before: and since thou hast spoken to thy servant, I have more impediment and slowness of tongue.

YLT And Moses saith unto Jehovah, 'O, my Lord, I [am] not a man of words, either yesterday, or before, or since Thy speaking unto Thy servant, for I [am] slow of mouth, and slow of tongue.'

DBY And Moses said to Jehovah, Ah Lord! I am not eloquent, neither heretofore nor since thou hast spoken to thy servant, for I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue.

RV And Moses said unto the LORD, Oh Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

WBS And Moses said to the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoke to thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

KJB ¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.[fn][fn]
(¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou/you hast spoken unto thy/your servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.)

4.10 eloquent: Heb. a man of words

4.10 heretofore: Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day

BB Moyses sayd vnto the Lorde: Oh my Lord, I am neither yesterday nor yer yesterday a man eloquet, neither sence thou hast spoken vnto thy seruaunt: but I am slowe mouthed, & slowe tounged.
(Moses said unto the Lord: Oh my Lord, I am neither yesterday nor yer yesterday a man eloquet, neither since thou/you hast spoken unto thy/your servant: but I am slowe mouthed, and slowe tounged.)

GNV But Moses said vnto the Lord, Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither at any time haue bene, nor yet since thou hast spoken vnto thy seruant: but I am slowe of speach and slowe of tongue.
(But Moses said unto the Lord, Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither at any time have bene, nor yet since thou/you hast spoken unto thy/your servant: but I am slowe of speach and slowe of tongue. )

CB But Moses sayde vnto the LORDE: Oh my LORDE, I am a man yt is not eloquet, from yesterdaye & yeryesterdaye, & sence the tyme yt thou hast spoken vnto thy seruaunt: for I haue a slowe speach, & a slowe tunge.
(But Moses said unto the LORD: Oh my LORD, I am a man it is not eloquet, from yesterdaye and yeryesterdaye, and since the time it thou/you hast spoken unto thy/your servant: for I have a slowe speach, and a slowe tongue.)

WYC Moises seide, Lord, Y biseche, Y am `not eloquent fro yistirdai and the thridde dai ago; and sithen thou hast spokun to thi seruaunt, Y am of more lettid and slowere tunge.
(Moses said, Lord, I beseech/implore, I am `not eloquent from yistirdai and the third day ago; and since thou/you hast spokun to thy/your servant, I am of more lettid and slowere tongue.)

LUT Mose aber sprach zu dem HErrn: Ach, mein HErr, ich bin je und je nicht wohl beredt gewesen, seit der Zeit du mit deinem Knecht geredet hast; denn ich habe eine schwere Sprache und eine schwere Zunge.
(Mose but spoke to to_him HErrn: Ach, my HErr, I bin je and je not wohl beredt gewesen, since the Zeit you with deinem Knecht geredet hast; because I have one schwere Sprache and one schwere Zunge.)

CLV Ait Moyses: Obsecro, Domine, non sum eloquens ab heri et nudiustertius: et ex quo locutus es ad servum tuum, impeditioris et tardioris linguæ sum.[fn]
(Ait Moyses: Obsecro, Domine, not/no I_am eloquens away heri and nudiustertius: and ex quo spoke you_are to servum tuum, impeditioris and tardioris linguæ sum.)

4.10 Obsecro, Domine, etc. AUG. Quæst. in Exod. Quod ait Moses ad Dominum: Precor, Domine, non sum eloquens ante hesternum neque ante nudiustertianum diem, neque ex quo cœpisti loqui famulo tuo, intelligitur credere posse fieri Dei voluntate subito eloquentem, cum dicit: neque ex quo cœpisti loqui famulo tuo, tanquam ostendens fieri potuisse ut qui ante hesternum et nudiustertianum diem eloquens non fuisset, repente fieret ex quo cum illo Dominus loqui cœpit. ORIG. homil. 3 in Exod. Dum esset Moses in Ægypto, et erudiretur omni sapientia Ægyptiorum, non erat gracili voce, nec tardus lingua, nec profitebatur se ineloquentem. Erat enim, quantum ad Ægyptios, sonoræ vocis et eloquentiæ incomparabilis. Ubi autem Dei vocem audivit, et eloquia Domini suscepit, sentit vocem suam gracilem, et exilem tardamque, et impeditam linguam, et se pronuntiat mutum, cum incipit cognoscere verum Verbum, quod erat in principio apud. Deum Joan. 1.: mutis enim animalibus quamvis indoctus homo comparetur, eloquens videbitur; si vero eruditis et eloquentibus, stultus et mutus. At si quis Dei verbum et divinam respiciat sapientiam multo amplius guam apud nos pendens, apud Deum mutum se animal profitebitur. Unde psal. LXXII: Ut jumentum actus sum apud te. Quia igitur in id intelligentiæ profecit, ut se cognosceret, quod est magna pars sapientiæ, remuneravit eum divina dignatio dicens: Aperiam os tuum, etc. Beati quorum os Deus aperit ut loquantur. Unde psal. LXXX: Dilata os tuum, et ego implebo illud. Similiter Paulus dicit ad Ephes. 6: Ut detur mihi sermo in apertione oris mei. Eorum ergo qui vera loquuntur, os Deus aperit: eorum qui loquuntur mendacium, falsum testimonium, scurrilitates, turpitudines, susurronum quoque et detractorum, et eorum qui otiosa loquuntur, diabolus aperit os. De Juda refertur Joan. 13, quia introivit in illum Satanas, et misit in cor ejus ut traderet eum. Os ergo ejus aperuit, ut loqueretur cum Pharisæis, quomodo eum traderet accepta pecunia. Non est autem parvæ gratiæ discernere os quod aperit Deus, et quod aperit diabolus. Aperit etiam Deus aures sanctorum ad audienda verba divina; unde: Dominus aperiet mihi aurem. Aperit oculos, sicut aperuit oculos Agar, et vidit puteum aquæ vivæ; unde Eliseus: Aperi, Domine, oculos pueri tui, ut videat, quia plures sunt nobiscum IV Reg. 6.. Auris vero quæ per eruditionem Domini aperitur, aliquando aperta est, aliquando clausa; unde: Ne recipias auditum vanum Eccli. 45.. Si dicuntur vana, profana, turpia, qui novit eruditionem Domini, claudit aurem et dicit: Ego autem sicut mutus, qui non aperuit os suum, et sicut surdus non audiebam Psal. 37.. Si vero ad utilitatem animæ pertinent quæ dicuntur, si de Deo sermo est, si mores docet, ad virtutes invitat, vitia resecat, aures pateant et tota animæ janua. Notandum autem quia summa moderatione usa est lex ut diceret: Non recipies auditum vanum; non dixit, Non audies; sed, Non recipies. Nam vana sæpe audimus: Marcion enim et Valentinus, et omnes contra Creatorem disputantes, vana loquuntur; frequenter tamen audimus ut contradicamus, sed non recipimus, quia illorum os diabolus aperit. Dignetur Dominus aperire os nostrum, ut possimus contradicentem revincere, et obturare os quod diabolus aperit.

4.10 Obsecro, Domine, etc. AUG. Quæst. in Exod. That he_said Moses to Dominum: Precor, Domine, not/no I_am eloquens ante hesternum neque ante nudiustertianum diem, neque ex quo cœpisti lowho famulo tuo, intelligitur credere posse fieri God voluntate subito eloquentem, when/with dicit: neque ex quo cœpisti lowho famulo tuo, tanquam ostendens fieri potuisse as who ante hesternum and nudiustertianum diem eloquens not/no fuisset, repente fieret ex quo when/with illo Master lowho cœpit. ORIG. homil. 3 in Exod. Dum was Moses in Ægypto, and erudiretur all sapientia Ægyptiorum, not/no was gracili voce, but_not tardus lingua, but_not profitebatur se ineloquentem. Erat because, quantum to Ægyptios, sonoræ vocis and eloquentiæ incomparabilis. Ubi however God vocem audivit, and elobecause Domini suscepit, sentit vocem his_own gracilem, and exilem tardamque, and impeditam linguam, and se pronuntiat mutum, when/with incipit cognoscere verum Verbum, that was in at_the_beginning apud. God Yoan. 1.: mutis because animalibus quamvis indoctus human comparetur, eloquens videbitur; when/but_if vero eruditis and eloquentibus, stultus and mutus. At when/but_if who/any God verbum and divinam respiciat wisdom multo amplius guam apud nos pendens, apud God mutum se animal profitebitur. Unde psal. LXXII: Ut yumentum actus I_am apud you(sg). Quia igitur in id intelligentiæ profecit, as se cognosceret, that it_is magna pars sapientiæ, remuneravit him divina dignatio dicens: Aperiam os tuum, etc. Beati quorum os God aperit as loquantur. Unde psal. LXXX: Dilata os tuum, and I implebo illud. Similiter Paulus dicit to Ephes. 6: Ut detur mihi sermo in apertione oris my/mine. Eorum ergo who vera loquuntur, os God aperit: eorum who loquuntur mendacium, falsum testimonium, scurrilitates, turpitudines, susurronum quoque and detractorum, and eorum who otiosa loquuntur, diabolus aperit os. De Yuda refertur Yoan. 13, because introivit in him Satanas, and misit in heart his as traderet him. Os ergo his aperuit, as loqueretur when/with Pharisæis, quomodo him traderet accepta pecunia. Non it_is however parvæ gratiæ discernere os that aperit God, and that aperit diabolus. Aperit also God aures sanctorum to audienda verba divina; unde: Master aperiet mihi aurem. Aperit oculos, like aperuit oculos Agar, and he_saw a_well aquæ vivæ; whence Eliseus: Aperi, Domine, oculos pueri tui, as videat, because plures are nobiscum IV Reg. 6.. Auris vero which per eruditionem Domini aperitur, aliquando aperta it_is, aliquando clausa; unde: Ne recipias auditum vanum Eccli. 45.. When/But_if dicuntur vana, profana, turpia, who novit eruditionem Domini, claudit aurem and dicit: I however like mutus, who not/no aperuit os his_own, and like surdus not/no audiebam Psal. 37.. When/But_if vero to utilitatem animæ pertinent which dicuntur, when/but_if about Deo sermo it_is, when/but_if mores docet, to virtutes invitat, vitia resecat, aures pateant and tota animæ yanua. Notandum however because summa moderatione usa it_is lex as diceret: Non recipies auditum vanum; not/no dixit, Non audies; sed, Non recipies. Nam vana sæpe audimus: Marcion because and Valentinus, and everyone contra Creatorem disputantes, vana loquuntur; frequenter tamen audimus as contradicamus, but not/no recipimus, because illorum os diabolus aperit. Dignetur Master aperire os nostrum, as possimus contradicentem revincere, and obturare os that diabolus aperit.

BRN And Moses said to the Lord, I pray, Lord, I have not been sufficient in [fn]former times, neither from the time that thou hast begun to speak to thy servant: I am weak in speech, and slow-tongued.

4:10 Gr. before yesterday, neither before the third day.

BrLXX Εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον, δέομαι, Κύριε· οὐχ ἱκανός εἰμι πρὸ τῆς χθὲς οὐδὲ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ἡμέρας, οὐδὲ ἀφʼ οὗ ἤρξω λαλεῖν τῷ θεράποντί σου· ἰσχνόφωνος καὶ βραδύγλωσσος ἐγώ εἰμι.
(Eipe de Mōusaʸs pros Kurion, deomai, Kurie; ouⱪ hikanos eimi pro taʸs ⱪthes oude pro taʸs tritaʸs haʸmeras, oude afʼ hou aʸrxō lalein tōi theraponti sou; isⱪnofōnos kai braduglōssos egō eimi. )

UTN uW Translation Notes:

בִּ֣י

please

This word is used by a speaker to beg a superior to allow him to speak. Alternate translation: “Please”

לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים אָנֹ֗כִי גַּ֤ם מִ⁠תְּמוֹל֙ גַּ֣ם מִ⁠שִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם

not (a)_man eloquent I also/yet in,past also/yet in,past

Alternate translation: “I have never been an excellent speaker, not now, not before”

אִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים

(a)_man eloquent

This expression means “a man who uses words well,” in other words, an eloquent man who can speak well and convincingly.

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

גַּ֤ם מִ⁠תְּמוֹל֙ גַּ֣ם מִ⁠שִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם

also/yet in,past also/yet in,past

These phrases simply mean “in the past.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

עַבְדֶּ֑⁠ךָ

servant,your

Moses refers to himself as God’s servant to lower his status before God (and perhaps by doing so to make his argument of inability stronger). If this is confusing in your language, you can make who he means plain. Alternate translation: “me, your servant”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

כְבַד־פֶּ֛ה וּ⁠כְבַ֥ד לָשׁ֖וֹן

slow speech and,slow tongue

These phrases mean basically the same thing. Moses uses them to emphasize that he is not a good speaker. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you can combine these phrases. Alternate translation: “not good at public speaking”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לָשׁ֖וֹן

tongue

Here, tongue refers to Moses’ ability to speak. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “speech”

Parallel EXO 4:10