Exodus 4:12
“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
Moses objects that he is not eloquent and is slow of speech; God answers his fear and commands him to go to Pharaoh.
What Does Exodus 4:12 Mean?
This verse means that when God sends someone, He also supplies what they lack to obey Him. Moses has been protesting that he is not eloquent, that his speech fails him. Rather than choosing a more gifted speaker, God meets the very excuse Moses offers: "I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." The promise is not that Moses will suddenly become impressive, but that God Himself will be present in the act of speaking and will give the words.
Here is the pattern of every true calling. God does not wait for us to feel adequate; He calls, and then He equips. The command "go" comes joined to the promise "I will be with thee." Moses' weakness becomes the place where God's sufficiency is displayed. The same God who made the mouth, as the previous verses remind us, can fill it. For anyone who has hesitated before a task that feels too large, this verse turns the focus from personal ability to the faithfulness of the One who sends.
In the Original Language
The verb translated "teach" is the Hebrew yarah, which can mean to instruct or direct, and is related to the word torah, "teaching."
Cross References
“Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.”
- Jeremiah 1:9
“For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”
- Luke 12:12
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
- Matthew 28:20
Application
When God calls you to something beyond your ability, step forward trusting that He will supply the words and strength you lack.