King James Version

What Does Exodus 4:13 Mean?

Exodus 4:13 in the King James Version says “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. wilt: or, shouldest” — study this verse from Exodus chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Exodus 4:13 · KJV

Prayer

Context

11

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

12

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

13

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

14

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send (וַיֹּאמֶר בִּי אֲדֹנָי שְׁלַח־נָא בְּיַד־תִּשְׁלָח)—Moses' ultimate objection: send... by the hand of him whom thou wilt send—essentially, "send anyone but me!" This is no longer legitimate concern about ability but willful resistance. Moses has exhausted objections (credibility, v. 1; eloquence, v. 10) and now simply refuses. The Hebrew phrase (בְּיַד־תִּשְׁלָח, beyad-tishlach) is ambiguous, sometimes interpreted "send by the hand [of someone] you will send [in the future]," possibly alluding prophetically to the coming Messiah. Regardless, Moses' resistance provokes God's anger (v. 14)—patience has limits. God's sovereignty means He'll accomplish His purposes, with or without our enthusiastic cooperation, though He prefers willing servants.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This exchange shows Moses' profound transformation from the impulsive youth who killed the Egyptian (2:12) to the overly cautious shepherd afraid of leadership. Forty years of Midian humbled Moses, but now he needed balance—neither arrogant self-confidence nor paralyzing self-doubt, but God-dependent confidence. God's anger (v. 14) was pedagogical, not vindictive—teaching Moses that calling isn't negotiable.

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you responded to God's clear call with 'send someone else,' and what were the consequences?
  2. How do you discern the difference between legitimate concerns about calling and sinful resistance to God's will?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר1 of 7

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

בִּ֣י2 of 7

“O”

H994

oh that!; with leave, or if it please

אֲדֹנָ֑י3 of 7

“my Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

תִּשְׁלָֽח׃4 of 7

“of him whom thou wilt send”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

נָ֖א5 of 7
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

בְּיַד6 of 7

“I pray thee by the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

תִּשְׁלָֽח׃7 of 7

“of him whom thou wilt send”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 4:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 4:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jonah 1:3Exodus 4:1Genesis 48:16John 6:29Jonah 1:6Judges 2:1

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