Exodus 4:15

Exo 4:15 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.

Ver. 15. Will teach you.] {See Trapp on "Exo 4:11"} {See Trapp on "Exo 4:12"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Exo 4:15-16. I will be with thy mouth and with his mouth — Even Aaron that could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God were with his mouth; without the constant aids of divine grace, the best gifts will fail. Instead of God — To teach and to command him.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thou shalt instruct him what to say.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 15. I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth] Ye shall be both, in all things which I appoint you to do in this business, under the continual inspiration of the Most High.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(15) Thou shalt . . . put words in his mouth, i.e., Tell him what he is to say—furnish the matter of his speeches, which he will then clothe with appropriate language.

With thy mouth.—Suggesting the matter to thee.

With his mouth.—Suggesting the language to him.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

15. put the words, &c.] cf. Num_22:38; Num_23:5; Num_23:12; Num_23:16.

I will be, &c.] The promise of v. 12 is extended here to both the brothers.

15, 16. Aaron is to be, as it were, Moses’ prophet, and to speak the words which Moses places in his mouth,—in particular, the words contained in Exo_3:16-17,—putting them in such a way, and supporting them with such arguments, as may satisfy the people of the reality of Moses’ commission. Cf. in P Exo_7:1.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth,.... Or "things" (z), the matter and substance of what he should say, who being a man of words, an eloquent man, and a good spokesman, would put them into proper language, and express them fluently:

and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do; or speak what Moses should say to Aaron, and what Aaron should say to Pharaoh, and to the people of Israel; so that as Aaron was under Moses, and at his direction, they were both dependent on the Lord, and under his direction; and the one, as well as the other, needed his assistance, even Aaron that could speak well. Moses furnished him with matter, he put it into words, and both were instructed and influenced by the Lord what they should say and do.

(z) .

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Thou shalt speak - Moses thus retains his position as “mediator;” the word comes to him first, he transmits it to his brother.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Put words in his mouth, i.e. instruct him what to speak, and command him freely and faithfully to express it. See Isa 51:16; 59:21.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

15, 16. Moses was still to be the mediator, while Aaron was to be the interpreter of God’s word as he received it from Moses. Yet it is instructive to notice that as Moses advances in his work and grows in faith, (and shall we not say, wears away the desert rusticity?) Aaron gradually retires from the prominent position which at first he held, and Moses comes more forward. Aaron is the spokesman, but while we read of the lineage of “that Aaron and Moses,” yet it is always “Moses and Aaron” who come before Pharaoh. It is Aaron who casts down the rod which swallows up the magicians’ rods, and who smites Egypt with the first and mildest blows; but it is Moses who prostrates Pharaoh’s sorcerers with such a stroke that they lift their heads no more, (Exo_9:11,) and it is his rod that strikes the final terrible blows thereafter, till the Red Sea rolls back over Pharaoh.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thou shalt speak unto him and put words in his mouth. Moses was to tell Aaron what to say furnish, i.e., the matter of his speeches and Aaron was to clothe this matter in fitting words. God promised to be with both of their mouths; with Moses", to make him give right directions to Aaron; with Aaron"s, to make him utter them persuasively: Moses" position was still the more honourable one, though Aaron"s might seem the higher to the people.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I will be with thy mouth and with his mouth - Even Aaron that could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God were with his mouth; without the constant aids of divine grace, the best gifts will fail.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

AND I WILL BE WITH THY MOUTH. I.e., “to teach you that which you are to speak to Pharaoh.” G-d now told Moses that Aaron will speak on his behalf only to the people, as it is said, And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people, but Moses himself was to speak to Pharaoh. It is possible that this was out of respect to the king. But in the end, Moses came back and said, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? G-d then permitted him that he should not speak even to Pharaoh. This [consent] was a distinction to Moses, and therefore He said there, See, I have set thee in G-d’s stead to Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet., 7:1 And the intent of the expression [here in the verse], and I will be with his [Aaron’s] mouth, is that his words will find favor with everyone that will hear them.

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.