Exodus 6:30
New International Version
But Moses said to the LORD, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

New Living Translation
But Moses argued with the LORD, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?”

English Standard Version
But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Berean Standard Bible
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

King James Bible
And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

New King James Version
But Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”

New American Standard Bible
But Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”

NASB 1995
But Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”

NASB 1977
But Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Moses said before Yahweh, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Amplified Bible
But Moses said before the LORD, “Look, I am unskilled and inept in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me and pay attention to what I say?”

Christian Standard Bible
But Moses replied in the LORD’s presence, “Since I am such a poor speaker, how will Pharaoh listen to me? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Moses replied in the LORD’s presence, “Since I am such a poor speaker, how will Pharaoh listen to me?”

American Standard Version
And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

Contemporary English Version
But Moses answered, "You know I am a very poor speaker, and the king will never listen to me."

English Revised Version
And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Moses said to the LORD, "Why would Pharaoh listen to me?"

Good News Translation
But Moses answered, "You know that I am such a poor speaker; why should the king listen to me?"

International Standard Version
Moses said in the presence of the LORD, "Look, I'm not a persuasive speaker, so how will Pharaoh listen to me?"

Majority Standard Bible
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

NET Bible
But Moses said before the LORD, "Since I speak with difficulty, why should Pharaoh listen to me?"

New Heart English Bible
Moses said before the LORD, "Look, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken to me?

World English Bible
Moses said before Yahweh, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses says before YHWH, “Behold, I [am] of uncircumcised lips, and how does Pharaoh listen to me?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith before Jehovah, 'Lo, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how doth Pharaoh hearken unto me?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will say before Jehovah, Behold, I of uncircumcised lips; and how shall Pharaoh hear to me?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses said before the Lord: Lo I am of uncircumcised lips, how will Pharao hear me?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Moses said in the sight of the Lord: “Lo, I am of uncircumcised lips, how will Pharaoh listen to me?”

New American Bible
But Moses protested to the LORD, “Since I am a poor speaker, how is it possible that Pharaoh will listen to me?”

New Revised Standard Version
But Moses said in the LORD’s presence, “Since I am a poor speaker, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Moses said to the LORD, My tongue stutters; how shall Pharaoh hearken to me?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe said to LORD JEHOVAH, “My tongue stutters; how will Pharaoh listen to me?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses said before the LORD: 'Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am not able in speech, and how shall Pharao hearken to me?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Genealogies of Moses and Aaron
29He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I say to you.” 30But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Cross References
Exodus 4:10-12
“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.” / And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? / Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

Jeremiah 1:6-9
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” / But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. / Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. ...

Isaiah 6:5-7
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” / Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. / And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

Acts 7:22
So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

1 Corinthians 2:1-4
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. / For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. / I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. ...

2 Corinthians 3:5-6
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. / And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Ezekiel 3:4-9
Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak My words to them. / For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— / not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. ...

Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11:6
Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

Psalm 106:32-33
At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

Isaiah 51:16
I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

Luke 21:14-15
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves. / For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.


Treasury of Scripture

And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?

uncircumcised

Exodus 6:12
And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

Exodus 4:10
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.

1 Corinthians 9:16,17
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! …

Jump to Previous
Faltering Hearing Hearken Lips Moses Pharaoh Possible Speak Speech Uncircumcised Unclean Unskilled
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Faltering Hearing Hearken Lips Moses Pharaoh Possible Speak Speech Uncircumcised Unclean Unskilled
Exodus 6
1. God renews his promise by his name JEHOVAH
9. Moses vainly attempts to encourage the Israelites
10. He and Aaron are again sent to Pharaoh
14. Genealogies of Reuben, Simeon and Levi, of whom came Moses and Aaron
26. The history resumed














But Moses replied in the LORD’s presence
This phrase sets the scene of a direct and intimate communication between Moses and God. The Hebrew word for "replied" (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayomer) indicates a response, suggesting a dialogue rather than a monologue. Moses is in the presence of the LORD, which underscores the gravity and sanctity of the moment. This setting is reminiscent of the divine encounters that patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob experienced, highlighting the continuity of God's personal involvement with His chosen leaders. The phrase "in the LORD’s presence" emphasizes the immediacy and personal nature of God's guidance, reminding believers of the privilege and responsibility of being in communion with the Almighty.

Since I am unskilled in speech
Moses' self-description as "unskilled in speech" (עֲרַל שְׂפָתַיִם, aral sefatayim) is a humble acknowledgment of his perceived inadequacy. The Hebrew term "aral" can be translated as "uncircumcised," metaphorically suggesting a lack of eloquence or fluency. This confession of weakness is significant in the biblical narrative, as it highlights a recurring theme: God often chooses the weak and the humble to accomplish His purposes, so that His power is made perfect in their weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Moses' admission serves as a reminder that God equips those He calls, and that reliance on divine strength rather than human ability is paramount in fulfilling God's mission.

how will Pharaoh listen to me?
Moses' question reflects a deep-seated concern about his effectiveness as God's messenger. The Hebrew verb "listen" (יִשְׁמַע, yishma) implies not just hearing, but heeding or obeying. Moses doubts that Pharaoh, the powerful ruler of Egypt, will heed his words, given his own limitations. This concern is rooted in the historical context of Pharaoh's hardened heart and the socio-political dynamics of ancient Egypt, where Pharaoh was considered a god-king, unlikely to submit to the demands of a foreign deity. Moses' question underscores the human tendency to focus on obstacles rather than on God's sovereignty. It serves as an encouragement to believers that, despite apparent insurmountable challenges, God's purposes will prevail, and His word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11).

Verse 30. - All that I say unto thee. To the general command thus expressed, was probably appended the particular injunction of verse 11, not here repeated - Speak thou unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land." The sacred historians continually abbreviate



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But in the LORD’s
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

presence
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֖ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

replied,
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Since
הֵ֤ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am unskilled
עֲרַ֣ל (‘ă·ral)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6189: Having foreskin (uncircumcised)

in speech,
שְׂפָתַ֔יִם (śə·p̄ā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

why
וְאֵ֕יךְ (wə·’êḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

would Pharaoh
פַּרְעֹֽה׃ (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

listen
יִשְׁמַ֥ע (yiš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to me?”
אֵלַ֖י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


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OT Law: Exodus 6:30 Moses said before Yahweh Behold (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 6:29
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