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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Exodus 4:1

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. The fear and anxiety of Moses here discovered another objection, that based upon the fact that the people were no longer accustomed to prophetic voices and would therefore not acknowledge his call.

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See also Exodus 4:1 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER IV _Moses continuing to express his fear that the Israelites would not_ _credit his Divine mission_, 1; _God, to strengthen his faith, and to assure him that his countrymen_ _would believe...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    With this chapter begins the series of miracles which resulted in the deliverance of Israel. The first miracle was performed to remove the first obstacle, namely, the reluctance of Moses, conscious of...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4:1-28 MOSES' OBJECTIONS, JEHOVAH'S ANSWER AND THE RETURN TO EGYPT _ 1. The first objection (Exodus 4:1)_ 2. The two signs and Jehovah's assurance (Exodus 4:2) 3. The second objection (Exod...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 4:1 J (following Exodus 3:18). MOSES'S THIRD DIFFICULTY Israel's unbelief. To overcome it, he is enabled to authenticate his mission by three signs the rod that became a serpent and again a rod...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6. THEY WILL NOT. suppose they will not. THE LORD (Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Exodus 3:1 TO EXODUS 4:17. Moses commissioned by Jehovah at Horeb to deliver His people. The dialogue between Jehovah and Moses, as in other cases (cf. Delitzsch on Genesis 12:1), must be pictured, no...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    MOSES ANSWERED—BEHOLD, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE ME— The plain meaning of these words, as is evident from the miracles which God immediately wrought, and gave Moses also power to perform, is, that his bar...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 4 And Mo-ses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Je-ho-vah hath not appeared unto thee. (2) And Je-ho...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND MOSES ANSWERED AND SAID, BUT, BEHOLD, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE ME, NOR HEARKEN UNTO MY VOICE: FOR THEY WILL SAY, THE LORD HATH NOT APPEARED UNTO THEE._ But, behold - Hebrew, 'if,' 'perhaps,' 'they...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SIGNS ATTESTING THE COMMISSION OF MOSES. HIS RETURN TO EGYPT Moses still hesitates, and now objects that the péople will not believe him when he tells them that Jehovah has sent him. He is granted th...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION THE *ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT EXODUS CHAPTER S 1 TO 18 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 4 THE *LORD GIVES GREAT POWER TO MOSES – VERSES 1-9 God shows his po...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IV. (1) BEHOLD. — Some render the word here used by “perhaps” (LXX., Aben-Ezra, Saadia, &c); but it does not appear to have anywhere this meaning. Moses meant to express a positive conviction that he...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יַּ֤עַן מֹשֶׁה֙ וַ יֹּ֔אמֶר וְ הֵן֙

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER IV. _ MOSES HESITATES._ Exodus 4:1. Holy Scripture is impartial, even towards its heroes. The sin of David is recorded, and the failure of Peter. And so is the reluctance of Moses to accept...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GOD'S SIGNS TO CONFIRM MOSES' WORDS Exodus 4:1 This wonderful chapter tells us how Moses' three misgivings were tenderly and sufficiently dealt with by his heavenly Friend. To _his first misgiving_ G...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    A further difficulty was now declared. The man who first doubted himself and then doubted because of his ignorance of God now doubted because of the people to whom he was to be sent. God had told him...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Moses answered and said, a] But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. (a) God bears with Moses doubting, because h...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    They, &c. Many of the common people, not of the ancients, chap. iii. 18. (Menochius) --- He knew that all ought to bring credentials from God, when they come in his name to institute a new order of th...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS In this Chapter we have the objections which Moses advanced against executing the commission the Lord appointed him to, of undertaking the deliverance of Israel from Egypt; in the people's un...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is hardly a book of the Old Testament that stands out in more decided contrast with the book of Genesis than the one which follows it most closely. And this is the more striking, because God emp...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _SLOW TO OBEY_ ‘And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.’ Exodus 4:1 Our duty to our L...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._And Moses answered. _Moses relates in this chapter how hesitatingly he obeyed God, not from stubbornness, but from timidity, for he does not shake off the yoke, as unruly beasts do, but shrinks awa...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Moses still raises difficulties, and God gives him again signs, remarkable signs. The two first seem to me in their character-types, the first, of sin and of its healing; the second, of power, which,...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND MOSES ANSWERED AND SAID,.... In reference to what Jehovah had declared to him in the latter end of the preceding chapter: BUT, BEHOLD, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE ME, NOR HEARKEN TO MY VOICE; this seem...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. Ver. 1. _They will not believe me._] They had f...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _They will not believe me_ He means, they would not take his bare word, unless he showed them some sign. He remembered how they had once rejected him, and feared it would be so again....

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Moses rod is turned into a Serpent. 6 His hand is leprous. 10 He is loath to bee sent. 14 Aaron is appointed to assist him. 18 Moses departeth from Iethro. 21 Gods message to Pharaoh. 24 Zippo...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto 2thee. And Jehovah said unto him, What _is_...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    God's message to Moses has been so clear that it cannot be mistaken. He has made no secret of the opposition of Pharaoh, but has declared positively that He would enable Israel to triumph over this an...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 Moses objects, that the people would not take his word, unless he showed them some sign. God gives him power to work miracles. But those who are now employed to deliver God's messages to men, nee...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    EXODUS CHAPTER 4 Moses's objection, EXODUS 4:1. The answer, EXODUS 4:2. God turns his rod into a serpent, EXODUS 4:3. He adds another sign, Exodus 4:6

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We are still called to linger at the foot of Mount Horeb, at "the backside of the desert;" and, truly, the air of this place is most healthful for the spiritual constitution. Man's unbelief and God's...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 4:1 Moses H4872 answered H6030 (H8799) said H559 (H8799) believe H539 (H8686) listen H8085 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    MOSES CONTINUES TO OBJECT TO GOD'S REQUEST AND GOD GIVES HIM THREE SIGNS (EXODUS 4:1). Moses continued to express his doubts so God told him of three signs which he would be able to use in order to d...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Exodus 4:1 Our duty to our Lord in this world requires that we should do somewhat more than live a life of obedience to Him. Our obedience must be acknowledged obedience. We must never be loth to say,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Moses' objections. Unbelief of the people and Moses' lack of eloquence. Return to Egypt. Message delivered to elders. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, elders. CONCLUSION: U...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 4:1. _They will not believe me._ Then the Lord directed him to work a miracle, the most convincing evidence of divine authority, for the removal of unbelief. Exodus 4:2. _A rod._ Milton has dis...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But, behold, they will not believe me._ MOSES’ TEMPTATION TO SHRINK FROM, THE CONTEST Our duty to our Lord in this world requires that we should do somewhat more than live a life of obedience to Him...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 4:1. Kept] Not merely once upon a time; but statedly, as his usual occupation: _lit_., “he had come to be shepherding,” the participle denoting continuance. Backside] That is,...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION EXODUS 4:1 The reluctance of Moses to undertake the part of leader, indicated by his first reply at his first calling, "Who am I that I should go?" etc. (Exodus 3:11), was not yet overcome...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me (Exodus 4:1), Now he's not convinced. They're gonna say, "Who sent you?" "All right", God said, "Tell them Jehovah God, the God of y...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Exodus 4:31 Exodus 2:14 Exodus 3:1 Jeremiah 1:6 Ezekiel 3:14...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    SLOW TO OBEY Exodus 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Not for one moment would we take from Moses the honor which is his. He was a great man and a man faithful unto God. However, the Word of God in painting a...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They will not hearken to my voice — That is, they would not take his bare word, unless he shewed them some sign. He remembered how they had once rejected him, and feared it would be so again....

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