What Does Exodus 4:16 Mean in the King James?
And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Aaron carries Moses’ words in his mouth, while Moses carries the authority behind them.
THE MEANING
Your words can pass through another person’s mouth without making that mouth their source. Here Aaron speaks to the people as Moses’ mouth, while Moses stands to Aaron as God, the authority behind the message.
THE ROOT
דִּבֶּר
dibber
GROWS FROM
ד־ב־ר
d-b-r
To speak; a word or matter.
“speak / spokesman” in this verse is dibber. The Hebrew says Aaron will be “for a mouth” to Moses, while the root of “speak” also gives davar, “word” or “matter.” The verse keeps the mouth that delivers the message distinct from the one who gives it authority.
ALSO GROWS
dibber: Speak; he spoke.
דִּבֵּר
This is the speaking that carries Moses’ message to the people.
davar: Word; matter or thing.
דָּבָר
The same root connects spoken words with the matter being communicated, tying Aaron’s voice to Moses’ message.
THE PATTERN
A message can be carried by a representative whose authority comes from the one who sends them.
And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.THE THREAD
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.The root דבר links Exodus’s “speak” with Jeremiah’s “words.” Both verses show speech carried by a mouth while its source remains distinct.
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