New International VersionMoses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?”
New Living TranslationBut Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The LORD never appeared to you’?”
English Standard VersionThen Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’”
Berean Standard BibleThen Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
King James BibleAnd 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.
New King James VersionThen Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”
New American Standard BibleThen Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
NASB 1995Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
NASB 1977Then Moses answered and said, “What if they will not believe me, or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
Legacy Standard BibleThen Moses answered and said, “What if they will not believe me and will not listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’”
Amplified BibleThen Moses answered [the LORD] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
Christian Standard BibleMoses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’? ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you?”
American Standard VersionAnd 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 thee.
Contemporary English VersionMoses asked the LORD, "Suppose everyone refuses to listen to my message, and no one believes that you really appeared to me?"
English Revised VersionAnd 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.
GOD'S WORD® Translation"They will never believe me or listen to me!" Moses protested. "They will say, 'The LORD didn't appear to you.'"
Good News TranslationThen Moses answered the LORD, "But suppose the Israelites do not believe me and will not listen to what I say. What shall I do if they say that you did not appear to me?"
International Standard VersionThen Moses answered, "Look, they won't believe me and they won't listen to me. Instead, they'll say, 'The LORD didn't appear to you.'"
NET BibleMoses answered again, "And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you'?"
New Heart English BibleMoses answered, "But, look, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, 'God has not appeared to you.'"
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Moses answered and said, But behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared to thee. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
World English BibleMoses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Moses answers and says, “And if they do not give credence to me, nor listen to my voice, and say, YHWH has not appeared to you?”
Young's Literal Translation And Moses answereth and saith, 'And, if they do not give credence to me, nor hearken to my voice, and say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee?'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Moses will answer and say, And behold, they will not believe in me, and they will not bear to my voice: for they will say, Jehovah was not seen to thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleMoses answered and said: They will not believe me, nor hear my voice, but they will say: The Lord hath not appeared to thee.
Catholic Public Domain VersionResponding, Moses said, “They will not believe me, and they will not listen to my voice, but they will say: ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”
New American Bible“But,” objected Moses, “suppose they do not believe me or listen to me? For they may say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’ ”
New Revised Standard VersionThen Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAND Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, The LORD has not appeared to you.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Moshe answered and said, “Behold, they will not believe me and will not hear my voice, because they will say, ‘LORD JEHOVAH has not appeared to you.’” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Moses answered and said, If they believe me not, and do not hearken to my voice (for they will say, God has not appeared to thee), what shall I say to them?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Moses' Staff1Then Mosesanswered,“What ifthey do notbelievemeorlistento my voice?Forthey may say,‘The LORDhas notappearedto you.’”2And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.…
Cross References Numbers 20:12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
Numbers 14:11And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?
Deuteronomy 1:32But in spite of all this, you did not trust the LORD your God,
Isaiah 7:9The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”
Isaiah 53:1Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Jeremiah 1:6-8“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.
Ezekiel 3:7But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.
1 Samuel 10:27But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.
1 Kings 13:18Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him,
Judges 6:36-40Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, / then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” / And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. ...
Matthew 17:20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 28:17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
Mark 16:14Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
Luke 24:11But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.
John 12:37-38Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Treasury of Scripture And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice: for they will say, The LORD has not appeared to you. Exodus 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. Exodus 2:14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God,even to Horeb. Jump to Previous AppearAppearedBelieveEarFaithHearkenMosesVoiceJump to Next AppearAppearedBelieveEarFaithHearkenMosesVoiceExodus 4 1.Moses's rod is turned into a serpent.6.His hand is leprous.10.He loathes his calling.13.Aaron is appointed to assist him.18.Moses departs from Jethro.21.God's message to Pharaoh.24.Zipporah circumcises her son.27.Aaron is sent to meet Moses.29.The people believe them.Then Moses answered,Moses is responding to God after being called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This moment occurs at the burning bush, a significant theophany where God reveals Himself to Moses. Moses' response indicates his hesitation and doubt, a common human reaction when faced with a daunting task. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God choosing imperfect individuals to fulfill His purposes. “What if they do not believe me
Moses anticipates skepticism from the Israelites, reflecting a lack of confidence in his own authority and the message he is to deliver. This concern is rooted in his past experiences, as he had previously fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15). The question highlights the challenge of faith and belief, a recurring theme in Scripture, where God's messengers often face disbelief (e.g., the prophets, Jesus in His hometown inMark 6:4). or listen to my voice?
Listening in biblical terms often implies obedience. Moses fears that the Israelites will neither heed his words nor follow his leadership. This concern is echoed throughout the Bible, where God's people frequently struggle to listen and obey His commands (e.g.,Deuteronomy 28:1-2). The phrase underscores the importance of not just hearing God's word but acting upon it. For they may say,
Moses anticipates the objections of the Israelites, showing his awareness of their potential doubts. This reflects a broader biblical narrative where God's people often question His messengers (e.g., the Israelites questioning Moses and Aaron inNumbers 16:3). It also foreshadows the Israelites' frequent complaints and lack of faith during their wilderness journey. ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
This statement reflects a challenge to Moses' divine commission. The Israelites' potential disbelief in God's appearance to Moses highlights the need for signs and wonders to authenticate his mission, which God subsequently provides (Exodus 4:2-9). This skepticism parallels the New Testament, where Jesus' authority is questioned, and He performs miracles as signs of His divine mission (John 10:25). Moses serves as a type of Christ, a mediator between God and His people, prefiguring Jesus' role as the ultimate mediator. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesA Hebrew prophet chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. At this point, Moses is expressing doubt and insecurity about his mission. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant name of God, who appears to Moses and commissions him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. 3. IsraelitesThe descendants of Jacob, who are enslaved in Egypt and whom Moses is called to lead to freedom. 4. EgyptThe land where the Israelites are enslaved and from which God plans to deliver them through Moses. 5. The Burning BushThe location where God appears to Moses and commissions him, although not directly mentioned in this verse, it is the context of the conversation. Teaching Points Faith in God's CallingMoses' doubt is a common human response, yet God equips those He calls. We should trust in God's provision and guidance. Overcoming InsecurityLike Moses, we may feel inadequate for tasks God assigns us. However, God often uses our weaknesses to demonstrate His strength. The Importance of ObedienceDespite his doubts, Moses eventually obeys God's command. Our obedience can lead to significant outcomes in God's plan. God's AssuranceGod provides signs and assurances to Moses. In our lives, God often provides confirmation and encouragement through His Word and Spirit. The Role of Faith in LeadershipMoses' journey shows that faith is crucial for effective leadership, especially when facing opposition or doubt. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 4
What does the Bible say about hearing God?
What defines an omen?
Exodus 6:7–9: If the Israelites still doubt Moses, what empirical proof did he provide to convince them then or later?
(Exodus 4:6–7) What medical or supernatural explanation could account for Moses’ hand becoming leprous and instantly healing?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 would not be listened to. His faith was weak. They will say, The Lord hath not appeared.--It is very probable that the people would have said this if Moses had not had any credentials to produce. It is even possible that they did say it. There had been no appearance of Jehovah to any one for above four hundred years, and they might well think that the age of miracles was past. Miracles cluster around certain crises in God's dealings with man, ceasing alto gether between one crisis and another. They were suspended for above 500 years between the time of Daniel and the appearance of the angel to Zacharias. Verses 1-17. - 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. God had promised that he would succeed; but he did not see how he could succeed, either with the people or with Pharaoh. It was not enough for him that God had declared, "They (the people) shall hearken unto thy voice" ( ib. 18); he does not, cannot believe this, and replies: "Behold, they will not believe, neither hearken unto my voice" ( Exodus 4:1). This was plain want of faith; but not unnatural, and not, in God's sight, inexcusable. God therefore condescended to the human weakness of his servant, and proceeded to show him how he intended that he should persuade the people of his mission. He should persuade them by producing the credentials of miracles (vers. 2-9). But the laggard heart finds yet a further objection. Moses feels that he labours under a personal defect, which (he thinks) is an absolute disqualification. He is "slow of speech and of a slow tongue" (ver. 10), has always been wanting in eloquence, and does not find himself any the more eloquent since God has been speaking with him. In vain does Jehovah promise to "be with his mouth" (ver. 12); Moses' last word indicates all the old feeling of self-distrust. "Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send" (ver. 13). Then at last the anger of the Lord is kindled against Moses, and God inflicts on him a sort of punishment - degrades him; as it were - deposes him from the position of sole leader, and associates Aaron with him in such sort that Aaron must have appeared, both to the Israelites and to the Pharaoh, as the chief leader rather than Moses. (See Exodus 4:30; Exodus 7:2, 10, 19; Exodus 8:6, 17, etc.) At this point the interview between Moses and Jehovah ends, and the action of the Exodus commences. Moses obtains leave to quit Midian, and quits it - retires to Egypt, after escaping from a dangerous sickness on the way (vers. 24-26), is met by Aaron and takes him into his counsels, summons the elders and exhibits before them his miraculous powers, persuades them, and is finally accepted as having, with Aaron, a mission from God, both by the elders and the people. Verse 1 - Behold, they will not believe. Attempts have been made to soften down this contradiction of God's words in Exodus 3:18, and to represent Moses as merely saying, "What if the people will not hearken, etc. What shall I do then?" (So the LXX., Geddes, Boothroyd, and others.) But the phrase is really emphatic and peremptory. As Rosenmuller says: "Vox est negantis et detrac-tantis officium." The Lord hath not appeared to thee. It is quite probable that the Israelites would have so spoken, if Moses had had no sign to show. There had been no appearance of Jehovah to anyone for above four hundred years. And the Israelites, who had not seen Moses for forty years, would not know whether he was a veracious person or not.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Then Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙(mō·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiveranswered,וַיַּ֤עַן(way·ya·‘an)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030:To answer, respond“What ifוְהֵן֙(wə·hên)Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2005:Lo! behold!they refuseלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noto believeיַאֲמִ֣ינוּ(ya·’ă·mî·nū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 539:To confirm, supportmeלִ֔י(lî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebreworוְלֹ֥א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nolistenיִשְׁמְע֖וּ(yiš·mə·‘ū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlyto my voice?בְּקֹלִ֑י(bə·qō·lî)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6963:A voice, soundForכִּ֣י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthey may say,יֹֽאמְר֔וּ(yō·mə·rū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559:To utter, say‘The LORDיְהוָֽה׃(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelhas notלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noappearedנִרְאָ֥ה(nir·’āh)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200:To seeto you.’”אֵלֶ֖יךָ(’ê·le·ḵā)Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to
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OT Law: Exodus 4:1 Moses answered But behold they will not (Exo. Ex) |
