The Bible does not explicitly state whether or not Moses stuttered. However, there are a few passages that provide some insight into this question.
In Exodus 4, when God first appeared to Moses in the burning bush and called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses gave several objections as to why he was not qualified for the task. One of his objections was that he was “slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). This could potentially indicate some kind of speech impediment, like stuttering. However, it could also simply mean that Moses did not feel that he was an eloquent public speaker.
Later in the same chapter, God said to Moses, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak” (Exodus 4:12). This seems to imply that God would help Moses to speak well before Pharaoh, giving him the right words to say, overcoming any natural speech limitations he may have had.
When Moses’ brother Aaron met him in the wilderness, Exodus 4:14 says that “when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.” This may suggest that Aaron already knew of Moses’ speech impediment and was encouraged to hear that God would enable him to speak to Pharaoh anyway.
However, throughout the confrontations with Pharaoh in Exodus, there is no mention of Moses stuttering or struggling to speak. He spoke boldly and clearly in delivering God’s messages to Pharaoh. This could mean that God did indeed enable him to speak fluently, without impairment, as he had promised.
On two occasions, Moses directly asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go into the wilderness to worship God (Exodus 5:1, 10:3). These requests were denied, but there is no indication that Moses had any trouble speaking them.
When Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, he apparently spoke fluently and boldly to the Israelites afterward, even breaking the stone tablets in anger at their idolatry (Exodus 32:19). This decisive action does not seem to depict someone with a speech impediment.
So in summary, the evidence is inconclusive but leaning towards the idea that Moses did not actually stutter. While he initially felt unqualified to speak boldly before Pharaoh, God promised to equip him for the task by putting the right words in his mouth. And throughout the interactions with Pharaoh, there are no further mentions of Moses struggling to speak. The way he communicated the commandments to the Israelites also depicts someone able to speak plainly and authoritatively.
Some commentators have speculated that perhaps Moses only had an issue with one particular Egyptian dialect, rather than a speech impediment per se. Or that his “slow speech” could refer to not being quick and eloquent, rather than having a physical limitation. But the bottom line is the text itself does not explicitly state one way or the other whether Moses actually stuttered as we understand the term today.
In fact, in Acts 7:22, Stephen says that “Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.” This seems to indicate that Moses was actually trained in eloquent Egyptian speech and was capable in his communication skills. If he stuttered due to a physical limitation, this would be a strange description of him.
So in the absence of definitive biblical evidence, the best conclusion is that while Moses felt inadequate in his own speaking skills early on, God empowered him to speak fluently to Pharaoh and the Israelites when called to do so. The biblical text does not clearly portray Moses as constantly struggling with any speech impediment like stuttering, but rather overcoming whatever natural limitations he may have had through God’s enablement.
In summary, here are a few key points regarding whether Moses stuttered:
- Moses claimed to be “slow of speech and tongue” when God called him (Exodus 4:10)
- God promised to give Moses the words to speak and be with his mouth (Exodus 4:12)
- Aaron may have already known of Moses’ speech challenges but was glad at God’s provision (Exodus 4:14)
- No mention of stuttering in Moses’ interactions with Pharaoh
- Moses spoke God’s commandments fluently to the Israelites
- Acts 7:22 – Moses was “mighty in his words and deeds”
- The Bible does not definitively portray Moses as stuttering
So in conclusion, though Moses may have struggled with his natural speaking abilities early in his ministry, the biblical text does not clearly indicate he had a permanent speech impediment like stuttering. With God’s enablement, he was able to communicate boldly and effectively as a leader.
While we cannot say definitively that Moses did or did not stutter based on the text, the evidence seems to point towards God empowering him past any natural verbal limitations he may have had. When God called him, He equipped Moses to speak fluently and boldly in fulfilling his demanding leadership role.
So did Moses stutter? The Bible does not say explicitly one way or the other. But what it does make clear is that God can use anyone to fulfill His purposes, even those who feel inadequate in areas like public speaking. If God calls someone to a task and promises to equip them, He will provide the abilities they need, sometimes in miraculous ways.
Though Moses felt he was unskilled with words, Yahweh transformed him into a capable communicator and leader for a nation. Regardless of exactly how that happened, Moses’ life shows that God is able to empower people past natural weaknesses to carry out His will according to His good purposes.
When it comes to questions like Moses’ possible stuttering, sometimes the Bible invites a bit of mystery or ambiguity. We don’t always have enough information to form definite conclusions. But the overarching principles are clear – God is able to use anyone He calls in spite of inadequacies, equipping them with exactly what is needed to accomplish His work.
Rather than get hung up on speculative questions, we can have confidence that if God puts a person in a position of leadership and communication, He will make a way for them to fulfill it according to His purposes. Throughout Scripture, human tools are shaped into what is required for divine aims.
Moses’ life and the Exodus narrative provide one of the most dramatic examples of this. Moses would only have his calling and role due to God’s enablement, not his own abilities. And in that sense, it doesn’t ultimately matter whether Moses stuttered – what matters is that God shaped and crafted him into a leader and speaker according to His sovereign plan and purposes.
The mystery of Moses’ possible stuttering reminds us to have proper perspective. We should focus less on human origins and limitations, and more on how God graciously shapes and empowers people to serve His kingdom aims. As with all things, the glory goes not to human tools but to the master Craftsman Himself.
So did Moses stutter? Maybe, maybe not. But thankfully, God specializes in taking imperfect, reluctant people and empowering them for divine purposes bigger than themselves. Our weaknesses and insecurities cannot thwart the plans of the Almighty.
Moses’ life is a testimony to putting trust in God’s enablement rather than being limited by natural abilities and tendencies. When empowered by God’s Spirit, unexpected tools can accomplish unexpected wonders according to His sovereign plan.
The question of whether Moses stuttered invites curiosity. But the bigger principles and truths from his life speak volumes about how God uses and shapes imperfect people for His glory. As with all biblical heroes, the true focus should be on the flawless divine empowerment that made their lives impactful.
While intriguing, the mystery of whether Moses stuttered is secondary to how God used and equipped him. As Matthew Henry said, “The man Moses was very meek and slow of speech, and yet with him God was, and wrought wonders for Israel.”
When God puts a call and mission on someone’s life, impairments and limitations fade in light of divine empowerment and enablement. God delights to use flawed tools so that His grace and power shine all the brighter.
The biblical text leaves the question of Moses’ stuttering ultimately uncertain. But there is crystalline clarity around God’s ability to equip and empower the unequipped for the unexpected. For that divine truth, no words can suffice.