Did Moses stutter?

Answer

Stuttering may have been a challenge for Moses, although the specific speech impediment the prophet faced remains unknown. Moses described himself as having difficulty speaking, and God permitted his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf (Exodus 4:14-16;7:1-6). When facing the burning bush, Moses confessed to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” «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. », (Exodus 4:10). While some scholars interpret Moses’ words as a mere excuse to avoid following God’s commands, it is plausible that Moses indeed struggled with some form of speech impediment. It could have been a stutter, although this remains uncertain.

Moses describes himself as “slow” of speech; in Hebrew, this word conveys meanings such as “heavy; oppressing; weighty; difficult; dull, unresponsive; thick” (Logos Bible Word Study). This suggests that speaking was challenging for him or that he had a speech disorder. Twice in Exodus 6, Moses admits to the Lord, “I speak with faltering lips” (verses 12 and 30). Could the “faltering lips” (literally, “uncircumcised lips”) indicate stuttering? It is a possibility. However, other explanations exist: an articulation disorder, a phonological process disorder, or speech apraxia, for instance. Alternatively, Moses might have lacked confidence due to what he perceived as a deficiency in formal speaking skills.

Some scholars argue that Moses was downplaying his speaking abilities. In the New Testament, Stephen affirms that Moses “was powerful in speech and action” «And Moses was learned in all the wisdom and in the actMoses was esteemed by the Egyptians, being mighty in both words and deeds (Acts 7:22), a description that suggests Moses may have downplayed his own abilities. Some believe Moses lacked confidence and felt inadequate. It’s possible that Moses was attempting to avoid his assigned mission. Despite the truth behind Moses’ self-described speech impediment, God did not excuse Moses; in fact, “the LORD’s anger burned against Moses” due to his continued hesitancy (Exodus 4:14).

Even with Moses’ stutter, God used him in significant ways, demonstrating His sovereignty over all, including speech difficulties. As stated in Exodus 4:11–12, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” God’s glory would not have been as apparent if Moses had been a skilled orator who naturally captivated audiences with eloquent speeches. Instead, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). He can utilize any of our challenges, disabilities, or setbacks for His glory and purpose.