Exodus 4:11
And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָֽה׃
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִ֣י
H4310
מִ֣י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
4 of 20
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יָשׂ֣וּם
or who maketh
H7760
יָשׂ֣וּם
or who maketh
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
5 of 20
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
פֶּה֮
mouth
H6310
פֶּה֮
mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
6 of 20
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
לָֽאָדָם֒
man's
H120
לָֽאָדָם֒
man's
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
7 of 20
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
א֚וֹ
H176
א֚וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
8 of 20
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
מִֽי
H4310
מִֽי
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
9 of 20
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יָשׂ֣וּם
or who maketh
H7760
יָשׂ֣וּם
or who maketh
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
10 of 20
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
א֣וֹ
H176
א֣וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
12 of 20
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
א֥וֹ
H176
א֥וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
14 of 20
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
א֣וֹ
H176
א֣וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
16 of 20
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
Cross References
Amos 3:6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?Psalms 146:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:Isaiah 6:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.Psalms 94:9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?Psalms 51:15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.Jeremiah 1:9Then 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.Jeremiah 1:6Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.Ezekiel 33:22Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.Isaiah 42:7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.Matthew 11:5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cultures often viewed disabilities as divine judgment or curses. God's statement reframes disability within His sovereignty—not punishment, but part of His creative and redemptive purposes. This theology anticipates Jesus' teaching in John 9:3 (blind man's condition exists "that the works of God should be made manifest in him"). God's power shines through human limitation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's sovereignty over human abilities challenge you to stop using inadequacy as excuse for disobedience?
- What does this verse teach about trusting God's enabling power rather than relying on natural talents or regretting limitations?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלָיו מִי שָׂם פֶּה לָאָדָם אוֹ מִי־יָשׂוּם אִלֵּם אוֹ חֵרֵשׁ אוֹ פִקֵּחַ אוֹ עִוֵּר הֲלֹא אָנֹכִי יְהוָה)—God's response addresses Moses' excuse at its root: Who made man's mouth? God creates human faculties and can enable or disable them as He wills. Dumb, deaf, seeing, blind—God's sovereignty extends over all physical conditions. This isn't teaching that God causes all disabilities cruelly, but that He's sovereign over them and can work through them. Have not I the LORD? (הֲלֹא אָנֹכִי יְהוָה)—rhetorical question asserting divine prerogative. If God made Moses' mouth, He can enable it for His purposes. The Creator can equip His creatures for any task He assigns.