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Twice in Exodus Moses declares that he has “uncircumcised lips.”
But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” (Exodus 6:12, ESV)
But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” (6:30)
It is clear enough from the context, that Moses means he is “unskilled at speaking” (and some translations take it that way). However, the question remains why use this expression to say so?
A couple commentaries I checked seemed to think it was unlikely to have been a pre-existing idiom, but rather one coined by Moses (or Exodus’ author). Either way, it seems unlikely to me that it means simply “unskilled,” but rather has a slightly different connotation in some way. Historically, some commentators thought it was used to refer to a physical impediment. Is that option still viable? What other viable explanations have been offered?
