Moses

Prophet and lawgiver of Judaism

Ancient influential 144 sayings

Sayings by Moses

And they warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian... And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Numbers 31:7-10, describing the Israelites' attack on Midian
Controversial Unverifiable

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Deuteronomy 21:18-21, on rebellious sons
Controversial Unverifiable

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Exodus 22:18, condemning witchcraft
Controversial Unverifiable

When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Deuteronomy 20:10-14, laws of war
Controversial Unverifiable

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Numbers 31:1-2, commanding vengeance
Controversial Unverifiable

And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Numbers 15:35, punishment for breaking the Sabbath
Controversial Unverifiable

And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Exodus 21:23-25, the law of retaliation
Controversial Unverifiable

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people: But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Leviticus 21:1-3, restrictions on mourning
Controversial Unverifiable

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest... And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse... And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Numbers 5:11-27, the ordeal of bitter water for suspected adultery
Controversial Unverifiable

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.

Approx. 1400 BCE — Exodus 21:20-21, laws on beating slaves
Controversial Unverifiable

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.

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Exodus 4:10, spoken to God at the burning bush
Humorous Unverifiable

Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Exodus 3:11, spoken to God at the burning bush
Humorous Unverifiable

O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Exodus 4:13, spoken to God after being tasked with leading Israel
Humorous Unverifiable

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Exodus 33:15, spoken to God after the golden calf incident
Humorous Unverifiable

Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Numbers 20:10, spoken to the Israelites at Meribah before striking the rock
Humorous Unverifiable

O Lord, I have not spoken to the people since I was a baby.

N/A — This is a popular humorous paraphrase of Moses's reluctance and speech impediment, not a direct bibl…
Humorous Unverifiable

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Exodus 33:16, spoken to God
Humorous Unverifiable

Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Numbers 11:11, lamenting to God about the burden of leadership
Humorous Unverifiable

I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Numbers 11:14, lamenting to God
Humorous Unverifiable

And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

c. 13th century BCE (biblical account) — Numbers 11:15, expressing despair to God
Humorous Unverifiable