Exodus 6:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe said this to the people of Isra'el. But they wouldn't listen to him, because they were so discouraged, and their slavery was so cruel.

Berean Standard Bible:

Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

American Standard Version:

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} spake^{H1696} so unto the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}: but they hearkened^{H8085} not unto Moses^{H4872} for anguish^{H7115} of spirit^{H7307}, and for cruel^{H7186} bondage^{H5656}.

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Commentary for Exodus 6:9

Exodus 6:9 is set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt, a period marked by oppression and hard labor. The verse captures a moment of deep despair among the Israelites, who are struggling under the weight of their suffering. Moses, having been called by God to lead his people out of bondage, conveys the divine promise of deliverance to the Israelites. However, the verse emphasizes that the people are so overwhelmed by their "anguish of spirit" and the severity of their "cruel bondage" that they are unable to listen to Moses. Their inability to heed his words is indicative of their profound psychological and physical distress, which has left them numb to the message of hope and liberation.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the period when the Israelites had been in Egypt for several generations, initially welcomed by the Pharaoh of Joseph's time, but later enslaved as a new Pharaoh came to power who did not remember Joseph and feared the growing number of Israelites. The theme of Exodus 6:9 reflects the human capacity for resilience being tested under extreme conditions, the challenge of maintaining faith and hope in the face of relentless adversity, and the difficulty of inspiring a demoralized and traumatized people. This verse sets the stage for the subsequent miraculous signs and wonders that God will perform to both harden Pharaoh's heart and ultimately lead the Israelites to freedom, demonstrating God's faithfulness in the midst of human suffering and disbelief.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7115
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֹצֶר
   Transliteration: qôtser
   Pronunciation: ko'-tser
   Description: from קָצַר; shortness (of spirit), i.e. impatience; anguish.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7307
   There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רוּחַ
   Transliteration: rûwach
   Pronunciation: roo'-akh
   Description: from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions); air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
   
8. Strong's Number: H7186
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָשֶׁה
   Transliteration: qâsheh
   Pronunciation: kaw-sheh'
   Description: from קָשָׁה; severe (in various applications); churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, [phrase] impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff(necked), stubborn, [phrase] in trouble.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5656
   There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֲבֹדָה
   Transliteration: ʻăbôdâh
   Pronunciation: ab-o-daw'
   Description: or עֲבוֹדָה; from עָבַד; work of any kind; act, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought.