Exodus6

The LORD reassures Moses, revealing His name JEHOVAH and reiterating His covenant to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and bring them to the promised land. Moses conveys this message, but the Israelites, due to their severe affliction, do not hearken. Despite Moses's renewed doubts about his ability to speak to Pharaoh, the LORD reaffirms His command to Moses and Aaron to lead the people out.
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God Reaffirms His Covenant and Name

1
But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” ​
2
God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.
3
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them. ​
4
I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners.
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Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. ​
6
Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. ​
7
I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ​
8
And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’”
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Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him. ​

Moses Objects Again

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So the LORD said to Moses,
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“Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.”
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But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?” ​
13
Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge concerning both the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. ​

The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

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These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben. ​
15
The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.
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These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. ​
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The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
18
The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
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The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.
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And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. ​
21
The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
22
The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
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And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ​
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The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites.
25
Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans. ​
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It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.” ​
27
Moses and Aaron were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

The Commission Reconfirmed

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Now on the day that the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,
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He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I say to you.”
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But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” ​

Study Notes for Exodus 6

Verse 1

This verse serves as God’s direct answer to Moses’ frustration in 5:22-23. God promises that the coming display of power will be so overwhelming that Pharaoh will not only allow Israel to leave but will actively drive them out.

Verse 3

God explains the progressive revelation of His name. The patriarchs knew Him as *El Shaddai* (God Almighty), the source of blessing and promise. Now, God is revealing Himself as YHWH (JEHOVAH/LORD), the covenant-keeping God who actively intervenes in history to redeem His people.

Verse 5

God’s remembrance of the covenant is not a sudden recollection but a deliberate act of intervention based on His faithfulness to the ancestral promises (Gen. 15:13-14).

Verse 6

This verse contains the first four of seven 'I Will' statements (vv. 6-8), detailing the definitive actions God will take. 'Redeem you with a stretched out arm' is a powerful metaphor for God’s visible, irresistible power exercised on Israel’s behalf.

Verse 7

This statement defines the core purpose of the Exodus: establishing the covenant relationship. God acts so that Israel will confirm His identity as the LORD (YHWH) through the experience of salvation.

Verse 9

The Israelites rejected Moses’ message not out of rebellion, but due to 'anguish of spirit' (literally, 'shortness of breath'). They were too overwhelmed by their suffering and the immediate increase in hardship (Ex. 5) to grasp the hope of God's promise.

Verse 12

Moses reiterates his inadequacy, citing his 'uncircumcised lips.' This phrase denotes poor public speaking skills or an impediment, suggesting that if his own people wouldn't listen, the foreign King Pharaoh certainly wouldn't.

Verse 13

By giving the charge to both Moses and Aaron, God establishes the necessary partnership. Aaron will serve as Moses' spokesman and prophet, addressing the issue of Moses' 'uncircumcised lips.'

Verse 14

This genealogy (vv. 14-27) interrupts the narrative flow to firmly establish the lineage and authority of Moses and Aaron before they confront Pharaoh. It focuses on the first three sons of Jacob, but quickly transitions to the line of Levi.

Verse 16

The focus narrows to Levi, the tribe from which the priesthood and the key deliverers (Moses and Aaron) would emerge. The ages of the patriarchs are often included to emphasize the historicity and accuracy of the record.

Verse 20

Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses and Aaron. Their marriage was an instance of marrying within the immediate family, allowed at this early stage to maintain tribal purity, but later restricted by Mosaic Law (Lev. 18:12).

Verse 23

Aaron’s marriage to Elisheba links the emerging priestly family (Levites) with the leading tribe of Judah (Naashon was a prince of Judah, Num. 1:7). This connection highlights the centrality of the priesthood to Israel’s leadership structure.

Verse 25

The mention of Eleazar and his son Phinehas is significant, as they represent the continuation of the legitimate high priestly line, which is critical for the later establishment of the tabernacle worship.

Verse 26

This verse acts as a conclusive summary, identifying the individuals listed in the genealogy as the commissioned leaders. 'According to their armies' refers to the organized, tribal divisions of Israel.

Verse 30

Moses’ final objection repeats the concern from verse 12, creating an inclusio that closes this section. This serves to underscore the human frailty of the chosen leader just before God begins the great confrontation in the next chapter.

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