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.

God Reaffirms His Covenant and Name

1
The LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.” ​
2
God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am the LORD;
3
and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them. ​
4
I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.
5
Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. ​
6
Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: ​
7
and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ​
8
I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am the LORD.’”
9
Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn’t listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. ​

Moses Objects Again

10
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
11
“Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.”
12
Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, who am of uncircumcised lips?” ​
13
The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. ​

The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

14
These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben. ​
15
The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.
16
These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years. ​
17
The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
18
The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years.
19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
20
Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty-seven years. ​
21
The sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
22
The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23
Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ​
24
The sons of Korah: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.
25
Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families. ​
26
These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.” ​
27
These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.

The Commission Reconfirmed

28
On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
29
the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the LORD. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak to you.”
30
Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall 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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options