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
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. ​
2
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
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And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. ​
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And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
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And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. ​
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Wherefore say unto 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 a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: ​
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And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ​
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And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
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And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. ​

Moses Objects Again

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
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And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? ​
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And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. ​

The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

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These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben. ​
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And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.
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And 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 an hundred thirty and seven years. ​
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The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
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And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.
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And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.
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And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years. ​
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And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
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And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.
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And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ​
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And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.
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And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. ​
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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. ​
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These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

The Commission Reconfirmed

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And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
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That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.
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And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto 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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