Exodus6
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And Jehovah said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
2And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am Jehovah:
3and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them.
4And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned.
5And moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
6Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, 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:
7and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8And I will bring you in unto the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am Jehovah.
9And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
10And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
11Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
12And Moses spake before Jehovah, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?
13And Jehovah 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.
14These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.
15And 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.
16And 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 a hundred thirty and seven years.
17The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
18And the sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were a hundred thirty and three years.
19And the sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
20And 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 a hundred and thirty and seven years.
21And the sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
22And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23And Aaron took him Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24And the sons of Korah: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.
25And 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’ houses of the Levites according to their families.
26These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom Jehovah said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.
27These are they that spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.
28And it came to pass on the day when Jehovah spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
29that Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, I am Jehovah: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee.
30And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God renews his promise. (1–9). Moses and Aaron again sent to Pharaoh. (10–13). The parentage of Moses and Aaron. (14–30).
vv1-9
We are most likely to prosper in attempts to glorify God, and to be useful to men, when we learn by experience that we can do nothing of ourselves; when our whole dependence is placed on him, and our only expectation is from him. Moses had been expecting what God would do; but now he shall see what he will do. God would now be known by his name Jehovah, that is, a God performing what he had promised, and finishing his own work. God intended their happiness: I will take you to me for a people, a peculiar people, and I will be to you a God. More than this we need not ask, we cannot have, to make us happy. He intended his own glory: Ye shall know that I am the Lord. These good words, and comfortable words, should have revived the drooping Israelites, and have made them forget their misery; but they were so taken up with their troubles, that they did not heed God's promises. By indulging discontent and fretfulness, we deprive ourselves of the comfort we might have, both from God's word and from his providence, and go comfortless.
vv10-13
The faith of Moses was so feeble that he could scarcely be kept to his work. Ready obedience is always according to the strength of our faith. Though our weaknesses ought to humble us, yet they ought not to discourage us from doing our best in any service we have to do for God. When Moses repeats his baffled arguments, he is argued with no longer, but God gives him and Aaron a charge, both to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh. God's authority is sufficient to answer all objections, and binds all to obey, without murmuring or disputing, Php 2:14.
vv14-30
Moses and Aaron were Israelites; raised up unto them of their brethren, as Christ also should be, who was to be the Prophet and Priest, the Redeemer and Lawgiver of the people of Israel. Moses returns to his narrative, and repeats the charge God had given him to deliver his message to Pharaoh, and his objection against it. Those who have spoken unadvisedly with their lips ought to reflect upon it with regret, as Moses seems to do here. “Uncircumcised,” is used in Scripture to note the unsuitableness there may be in any thing to answer its proper purpose; as the carnal heart and depraved nature of fallen man are wholly unsuited to the services of God, and to the purposes of his glory. It is profitable to place no confidence in ourselves, all our sufficiency must be in the Lord. We never can trust ourselves too little, or our God too much. I can do nothing by myself, said the apostle, but I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Key Words
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
עַתָּה: at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
פַּרְעֹה: Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
חָזָק: strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent)
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
גָּרַשׁ: to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
Cross References
Exodus 6The Name 'God Almighty' (El Shaddai) by which God appeared to the patriarchs.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct repetition of Moses' objection and the metaphor of 'uncircumcised lips' from earlier in the chapter.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfills the promise of deliverance 'with a strong hand' and 'stretched out arm'.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Explicates the significance of the divine Name 'Jehovah' / 'I AM' now fully revealed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
God remembers His covenant oath to judge the oppressor nation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Traces the genealogy of Korah, son of Izhar, prior to his famous rebellion in the wilderness.
Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel, are called to carry away Nadab and Abihu's bodies.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Highlights the zeal of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, and the everlasting covenant of priesthood given to him.
Moses' initial objection at the burning bush regarding his lack of eloquence and slow speech.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pharaoh and the Egyptians urgently drive Israel out of the land, fulfilling verse 1.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The original establishment of the covenant promise regarding the land of Canaan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The patriarchs specifically designated the land of Canaan as the land of their pilgrimage.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
God hears the groaning of the children of Israel and remembers His covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Moses repeats his complaint of having 'uncircumcised lips' or lacking eloquence.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Confirms the lineage of Amram, Jochebed, Aaron, and Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Registers Aaron's four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, and their priestly roles.
The tragic end of Aaron's eldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, by offering strange fire.
Explicitly notes that the children of Korah did not perish in the rebellion of their father.
Prophetic summary celebrating God sending Moses and Aaron to bring Israel out of Egypt.
Historical psalm celebrating God sending His chosen servants, Moses and Aaron, to Egypt.
God's explicit self-revelation to Jacob as 'God Almighty'.
Supported by John Calvin
Refers to God lifting His hand (swearing) to give the land to Abraham's seed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illuminates 'uncircumcised lips' via the metaphorical use of uncircumcision for spiritual defects.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Fulfills the command to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt by their armies.
Stephen's discourse emphasizing that God sent this same Moses whom Israel had previously refused.
Reiterates the solemn divine declaration 'I am the LORD' as the basis of authority.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Echoes the charge to speak all that the Lord commands to Pharaoh.
Parallels Jeremiah's hesitation and sense of inadequacy in speech when commissioned by God.
Illustrates the people's ongoing anguish of spirit and deep despondency.
Supported by JFB
Explains why Reuben and Simeon are listed first, despite Jacob's sharp rebuke.
Supported by Matthew Poole