Exodus 6ESV
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Exodus6

English Standard Version

1But the Lord to , you shall what I will to ; for with a he will , and with a he will drive them of his .

2 to and to him, I am the Lord.

3I to , to , and to , as , but by my the Lord I did not make myself to them.

4I also my with them to them the of , the in which they as .

5 , I have the of the of the hold as , and I have my .

6 to the of , I am the Lord, and I will from under the of the , and I will you from to them, and I will you with an and with acts of .

7I will you to be my , and I will be your , and you shall that I am the Lord your , who has from under the of the .

8I will you into the that I to to , to , and to . I will it to you for a . I am the Lord.

9 thus to the of , but they did not to , because of their and .

10So the Lord to ,

11 in, of to let the of go of his .

12But the Lord, Behold, the of have not to me. How then shall to , for I am of ?

13But the Lord to and and gave them a about the of and about of : to the of of the of .

14These are the of their : the of , the of : , , , and ; these are the of .

15The of : , , , , , and , the of a ; these are the of .

16These are the of the of according to their : , , and , the of the of being .

17The of : and , by their .

18The of : , , , and , the of the of being .

19The of : and . These are the of the according to their .

20 as his his , and she him and , the of the of being .

21The of : , , and .

22The of : , , and .

23 as his , the of and the of , and she him , , , and .

24The of : , , and ; these are the of the .

25 , , as his one of the of , and she him . These are the of the of the by their .

26 are the and to the Lord : Bring the of from the of by their .

27It was who to of about the of from , this and this .

28On the when the Lord to in the of ,

29the Lord to , I am the Lord; of all that I to you.

30But the Lord, Behold, I am of . How will to me?

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 6.

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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.

Cross References

Exodus 6
v3Genesis 17:1thematic

The Name 'God Almighty' (El Shaddai) by which God appeared to the patriarchs.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v30Exodus 6:12thematic

Direct repetition of Moses' objection and the metaphor of 'uncircumcised lips' from earlier in the chapter.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Exodus 3:20thematic

Fulfills the promise of deliverance 'with a strong hand' and 'stretched out arm'.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v3Exodus 3:14thematic

Explicates the significance of the divine Name 'Jehovah' / 'I AM' now fully revealed.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v5Genesis 15:14thematic

God remembers His covenant oath to judge the oppressor nation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v21Numbers 16:1thematic

Traces the genealogy of Korah, son of Izhar, prior to his famous rebellion in the wilderness.

v22Leviticus 10:4thematic

Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel, are called to carry away Nadab and Abihu's bodies.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Numbers 25:7-13thematic

Highlights the zeal of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, and the everlasting covenant of priesthood given to him.

v30Exodus 4:10thematic

Moses' initial objection at the burning bush regarding his lack of eloquence and slow speech.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Exodus 12:33fulfillment

Pharaoh and the Egyptians urgently drive Israel out of the land, fulfilling verse 1.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v4Genesis 15:18thematic

The original establishment of the covenant promise regarding the land of Canaan.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v4Genesis 47:9thematic

The patriarchs specifically designated the land of Canaan as the land of their pilgrimage.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v5Exodus 2:24thematic

God hears the groaning of the children of Israel and remembers His covenant.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v12Exodus 4:10thematic

Moses repeats his complaint of having 'uncircumcised lips' or lacking eloquence.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v20Numbers 26:59thematic

Confirms the lineage of Amram, Jochebed, Aaron, and Moses.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v23Numbers 3:2-4thematic

Registers Aaron's four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, and their priestly roles.

v23Leviticus 10:1-2contrast

The tragic end of Aaron's eldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, by offering strange fire.

v24Numbers 26:11thematic

Explicitly notes that the children of Korah did not perish in the rebellion of their father.

v26Micah 6:4thematic

Prophetic summary celebrating God sending Moses and Aaron to bring Israel out of Egypt.

v26Psalms 105:26thematic

Historical psalm celebrating God sending His chosen servants, Moses and Aaron, to Egypt.

v3Genesis 35:11thematic

God's explicit self-revelation to Jacob as 'God Almighty'.

Supported by John Calvin

v8Ezekiel 20:5thematic

Refers to God lifting His hand (swearing) to give the land to Abraham's seed.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Leviticus 26:41allusion

Illuminates 'uncircumcised lips' via the metaphorical use of uncircumcision for spiritual defects.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v26Exodus 12:51thematic

Fulfills the command to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt by their armies.

v26Acts 7:35thematic

Stephen's discourse emphasizing that God sent this same Moses whom Israel had previously refused.

v29Exodus 6:2thematic

Reiterates the solemn divine declaration 'I am the LORD' as the basis of authority.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v29Exodus 7:2thematic

Echoes the charge to speak all that the Lord commands to Pharaoh.

v30Jeremiah 1:6thematic

Parallels Jeremiah's hesitation and sense of inadequacy in speech when commissioned by God.

v9Exodus 14:12thematic

Illustrates the people's ongoing anguish of spirit and deep despondency.

Supported by JFB

v14Genesis 49:3thematic

Explains why Reuben and Simeon are listed first, despite Jacob's sharp rebuke.

Supported by Matthew Poole