Exodus6
New King James Version
1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
2And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord.
3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them.
4I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers.
5And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.
6Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ ”
9So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.
10And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
11“Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.”
12And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”
13Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for 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 firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben.
15And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon.
16These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven.
17The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi according to their families.
18And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three.
19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations.
20Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.
21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
22And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri.
23Aaron took to himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites.
25Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel as wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families.
26These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”
27These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron.
28And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
29that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.”
30But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed 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