Exodus 6:9

9 And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, but they gave no attention to him, because of the grief of their spirit and the cruel weight of their work.

Exodus 6:9 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 6:9

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel
After this manner, and in the above words, declaring all that the Lord made known to him, and promised to do for them; which one would have thought would have revived their spirits, and refreshed and comforted their hearts under their troubles, and encouraged a lively exercise of faith and hope of deliverance: but they hearkened not unto Moses;
being disappointed of deliverance by him, and their afflictions being increased, and lying heavy upon them, they were heartless and hopeless; for anguish of spirit;
trouble of mind and grief of heart, with which they were swallowed up; or "for shortness of breath" ^F2, being so pressed that they could hardly breathe, and so were incapable of attending to what was spoken to them: and for cruel bondage;
under which they laboured, and from which they had scarce any respite, and saw no way of deliverance from it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (xwr ruqm) "ob brevem anhelitum", Munster.

Exodus 6:9 In-Context

7 And I will take you to be my people and I will be your God; and you will be certain that I am the Lord your God, who takes you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

8 And I will be your guide into the land which I made an oath to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for your heritage: I am Yahweh.

9 And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, but they gave no attention to him, because of the grief of their spirit and the cruel weight of their work.

10 And the Lord said to Moses,

11 Go in and say to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he is to let the children of Israel go out of his land.