Exodus 6

God Promises Deliverance

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”
2 God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.
3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,[a] but by my name the LORD[b] I did not make myself fully known to them.
4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.
5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’ ”
9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.
10 Then the LORD said to Moses,
11 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.”
12 But Moses said to the LORD, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips[c] ?”

Family Record of Moses and Aaron

13 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.
14 These were the heads of their families[d] : The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
15 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.
16 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
17 The sons of Gershon, by clans, were Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi according to their records.
20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zikri.
22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan and Sithri.
23 Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
24 The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.
25 Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.
26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.”
27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.

Aaron to Speak for Moses

28 Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,
29 he said to him, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”
30 But Moses said to the LORD, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Exodus 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

God renews his promise. (1-9) Moses and Aaron again sent to Pharaoh. (10-13) The parentage of Moses and Aaron. (14-30)

Verses 1-9 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.

Verses 10-13 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, ( Philippians 2:14 ) .

Verses 14-30 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 56

  • 1. S Exodus 3:20; S Deuteronomy 5:15; Exodus 3:19
  • 2. S Exodus 3:20
  • 3. Exodus 11:1; Exodus 12:31,33,39
  • 4. ver 6,7,8,29; Exodus 3:14,15; Exodus 7:5,17; Exodus 8:22; Exodus 10:2; Exodus 12:12; Exodus 14:4,18; Exodus 16:12; Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:7; Isaiah 25:3; Isaiah 41:20; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:16; Ezekiel 13:9; Ezekiel 25:17; Ezekiel 36:38; Ezekiel 37:6,13; Joel 2:27
  • 5. S Genesis 17:1
  • 6. S Exodus 3:15; 2 Samuel 7:26; Psalms 48:10; Psalms 61:5; Psalms 68:4; Psalms 83:18; Psalms 99:3; Isaiah 52:6
  • 7. Exodus 3:14; John 8:58
  • 8. S Genesis 6:18; S Genesis 15:18
  • 9. S Genesis 12:7; Acts 7:5; Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 11:8-10
  • 10. S Genesis 17:8; Genesis 28:4,13
  • 11. S Exodus 2:23; Acts 7:34
  • 12. S Genesis 9:15
  • 13. ver 7; Exodus 3:8; Exodus 12:17,51; Exodus 16:1,6; Exodus 18:1; Exodus 19:1; Exodus 20:2; Exodus 29:46; Leviticus 22:33; Leviticus 26:13; Deuteronomy 6:12; Psalms 81:10; Psalms 136:11; Jeremiah 2:6; Hosea 13:4; Amos 2:10; Micah 6:4
  • 14. Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 9:26; 1 Chronicles 17:21; Job 19:25; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 34:22; Psalms 74:2; Psalms 77:15; Psalms 107:2; Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 35:9; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 15:21; Jeremiah 31:11; Jeremiah 50:34
  • 15. S Exodus 3:19,20; S Jeremiah 32:21; Acts 13:17; Deuteronomy 26:8
  • 16. Exodus 3:20; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 105:27
  • 17. S Genesis 17:7; S Exodus 34:9; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Romans 9:4; Deuteronomy 4:20; 2 Samuel 7:24
  • 18. S ver 2; 1 Kings 20:13,28; Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 48:7; Ezekiel 39:6; Joel 3:17; Exodus 16:12; Isaiah 41:20
  • 19. S Genesis 12:7; Exodus 3:8; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 26:3
  • 20. Jeremiah 11:5; Ezekiel 20:6
  • 21. S Genesis 14:22; Revelation 10:5-6
  • 22. Psalms 136:21-22
  • 23. Leviticus 18:21
  • 24. S Genesis 34:30; Exodus 2:23
  • 25. ver 29
  • 26. S Exodus 3:18
  • 27. S Exodus 3:18
  • 28. ver 30; Exodus 4:10; Jeremiah 1:6
  • 29. S Exodus 3:10
  • 30. Exodus 13:3; Numbers 1:1; Numbers 26:4; Genesis 46:9
  • 31. S Genesis 29:32
  • 32. S Genesis 29:33; Genesis 46:10; 1 Chronicles 4:24
  • 33. S Genesis 29:34
  • 34. S Genesis 46:11
  • 35. Numbers 3:17; Joshua 21:7; 1 Chronicles 6:1,16
  • 36. Numbers 3:18; 1 Chronicles 6:17
  • 37. Numbers 3:27; 1 Chronicles 23:12
  • 38. Numbers 3:19; 1 Chronicles 6:2,18
  • 39. Numbers 3:20,33; 1 Chronicles 6:19; 1 Chronicles 23:21
  • 40. 1 Chronicles 23:13
  • 41. Exodus 2:1-2; Numbers 26:59
  • 42. 1 Chronicles 6:38
  • 43. Leviticus 10:4; Numbers 3:30; 1 Chronicles 15:8; 2 Chronicles 29:13
  • 44. Ruth 4:19,20; 1 Chronicles 2:10
  • 45. Numbers 1:7; Numbers 2:3; Matthew 1:4
  • 46. Exodus 24:1; Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 10:1
  • 47. Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 3:2,32; Numbers 16:37,39; Deuteronomy 10:6; Joshua 14:1
  • 48. Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 10:12,16; Numbers 3:2; Numbers 4:28; Numbers 26:60; 1 Chronicles 6:3; 1 Chronicles 24:1
  • 49. ver 21; Numbers 16:1; 1 Chronicles 6:22,37; Numbers 26:11
  • 50. Numbers 25:7,11; Numbers 31:6; Joshua 24:33; Psalms 106:30
  • 51. S Exodus 3:10
  • 52. Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:17,41,51
  • 53. Exodus 5:1
  • 54. Numbers 3:1; Psalms 77:20
  • 55. S ver 2; ver 11; Exodus 7:2
  • 56. S Exodus 3:11; ver 12; Exodus 4:10

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Hebrew "El-Shaddai"
  • [b]. See note at 3:15.
  • [c]. Hebrew "I am uncircumcised of lips" ; also in verse 30
  • [d]. The Hebrew for "families" here and in verse 25 refers to units larger than clans.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 6

The Lord encourages Moses to hope for success from his name Jehovah, and the covenant he had made with the fathers of his people, Ex 6:1-5, orders him to assure the children of Israel that he would deliver them from their bondage and burdens, and bring them into the land of Canaan; but through their distress and anguish they hearkened not to him, Ex 6:6-9 but Moses is sent again to Pharaoh to demand the dismission of Israel, to which he seems unwilling, and both he and Aaron are charged both to go to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh, Ex 6:10-13, next follows a genealogy of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, which seems to be given for the sake of Moses and Aaron, and to show their descent, Ex 6:14-15, who were the persons appointed of God to be the instruments of bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, Ex 6:26-30.

Exodus 6 Commentaries

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