Exodus 6

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 6

1¶ Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

2And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I [am] the LORD:

3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

4And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein 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.

6Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, 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 a stretched out 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] the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I [am] the LORD.

9And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

10¶ And the LORD 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 the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who [am] of uncircumcised lips?

13And the LORD 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.

14¶ These [be] the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these [be] 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] an hundred thirty and seven years.

17The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, 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] an hundred thirty and three years.

19And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these [are] the families of Levi 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] an 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 Zithri.

23And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, 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 Korhites.

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 of the Levites according to their families.

26These [are] that 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] they which 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] the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,

29That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I [am] the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.

30And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I [am] of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD reassures Moses, revealing His name JEHOVAH and reiterating His covenant to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and bring them to the promised land. Moses conveys this message, but the Israelites, due to their severe affliction, do not hearken. Despite Moses's renewed doubts about his ability to speak to Pharaoh, the LORD reaffirms His command to Moses and Aaron to lead the people out.

Medium Summary

The LORD speaks to Moses, declaring His name JEHOVAH, a name by which He was not fully known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, though He appeared to them as God Almighty. He reminds Moses of His established covenant to give the land of Canaan to their descendants and affirms that He has heard Israel's groaning in bondage. God promises to bring Israel out with a "stretched out arm" and "great judgments," to take them as His people, and to lead them into the promised land. However, when Moses delivers this message, the children of Israel do not listen due to their anguish and cruel bondage. The LORD then commands Moses to speak directly to Pharaoh, but Moses expresses his inadequacy, citing his "uncircumcised lips" and the Israelites' prior disbelief. The chapter then provides the genealogies of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, specifically detailing the lineage of Moses and Aaron, before concluding with Moses's persistent doubt.

Long Summary

In response to Moses's previous complaint, the LORD reassures him, declaring that He will now demonstrate His power against Pharaoh, forcing him to release Israel. God reveals His personal name, JEHOVAH, stating that while He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, this specific name was not fully known to them. He then explicitly reminds Moses of His covenant established with the patriarchs to grant them the land of Canaan. Acknowledging the groaning of the enslaved Israelites, the LORD affirms His remembrance of this covenant. He instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel that He, JEHOVAH, will bring them out from under Egyptian burdens, redeem them with a "stretched out arm" and "great judgments," take them as His own people, and bring them into the promised land as an inheritance. Moses delivers this message, but the Israelites, overwhelmed by their "anguish of spirit" and "cruel bondage," do not listen to him. The LORD then commands Moses again to go and speak to Pharaoh, demanding the release of Israel. Moses expresses his profound doubt, questioning how Pharaoh will listen to him when even the Israelites have not, and reiterating his perceived inadequacy due to "uncircumcised lips." Despite Moses's reluctance, the LORD gives a direct charge to both Moses and Aaron to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. The narrative then interjects with a detailed genealogy, tracing the heads of the fathers' houses for Reuben, Simeon, and particularly Levi, highlighting the lineage of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This section specifically identifies Amram as the father of Aaron and Moses, and details Aaron's family, including his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, and Eleazar's son Phinehas. This genealogical record serves to establish the authority and identity of Moses and Aaron as the chosen leaders. The chapter concludes by reiterating that these are the same Moses and Aaron commissioned by the LORD to lead Israel, with Moses again voicing his concern about his "uncircumcised lips" and Pharaoh's potential refusal to hear him.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Revelation of JEHOVAHGod reveals His personal name, JEHOVAH, to Moses, distinguishing it from His prior manifestation as God Almighty to the patriarchs, signifying a new phase of His relationship with Israel.
  • Covenant RemembranceThe LORD explicitly states His remembrance of the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give them the land of Canaan, affirming His faithfulness to His promises despite Israel's current bondage.
  • Promises of DeliveranceGod makes clear and powerful promises to bring the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage "with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments," and to take them as His own people.
  • Israel's Unbelief and AnguishDespite God's promises delivered through Moses, the children of Israel do not hearken, being overwhelmed by their "anguish of spirit" and the severity of their "cruel bondage."
  • Moses's Reluctance and "Uncircumcised Lips"Moses repeatedly expresses his inadequacy and doubt in his ability to speak effectively to Pharaoh, citing his "uncircumcised lips" as a barrier to being heard.
  • Genealogical AuthorityA detailed genealogy of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and especially Levi is provided, specifically tracing the lineage of Moses and Aaron to establish their identity and divine appointment for their leadership role.
  • Divine CommissionThe LORD gives a clear and repeated charge to Moses, and later to both Moses and Aaron, to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, emphasizing their designated role despite their doubts.