Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 6
Exodus 6:6-7Say therefore to the people of Israel, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
These verses contain God's powerful 'I will' statements, which form the heart of His promise to rescue, redeem, and restore His people. They show that Israel's salvation is an action God Himself will accomplish.Exodus 6:9Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.
This verse provides a painfully realistic look at the effects of trauma and oppression. The Israelites' hope had been so crushed that they couldn't even receive a message of deliverance.Exodus 6:12But Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?"
Moses expresses his deep insecurity, feeling that if his own people won't listen, the powerful Pharaoh certainly won't. This highlights the theme of human weakness in the face of a divine calling.
Historical & Cultural Context
From Despair to Divine Reassurance
This chapter opens in the immediate aftermath of failure. In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, but their efforts only resulted in harsher slavery for the Israelites. The people blamed Moses, and a discouraged Moses questioned God's plan. Exodus 6 is God's direct and powerful response, designed to lift Moses's focus from the discouraging circumstances to the certainty of God's character and promises.
Establishing the Chosen Leaders
The chapter's narrative flow is unique, pausing for a detailed genealogy. This list of names is not random. It serves a crucial purpose. By tracing the family lines of Reuben, Simeon, and especially Levi, the text formally establishes the authority of Moses and Aaron. It confirms that these are the right men, from the right tribe, chosen by God for this monumental task of leading Israel to freedom.
God's Promise, Israel's Pain, and Moses's Doubt
Following the disastrous first encounter with Pharaoh, Moses is at a low point. God responds directly to his cry by declaring His identity and purpose. This section lays out God's unshakeable plan, the people's understandable despair, and the leader's persistent self-doubt, setting the stage for the dramatic events to come.
I Am the Lord: The Promise Renewed (Exodus 6:1-8)
2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the Lord.
2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the Lord.
3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.
4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.
5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.
Commentary:
God reassures Moses by revealing His covenant name, 'the Lord,' and repeating His sevenfold promise to save Israel.
Related Verse Analysis
A Broken Spirit and a Hesitant Leader (Exodus 6:9-13)
9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.
10 The Lord said to Moses,
11 Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.
12 But Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?"
13 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Commentary:
The Israelites are too crushed by slavery to listen to Moses, which causes Moses to doubt his ability to confront Pharaoh.
Related Verse Analysis
The Family Tree of Deliverance (Exodus 6:14-27)
14 These are the heads of their fathers' houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben.
15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the clans of Simeon.
16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.
17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans.
18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were 133 years.
19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations.
20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years.
21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph.
25 Eleazar, Aaron's son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites by their clans.
26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.”
27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.
Commentary:
A genealogy confirms the lineage and God-given authority of Moses and Aaron from the tribe of Levi.
Related Verse Analysis
Facing the Mission Again (Exodus 6:28-30)
28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt.
29 he said to him, “I am the Lord.
30 But Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?"
Commentary:
The chapter ends by repeating God's command and Moses's objection, emphasizing his ongoing struggle with inadequacy.
God's Character on Full Display
The God Who Keeps His Promises
This chapter is a masterclass in God's faithfulness. He explicitly states that His actions are motivated by remembering His covenant - a sacred promise - made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob generations earlier. It shows that God's plans are not derailed by human suffering or doubt. His word is enduring and trustworthy.
Knowing God by Name
God reveals that His name, 'the Lord' (Yahweh), represents His personal, active, and promise-keeping character. While the patriarchs knew His power as 'God Almighty,' the Israelites in Egypt will experience His faithfulness in a new and significant way through their deliverance. To know God's name is to know His reputation for saving His people.
Hope in the Midst of Hardship
The chapter doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of suffering. The Israelites' 'broken spirit' is a powerful depiction of how pain can deafen us to promises of hope. It validates the struggle of faith in dark times, showing that God's work continues even when our ability to believe is at its lowest.
Calling the Flawed and Faithful
Moses's persistent feeling of inadequacy is a central theme. Despite being given a direct commission from God and having his lineage confirmed, he remains focused on his weakness. God calls people to a perfect purpose and works through their imperfections.
Bringing God's Promises into Our Lives
It reminds you that God's very identity is tied to His promises. When He says, 'I am the Lord,' He is saying He is the God who actively remembers His covenant and hears the cries of His people (Exodus 6:5). This name is your assurance that His character is unchanging and His presence is constant, even when circumstances make you feel isolated.
Their experience in Exodus 6:9 teaches you to be compassionate with yourself and others during times of intense suffering. Pain is real, and it can make it incredibly difficult to hold on to hope. It shows that faith isn't about ignoring pain, but about learning to trust God's promises even when your spirit feels too broken to fully embrace them.
God's response to Moses shows that your weaknesses do not disqualify you from His purposes. Moses repeatedly pointed to his flaws (Exodus 6:12, 30), but God restated the mission. This encourages you to understand that God's call on your life is based on His power, not your perfection, and He intends to display His strength through your weaknesses.
God's Name Is His Promise
Exodus 6 reveals that God's identity is inseparable from His promises. When He declares, 'I am the Lord,' He is staking His entire character on His power to rescue and redeem His people. The message is that God's faithfulness is the anchor in the storm of human suffering and doubt. He hears, He remembers, and He will act according to His covenant love.
What This Means for Us Today
God's powerful reassurance to a doubting Moses and a despairing Israel is also for us. He does not dismiss our fears or pain but meets us within them, reminding us of who He is. This chapter invites us to ground our hope not in our changing circumstances or our own strength, but in the unchanging, promise-keeping character of 'the Lord.'
- When circumstances feel hopeless, how can remembering God's name - 'the Lord' - change your perspective?
- Are there any promises of God you are struggling to believe right now because of a 'broken spirit'?
- In what area of your life do you feel inadequate, and how can you invite God to work through that specific weakness?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This passage details the covenant God made with Abraham, which God explicitly says He 'remembered' in Exodus 6:5.
Here at the burning bush, God first reveals His name 'I AM' to Moses, a name whose meaning is unpacked more fully in Exodus 6.
Like Moses, the prophet Jeremiah also felt inadequate for God's call, saying he was too young and could not speak well.
Theological Parallels
This New Testament passage echoes the theme of God's unbreakable commitment to His people, assuring them that nothing can separate them from His love.
Discussion Questions
- God reveals a deeper meaning of His name to the Israelites in their suffering. How have difficult seasons in your own life changed or deepened your understanding of who God is?
- The Israelites were too discouraged by their slavery to hear God's message of hope (Exodus 6:9). How can we as a community better support those who are in a similar state of 'broken spirit' today?
- Moses repeatedly focuses on his weakness ('uncircumcised lips'). Why do you think God so often chooses to work through people who feel inadequate for the task He gives them?
Glossary
places
figures
Moses
A man from the tribe of Levi, chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
Aaron
Moses's older brother, who was appointed by God to be his spokesman.
Pharaoh
The title for the king of Egypt, who was considered a god by his people and was Israel's primary oppressor.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
The patriarchs of Israel with whom God first established His covenant promises.