Exodus 6

The LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.”

God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am the LORD.

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them.

I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.

Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.

Therefore tell 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 an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.

I will take you to myself for a people. I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am the LORD.’”

Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn’t listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

“Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have uncircumcised lips?”

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.

The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.

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 one hundred thirty-seven years.

The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.

The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years.

The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.

Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty-seven years.

The sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.

Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families.

These 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.”

These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.

On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,

The LORD said to Moses, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I tell you.”

Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter marks a pivotal moment in God’s self-revelation and re-commissioning of Moses, coming after Moses’ discouragement in chapter 5. God reaffirms His covenant identity and purpose, reiterates His promise to deliver Israel by mighty acts, and introduces the priestly line through Aaron, setting the stage for the confrontation with Pharaoh.

Flow.

God speaks to Moses, declaring that Pharaoh will be compelled to release Israel through divine strength.
The LORD reveals His covenant name (YHWH), emphasizes His faithfulness to the patriarchs, and restates His promise to redeem Israel and establish them as His people.
The people do not listen due to their suffering, and Moses expresses doubt about his ability to speak effectively.
The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi is given, specifically tracing the line to Aaron, reinforcing Moses and Aaron’s divine appointment to lead Israel.

Connections. Following chapter 5, where Moses’ initial intervention worsens Israel’s suffering and he questions God’s way, chapter 6 responds with divine reassurance and deeper revelation. God meets human despair not with rebuke but with covenant confirmation, grounding hope not in circumstances but in His unchanging character. The focus shifts from immediate hardship to eternal promises, which chapter 7 takes up by launching the mission to Pharaoh with Moses and Aaron now clearly identified as God’s appointed agents.

What it teaches. This chapter emphasizes God’s covenant faithfulness and self-disclosure as the foundation of redemption. By declaring “I am the LORD” (YHWH), God distinguishes His personal, promises-keeping presence from prior revelations under the name El Shaddai (WCF 7.1), affirming continuity with His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 17:1, 26:24, 28:13). The redemption He announces—“with an outstretched arm and with great judgments” (Ex. 6:6)—points forward to the plagues and ultimately to Christ’s finished work (HC LD 12). The covenant formula “I will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Ex. 6:7) runs through Scripture, fulfilled in Christ (WCF 7.6; HC LD 32) and echoing in the promise of God’s abiding presence (Rev. 21:3).

Apply. Even when obedience is met with greater hardship, God’s word remains steadfast because His promises rest on His character, not our circumstances.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.