Chapter 6
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Then 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.
10And 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.
14These 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?
“Wherefore 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.”
Overview
God reassures Moses, declaring that He will deliver Israel with a stretched-out arm and great judgments. He reveals Himself by His covenant name YHWH and reaffirms His promises: He will bring them out of bondage, take them as His people, be their God, and bring them into the promised land. Moses relays this to Israel, but they do not listen because of their broken spirits and cruel bondage. God sends Moses again to Pharaoh, and Moses protests his own inadequacy. The chapter includes a genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, establishing the lineage of Moses and Aaron.
Key Themes
The Covenant Name and Covenant Promises
God's fourfold 'I will' declarations (vv. 6-8) are anchored in His covenant name — He stakes His own identity on the promise of deliverance.
Suffering That Prevents Hearing
Israel cannot receive God's promises because of 'anguish of spirit and cruel bondage' — prolonged suffering can make it difficult to believe even when God speaks.
God's Purposes Are Not Thwarted by Human Unbelief
Neither Israel's inability to listen nor Moses' reluctance stops God's plan — He will accomplish His purposes regardless of human weakness.
Study Questions
What is the significance of God revealing Himself by His covenant name (v. 3), and how does this deepen the relationship between God and His people?
How do God's four 'I will' promises in verses 6-8 form a complete picture of redemption, and how do they apply to believers today?
Why could Israel not hearken to Moses (v. 9), and what does this teach about the relationship between suffering and faith?
How does the genealogy in this chapter serve the narrative, and why is it important to establish Moses and Aaron's lineage at this point?
What comfort can we draw from the fact that God's redemptive plan moves forward even when His people are too broken to respond with faith?
Connection to Christ
God's fourfold 'I will' in this chapter finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ: He brings us out of bondage to sin, redeems us by His blood, takes us as His own people, and brings us into our eternal inheritance. The covenant faithfulness of YHWH is most fully displayed at the cross.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Exodus 6. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?