Bible Glide

Exodus 6

Exodus 6 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Exodus 6 answers Moses' discouragement with fresh assurance from God. The LORD restates his covenant, promises rescue from Egypt, and names Moses and Aaron as the men who will speak for him. The chapter also includes a genealogy that places their calling within Israel's family line.

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What happens in Exodus 6?

God tells Moses that Pharaoh will soon be forced to let Israel go. He recalls his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and promises to free the people from slavery, claim them as his own, and bring them into the land he swore to give them. Moses reports this to the Israelites, but their suffering makes them unable to listen. The LORD then repeats his charge to confront Pharaoh. The chapter closes with a genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, highlighting the family line of Moses and Aaron and reaffirming their role in Israel's deliverance.

This chapter follows Moses' first failed appeal to Pharaoh and the bitter response that left Israel crushed and anxious. Exodus 6 shifts the focus from human weakness to God's covenant faithfulness. It prepares the reader for the renewed confrontation with Pharaoh and confirms the authority of Moses and Aaron before the next stage of the exodus.

Themes to notice

  • Covenant faithfulnessGod remembers his promises to the patriarchs and acts because of them.
  • Deliverance from slaveryThe LORD promises to rescue Israel from bondage and lead them out of Egypt.
  • Calling and confirmationMoses and Aaron are named again as God's appointed messengers, even in the face of doubt.

Questions for Exodus 6

  • What does God say about why he will act for Israel in this chapter?
  • Why do the Israelites not listen to Moses after he brings God's promise?
  • How does the genealogy help confirm the role of Moses and Aaron in the story?

Read the full text of Exodus 6 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Exodus 6

God Promises Deliverance

1But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

2God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.3I 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.4I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners.5Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant.6Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.7I 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.8And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’”

9Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

10So the LORD said to Moses,11“Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.”

12But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?”13Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge concerning both the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

Genealogies of Moses and Aaron

14These were the heads of their fathers’ houses:

The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.

16These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

17The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans.

18The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.

19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.

20And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.

22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites.

25Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas.

These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.

26It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.”27Moses and Aaron were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

28Now on the day that the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,29He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I say to you.”

30But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

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