Exodus 6

Exodus 6 belongs to the first part of Exodus, which narrates the events before Israel's departure from Egypt. In the previous chapter, Pharaoh made the Israelites' labor even heavier, and Moses lamented before God. This chapter opens with God's answer to that lament.

Outline

• Verse 1 The LORD answers that, by His strong hand, He will make Pharaoh let the people go and drive them out of his land.
• Verses 2–8 God declares, "I am the LORD." He says that He appeared to the patriarchs as God Almighty but did not make Himself known to them by the name LORD. Then, remembering His covenant concerning the land of Canaan, He promises to bring the people out, rid them of their bondage, redeem them, take them as His own people, and bring them into the land He swore to give.
• Verse 9 Moses relays these words, but the people do not listen because of their anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.
• Verses 10–13 When commanded to go to Pharaoh, Moses protests that he is "of uncircumcised lips." The LORD then gives His charge to Moses and Aaron together.
• Verses 14–25 The heads of the houses of Reuben and Simeon are listed briefly, followed by a detailed record of the descendants of Levi. Levi lived 137 years, Kohath 133 years, and Amram 137 years. Amram fathers Aaron and Moses by Jochebed. Aaron fathers Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar by Elisheba. The genealogy ends with Phinehas, the son of Eleazar.
• Verses 26–27 The text identifies these as the same Aaron and Moses who spoke to Pharaoh.
• Verses 28–30 The exchange from verse 12 is repeated, and the narrative continues into Exodus 7.

Key Verses

• Exodus 6:3 "But by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Together with Exodus 3, this is a principal text cited in discussions of the revelation of God's name.
• Exodus 6:6 "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments." This verse describes the Exodus as "redemption," in which God pays a price to deliver His people.
• Exodus 6:7 "I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God." This covenant formula recurs throughout Scripture.

People and Places

• Moses and Aaron: the brothers who lead the Exodus.
• Pharaoh: the king of Egypt.
• Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: the patriarchs who received the promise of the land.
• Reuben, Simeon, and Levi: the first, second, and third sons of Jacob. Levi's descendants later become the Levites.
• Amram and Jochebed: the parents of Moses and Aaron.
• Korah: the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, who later leads a rebellion (Numbers 16).
• Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar: the four sons of Aaron. The deaths of Nadab and Abihu are recorded in Leviticus 10.
• Phinehas: the son of Eleazar (Numbers 25).
• Egypt and Canaan: the land of bondage and the Promised Land.

Points for Reflection

• Interpreting 6:3: The name "LORD" (Yahweh) already appears in Genesis (Genesis 15:7; 28:13), so interpretations of this verse differ.
• Conservative interpreters understand "known" as referring not to the name itself but to the meaning of that name. Through the Exodus, the people would come to know by experience the character of the God who keeps His covenant and saves.
• In historical-critical scholarship, this verse has been cited as one of the grounds for the Documentary Hypothesis, which holds that the Pentateuch was compiled from several sources.
• The placement of the genealogy: The genealogy lists Reuben and Simeon briefly and then stops at Levi, which is understood as a means of establishing the lineage of Moses and Aaron. In light of the 430 years mentioned in Exodus 12:40, some hold that this genealogy omits certain generations.
• Amram's marriage: Amram married his father's sister. Because such marriages are later prohibited in Leviticus 18, this is often explained as having taken place before the Law was given.
• Jewish tradition: The four promises of 6:6–7 (bringing out, delivering, redeeming, and taking as a people) are said to have been associated with the four cups of the Passover meal.
• Connections to the New Testament: The covenant formula of 6:7 is echoed in 2 Corinthians 6:16 and Revelation 21:3. The name of Aaron's wife Elisheba is understood to be the same as "Elisabeth" in Luke 1:5. Elisheba's brother Nahshon also appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:4.