Bible Commentaries
Exodus 6

Introduction

Overview

Exodus 6:1, God renews his promise by his name JEHOVAH; Exodus 6:9, Moses vainly attempts to encourage the Israelites; Exodus 6:10, He and Aaron are again sent to Pharaoh; Exodus 6:14, The genealogy of Reuben, of Simeon, and of Levi, of whom came Moses and Aaron; Exodus 6:26, The history resumed.

Verse 1

Now shalt: Exodus 14:13, Numbers 23:23, Deuteronomy 32:39, 2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 7:19, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Psalms 12:5

with a strong: Exodus 3:19, Exodus 3:20, Deuteronomy 4:34, Psalms 89:13, Psalms 136:12, Isaiah 63:12, Ezekiel 20:33, Ezekiel 20:34

drive them: Exodus 11:1, Exodus 12:31, Exodus 12:33, Exodus 12:39

Reciprocal: Exodus 13:3 - strength Exodus 13:9 - strong hand Exodus 14:8 - with an high hand Nehemiah 1:10 - thy strong Jeremiah 32:21 - with a strong Jeremiah 46:15 - the Lord Daniel 9:15 - that hast Acts 13:17 - and with

Verse 2

I am the Lord: or, Jehovah, Exodus 6:6, Exodus 6:8, Exodus 14:18, Exodus 17:1, Exodus 20:2, Genesis 15:7, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 43:11, Isaiah 43:15, Isaiah 44:6, Jeremiah 9:24, Malachi 3:6, Acts 17:24, Acts 17:25

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:29 - I am the Exodus 12:12 - I am the Lord Leviticus 18:5 - I am the Lord Deuteronomy 28:58 - fear this glorious

Verse 3

God Almighty: El shadday, God Almighty; for shadday is evidently of affinity with the Arabic shadid, strong, mighty, and shiddat, strength, might; so the LXX in Job render it נבםפןךסבפשס, Vulgate, in Pentateuch, Omnipotens, and Syriac, in Job, chasino. Genesis 17:1, Genesis 28:3, Genesis 35:11, Genesis 48:3

but by my name: If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, did not know the name Jehovah, then Moses must have used it in Genesis by prolepsis, or anticipation. Mr. Locke and others read it interrogatively, for the negative particle, lo, not, has frequently this power in Hebrew: "I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, and by my name Jehovah was I not also made known unto them?"

Jehovah: Exodus 3:14, Genesis 12:7, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:18, Genesis 22:14, Psalms 68:4, JAH, Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 52:5, Isaiah 52:6, John 8:58, Revelation 1:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 15:3 - name Numbers 6:27 - put my Deuteronomy 9:27 - Remember Deuteronomy 28:58 - fear this glorious Deuteronomy 32:3 - Because Proverbs 18:10 - name Proverbs 30:4 - what is his name Jeremiah 33:2 - the Lord Revelation 1:8 - the Almighty

Verse 4

established: Genesis 6:18, Genesis 15:18, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:8, Genesis 17:13, Genesis 28:4, 2 Samuel 23:5, Isaiah 55:3

the land of their: Genesis 15:13, Genesis 17:8, Genesis 23:4, Genesis 26:3, Psalms 105:12, Acts 7:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:9 - have not Leviticus 26:9 - establish

Verse 5

the groaning: Exodus 2:24, Exodus 3:7, Psalms 106:44, Isaiah 63:9

I have remembered: Exodus 2:24, Genesis 8:1, Genesis 9:15, Psalms 105:8, Psalms 106:45, Luke 1:54, Luke 1:72

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:14 - that Leviticus 26:42 - will I Numbers 20:16 - we cried Deuteronomy 26:7 - we cried Acts 7:34 - I have seen

Verse 6

I am the Lord: Exodus 6:2, Exodus 6:8, Exodus 6:29, Ezekiel 20:7-9

I will bring: Exodus 3:17, Exodus 7:4, Deuteronomy 26:8, Psalms 81:6, Psalms 136:11, Psalms 136:12

redeem: Exodus 15:13, Deuteronomy 4:23, Deuteronomy 7:8, Deuteronomy 15:15, 2 Kings 17:36, 1 Chronicles 17:21, Nehemiah 1:10, Isaiah 9:12, Isaiah 9:17, Isaiah 9:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:14 - that Exodus 3:8 - deliver Exodus 3:20 - stretch Exodus 12:3 - Speak ye Exodus 15:3 - name Leviticus 18:5 - I am the Lord Deuteronomy 4:34 - by a mighty Deuteronomy 9:28 - the land Judges 12:6 - Shibboleth Psalms 77:15 - with Psalms 78:35 - their redeemer Jeremiah 21:5 - with an Jeremiah 32:21 - brought Jeremiah 50:34 - Redeemer Ezekiel 20:5 - In the Daniel 9:15 - that hast Acts 4:30 - By stretching Acts 7:34 - I have seen

Verse 7

will take: Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:8, Deuteronomy 4:20, Deuteronomy 7:6, Deuteronomy 14:2, Deuteronomy 26:18, 2 Samuel 7:23, 2 Samuel 7:24, Jeremiah 31:33, Hosea 1:10, 1 Peter 2:10

I will be: Exodus 29:45, Exodus 29:46, Deuteronomy 29:13, Zechariah 13:9, Matthew 22:32, Romans 8:31, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:3, Revelation 21:7

from under: Exodus 5:4, Exodus 5:5, Psalms 81:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:26 - Bring Exodus 7:17 - thou shalt Exodus 16:6 - the Lord Exodus 16:12 - ye shall know Leviticus 11:45 - that bringeth Leviticus 18:2 - General Leviticus 22:33 - General Leviticus 26:12 - will be Numbers 10:29 - for the Lord 1 Kings 20:28 - ye shall know 2 Chronicles 20:7 - our God Psalms 79:10 - let him Psalms 114:2 - General Isaiah 63:8 - Surely Ezekiel 20:5 - In the Acts 7:5 - yet

Verse 8

swear: Heb. lift up my hand, The ancient mode of appealing to God was by lifting up the right hand, and was considered as a form of swearing. Hence yamin, in Hebrew the right hand, is in Arabic an oath, and as a verb, to take an oath. A similar custom prevailed among the heathens. See Virg. n. 1. xii. v. 196. Genesis 14:22, Deuteronomy 32:40, Ezekiel 20:5, Ezekiel 20:6, Ezekiel 20:15, Ezekiel 20:23, Ezekiel 20:28, Ezekiel 20:42, Ezekiel 36:7, Ezekiel 47:14

to give: Exodus 32:13, Genesis 15:18, Genesis 22:16, Genesis 22:17, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 28:13, Genesis 35:12

I am: Exodus 6:2, Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:6 - I am the Lord Exodus 6:29 - I am the Exodus 13:5 - sware Leviticus 20:24 - But I Numbers 10:29 - for the Lord Deuteronomy 7:1 - the Lord 1 Kings 8:34 - which thou gavest 2 Chronicles 6:25 - which thou Psalms 68:4 - his name Psalms 106:26 - lifted Acts 7:5 - yet Revelation 10:5 - lifted

Verse 9

hearkened: Exodus 5:21, Exodus 14:12, Job 21:4, Proverbs 14:19

anguish: Heb. shortness, or, straitness, Numbers 21:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:14 - their lives Exodus 6:12 - children Job 9:16 - would I Ezekiel 20:5 - lifted up mine hand Mark 16:11 - believed

Verse 11

Exodus 6:29, Exodus 3:10, Exodus 5:1, Exodus 5:23, Exodus 7:1

Reciprocal: Psalms 105:26 - sent Ezekiel 24:27 - thy

Verse 12

children: Exodus 6:9, Exodus 3:13, Exodus 4:29-31, Exodus 5:19-21

am: The italics shew that this word has been supplied by our translators; hence it may be inferred by some that Moses was uncircumcised. The difficulty is in some measure cleared away, by using the word uncircumcised in the sense of unsuitable or incapacitated - see note on Exodus 6:30, which agrees with Exodus 4:10, where Moses complains of want of eloquence; but by substituting is for am in this place, the connection with the former part of the verse is preserved; "For if the chosen seed, the circumcised sons of Jacob, refuse to hear me," as though Moses had said, "how can I expect to make uncircumcised Pharaoh pay attention to me?" Exodus 6:30, Exodus 4:10, Leviticus 26:41, Deuteronomy 30:6, Isaiah 6:5, Jeremiah 1:6, Jeremiah 6:10, Jeremiah 9:26, Acts 7:51

Reciprocal: Exodus 3:11 - General Leviticus 19:23 - uncircumcised Ezekiel 24:27 - thy

Verse 13

Numbers 27:19, Numbers 27:23, Deuteronomy 31:14, Psalms 91:11, Matthew 4:6, 1 Timothy 1:18, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Timothy 6:13, 1 Timothy 6:17, 2 Timothy 2:4, 2 Timothy 4:1

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:26 - That Aaron Exodus 6:27 - to bring

Verse 14

the heads: Exodus 6:25, Joshua 14:1, Joshua 19:51, 1 Chronicles 5:24, 1 Chronicles 7:2, 1 Chronicles 7:7, 1 Chronicles 8:6

The sons: Genesis 46:9, Genesis 49:3, Genesis 49:4, Numbers 26:5, Numbers 26:6, 1 Chronicles 5:3

these be: Numbers 26:7, Joshua 13:15, Joshua 13:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:22 - Now the sons Genesis 46:8 - the names Exodus 1:1 - General Numbers 1:2 - after Joshua 21:1 - the heads 1 Chronicles 5:1 - he was

Verse 15

sons: Genesis 46:10, Numbers 26:12, Numbers 26:13, 1 Chronicles 4:24, Nemuel, Jarib, Zerah

Verse 16

sons: Genesis 46:11, Numbers 3:17, 1 Chronicles 6:1, 1 Chronicles 6:16

Kohath: Numbers 26:57, 1 Chronicles 23:6

an hundred: Exodus 6:18, Exodus 6:20, Genesis 35:28, Genesis 47:28, Genesis 50:26

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:4 - the generations Exodus 2:1 - of the house Numbers 17:3 - General Joshua 21:5 - General Joshua 21:6 - General 1 Chronicles 6:43 - Gershom 1 Chronicles 15:4 - the children of Aaron 2 Chronicles 29:12 - Kohathites Ecclesiastes 1:4 - One generation Zechariah 12:13 - Levi Revelation 7:7 - Levi

Verse 17

Genesis 46:11, Numbers 3:18, Shimei, 1 Chronicles 6:17, 1 Chronicles 23:7, Laadan, Shimei

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:6 - General

Verse 18

sons: Numbers 3:19, Izehar, Numbers 26:57, 1 Chronicles 6:2, 1 Chronicles 6:18

and the years: Exodus 6:16

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:20 - and the years Leviticus 10:4 - Uzziel Numbers 16:1 - Korah Joshua 21:10 - General 1 Chronicles 6:38 - Izhar 1 Chronicles 15:9 - Hebron 1 Chronicles 15:10 - Uzziel 1 Chronicles 23:12 - sons of Kohath Hebrews 7:3 - descent

Verse 19

Numbers 3:20, 1 Chronicles 6:19, 1 Chronicles 23:21

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:7 - General 1 Chronicles 6:47 - Merari 1 Chronicles 24:27 - sons

Verse 20

Amram: Exodus 2:1, Exodus 2:2, Numbers 26:59

and the years: The Samaritan, LXX, Syriac, and one Hebrew manuscript add, "And Miriam their sister;" which some of the best critics suppose to have been originally in the text. Exodus 6:16, Exodus 6:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 2:8 - mother Exodus 6:26 - That Aaron Leviticus 18:12 - General Leviticus 20:19 - mother's Numbers 3:1 - generations Numbers 3:19 - General Numbers 17:3 - General Joshua 21:10 - General 1 Chronicles 6:3 - Aaron 1 Chronicles 23:13 - The sons Hebrews 7:3 - descent

Verse 21

Korah: Exodus 6:24, Numbers 16:1, Numbers 16:32, Numbers 26:10, Numbers 26:11, 1 Chronicles 6:37, 1 Chronicles 6:38

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 6:2 - the sons of Kohath 1 Chronicles 6:22 - Amminadab 1 Chronicles 24:22 - Izharites

Verse 22

Leviticus 10:4, Nehemiah 3:20

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 15:8 - Elizaphan 1 Chronicles 15:10 - Uzziel

Verse 23

Elisheba: Luke 1:5

Amminadab: Numbers 1:7, Numbers 2:3, Ruth 4:19, Ruth 4:20, 1 Chronicles 2:10, Matthew 1:4

Nadab: Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:9, Leviticus 10:1, Leviticus 10:2, Numbers 3:2-4, Numbers 20:25, Numbers 26:60, Numbers 26:61, 1 Chronicles 6:3, 1 Chronicles 24:1, 1 Chronicles 24:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:1 - Nadab Exodus 38:21 - Ithamar Joshua 24:33 - Eleazar 1 Chronicles 6:50 - Eleazar

Verse 24

Korah: Exodus 6:21, Numbers 16:1, Numbers 16:32, Numbers 26:9-11, 1 Chronicles 6:22, 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:37, 1 Chronicles 6:38, Psalms 84:1-12, Psalms 85:1, *titles

Elkanah: 1 Samuel 1:1, 1 Chronicles 6:23, 1 Chronicles 6:27, 1 Chronicles 6:28

Reciprocal: Numbers 26:11 - General 1 Chronicles 6:25 - Elkanah 1 Chronicles 6:34 - Elkanah

Verse 25

Phinehas: Numbers 25:7-13, Numbers 31:6, Joshua 22:13, Joshua 22:31, Joshua 22:32, Joshua 24:33, Judges 20:28, Psalms 106:30, Psalms 106:31

the heads: Exodus 6:14

Reciprocal: Joshua 21:1 - the heads 1 Chronicles 6:4 - Phinehas Ezra 7:5 - Phinehas

Verse 26

That Aaron: Exodus 6:13, Exodus 6:20, Joshua 24:5, 1 Samuel 12:6, 1 Samuel 12:8, 1 Chronicles 6:3, Psalms 77:20, Psalms 99:6, Micah 6:4

Bring: Exodus 6:7, Exodus 3:10, Exodus 3:11, Exodus 20:2, Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:7, Exodus 32:11, Acts 7:35, Acts 7:36

armies: Exodus 7:4, Exodus 12:17, Exodus 12:51, Exodus 13:18, Genesis 2:1, Numbers 33:1

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:27 - to bring Exodus 12:50 - as the Lord Exodus 31:6 - I have given Psalms 105:26 - sent

Verse 27

spake: Exodus 5:1-3, Exodus 7:10

to bring: Exodus 6:13, Exodus 6:26, Exodus 32:7, Exodus 33:1, Psalms 77:20, Micah 6:4

Reciprocal: Psalms 105:26 - sent

Verse 29

I am the: Exodus 6:2, Exodus 6:6, Exodus 6:8

speak: Exodus 6:11, Exodus 7:2, Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 1:8, Jeremiah 1:17-19, Jeremiah 23:28, Jeremiah 26:2, Ezekiel 2:6, Ezekiel 2:7, Ezekiel 3:11, Ezekiel 3:17, Matthew 28:20, Acts 20:27

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:5 - I am the Lord Jeremiah 15:19 - return

Verse 30

uncircumcised: Exodus 6:12, Exodus 4:10, 1 Corinthians 9:16, 1 Corinthians 9:17

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:23 - uncircumcised Isaiah 6:5 - a man Jeremiah 1:6 - I cannot Jeremiah 15:19 - return