The big picture
Exodus 6 opens in verse 1 with “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul…”, and closes in verse 30 with “And Moses said before the LORD , Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Moses, Israel, children, sons. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 30Exodus 6:1-8
1–8: The LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh…
Exodus 6:1–8 opens with “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong…” and reaches “And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, land, Egyptians.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not…” Naming Abraham and Almighty keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
Exodus 6:1-8
King James Version1Then 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 .
Exodus 6:9-16
9–16: Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto…
Exodus 6:9–16 opens with “And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of…” and reaches “And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Israel, children, Moses.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel…” Naming Moses and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.” Naming Egypt and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 6:9-16
King James Version9And 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.
Exodus 6:17-24
17–24: The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
Exodus 6:17–24 opens with “The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.” and reaches “And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by sons, years, Amram.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.” Naming Gershon and Libni keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.” Naming Levi and Mahali keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 6:17-24
King James Version17The 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.
Exodus 6:25-30
25–30: Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and…
Exodus 6:25–30 opens with “And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him…” and reaches “And Moses said before the LORD , Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Egypt, LORD, Moses.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Exodus 6:25-30
King James Version25And 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?
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 6:1 begins with “Then 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…”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 6:12 forms a natural hinge: “And 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…”
The final note
Exodus 6:30 leaves the reader with “And Moses said before the LORD , Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Moses, Israel, children, sons, Egypt help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.