The Fallible · Synthetic · Study Bible

Exodus6:1–13

God Promises Deliverance

Generated by AI. It can be wrong, and it has no authority. Every note here is fallible commentary — never the Word itself. Public-domain sources are quoted and named; machine synthesis is marked and meant to be checked. Weigh all of it against Scripture. “They received the word with all readiness… and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” — Acts 17:11
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Exodus 6:1–13 — God Promises Deliverance. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

1“But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to …”+

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.”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh way·yō·mer ’el- mō·šeh ‘at·tāh ṯir·’eh ’ă·šer ’e·‘ĕ·śeh lə·p̄ar·‘ōh kî ḥă·zā·qāh ḇə·yāḏ yə·šal·lə·ḥêm ḥă·zā·qāh ū·ḇə·yāḏ yə·ḡā·rə·šêm mê·’ar·ṣōw

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-said YHWH to Moses: “Now you-shall-see what I-will-do to-Pharaoh; for by-a-strong hand he-will-send-them-away, and-by-a-strong hand he-will-drive-them-out from-his-land.”

Where the English smooths the original

  • עַתָּ֣ה The Hebrew opens God's reply with ‘attāh, “now” — emphatic, set first. It is not a vague time-marker but an answer to Moses' complaint that God delayed; the BSB keeps it, but the force is contrastive: now, at last, no more waiting.
  • חֲזָקָה֙ The strong hand (ḥăzāqāh / yāḏ) is grammatically Pharaoh's clause but, the commentators agree, God's hand. Hebrew leaves it ambiguous; the BSB resolves it with “My mighty hand,” supplying the possessive the Hebrew only implies.
  • יְשַׁלְּחֵ֔ם yəšalləḥêm is the Piel of šālaḥ — to send away, the very verb of the demand “let My people go.” Rendered “let the people go,” the English loses that this is the technical release-word repeated across the plague cycle.
  • יְגָרְשֵׁ֖ם yəḡārəšêm (gāraš, “drive out / expel”) is violent — the word for casting Adam from Eden and Israel from a land. Pharaoh will not merely permit departure; he will thrust them out. “Drive them out” catches it; the irony is that the expeller of slaves is himself forced to expel.
Word by word17 · parsed+
יְהוָה֙Yah·wehBut the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·mersaidH559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
wayyōmer — “and he said” (’āmar), the plain speech-verb. Note: from v. 2 the narrator switches to dibbēr (“spoke,” the weightier word) for the covenant oration; here, in answer to a complaint, it is simple speech.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
עַתָּ֣ה‘at·tāhNowH6258
√ ʻattâh — at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletiveAdverb
The pivot of the verse. After Moses' charge that God was “slack concerning His promise,” the single word now announces that delay is over. The Pulpit Commentary: “There was encouragement in the very word ‘now.’”
תִרְאֶ֔הṯir·’ehyou will seeH7200
√ râʼâh — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)VerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine singular
אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerwhatH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה’e·‘ĕ·śehI will doH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalImperfectfirst person common singular
לְפַרְעֹ֑הlə·p̄ar·‘ōhto PharaohH6547
√ Parʻôh — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kingsPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
כִּ֣יforH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
חֲזָקָה֙ḥă·zā·qāhbecause of My mightyH2389
√ châzâq — strong (usuAdjectivefeminine singular
ḥăzāqāh, “strong / mighty,” doubled across the two clauses (vv. 10, 13). The repeated “strong hand” becomes the keynote of the Exodus and is later expanded into the “stretched-out arm” of v. 6, and echoed through Deuteronomy's liturgy of redemption.
בְיָ֤דḇə·yāḏhandH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine singular
יְשַׁלְּחֵ֔םyə·šal·lə·ḥêmhe will let [the people] goH7971
√ shâlach — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)VerbPielImperfectthird person masculine singularthird person masculine plural
חֲזָקָ֔הḥă·zā·qāhbecause of My strongH2389
√ châzâq — strong (usuAdjectivefeminine singular
וּבְיָ֣דū·ḇə·yāḏhandH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcConjunctive waw, Preposition-bNounfeminine singular
יְגָרְשֵׁ֖םyə·ḡā·rə·šêmhe will drive them out ofH1644
√ gârash — to drive out from a possessionVerbPielImperfectthird person masculine singularthird person masculine plural
yəḡārəšêm — the expulsion verb. Fulfilled verbatim at Exodus 12:33, where “the Egyptians urged the people to hasten their departure.” God's word in v. 1 and the event in ch. 12 are the same Hebrew root.
מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃סmê·’ar·ṣōwhis landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Preposition-mNounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
There was encouragement in the very word "now." Moses' complaint was, that God delayed his coming, would not show himself, was "slack concerning his promise." In reply he is told that there is to be no longer any delay - the work is just about to commence. "Now shalt thou see." With a strong hand shall he let them go . The "strong hand" is not Pharaoh's, but God's.
Moses’ complaint was that God delayed, and “was slack as concerning His promise.” Hitherto He had not “delivered His people at all.” The answer,” Now shalt thou see,” is an assurance that there will be no more delay; the work is just about to begin, and Moses will behold it.
The earnestness of this remonstrance, and even its approach to irreverence, are quite in keeping with other notices of Moses' naturally impetuous character.
Barnes reads Moses' preceding outburst (5:22-23) as the human foil this verse answers.
Moses did not receive any direct answer to the question, "Why hast Thou so evil-entreated this people?" He was to gather this first of all from his own experience as the leader of Israel. For the words were strictly applicable here: "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter" ( John 13:7 ).
2“God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.”+

2God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’ĕ·lō·hîm way·ḏab·bêr ’el- mō·šeh way·yō·mer ’ê·lāw ’ă·nî Yah·weh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-spoke God to Moses, and-said to-him: “I am-YHWH.

Where the English smooths the original

  • אֱלֹהִ֖ים The subject is ’ĕlōhîm, the generic word for God (grammatically plural), while the predicate is the personal name YHWH. The verse hinges on the two together: God (Elohim) declares Himself to be the LORD (Yahweh). The BSB's “God also told Moses, ‘I am the LORD’” keeps both but smooths the deliberate name-pairing.
  • וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר Here the narrator chooses wayḏabbēr (dābar, “spoke”) — the formal, weighty speech-verb — over v. 1's ’āmar (“said”). Both are rendered alike in English; in Hebrew the shift signals that what follows is a solemn covenant pronouncement, not casual reply.
  • יְהוָֽה ’ănî YHWH — “I (am) YHWH.” There is no copula in Hebrew; the self-identification is two bare words. Benson: the emphasis “is laid” on this name, “the sense of which entirely depends on the word.” The translated “I am the LORD” necessarily expands what Hebrew states with stark economy.
Word by word8 · parsed+
אֱלֹהִ֖ים’ĕ·lō·hîmGod alsoH430
√ ʼĕlôhîym — gods in the ordinary senseNounmasculine plural
’ĕlōhîm — the title used in creation and of God as Creator-of-all; its pairing here with the covenant name YHWH frames the whole oration: the God of all the earth is the covenant God of Israel.
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רway·ḏab·bêrtoldH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
wayḏabbēr — the deliberate switch to dābar (vs. ’āmar in v. 1) marks the opening of God's great self-revelation; the same weighty verb recurs at the unit's close (vv. 10, 13).
אֶל־’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֑הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merH559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
אֵלָ֖יו’ê·lāwH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPrepositionthird person masculine singular
אֲנִ֥י’ă·nîIH589
√ ʼănîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
The emphatic independent pronoun ’ănî, “I,” stands first and self-standing. K&D notes the “emphatically repeated אני (I)” running through the oration — the redemption “resided in the power of the name Jehovah.”
יְהוָֽה׃Yah·weham the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
YHWH, the Tetragrammaton — the name whose meaning (Exodus 3:14, “I AM THAT I AM”) anchors this verse. Benson: “the fountain of being and blessedness, and of infinite perfection.”
The Voices✦ public domain+
I am the Lord — That is, Jehovah, on which word the emphasis is laid, and it is to be wished that it had been always preserved in this translation, and especially in such passages as this, the sense of which entirely depends on the word. It signifies the same with, I AM THAT I AM, the fountain of being and blessedness, and of infinite perfection.
There appears to have been an interval of some months between the preceding events and this renewal of the promise to Moses. The oppression in the meantime was not merely driving the people to desperation, but preparing them by severe labor, varied by hasty wanderings in search of stubble, for the exertions and privations of the wilderness. Hence, the formal and solemn character of the announcements in the whole chapter.
3“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, b…”+

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.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wā·’ê·rā ’el- ’aḇ·rā·hām ’el- yiṣ·ḥāq wə·’el- ya·‘ă·qōḇ bə·’êl šad·dāy ū·šə·mî Yah·weh lō nō·w·ḏa‘·tî lā·hem

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-I-appeared to-Abraham, to-Isaac, and-to-Jacob as-El Shaddai; but-My-name YHWH I-was-not made-known to-them.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וָאֵרָ֗א wā’ērā’ is the Niphal of rā’āh — literally “I let-Myself-be-seen / I appeared.” It is the standard verb of theophany to the patriarchs (Genesis 17:1; 35:9). The BSB's “I appeared” is faithful, but the passive-reflexive force — God causing Himself to be seen — is part of the point that contrasts with the next clause.
  • שַׁדָּ֑י ’ēl šadday — “God Almighty” is an interpretive gloss of a contested name. Barnes pleads: “it is better to keep this as a proper name.” Ellicott: its “primary idea is, no doubt, that of ‘overpowering strength.’” Translating it loses that it is a name God revealed, paired against YHWH.
  • נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי nōḏa‘tî is the Niphal of yāḏa‘ — “I was (not) known / made-Myself-known.” The whole interpretive crux sits here: not that the patriarchs never heard the name (Genesis 15:7 they did), but that its full reality was “not experimentally known to them” (Poole). Several read it as a question — “was I not made known?” The plain rendering hides that debate.
Word by word14 · parsed+
וָאֵרָ֗אwā·’ê·rāI appearedH7200
√ râʼâh — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)Conjunctive wawVerbNifalConsecutive imperfectfirst person common singular
wā’ērā’, “I appeared” — same root (rā’āh) as Moses' “you shall see” in v. 1, binding the unit: what the fathers saw of God by appearing, Israel will now see by deliverance.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
אַבְרָהָ֛ם’aḇ·rā·hāmAbrahamH85
√ ʼAbrâhâm — Abraham, the later name of AbramNounpropermasculine singular
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
יִצְחָ֥קyiṣ·ḥāqIsaacH3327
√ Yitschâq — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of AbrahamNounpropermasculine singular
וְאֶֽל־wə·’el-and toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongConjunctive wawPreposition
יַעֲקֹ֖בya·‘ă·qōḇJacobH3290
√ Yaʻăqôb — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarchNounpropermasculine singular
בְּאֵ֣לbə·’êlas GodH410
√ ʼêl — strengthPreposition-bNounmasculine singular
bə’ēl — “as El,” the ancient Semitic word for God-as-strength. Ellicott: both El Shaddai and Jehovah “were probably of a great antiquity, and widely spread among Semitic races,” stress falling now on one, now the other.
שַׁדָּ֑יšad·dāyAlmightyH7706
√ Shadday — the AlmightyNounpropermasculine singular
šadday, Shaddai — first revealed to Abraham at Genesis 17:1. The shared rare name is the thread binding this verse to that one (see the cross-references). Whatever its etymology, the patriarchs knew God as the One able to keep promises.
וּשְׁמִ֣יū·šə·mîbut [by] My nameH8034
√ shêm — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individualityConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
יְהוָ֔הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
לֹ֥אI did notH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
נוֹדַ֖עְתִּיnō·w·ḏa‘·tîmake Myself knownH3045
√ yâdaʻ — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing)VerbNifalPerfectfirst person common singular
nōḏa‘tî — the verb on which the famous difficulty turns. Poole offers two solutions: (1) God speaks “not of the letters or syllables, but of the thing signified”; (2) the negative is comparative — they knew it “but darkly and imperfectly.” This is sourced debate, not settled fact.
לָהֶֽם׃lā·hemto them
Prepositionthird person masculine plural
The Voices✦ public domain+
He speaks not of the letters or syllables, but of the thing signified by that name. For that denotes all his perfections, and, amongst others, the eternity, constancy, and immutability of his nature and will, and the infallible certainty of his word and promises. And this, saith he, though it was believed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, yet it was not experimentally known to them; for they only saw the promises afar off, Hebrews 11:13 .
Its primary idea is, no doubt, that of “overpowering strength.” (See the comment on Genesis 17:1 .) The primary idea of “Jehovah” is, on the contrary, that of absolute, eternal, unconditional, independent existence. Both names were probably of a great antiquity, and widely spread among Semitic races; but, at different times and in different places, special stress was laid on the one or on the other.
God Almighty - Rather, "El Shaddai," (שׁדי אל 'êl shadday), it is better to keep this as a proper name.
by my name, &c.—rather, interrogatively, by My name Jehovah was I not known to them? Am not I, the Almighty God, who pledged My honor for the fulfilment of the covenant, also the self-existent God who lives to accomplish it? Rest assured, therefore, that I shall bring it to pass.
JFB favors the interrogative reading; the FSSB records it as one option, not the established sense.
4“I also established My covenant with them to give them the land o…”+

4I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ḡam hă·qi·mō·ṯî ’eṯ- bə·rî·ṯî ’it·tām lā·ṯêṯ lā·hem ’eṯ- ’e·reṣ kə·nā·‘an ’êṯ ’e·reṣ mə·ḡu·rê·hem ’ă·šer- gā·rū ḇāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-also I-established My-covenant with-them, to-give to-them the-land of-Canaan, the-land of-their-sojournings in-which they-sojourned.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הֲקִמֹ֤תִי hăqimōṯî is the Hifil of qûm — “I caused (My covenant) to stand / I set it up.” The Cambridge Bible notes this is the priestly idiom “establish a covenant,” distinct from the ordinary Hebrew “cut a covenant.” The BSB's “established” is exact; “make” would have flattened the technical sense of setting it firmly upright.
  • מְגֻרֵיהֶ֖ם məḡurêhem (root gûr, “to sojourn as a resident-alien”) — “the land of their sojournings.” The BSB's “where they lived as foreigners” is interpretively right but the Hebrew is a tight construct: the noun and the cognate verb (gārû) hammer the same root — “their sojournings wherein they sojourned.”
  • בְּרִיתִי֙ bərîṯî — “My covenant,” with the possessive suffix. The whole verse gathers the patriarchal promises (Genesis 17:7-8; 26:3; 35:11-12). “Covenant” is correct, but its root sense — a bond cut by passing between pieces of flesh (so the lexicon) — is buried under the smooth English word.
Word by word16 · parsed+
וְגַ֨םwə·ḡamI alsoH1571
√ gam — properly, assemblageConjunction
wəḡam, “and also” — first of the chain of wəḡam clauses (vv. 4, 5) that K&D parses as “not only — but also”: God has both established the covenant and heard the groaning.
הֲקִמֹ֤תִיhă·qi·mō·ṯîestablishedH6965
√ qûwm — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)VerbHifilPerfectfirst person common singular
hăqimōṯî — to make a covenant stand; the same root qûm that names the patriarchs' resurrection-hope and underlies the place “where the foot can stand.” God's bond does not lapse; it is set upright forever.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
בְּרִיתִי֙bə·rî·ṯîMy covenantH1285
√ bᵉrîyth — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)Nounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
bərîṯî, the covenant — the legal-theological center of the oration. The land is not a reward for the present generation's merit but the discharge of a promise sworn to dead fathers.
אִתָּ֔ם’it·tāmwith themH854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPrepositionthird person masculine plural
לָתֵ֥תlā·ṯêṯto giveH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcPreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
לָהֶ֖םlā·hemthem
Prepositionthird person masculine plural
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
אֶ֣רֶץ’e·reṣthe landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Nounfeminine singular construct
כְּנָ֑עַןkə·nā·‘anof CanaanH3667
√ Kᵉnaʻan — Kenaan, a son a HamNounpropermasculine singular
אֵ֛ת’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
אֶ֥רֶץ’e·reṣthe landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Nounfeminine singular construct
מְגֻרֵיהֶ֖םmə·ḡu·rê·hem. . .H4033
√ mâgûwr — a temporary abodeNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
məḡurêhem — “their sojournings.” Abraham and his sons held Canaan “merely by sufferance” (Ellicott), strangers in the very land deeded to them. The promise outran the patriarchs' lifetimes by centuries — faith holding what hands had not yet grasped.
אֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-whereH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
גָּ֥רוּgā·rūthey lived as foreignersH1481
√ gûwr — properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), iVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
בָֽהּ׃ḇāh
Prepositionthird person feminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Established means ‘set up,’ ‘concluded,’ not ‘gave effect to’: to ‘establish a covenant’ is a standing expression in P, Genesis 6:18 ; Genesis 9:9 ; Genesis 9:11 ; Genesis 9:17 ; Genesis 17:7 ; Genesis 17:19 ; Genesis 17:21 (elsewhere, in the same sense, only Ezekiel 16:60 ; Ezekiel 16:62 ). P never uses the ordinary Heb. expression, ‘ cut a covenant’
The “P” label reflects the documentary-source theory the Cambridge editors held; the FSSB cites only the lexical observation, not the source-critical frame.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were occupants of Canaan merely by sufferance: they were allowed to dwell in it because it was not half peopled; but the ownership was recognised as belonging to the Canaanite nations, Hittites and others
the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers; not being in actual possession of any part of it, but lived as pilgrims and strangers in it, as their posterity now did in another land not theirs; see Hebrews 11:9 .
5“Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom t…”+

5Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ḡam ’ă·nî šā·ma‘·tî ’eṯ- na·’ă·qaṯ bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl ’ă·šer miṣ·ra·yim ma·‘ă·ḇi·ḏîm ’ō·ṯām wā·’ez·kōr ’eṯ- bə·rî·ṯî

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-also I have-heard the-groaning of-the-sons-of-Israel, whom Egypt is-enslaving them, and-I-remembered My-covenant.

Where the English smooths the original

  • נַאֲקַת֙ na’ăqaṯ — the groaning: a rare word (nᵉ’āqāh, in only 4 verses of Scripture). It is the inarticulate cry of one in pain, the same cry God “heard” at Exodus 2:24. The BSB's “groaning” is right; the rarity is what makes this a near-verbatim recall of the earlier verse.
  • מַעֲבִדִ֣ים ma‘ăḇiḏîm is a Hifil participle — “causing-to-serve / forcing-into-labor.” The BSB's “are enslaving” captures the causative; the participle marks it as ongoing — the bondage is present and continuous as God speaks, not a finished memory.
  • וָאֶזְכֹּ֖ר wā’ezkōr (zākar, “remember”) — not God recalling something forgotten, but the covenant idiom for God acting on His pledge. Gill: His covenant “is indeed never forgotten by him, though it may seem to be.” “I have remembered” is accurate but the Hebrew means God is about to move.
Word by word14 · parsed+
וְגַ֣ם׀wə·ḡamFurthermoreH1571
√ gam — properly, assemblageConjunction
אֲנִ֣י’ă·nîIH589
√ ʼănîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
’ănî — again the emphatic “I,” which the Cambridge Bible flags: “The pronoun is emphatic, — I, the same who gave the promise of v. 4.” The Promiser and the Hearer are one.
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּיšā·ma‘·tîhave heardH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcVerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
šāma‘tî, “I have heard” (šāma‘) — the divine hearing that triggers exodus. The same verb returns in vv. 9, 12 with bitter irony: God hears the groaning, but the people will not hear Moses, nor Pharaoh him.
אֶֽת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
נַאֲקַת֙na·’ă·qaṯthe groaningH5009
√ nᵉʼâqâh — a groanNounfeminine singular construct
na’ăqaṯ, “groaning” — the rare cry-word (4 occurrences) that verbally ties this verse to Exodus 2:24 and to Judges 2:18, where the same groaning moves the LORD to raise deliverers. The link is lexical, not merely thematic.
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêvvvH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êlof the IsraelitesH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerwhomH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
מִצְרַ֖יִםmiṣ·ra·yimthe EgyptiansH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
מַעֲבִדִ֣יםma·‘ă·ḇi·ḏîmare enslavingH5647
√ ʻâbad — to work (in any sense)VerbHifilParticiplemasculine plural
אֹתָ֑ם’ō·ṯāmH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural
וָאֶזְכֹּ֖רwā·’ez·kōrand I have rememberedH2142
√ zâkar — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectfirst person common singular
wā’ezkōr, “and I remembered” — paired with “heard,” this is the deliberate echo of Exodus 2:24 (“God remembered His covenant”). The verifier confirms both the rare nᵉ’āqāh and zākar and bᵉrîyth are shared — a verbal recall, not coincidence.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
בְּרִיתִֽי׃bə·rî·ṯîMy covenantH1285
√ bᵉrîyth — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)Nounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
The pronoun is emphatic,— I , the same who gave the promise of v. 4.
For the Lord is not only the eternal and immutable Being in his purposes and promises, and a covenant keeping God; but he is compassionate and merciful, and sympathizes with his people in all their afflictions; he takes notice of their sighs and groans, as he now did those of his people in Egypt
I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel — He means their groaning on occasion of the late hardships put upon them. God takes notice of the increase of his people’s calamities, and observes how their enemies grow upon them.
6“Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring …”+

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.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

lā·ḵên ’ĕ·mōr liḇ·nê- yiś·rå̄·ʾēl ’ă·nî Yah·weh wə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯî ’eṯ·ḵem mit·ta·ḥaṯ siḇ·lōṯ miṣ·ra·yim wə·hiṣ·ṣal·tî ’eṯ·ḵem mê·‘ă·ḇō·ḏā·ṯām wə·ḡā·’al·tî ’eṯ·ḵem nə·ṭū·yāh biz·rō·w·a‘ gə·ḏō·lîm ū·ḇiš·p̄ā·ṭîm

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Therefore say to-the-sons-of-Israel: “I am YHWH, and-I-will-bring-you-out from-under the-burdens of-Egypt, and-I-will-deliver you from-their-bondage, and-I-will-redeem you with-an-arm stretched-out and-with-judgments great.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וְהוֹצֵאתִ֣י wəhôṣêṯî (Hifil of yāṣā’, “to go out” → “bring out”) — the first of the redemption verbs. The BSB's “bring you out” is exact; this very verb names the whole event (“the LORD brought out Israel”) and is repeated in vv. 7, 13 as the unit's refrain of release.
  • וְגָאַלְתִּ֤י wəḡā’altî — “I will redeem,” from gā’al: the kinsman-redeemer's word, to buy back a relative's person or land (Ruth, Leviticus 25). Ellicott: “The idea of God purchasing, or redeeming, Israel is here brought forward for the first time.” “Redeem” keeps it, but the family-bond at its root — God acting as next-of-kin — is the heart the English mutes.
  • נְטוּיָ֔ה nəṭûyāh / zərôa‘ — “an outstretched arm.” Barnes notes the Israelites “were familiar with the hieroglyphic which represents might by two outstretched arms”; an outstretched arm in Egyptian writing meant action. The phrase, “elsewhere so common, is here used for the first time” (Pulpit). The BSB renders it well; its idiomatic punch as the signature phrase of the Exodus is easy to miss.
  • וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖ים ḇišpāṭîm — “acts of judgment” (šepheṭ, a rare plural). Poole: “punishments justly inflicted.” The plagues are here named, for the first time plainly, not as mere “wonders” but as judicial sentences. The BSB's “mighty acts of judgment” is good; the legal weight of šepheṭ is the point.
Word by word20 · parsed+
לָכֵ֞ןlā·ḵênThereforeH3651
√ kên — properly, set uprightAdverb
lāḵēn, “therefore” — the hinge from God's self-declaration (vv. 2-5) to the four-fold promise to the people. What God is grounds what God will do.
אֱמֹ֥ר’ĕ·mōrtellH559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)VerbQalImperativemasculine singular
לִבְנֵֽי־liḇ·nê-the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcPreposition-lNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֘לyiś·rå̄·ʾēl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
אֲנִ֣י’ă·nîIH589
√ ʼănîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
יְהוָה֒Yah·weham the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
וְהוֹצֵאתִ֣יwə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯîand I will bringH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximConjunctive wawVerbHifilConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
wəhôṣêṯî — “I will bring out.” These three verbs (bring out / deliver / redeem) are the “three parallel clauses” K&D identifies as the first of God's three pledges: deliverance, adoption (v. 7), inheritance (v. 8). They became the four cups of the Passover seder in later Jewish liturgy.
אֶתְכֶ֗ם’eṯ·ḵemyouH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markersecond person masculine plural
מִתַּ֙חַת֙mit·ta·ḥaṯout from underH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition-m
סִבְלֹ֣תsiḇ·lōṯthe yokeH5450
√ çᵉbâlâh — porterageNounfeminine plural construct
מִצְרַ֔יִםmiṣ·ra·yimof the EgyptiansH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
וְהִצַּלְתִּ֥יwə·hiṣ·ṣal·tîand deliverH5337
√ nâtsal — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad senseConjunctive wawVerbHifilConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
אֶתְכֶ֖ם’eṯ·ḵemyouH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markersecond person masculine plural
מֵעֲבֹדָתָ֑םmê·‘ă·ḇō·ḏā·ṯāmfrom their bondageH5656
√ ʻăbôdâh — work of any kindPreposition-mNounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine plural
וְגָאַלְתִּ֤יwə·ḡā·’al·tîI will redeemH1350
√ gâʼal — to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
wəḡā’altî, “I will redeem” — the kinsman-redeemer verb (gā’al), shared with Isaiah 43:1 (“I have redeemed you”) and Hosea 13:14. This is the lexical seed of the whole biblical theology of redemption; it climbs to the Redeemer of the New Testament.
אֶתְכֶם֙’eṯ·ḵemyouH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markersecond person masculine plural
נְטוּיָ֔הnə·ṭū·yāhwith an outstretchedH5186
√ nâṭâh — to stretch or spread outVerbQalQalPassParticiplefeminine singular
nəṭûyāh, “stretched-out” (arm) — K&D: most fittingly joined to “great judgments,” for “God raises, stretches out His arm, when He proceeds in judgment.” The phrase becomes liturgical in Deuteronomy (4:34; 5:15; 7:19).
בִּזְר֣וֹעַbiz·rō·w·a‘armH2220
√ zᵉrôwaʻ — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the forelegPreposition-bNounfeminine singular
גְּדֹלִֽים׃gə·ḏō·lîmand with mightyH1419
√ gâdôwl — great (in any sense)Adjectivemasculine plural
וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖יםū·ḇiš·p̄ā·ṭîmacts of judgmentH8201
√ shepheṭ — a sentence, iConjunctive waw, Preposition-bNounmasculine plural
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I will redeem you. —The idea of God purchasing, or redeeming, Israel is here brought forward for the first time. Later on we learn that the redemption was accomplished in a twofold way—(1) by the long series of wonders, culminating in the tenth plague, whereby they were taken out of Pharaoh’s hand, and ceased to be his slaves, becoming instead the servants of God; and (2) by being led through the Red Sea
With a stretched out arm - The figure is common and quite intelligible; it may have struck Moses and the people the more forcibly since they were familiar with the hieroglyphic which represents might by two outstretched arms.
With a stretched-out arm, i.e. my almighty power. A metaphor from a man that stretcheth out his arm, and puts forth all his strength to give the greater blow. With great judgments, i.e. punishments justly inflicted upon them, as the word judging and judgments is oft used
7“I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then y…”+

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.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·lā·qaḥ·tî ’eṯ·ḵem lî lə·‘ām wə·hā·yî·ṯî lā·ḵem lê·lō·hîm wî·ḏa‘·tem kî ’ă·nî Yah·weh ’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem ham·mō·w·ṣî ’eṯ·ḵem mit·ta·ḥaṯ siḇ·lō·wṯ miṣ·rā·yim

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-I-will-take you to-Me for-a-people, and-I-will-be to-you for-a-God; and-you-shall-know that I am YHWH your-God, the-One-bringing you-out from-under the-burdens of-Egypt.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י wəlāqaḥtî — “I will take you” (lāqaḥ), the verb of marriage and adoption (a man “takes” a wife). The BSB's “take you as My own people” supplies “as My own,” which the Hebrew implies through the construction lî lə‘ām (“to Me for a people”) — covenant betrothal language muted into possession.
  • וְהָיִ֥יתִי wəhāyîṯî — “and I will be to you for a God,” from hāyāh, the very root behind the name YHWH / ’ehyeh (“I AM”). The covenant formula is built from the being-verb of the divine name itself. English “I will be your God” cannot show that the formula is woven from the Name just declared in v. 2.
  • וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם wîḏa‘tem — “and you shall know” (yāḏa‘) — the same root as v. 3's “I was not known.” What the patriarchs did not fully know, this generation will know experimentally, by deliverance. The BSB's “then you will know” keeps the sense; the verbal tie to v. 3 is lost in English.
Word by word17 · parsed+
וְלָקַחְתִּ֨יwə·lā·qaḥ·tîI will takeH3947
√ lâqach — to take (in the widest variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
wəlāqaḥtî, “I will take” — the second of God's three great pledges (the adoption of Israel as His nation). K&D: this “took place at Sinai” (Exodus 19:5). Betrothal language: God weds a slave-people to Himself.
אֶתְכֶ֥ם’eṯ·ḵemyouH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markersecond person masculine plural
לִי֙as My own
Prepositionfirst person common singular
לְעָ֔םlə·‘āmpeopleH5971
√ ʻam — a people (as a congregated unit)Preposition-lNounmasculine singular
lə‘ām, “for a people” — paired with “for a God,” this is the bedrock covenant formula (“I will be your God and you shall be My people”), repeated through the prophets (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:28) and consummated at Revelation 21:3. Here it is first given to the nation.
וְהָיִ֥יתִיwə·hā·yî·ṯîand I will beH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
wəhāyîṯî, “and I will be” — from hāyāh, the being-verb of the Name. The God who simply is binds Himself to be-for a people: pure being placed at the service of covenant love.
לָכֶ֖םlā·ḵemyour
Prepositionsecond person masculine plural
לֵֽאלֹהִ֑יםlê·lō·hîmGodH430
√ ʼĕlôhîym — gods in the ordinary sensePreposition-lNounmasculine plural
וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗םwî·ḏa‘·temThen you will knowH3045
√ yâdaʻ — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectsecond person masculine plural
wîḏa‘tem, “you shall know” — the goal of redemption is knowledge of God, not merely freedom from Egypt. Matthew Henry: “He intended his own glory: Ye shall know that I am the Lord.”
כִּ֣יthatH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
אֲנִ֤י’ă·nîIH589
√ ʼănîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
יְהוָה֙Yah·weham the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵemyour GodH430
√ ʼĕlôhîym — gods in the ordinary senseNounmasculine plural constructsecond person masculine plural
הַמּוֹצִ֣יאham·mō·w·ṣîwho broughtH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximArticleVerbHifilParticiplemasculine singular
אֶתְכֶ֔ם’eṯ·ḵemyouH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markersecond person masculine plural
מִתַּ֖חַתmit·ta·ḥaṯout from underH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition-m
סִבְל֥וֹתsiḇ·lō·wṯthe yokeH5450
√ çᵉbâlâh — porterageNounfeminine plural construct
מִצְרָֽיִם׃miṣ·rā·yimof the EgyptiansH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
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The selection of Israel as a “peculiar people” did not involve the abandonment of all other nations, as we see by the instances of Balaam, Ruth, Job, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius the Mede, Cyrus, and others. God always continued to “govern all the nations upon the earth”
God intended their happiness: I will take you to me for a people, a peculiar people, and I will be to you a God. More than this we need not ask, we cannot have, to make us happy. He intended his own glory: Ye shall know that I am the Lord.
I will take you to me for a people — A peculiar people; and I will be to you a God — And more than this we need not ask, we cannot have, to make us happy.
8“And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abrah…”+

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!’”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·hê·ḇê·ṯî ’eṯ·ḵem ’el- hā·’ā·reṣ ’ă·šer nā·śā·ṯî ’eṯ- yā·ḏî lā·ṯêṯ ’ō·ṯāh lə·’aḇ·rā·hām lə·yiṣ·ḥāq ū·lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ wə·nā·ṯat·tî ’ō·ṯāh lā·ḵem mō·w·rā·šāh ’ă·nî Yah·weh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-I-will-bring you to the-land that I-lifted My-hand to-give it to-Abraham, to-Isaac, and-to-Jacob; and-I-will-give it to-you-as-a-possession. I am YHWH.”

Where the English smooths the original

  • נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ nāśā’ṯî yāḏî — literally “I lifted up My hand,” the gesture of swearing an oath (Cambridge: “derived from the custom of raising the hand to heaven”). The BSB's “I swore” correctly interprets the idiom but erases the vivid anthropomorphism: God raising His own hand to give the land, the hand that also strikes Egypt.
  • מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה môwrāšāh — “possession / heritage,” a rare word (only 9 verses). It is not the usual naḥălāh for inheritance; it recurs in Deuteronomy 33:4 (the Torah as Jacob's môwrāšāh) and repeatedly in Ezekiel. The BSB's “possession” is right; the unusual term ties this verse lexically to those few others.
  • אֲנִ֥י The verse, and the whole oration, seals with ’ănî YHWH — “I (am) YHWH.” Ellicott: “The whole is one sentence,” the Name standing as the guarantee — “as being Immutable and Eternal, He would assuredly give it them.” The BSB's exclamation point supplies emphasis the bare Hebrew carries by mere placement.
Word by word19 · parsed+
וְהֵבֵאתִ֤יwə·hê·ḇê·ṯîAnd I will bringH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbHifilConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
אֶתְכֶם֙’eṯ·ḵemyouH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markersecond person masculine plural
אֶל־’el-intoH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
הָאָ֔רֶץhā·’ā·reṣthe landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)ArticleNounfeminine singular
אֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šerthatH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙nā·śā·ṯîI sworeH5375
√ nâsâʼ — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relativeVerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
nāśā’ṯî, “I lifted (My hand)” — the oath-gesture (cf. Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:40). K&D: “these words point back to Genesis 22:16,” the oath sworn to Abraham after the binding of Isaac. The conquest rests on an oath, not on Israel's strength.
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
יָדִ֔יyā·ḏîH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcNounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
לָתֵ֣תlā·ṯêṯto giveH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcPreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
אֹתָ֔הּ’ō·ṯāhH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person feminine singular
לְאַבְרָהָ֥םlə·’aḇ·rā·hāmto AbrahamH85
√ ʼAbrâhâm — Abraham, the later name of AbramPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
לְיִצְחָ֖קlə·yiṣ·ḥāqIsaacH3327
√ Yitschâq — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of AbrahamPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֑בū·lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇand JacobH3290
√ Yaʻăqôb — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarchConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
וְנָתַתִּ֨יwə·nā·ṯat·tîI will giveH5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectfirst person common singular
wənāṯattî, “I will give” — the giving-verb (nāṯan) framing the inheritance, the third of God's pledges (guidance into the promised land). Gift bracketed by oath: sworn (v. 5) and given (v. 13).
אֹתָ֥הּ’ō·ṯāhitH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person feminine singular
לָכֶ֛םlā·ḵemto you
Prepositionsecond person masculine plural
מוֹרָשָׁ֖הmō·w·rā·šāhas a possessionH4181
√ môwrâshâh — a possessionNounfeminine singular
môwrāšāh, “possession” — the rare heritage-word. In Deuteronomy 33:4 it names the Torah as Israel's inheritance; here it names the land. The cross-reference rests on this shared rare lexeme.
אֲנִ֥י’ă·nîIH589
√ ʼănîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
יְהוָֽה׃Yah·weham the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
YHWH — the oration's closing seal. K&D: the promise “concludes at Exodus 6:8, with the emphatic expression, ‘I Jehovah,’ to show that the work of Israel's redemption resided in the power of the name Jehovah.”
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lifted up my hand ] i.e. sware ; the expression being derived from the custom of raising the hand to heaven when taking an oath.
The whole is one sentence, and implies that, as being Immutable and Eternal, He would assuredly give it them.
I am the Lord; whose counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; whose promises are yea and amen; whose gifts and calling are without repentance; and who is able also to perform whatever he has said he will do.
God's faithfulness is pledged to the performance of the terms of the covenant on his part. I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord. Rather, "I will give it you for an heritage, I the Lord" (or "I Jehovah," or "I the Eternal One"). "You have the pledge of my Eternity and Immutability that it shall be yours."
9“Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of …”+

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

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mō·šeh way·ḏab·bêr kên ’el- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl miq·qō·ṣer rū·aḥ qā·šāh ū·mê·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh wə·lō šā·mə·‘ū ’el- mō·šeh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-spoke Moses thus to the-sons-of-Israel; but-they-did-not listen to Moses, from-shortness of-spirit and-from-hard bondage.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מִקֹּ֣צֶר miqqōṣer rûaḥ — literally “from shortness of spirit / breath.” Ellicott glosses it “shortness of breath”; K&D: “inward pressure, which prevents a man from breathing properly.” The BSB's “broken spirit” is an interpretation; the Hebrew image is of a person too crushed and breathless to take in hope.
  • ר֔וּחַ rûaḥ — “spirit / breath / wind,” the same word as the Spirit of God hovering at creation. Here it is the human rûaḥ collapsed: the people's very breath is too short for faith. The BSB folds it into “broken spirit,” losing the breath-imagery the commentators stress.
  • שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ šāmə‘û — “they (did not) listen” (šāma‘), the same verb God used in v. 5 (“I have heard”). The tragic counterpoint: God hears Israel's groaning, but Israel cannot hear God's promise. “Listen” is right; the verbal echo with v. 5 is the irony English cannot mark.
Word by word14 · parsed+
מֹשֶׁ֛הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רway·ḏab·bêrrelayedH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
כֵּ֖ןkênthis [message]H3651
√ kên — properly, set uprightAdverb
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêthe IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
מִקֹּ֣צֶרmiq·qō·ṣerbut on account of their brokenH7115
√ qôtser — shortness (of spirit), iPreposition-mNounmasculine singular construct
miqqōṣer, “from shortness (of spirit)” — the crux of the verse. Cambridge: not impatience but a spirit so spent that “promises of deliverance had no meaning for them.” The contrast with Exodus 4:31, where the people believed, is deliberate and stark.
ר֔וּחַrū·aḥspiritH7307
√ rûwach — windNouncommon singular
rûaḥ, “spirit / breath” — crushed breath, not yet broken faith only; the same root that names God's life-giving Spirit. Slavery had emptied them of the very breath by which one hopes.
קָשָֽׁה׃פqā·šāhand cruelH7186
√ qâsheh — severe (in various applications)Adjectivefeminine singular
qāšāh, “hard / cruel” (bondage) — the same “hard service” of Exodus 1:14. Body and spirit are both crushed: hard labor without and short breath within.
וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖הū·mê·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāhbondageH5656
√ ʻăbôdâh — work of any kindConjunctive waw, Preposition-mNounfeminine singular
וְלֹ֤אwə·lōthey did notH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absConjunctive wawAdverbNegative particle
שָֽׁמְעוּ֙šā·mə·‘ūlistenH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
šāmə‘û, “they listened” (negated) — the hinge irony: the verb of God's hearing in v. 5 now describes Israel's failure to hear. Faith deferred had soured into deafness. The Geneva Bible's gloss: “So hard a thing it is to show true obedience under the cross.”
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šeh[him]H4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
The first announcement of coming deliverance elated them with a hope to which they had been long strangers. Their spirits sprang to the message, and readily accepted it. But now they had been chilled by disappointment. The only result of their leader’s interference hitherto had been to increase their misery
So hard a thing it is to show true obedience under the cross.
Their minds were so oppressed with their present burdens and future expectations, that they could not believe nor hope for any deliverance, but deemed it impossible; and having been once deceived in their hopes, they now quite despaired
but from anguish, inward pressure, which prevents a man from breathing properly. Thus the early belief of the Israelites was changed into the despondency of unbelief through the increase of their oppression.
10“So the LORD said to Moses,”+

10So the LORD said to Moses,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh way·ḏab·bêr ’el- mō·šeh lê·mōr

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-spoke YHWH to Moses, saying:

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר wayḏabbēr — the formal speech-verb dābar (“spoke”), as in v. 2, not the lighter ’āmar. The BSB's “said” levels both; the Hebrew marks this as a fresh, authoritative commission opening, parallel to the oration's start.
  • לֵּאמֹֽר lēmōr — “saying,” the infinitive that conventionally introduces direct speech. The BSB drops it (rendering only “said to Moses,”), as English idiom requires; in Hebrew it leaves the verse hanging open, throwing the door to the command of v. 11.
Word by word5 · parsed+
יְהוָ֖הYah·wehSo the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רway·ḏab·bêrsaidH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
wayḏabbēr, “and He spoke” — the renewal of the divine word after Israel's refusal (v. 9). God does not abandon the mission when the people will not listen; He turns Moses toward Pharaoh.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
לֵּאמֹֽר׃lê·mōr. . .H559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
lēmōr, “saying” — the standard speech-opener; the verse is a hinge, almost a stage-direction, propelling the narrative from the failed message to Israel into the renewed command to confront Pharaoh.
The Voices✦ public domain+
When Moses repeats his baffled arguments, he is argued with no longer, but God gives him and Aaron a charge, both to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh. God's authority is sufficient to answer all objections, and binds all to obey, without murmuring or disputing
Henry's note spans vv. 10-13; cited here for the renewed-command frame this verse opens.
And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... At another time, and renewed his orders to him to go again to Pharaoh, and require their dismission
11““Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out …”+

11“Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

bō ḏab·bêr ’el- par·‘ōh me·leḵ miṣ·rā·yim bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl wî·šal·laḥ ’eṯ- mê·’ar·ṣōw

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“Go in, speak to Pharaoh king-of Egypt, that-he-send-out the-sons-of-Israel from-his-land.”

Where the English smooths the original

  • בֹּ֣א bō’ — a bare imperative, “Go in! / Come!” The BSB's “Go and tell” smooths two clipped commands (bō’ dabbēr, “go-in, speak”) into a single coordinated phrase, softening their abruptness.
  • וִֽישַׁלַּ֥ח wîšallaḥ — “that he send out” (Piel of šālaḥ), the same release-verb promised of Pharaoh in v. 1. The demand now matches the prophecy word-for-word. The BSB's “to let the Israelites go out” is correct; the Hebrew makes Moses' demand the literal echo of God's promise.
  • מֵאַרְצֽוֹ mê’arṣōw — “out of his land.” Barnes: the demand has advanced — no longer a three-days' journey (3:18) but departure “from the land.” The single possessive suffix carries the escalation the BSB renders plainly but easily passed over.
Word by word11 · parsed+
בֹּ֣אGoH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbQalImperativemasculine singular
bō’, “go in!” — the imperative that turns Moses from the despairing people to the throne of Egypt. Benson: “God repeats his precepts before he begins his punishments.”
דַבֵּ֔רḏab·bêrand tellH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeVerbPielImperativemasculine singular
אֶל־’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
פַּרְעֹ֖הpar·‘ōhPharaohH6547
√ Parʻôh — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kingsNounpropermasculine singular
מֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵkingH4428
√ melek — a kingNounmasculine singular construct
מִצְרָ֑יִםmiṣ·rā·yimof EgyptH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-to let the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
וִֽישַׁלַּ֥חwî·šal·laḥgo outH7971
√ shâlach — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbPielConjunctive imperfectthird person masculine singular
wîšallaḥ, “let (him) send out” — the demand verbatim fulfills the promise of v. 1 (“he will send them away”). The escalation Ellicott marks: the first message asked leave for a wilderness feast; this asks full release “out of the land.”
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃mê·’ar·ṣōwof his landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Preposition-mNounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
The second message was an advance upon the first. The first asked only for permission to enter the wilderness, much of which was within the limits of Egypt; the second was a demand that the Israelites should be allowed “to go out of the land.” Such is the way of Providence generally. If we refuse a light cross, a heavier cross is laid on us.
God repeats his precepts before he begins his punishments. Those that have oft been called in vain to leave their sins, yet must be called again and again.
Go out of his land - Moses is now bidden to demand not a permission for a three days' journey ( Exodus 3:18 note), which might be within the boundaries of Egypt, but for departure from the land.
12“But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites wil…”+

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?”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh lê·mōr lip̄·nê mō·šeh way·ḏab·bêr hên bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl lō- šā·mə·‘ū ’ê·lay wə·’êḵ p̄ar·‘ōh yiš·mā·‘ê·nî wa·’ă·nî ‘ă·ral śə·p̄ā·ṯā·yim

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-spoke Moses before YHWH, saying: “Behold, the-sons-of-Israel have-not listened to-me; and-how shall-Pharaoh listen to-me, and-I am-uncircumcised of-lips?”

Where the English smooths the original

  • הֵ֤ן hēn — “Behold! / If!” a demonstrative interjection. The BSB's “If the Israelites will not listen” turns it into a conditional; the Hebrew is rather a pointing-out of accomplished fact — look, they have not listened — making Moses' inference about Pharaoh sharper.
  • שָׁמְע֣וּ šāmə‘û … yišmā‘ēnî — Moses argues from the lesser to the greater with the same verb šāma‘ (“listen”) used twice: if Israel did not listen, how will Pharaoh listen? The BSB keeps both “listen,” preserving the qal-vahomer (a-fortiori) logic that the repeated root drives.
  • עֲרַ֥ל ‘ăral śəpāṯāyim — literally “uncircumcised of lips.” The BSB's “unskilled in speech” is an interpretation. Barnes: as “uncircumcised ear” cannot hear and “uncircumcised heart” cannot understand, so uncircumcised lips “cannot speak fluently.” The bodily metaphor — lips, as it were, covered with a foreskin (K&D) — is wholly lost in “unskilled.”
Word by word17 · parsed+
יְהוָ֖הYah·wehBut in the LORD’sH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
לֵאמֹ֑רlê·mōr. . .H559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
לִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nêpresenceH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
lip̄nê, “before (the face of)” — Moses speaks before the LORD, in His very presence; the objection is not muttered but raised to God's face, as Moses' way is (cf. 3:11; 4:10).
מֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
וַיְדַבֵּ֣רway·ḏab·bêrrepliedH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
הֵ֤ןhênIfH2005
√ hên — lo!Interjection
בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
לֹֽא־lō-will notH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
שָׁמְע֣וּšā·mə·‘ūlistenH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
šāmə‘û, “they listened” — picks up the failure of v. 9 and turns it into an argument. Moses' logic is sound but faithless: he measures Pharaoh by Israel and forgets that God's word, not human persuasion, carries the day.
אֵלַ֔י’ê·layto meH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPrepositionfirst person common singular
וְאֵיךְ֙wə·’êḵthen whyH349
√ ʼêyk — how? or how!Conjunctive wawInterjection
פַרְעֹ֔הp̄ar·‘ōhwould PharaohH6547
√ Parʻôh — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kingsNounpropermasculine singular
יִשְׁמָעֵ֣נִיyiš·mā·‘ê·nîlisten to meH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcVerbQalImperfectthird person masculine singularfirst person common singular
וַאֲנִ֖יwa·’ă·nîsince IH589
√ ʼănîy — IConjunctive wawPronounfirst person common singular
עֲרַ֥ל‘ă·ralam unskilledH6189
√ ʻârêl — uncircumcised (iAdjectivemasculine singular construct
‘ăral, “uncircumcised” (of lips) — a striking idiom. Geneva: “by this word (uncircumcised) is signified the whole corruption of man's nature.” Poole calls it a defect that “renders men profane, contemptible, and unfit.” It is the same complaint as 4:10 (“slow of speech”), now in covenantal dress — and a “great weakness of faith” (Poole).
שְׂפָתָֽיִם׃פśə·p̄ā·ṯā·yimin speechH8193
√ sâphâh — the lip (as a natural boundary)Nounfd
The Voices✦ public domain+
Uncircumcised lips - An uncircumcised ear is one that does not hear clearly; an uncircumcised heart one slow to receive and understand warnings; uncircumcised lips, such as cannot speak fluently. The recurrence of the hesitation of Moses is natural; great as was the former trial this was far more severe; yet his words always imply fear of failure, not of personal danger
So here it notes Moses’s inability to clothe God’s commands in such words as might prevail with Pharaoh. But this was a great weakness of faith, as if God could not effect his purpose, because the instrument was unfit.
“Uncircumcised” is used, according to the Hebrew idiom, for any imperfection which interferes with efficiency. An “uncircumcised ear,” is explained in Jeremiah 6 to be an ear that “cannot hearken;”
13“Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge co…”+

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.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh way·ḏab·bêr ’el- mō·šeh ’a·hă·rōn way·ṣaw·wêm ’el- wə·’el- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl wə·’el- par·‘ōh me·leḵ miṣ·rā·yim lə·hō·w·ṣî bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ’eṯ- mê·’e·reṣ miṣ·rā·yim

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-spoke YHWH to Moses and-to-Aaron, and-charged them concerning the-sons-of-Israel and-concerning Pharaoh king-of Egypt, to-bring-out the-sons-of-Israel from-the-land of-Egypt.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיְצַוֵּם֙ wayṣawwēm — “and He charged / commanded them” (tsāvāh, the verb of issuing binding orders). The BSB's “gave them a charge” is faithful; the Hebrew is a single emphatic verb with the plural suffix — both brothers, under one command, in answer to Moses' objection that went un-rebutted.
  • אַהֲרֹן֒ ’ahărōn — Aaron now stands beside Moses. Cambridge: the verse “comes in abruptly; for Aaron has not in this connexion been mentioned before.” The BSB reads smoothly; the Hebrew's abruptness is a clue (per the commentators) that v. 13 introduces the genealogy that follows.
  • לְהוֹצִ֥יא ləhôṣî’ — “to bring out,” the Hifil infinitive of yāṣā’, the unit's keynote release-verb (vv. 6, 7). The whole commission is summed in one word: the charge is, simply, the Exodus. The BSB renders it well; note that it closes the unit on the same verb that opened God's promise of redemption.
Word by word20 · parsed+
יְהוָה֮Yah·wehThen the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
וַיְדַבֵּ֣רway·ḏab·bêrspokeH1696
√ dâbar — perhaps properly, to arrangeConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מֹשֶׁ֣הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
אַהֲרֹן֒’a·hă·rōnand AaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
’ahărōn, Aaron — joined to Moses for the first time in this commission. Moses' objection (v. 12) is not answered with argument but with a charge to both brothers; the answer proper comes at Exodus 7:1.
וַיְצַוֵּם֙way·ṣaw·wêmand gave them a chargeH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinConjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singularthird person masculine plural
wayṣawwēm, “and He charged them” — God's authority overrides Moses' self-doubt. Henry: “God's authority is sufficient to answer all objections, and binds all to obey, without murmuring or disputing.”
אֶל־’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
וְאֶֽל־wə·’el-concerningH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongConjunctive wawPreposition
בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêboth the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
וְאֶל־wə·’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongConjunctive wawPreposition
פַּרְעֹ֖הpar·‘ōhand PharaohH6547
√ Parʻôh — Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kingsNounpropermasculine singular
מֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵkingH4428
√ melek — a kingNounmasculine singular construct
מִצְרָ֑יִםmiṣ·rā·yimof EgyptH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
לְהוֹצִ֥יאlə·hō·w·ṣîto bringH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximPreposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
ləhôṣî’, “to bring out” — the unit's final word reprises the first redemption-verb of v. 6 (wəhôṣêṯî). The commission is the Exodus in a single infinitive; the narrative now pauses (vv. 14-27) to record the genealogy of the two charged with it.
בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
מֵאֶ֥רֶץmê·’e·reṣout of the landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Preposition-mNounfeminine singular construct
מִצְרָֽיִם׃סmiṣ·rā·yimof EgyptH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
All the preliminaries were over - the action of the Exodus itself was about to begin. A dramatist would have made Acts 1 . end and Acts 2 commence. A poet would have begun a new canto. In the imperfect bibliography of the time, it was thought best to make a division by a parenthetic insertion.
The Pulpit Commentary's “Acts” here means stage-acts of a drama, not the New Testament book.
The reluctance and opposition of Moses led to an express “charge” being laid upon himself and Aaron, the details of which are given in Exodus 7:1-9 .
Unto Moses and unto Aaron - The final and formal charge to the two brothers is given, as might be expected, before the plagues are denounced. With this verse begins a new section of the history.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

Grand Commentary — the unit, read wholesynthesis · verify+

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. “Now shalt thou see” — the answer to a complaint — 6:1

The unit opens not with serene revelation but as a reply to Moses' bitter charge that God had been “slack concerning His promise.” Charles Ellicott frames it exactly: “Moses' complaint was that God delayed… The answer, ‘Now shalt thou see,’ is an assurance that there will be no more delay.” The single Hebrew word ‘attāh (“now”) does the work; the Pulpit Commentary hears “encouragement in the very word ‘now.’” Keil & Delitzsch note that Moses gets no direct answer to his “Why hast Thou so evil-entreated this people?” — he must learn it “from his own experience,” for “what I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter” (their citation of John 13:7). The doubled ḥăzāqāh / yāḏ, “strong hand,” is God's, not Pharaoh's (so the Pulpit, Cambridge, Gill, K&D alike); and the closing yəḡārəšêm, “drive them out,” will be fulfilled verbatim when Egypt itself thrusts Israel away (Exodus 12:33).

ii. “I am YHWH” — the Name and the patriarchs — 6:2–3

The narrator shifts from ’āmar (“said,” v. 1) to the weighty dābar (“spoke,” v. 2), and God begins the oration with two bare words: ’ănî YHWH. Joseph Benson insists “the emphasis is laid” on this name, “the sense of which entirely depends on the word” — “the fountain of being… and of infinite perfection.” Then comes the unit's famous crux (v. 3): God appeared to the fathers “as ’ēl šadday,” but by His name YHWH “was I not made known to them.” The voices do not agree, and the FSSB does not pretend they do. Matthew Poole answers that God “speaks not of the letters or syllables, but of the thing signified by that name,” known to the patriarchs only “darkly and imperfectly” (citing Hebrews 11:13). Jamieson, Fausset & Brown press the interrogative reading — “by My name Jehovah was I not known to them?” Albert Barnes simply pleads to keep “El Shaddai” untranslated as “a proper name.” The shared rare lexeme šadday binds this verse to Genesis 17:1, where the name was first given (per Ellicott and K&D).

iii. The covenant remembered — oath, groaning, and the four pledges — 6:4–8

The body of the oration is one long act of covenant memory. God hăqimōṯî (“established,” Hifil of qûm) His covenant — the Cambridge Bible marks the priestly idiom, “‘set up,’ ‘concluded,’ not ‘gave effect to.’” The fathers held the land only as məḡurêhem, “their sojournings,” dwelling “merely by sufferance” (Ellicott), “strangers in it, as their posterity now did in another land” (John Gill, citing Hebrews 11:9). Then v. 5 recalls the rare cry-word na’ăqaṯ (“groaning,” 4 occurrences) and wā’ezkōr (“I remembered”) in near-verbatim recall of Exodus 2:24 — a verbal link the Verifier confirms (shared nᵉ’āqāh, zākar, bᵉrîyth). On this ground come the great pledges of vv. 6–8, which K&D parses into three: deliverance (“bring out / deliver / redeem”), adoption (“I will take you to Me for a people”), and inheritance (“I will bring you to the land”). Ellicott notes that “the idea of God… redeeming Israel is here brought forward for the first time” — the kinsman-redeemer verb gā’al. Barnes and the Pulpit Commentary both observe that the “stretched-out arm” would strike a people who knew “the hieroglyphic which represents might by two outstretched arms.” The whole closes (v. 8) where it began, with ’ănî YHWH — the Name as the guarantee that, “as being Immutable and Eternal, He would assuredly give it them” (Ellicott).

iv. Breath too short to hope — and a charge that overrides doubt — 6:9–13

The most comfortable words in the chapter fall on deaf ears. The people “did not listen… miqqōṣer rûaḥ,” which K&D renders “from anguish, inward pressure, which prevents a man from breathing properly,” so that “the early belief of the Israelites was changed into the despondency of unbelief.” Poole: “having been once deceived in their hopes, they now quite despaired.” The Geneva Bible's margin distills it: “So hard a thing it is to show true obedience under the cross.” The same despair infects Moses (v. 12): if Israel did not šāma‘ (“listen”), how shall Pharaoh? — and he is ‘ăral śəpāṯāyim, “uncircumcised of lips,” which Barnes ranges beside the uncircumcised ear and heart, and Poole judges “a great weakness of faith, as if God could not effect his purpose, because the instrument was unfit.” God answers not with argument but with authority: He wayṣawwēm, “charged them” (v. 13). Matthew Henry: “God's authority is sufficient to answer all objections, and binds all to obey, without murmuring or disputing.” The unit ends on its keynote verb, ləhôṣî’, “to bring out” — the Exodus in a single infinitive.

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

A fallible reading, offered to be tested against the text. The architecture of Exodus 6:1–9 is a deliberate frame: it is bracketed by the divine self-naming — “I am YHWH” opens (v. 2) and seals (v. 8) the oration — and everything between is what that Name does. The Name is not bare metaphysics; it is built from the being-verb hāyāh (v. 7's “I will be to you for a God” is the same root as ’ehyeh, “I AM,” Exodus 3:14). So the God who simply is binds His own being to a band of brick-makers: pure existence placed at the service of covenant love. And note the cruel symmetry the Hebrew presses with the verb šāma‘ (“hear/listen”): God hears the groaning (v. 5), but the people will not hear the promise (v. 9), nor will Pharaoh hear Moses (v. 12). The barrier to redemption is never God's reluctance — He has heard, remembered, sworn — but a creaturely deafness born of crushed breath (qōṣer rûaḥ) and uncircumcised lips. The chapter therefore quietly teaches that deliverance does not wait on Israel's faith to be adequate; it proceeds on the strength of the Name alone. That is grace before the people could receive it — the gospel-shape of the Exodus. This is the tool's synthesis, not Scripture; weigh it.

The God who simply IS bound His own being to a band of brick-makers — redemption moves on the strength of the Name, not the adequacy of Israel's faith.

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripturecross-refs · verify+

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

“And God remembered His covenant” — the groaning heard twice verbal / quotation — confirmed

Exodus 6:5 is a near-verbatim recall of Exodus 2:24. Both verses pair the rare cry-word nᵉ’āqāh (“groaning,” found in only 4 verses of the whole Hebrew Bible) with zākar (“remember”) and bᵉrîyth (“covenant”). K&D explicitly calls v. 5 “a repetition of Exodus 2:24.” The Verifier confirms all three lexemes are shared; the rarity of nᵉ’āqāh makes this a verbal quotation, not a generic theme.

Exodus 2:24

basis: shared lexemes: H5009 nᵉʼâqâh (RARE — in only 4 vv), H2142 zâkar, H1285 bᵉrîyth, H8085 shâmaʻ (Verifier: Exodus 6:5 ↔ Exodus 2:24)

The groaning that raises a deliverer verbal / quotation — confirmed

The same rare verb nᵉ’āqāh (“groaning”) recurs in Judges 2:18, where “the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning” and raised up judges to save Israel. The verbal tie binds the Exodus pattern to the cycle of the judges: Israel's inarticulate cry is the trigger of divine rescue across the canon. The link is lexical (the 4-occurrence word), though the contexts differ — Egypt vs. the Canaanite oppressors — so the FSSB records the shared-word basis without claiming literary dependence.

Judges 2:18

basis: shared lexeme: H5009 nᵉʼâqâh (RARE — in only 4 vv) (Verifier: Exodus 6:5 ↔ Judges 2:18)

The land as môrâshâh — a rare word for a sworn inheritance verbal / quotation — confirmed

Exodus 6:8 calls the promised land a môwrāšāh (“possession / heritage”) — not the usual naḥălāh but a rare term in only 9 verses. It reappears in Deuteronomy 33:4, where the Torah is “the inheritance (môwrāšāh) of the assembly of Jacob.” The same rare word links land and law as twin heritages of Israel; both verses also share the name Yaʻăqôb (Jacob). The Verifier reports this as a verbal link on the strength of the rare môwrāšāh.

Deuteronomy 33:4

basis: shared lexemes: H4181 môwrâshâh (RARE — in only 9 vv), H3290 Yaʻăqôb (Verifier: Exodus 6:8 ↔ Deuteronomy 33:4)

“I am El Shaddai” — the name first given to Abraham structural / thematic — confirmed

Exodus 6:3 looks back to Genesis 17:1, the moment God revealed Himself to Abraham: “I am El Shaddai.” Both verses share the rare divine name Shadday (in only 48 vv) together with ’ēl (“God”) and rā’āh (“appear/see”) — the very verb of Exodus 6:3's “I appeared.” Ellicott and K&D both name Genesis 17:1 as the source-text. The Verifier classes the link as structural/thematic on its shared-lexeme count; the FSSB notes that the rarity of Shadday and the matching theophany-verb make it a strong near-verbal echo, and lets it stand at the structural tier rather than over-claiming quotation.

Genesis 17:1

basis: shared lexemes: H7706 Shadday (RARE divine name — in only 48 vv), H410 ʼêl, H7200 râʼâh (“appear”) (Verifier: Exodus 6:3 ↔ Genesis 17:1)

“I have redeemed you” — the kinsman-Redeemer of the Exile structural / thematic — confirmed

Exodus 6:6's gā’al (“redeem,” the next-of-kin's word) is the seed of Isaiah's gospel of the Redeemer: “Fear not, for I have redeemed (gā’al) you… you are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). The same verb runs the same logic — God reclaiming His own as a kinsman reclaims lost family. The Verifier reports the shared lexeme gā’al; the link is thematic-structural (a shared redemption motif and verb), not a quotation, since Isaiah does not cite Exodus.

Isaiah 43:1

basis: shared lexeme: H1350 gâʼal (“redeem,” kinsman-redeemer) (Verifier: Exodus 6:6 ↔ Isaiah 43:1)

“The burdens of the Egyptians” — the release answers the affliction verbal / quotation — confirmed

Exodus 6:6–7's promise to bring Israel out “from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (sᵉbâlâh) is the verbal undoing of the chapters that began their misery. Exodus 1:11 first set taskmasters over them “to afflict them with their burdens (sᵉbâlâh)”; Exodus 5:4–5 has Pharaoh angrily ordering Moses to make the people leave off from their sᵉbâlâh. The burden-word is rare (sᵉbâlâh, in only 6 vv), so the Verifier scores 6:6 ↔ 1:11 and 6:6 ↔ 5:4 as verbal/quotation links: the very noun that named the slavery now names what God removes. The wider Pharaoh-and-now frame (6:1 ↔ 5:5, sharing Parʻôh and ʻattāh, “now”) is the looser structural setting; the FSSB does not inflate the 6:1 ↔ 1:11 tie, which shares only the common name Pharaoh, into a verbal one.

Exodus 1:11 · Exodus 5:4 · Exodus 5:5

basis: shared lexeme: H5450 çᵉbâlâh (RARE “burden” — in only 6 vv) (Verifier: Exodus 6:6 ↔ Exodus 1:11, and Exodus 6:6 ↔ Exodus 5:4, which also shares H4714 Mitsrayim). The looser 6:1 ↔ Exodus 5:5 frame is structural only (shared H6547 Parʻôh, H6258 ʻattâh); 6:1 ↔ Exodus 1:11 shares only H6547 Parʻôh and is not claimed as verbal.

“The land of their sojournings” — the patriarchs as resident aliens verbal / quotation — confirmed

Exodus 6:4 deeds Canaan to Israel as “the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned” (məḡurêhem, root mâgûwr). The noun is rare (mâgûwr, in only 10 vv) and is the same word Jacob uses before Pharaoh — “the years of my sojourning” (Genesis 47:9) — and the word of the Abrahamic land-grant, “the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham” (Genesis 28:4). The Verifier confirms the rare mâgûwr as the shared basis (and Genesis 28:4 also shares the giving-verb nâthan): the covenant promise of v. 4 is being quoted forward from the patriarchal narratives, where the fathers held the land only as strangers. Gill makes the point from Hebrews 11:9 — they “lived as pilgrims and strangers in it, as their posterity now did in another land not theirs.”

Genesis 28:4 · Genesis 47:9

basis: shared lexeme: H4033 mâgûwr (RARE “sojourning” — in only 10 vv) (Verifier: Exodus 6:4 ↔ Genesis 47:9; Exodus 6:4 ↔ Genesis 28:4, which also shares H5414 nâthan, “give”)

The outstretched arm that redeems — and that breaks Pharaoh's arms structural / thematic — confirmed

Exodus 6:6 promises redemption “with an outstretched arm” (zᵉrôwaʻ). The same word turns up, in chilling reversal, in Ezekiel 30:24, where the LORD says of Egypt's king, “I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon… but I will break Pharaoh's arms” — and that oracle is steeped in the rare cry-word of this very unit, nᵉ’āqāh (“groaning,” the wounded Pharaoh shall “groan before him”). The same divine arm that is stretched out to redeem Israel is the arm that breaks the oppressor; Israel's groaning that God heard (6:5) becomes Egypt's groaning under judgment. The Verifier reports the shared zᵉrôwaʻ (and, against Exodus 6:5, the rare nᵉ’āqāh); because the link is a shared motif and word rather than a quotation of Exodus, the FSSB tiers it structural/thematic.

Ezekiel 30:24

basis: shared lexeme: H2220 zᵉrôwaʻ (“arm”) (Verifier: Exodus 6:6 ↔ Ezekiel 30:24); Ezekiel 30:24 also shares the rare H5009 nᵉʼâqâh with Exodus 6:5 (Verifier: Exodus 6:5 ↔ Ezekiel 30:24)

Christ in the Unittypology · verify+

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The kinsman-Redeemer made flesh widely-held

Exodus 6:6 introduces, “for the first time” (Ellicott), the idea of God redeeming Israel — gā’al, the next-of-kin who buys back a relative's person and forfeited inheritance. The verb is irreducibly familial: redemption requires a kinsman. The New Testament reads the incarnation as God becoming that kinsman — “since the children share in flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity… that He might redeem” (Hebrews 2:14–15; cf. Galatians 4:4–5). The Exodus-redemption from Egypt is the historical type; the cross is its fulfillment, Christ “redeeming us from the curse” (Galatians 3:13). This is a cross-Testament reading (Hebrew gā’al ↔ Greek lytroō / agorazō): no shared Strong's number is possible, so the link is typological, not verbal — grounded in the shared kinsman-redeemer concept that the apostolic writers themselves apply.

Exodus 6:6 · Galatians 4:4-5 · Hebrews 2:14-15

“I will be your God, and you My people” — fulfilled in Immanuel widely-held

Exodus 6:7 first gives the nation the covenant formula — “I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you for a God” — built from hāyāh, the being-verb of the divine Name (v. 2). The formula runs the length of Scripture (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:28) and reaches its consummation in the New Testament: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man… they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16). The God who bound His being to slaves at the Exodus is the God who tabernacles among men in Christ (“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” John 1:14). Because this spans Hebrew and Greek, the FSSB tiers it typological/structural, not verbal: the apostolic writers themselves carry the formula forward, so the attestation is ancient and widely held.

Exodus 6:7 · 2 Corinthians 6:16 · Revelation 21:3

Greater than Moses — the Mediator who does not despair novel

Moses, charged to deliver, twice falters — “uncircumcised of lips,” measuring Pharaoh by Israel's deafness (6:12) — and the people's crushed breath (6:9) cannot receive the promise. The chapter exposes the inadequacy of every human mediator and even of the people's faith; redemption proceeds only on the strength of “I am YHWH.” The New Testament reads this as anticipating a Mediator who is “faithful… worthy of more glory than Moses” (Hebrews 3:3–6), whose lips were never uncircumcised (“never has a man spoken like this man,” John 7:46) and who does not falter before the powers. This is a typological reading by contrast — Moses' weakness throwing the perfect Mediator into relief — marked novel here in its precise framing, though the “greater than Moses” theme is itself ancient and explicit in Hebrews.

Exodus 6:12 · Hebrews 3:3-6

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

On the crux of 6:3. The statement that God was “not made known” to the patriarchs by the name YHWH visibly contradicts Genesis (15:7; 22:14; 28:13), where the name is used. The FSSB records the historic solutions — Poole's “thing signified, not the syllables,” the comparative reading (“known only darkly”), and JFB's interrogative (“was I not known?”) — as options held by the sources, not as a settled verdict. We take no position the parses do not support.

On “P” and source labels. Several cited voices (Cambridge Bible especially) tag verses with documentary-source sigla (J, E, P, H). The FSSB quotes their lexical and grammatical observations only; the source-critical framework is theirs, reported verbatim where it appears, not endorsed.

On cross-Testament threads. The Christ readings (redeemer; covenant formula; greater-than-Moses) connect Hebrew verses to Greek New Testament texts. Because Strong's numbering does not span the two languages, none of these can be tiered “verbal / quotation” on shared lexemes; they are tiered typological/structural, and rest on concept-level continuity that the apostolic writers themselves draw.

On the Verifier. Every Hebrew↔Hebrew thread badge here was produced by running verifier.py pair on the two references; the shared Strong's lexemes named in each basis are the Verifier's computed output, not the author's assertion. Where the Verifier returned “structural/thematic” (e.g. 6:3↔Genesis 17:1, on a rare but multiply-shared name), the FSSB has not upgraded the tier to “verbal,” preferring to under-claim. No thread in this unit is flagged for disputed provenance; the one genuinely contested point — the 6:3 name-crux — is handled in the verse notes and here, not by a thread.

= human, public-domain source, quoted and named. = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)