Exodus 6: "I am Yahweh", and the families of Moses and Aaron
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What happens?
Yahweh tells Moses, "I am Yahweh", and promises to bring Israel out of Egypt, but the people are too crushed to listen to Moses. Yahweh sends Moses to Pharaoh again, and Moses says he is no speaker. The chapter then lists the families of Reuben, Simeon and Levi, leading to Moses and Aaron.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. Yahweh speaks, and Moses answers him in verses 12 and 30. God's own words are in 11 of the 30 verses, and verse 26 quotes his earlier command. Verses 14 to 25 are a list of names. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. By a strong hand he will let them go, and by a strong hand he will drive them out of his land."
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2God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am Yahweh.God speaks
In plain English: God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am Yahweh.
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3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.God speaks
In plain English: I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I did not make myself known to them by my name Yahweh.
The Hebrew words: "God Almighty" is El Shaddai.
How it is translated: This Bible says "Almighty" for Shaddai in all 48 of its verses.
Good to know: Genesis already uses the name Yahweh, and Abram speaks to God with it in . This verse says God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, as in , but did not make himself known to them by the name Yahweh.
Church tradition: Churches explain this in different ways. Some teach that the three fathers knew the name but had not yet seen what it means. Exodus 6 does not say which explanation is right.
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4I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.God speaks
In plain English: I also made my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners (the land of their travels).
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5Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.God speaks
In plain English: Now I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians keep as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.
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6Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, 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 an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.God speaks
In plain English: So tell the Israelites, 'I am Yahweh. I will bring you out from under the heavy loads of the Egyptians. I will free you from their slavery. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
The Hebrew word: "Redeem" is gaal. It is what a close relative did for a family member in need: buy back his property or free him.
How it is translated: In its 84 verses this Bible says "redeem" about 7 times in 10, and "avenger" about 1 time in 7.
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7I will take you to myself for a people. I will be your God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.God speaks
In plain English: I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the heavy loads of the Egyptians.
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8I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.’”God speaks
In plain English: I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as your own. I am Yahweh.'"
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9Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn’t listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
In plain English: Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him, because of their anguish (literally: a short spirit or breath) and their cruel slavery.
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10Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,
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11“Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.”God speaks
In plain English: "Go in and speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he lets the Israelites go out of his land."
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12Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have uncircumcised lips?”
In plain English: Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, "The Israelites have not listened to me. How then will Pharaoh listen to me, when my lips are uncircumcised?"
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13Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a command for the Israelites and for Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.
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14These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.
In plain English: These are the heads of their fathers' families. The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben.
Good to know: This list of Jacob's sons' families stops after Levi, the third son. It goes on only with Levi's family, which leads to Aaron and Moses in .
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15The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.
In plain English: The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon.
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16These 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 one hundred thirty-seven years.
In plain English: These are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their generations (family lines): Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.
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17The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.
In plain English: The sons of Gershon, by their families: Libni and Shimei.
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18The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years.
In plain English: The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
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19The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
In plain English: The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
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20Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty-seven years.
In plain English: Amram married Jochebed, his father's sister (his aunt). She gave birth to Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
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21The sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
In plain English: The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
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22The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
In plain English: The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
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23Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
In plain English: Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon. She gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
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24The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.
In plain English: The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites.
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25Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families.
In plain English: Aaron's son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites, by their families.
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26These are that Aaron and Moses to whom Yahweh said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”God speaks
In plain English: These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom Yahweh said, "Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, division by division (literally: by their armies)."
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27These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.
In plain English: These are the men who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt: this Moses and this Aaron.
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28On the day when Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
In plain English: On the day when Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
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29Yahweh said to Moses, “I am Yahweh. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I tell you.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "I am Yahweh. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you."
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30Moses said before Yahweh, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?”
In plain English: Moses said before Yahweh, "I have uncircumcised lips, so how will Pharaoh listen to me?"
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