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Exodus Chapter Study

God's Promise to Deliver Israel

Exodus 6 (KJV)

Exodus 6 shows God reassuring Moses, renewing His covenant promise, declaring “I am the LORD,” and confirming Moses and Aaron as His chosen servants.

What You'll Learn

• How God answered Moses after his discouragement
• Why God repeatedly declares, “I am the LORD”
• How God renews His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
• What it means that God would redeem Israel with an outstretched arm
• Why the Israelites struggled to listen because of anguish
• Why Moses doubted his ability to speak before Pharaoh
• How God confirmed Moses and Aaron's leadership
• Why the genealogy of Moses and Aaron matters
• What this chapter teaches about God's faithfulness
• How to trust God when His promises feel delayed

Exodus 6 teaches that God's covenant promises remain certain even when His people are discouraged, His servant feels weak, and deliverance has not yet appeared.

Bible Translation Note Scripture Verse-by-Verse Study Chapter Synopsis Prayer Personal Application Weekly Actions Chapter Summary

Bible Translation Note: All Scripture on this page is quoted from the King James Version (KJV) and presented in full without alteration.

Exodus 6:1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

Exodus 6:2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:

Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Exodus 6:4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

Exodus 6:5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Exodus 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Exodus 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Exodus 6:8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

Exodus 6:9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Exodus 6:10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exodus 6:11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus 6:12 And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

Exodus 6:13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 6:14 These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

Exodus 6:15 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.

Exodus 6:16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.

Exodus 6:17 The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.

Exodus 6:18 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.

Exodus 6:19 And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.

Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

Exodus 6:21 And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

Exodus 6:22 And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.

Exodus 6:23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Exodus 6:24 And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.

Exodus 6:25 And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

Exodus 6:26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.

Exodus 6:27 These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 6:28 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,

Exodus 6:29 That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.

Exodus 6:30 And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

Exodus 6:1

Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

Study: God answers Moses' discouragement with assurance. Pharaoh's resistance will not stop God's plan; it will become the stage where God's power is revealed.

Exodus 6:2

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:

Study: God begins by declaring who He is. Moses' confidence must rest not in circumstances, but in the character and authority of the Lord.

Exodus 6:3

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Study: God connects His work in Egypt to His revelation throughout Israel's history. The patriarchs knew God as Almighty, but now Israel will know Him through covenant deliverance.

Exodus 6:4

And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

Study: God's promise of deliverance is rooted in His covenant. Israel's future is not based on Pharaoh's permission, but on God's sworn promise.

Exodus 6:5

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Study: God hears the suffering of His people. To say He remembered His covenant means He is now acting in faithfulness to what He promised.

Exodus 6:6

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Study: God gives a chain of promises: He will bring them out, free them, redeem them, and judge Egypt. Deliverance belongs to the Lord from beginning to end.

Exodus 6:7

And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Study: God's purpose is not only rescue from slavery, but relationship. He will take Israel as His people and reveal Himself as their God.

Exodus 6:8

And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

Study: God promises not only to bring Israel out of Egypt, but to bring them into the land. Redemption has both rescue and inheritance in view.

Exodus 6:9

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Study: The people are too crushed by suffering to receive hope. Pain can make God's promises hard to hear, even when those promises are true.

Exodus 6:10

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Study: God continues speaking after Israel refuses to listen. Human discouragement does not silence God's purpose.

Exodus 6:11

Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Study: God sends Moses back to Pharaoh. The command remains the same because God's will has not changed.

Exodus 6:12

And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

Study: Moses focuses again on his weakness. If Israel will not listen, he wonders how Pharaoh ever will. Yet God's calling is not dependent on Moses' confidence.

Exodus 6:13

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Study: God gives Moses and Aaron a clear charge. They are appointed to speak both to Israel and Pharaoh, and God's purpose is to bring His people out.

Exodus 6:14

These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

Study: The genealogy begins by connecting the Exodus story to the sons of Israel. God works through real families and generations.

Exodus 6:15

And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.

Study: Simeon's family line is listed next. These records remind the reader that Israel is not an abstract nation but a covenant family.

Exodus 6:16

And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.

Study: The focus moves to Levi because Moses and Aaron come from this tribe. The deliverance story is now tied to their family line.

Exodus 6:17

The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.

Study: The descendants of Gershon are named. Scripture preserves the family structure of Israel as part of God's covenant history.

Exodus 6:18

And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.

Study: Kohath's line is important because Amram will become the father of Moses and Aaron. God is narrowing the genealogy toward His chosen leaders.

Exodus 6:19

And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.

Study: The families of Levi are summarized. This establishes Moses and Aaron within the covenant people rather than apart from them.

Exodus 6:20

And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

Study: Aaron and Moses are identified by name. Their leadership is not accidental; they are part of the family line God preserved for this moment.

Exodus 6:21

And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

Study: The family of Izhar is listed, including Korah. These names will matter later in Israel's wilderness story.

Exodus 6:22

And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.

Study: More descendants of Levi are recorded. The genealogy shows continuity and order within the people God is about to deliver.

Exodus 6:23

And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Study: Aaron's sons are named because his family will become central to Israel's priesthood. God's deliverance will lead to worship and covenant service.

Exodus 6:24

And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.

Study: The Korhites are identified as part of Levi's line. This again anchors future events in Israel's family history.

Exodus 6:25

And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

Study: The genealogy extends to Phinehas. Scripture is showing the priestly family line that will continue beyond the Exodus itself.

Exodus 6:26

These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.

Study: The genealogy points back to Aaron and Moses. These are the men God commanded to bring Israel out according to their armies.

Exodus 6:27

These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

Study: Moses and Aaron are again identified as God's appointed spokesmen. Their mission is to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out.

Exodus 6:28

And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,

Study: The narrative returns from the genealogy to God's direct command. The focus shifts back to Moses' calling in Egypt.

Exodus 6:29

That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.

Study: God repeats His identity and His command. Moses must speak all that God says, not more and not less.

Exodus 6:30

And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

Study: Moses still feels inadequate. The chapter ends with his weakness in view, setting up the next chapter where God again confirms His power and plan.

Exodus 6 begins with God answering Moses after his complaint at the end of Exodus 5. God tells Moses that he will now see what the Lord will do to Pharaoh. Pharaoh will not merely allow Israel to leave; he will eventually drive them out by the strong hand of God.

God then reminds Moses of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has heard Israel's groaning, remembered His covenant, and promises to bring His people out from under the burdens of Egypt.

The Lord promises to redeem Israel with a stretched out arm and great judgments. He will take them as His people, be their God, and bring them into the land He swore to give the patriarchs.

Moses speaks these words to the children of Israel, but they do not listen because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. Their suffering has become so heavy that hope is difficult for them to receive.

God commands Moses to return to Pharaoh, but Moses again questions his ability to speak. The chapter then records the genealogy of Moses and Aaron, confirming their place in Israel's family line and establishing their role as God's appointed leaders.

The chapter closes with Moses still feeling inadequate, asking how Pharaoh will listen to him. This prepares the way for God to demonstrate that the deliverance of Israel will rest on His power, not Moses' ability.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being faithful to Your promises even when I feel discouraged or weak. Help me trust Your covenant faithfulness when circumstances are hard to understand. Teach me to listen to Your Word even when my spirit is weary, and remind me that Your power is greater than my limitations. Strengthen my faith and help me walk forward in obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

• Read Exodus 6 again and underline every “I will” promise from God
• Memorize Exodus 6:6
• Write down one promise of God you need to remember this week
• Pray honestly about an area where discouragement has made it hard to listen
• Identify one weakness you have been using as a reason to hesitate
• Thank God for redeeming His people through His power
• Encourage someone who is struggling to believe God's promises

Exodus 6 records God's reassurance to Moses after Pharaoh increased Israel's suffering. God declares that He is the LORD, reminds Moses of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and promises to redeem Israel from Egyptian bondage. Moses speaks God's promise to the people, but they do not listen because of anguish and cruel bondage. God then commands Moses and Aaron to return to Pharaoh. The chapter includes the genealogy of Moses and Aaron, confirming their family line and their role as God's chosen servants. It ends with Moses again questioning his ability to speak, showing that Israel's deliverance will depend on God's power rather than human strength.

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