Exodus 6:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the Lord said to Moses, "I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you."

NIV: he said to him, "I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you."

NASB: that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'I am the Lord; say to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.'

CSB: he said to him, "I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I am telling you."

NLT: he said to him, 'I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.'

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

NKJV: that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.”

The important phrase, "I am the Lord," appears dozens of times in the Old Testament. The same God who spoke to Abraham (Genesis 15:7) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13) now spoke to Moses (Exodus 6:2, 6–8). Moses was not to be shy or cowardly but was commanded to relate everything which the Lord intend-ed.

Moses' comments about his "uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:30) may have meant he feared public speaking, or that he felt spiritually unworthy. Instead of confronting Pharaoh alone, God would use Aaron as a spokesman for Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 4:10–16; 7:1–7). God gave the calling and the way for Moses to fulfill God's calling. This is an example of the classic saying that where the Lord guides, He provides. God sends His people on missions for which He provides the power to accomplish.

Exodus 6:14–30 records the genealogies of Moses and his brother, Aaron. This supports that this is part of God's continuous plan to arrive at this very point in history. It also clarifies their status as members of the tribe of Levi. Along the way, God reiterates and re-establishes Moses' commission as His messenger. Moses is still wracked with self-doubt.

God responds to Moses, who struggles to understand recent events (Exodus 5:22–23). Pharaoh has retaliated against the Lord's message about Israel's freedom (Exodus 5:1–9). Here, the Lord repeats His predic-tion that Israel will be freed (Exodus 3:14–22). God's specific identity and relationship to Israel are key to this response. The Lord will fulfill His promises and take the Hebrews from Egypt into the Promised Land. The passage then rec-ords the genealogies of Moses and Aaron. Moses' commission from God is also repeated.

After centuries of enslavement (Exodus 1:11–14), God commissions Moses to be His representative in freeing Israel (Exodus 3:4–10). But when Moses delivers the Lord's message (Exodus 5:1–3), Pharaoh retaliates (Exodus 5:6–9). This leads to infighting (Exodus 5:20–21) and causes Moses to doubt (Exodus 5:22–23). After the Lord offers reassurances in this chapter, He will repeat an account of how the story will play out. Then God begins to bring plagues of judgment against Egypt (Exodus 7).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 4/8/2025 10:00:27 PM