Exodus 6:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

NIV: Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

NASB: So Moses said this to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.

CSB: Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor.

NLT: So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

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

NKJV: So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

Moses communicated God's words (Exodus 6:2–8) which responded to Pharaoh's retaliation (Exodus 5:1–3, 15–19). But the people's bitterness remains (Exodus 5:20–21). After generations of op-pression (Exodus 1:11–14; 2:23), they were being even more cruelly treated. Whatever enthusiasm they had at first (Exodus 4:31) is gone. Pharaoh's rejection of God's command has shattered their hopes. This is described as a "broken spirit" (Proverbs 18:14), though the Hebrew term literally means "deficient in spirit." They were simply beaten down.

This spiritual weakness was the result of generations of brutal forced labor. The Bible refers to their experience as abōdāh' qāseh. The first term refers to labor, while the second means something severe, or grueling. Much of what we associate with the modern English term "slavery" comes from the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th—19th centuries, which itself reflects Isra-el's experience in Egypt. Most servants—or "slaves"—of the ancient world were not so cru-elly abused as the Israelites. Nor were they subject to lifelong, racial, inescapable imprisonment. The people were simply in no frame of mind to listen to Moses.

Yet the Lord is not finished. He will send Moses before Pharaoh once again (Exodus 6:10–11).

Exodus 6:1–13 is God's reassuring response to Moses' disappointment (Exodus 5:22–23). Phar-aoh retaliated against Israel rather than agreeing to their freedom (Exodus 5:6–9). Here, the Lord repeats that this is an expected part of the plan (Exodus 3:19–20). He re-identifies Himself and reminds Moses of His relationship with Israel's ancestors. Israel will be freed, and Egypt will be punished. God commands Moses to confront Pharaoh again, even though the Hebrew people are against it.

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.