Exoduschapter 6

30 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th or 13th century BC · The Law

In Jewish life

The reading

Weekly portion 13 of 54

שְׁמוֹת Shemot, Exodus 1:1 to 6:1

Read with it: Isaiah 27:6 to 28:13 and 29:22 to 29:23 in Ashkenazi use, and Jeremiah 1:1 to 2:3 in Sephardi use.

Weekly portion 14 of 54

וָאֵרָא Va'era, Exodus 6:2 to 9:35

Read with it: Ezekiel 28:25 to 29:21.

The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →

How it is read

Rashi opens this chapter on the answer Moses was given for his complaint at the end of chapter 5. God sets Abraham against him, as the man who was given a promise and then told to offer the son it rested on. Abraham "did not criticise My ways" (Rashi on Exodus 6:1:1). At verse 5 he reads the hearing of the groaning as the keeping of an oath already sworn at the covenant between the pieces (Rashi on Exodus 6:5:1). He treats Moses' argument in verse 12 as a formal one, calling it "one of the ten inferences from minor to major which are found in the Bible" (Rashi on Exodus 6:12:1). The genealogy is read for its dates. The years of Levi are given "in order to tell us how long the period of slavery lasted" (Rashi on Exodus 6:16:1). The text is the Rosenbaum and Silbermann Rashi of 1929 to 1934, in the public domain. Ibn Ezra comments at verses 7, 10 and 11, and the corpus carries those by reference alone.

What the rabbis say

The rabbis take up the promises of verses 6 and 7 at Bamidbar Rabbah 14:2 and Berakhot 38a:14. On the God who appeared to the fathers they taught in Bamidbar Rabbah 10:5 and Bereshit Rabbah 82:3. On the lifted hand of verse 8 they taught at Bava Batra 117b:3. The marriage of Aaron in verse 23 is taken up at Bava Batra 110a:2.

The text, verse by verse

Each word shows the Hebrew, the English under it, how it sounds and its Strong’s number. A rule between verses marks where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

I Will Redeem You with an Outstretched Arm

6:1

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָה֙YahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 עַתָּ֣הnowʾatahH6258 תִרְאֶ֔הyou will seetirehH7200 אֲשֶׁ֥ר[that] whichʾasherH834 אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖הI will doʾeesehH6213 לְפַרְעֹ֑הto PharaohlefarohH6547 כִּ֣יforkiH3588 בְיָ֤דby a handveyadH3027 חֲזָקָה֙strongchazakahH2389 יְשַׁלְּחֵ֔םhe will let go themyeshalechemH7971 וּבְיָ֣דand by a handuveyadH3027 חֲזָקָ֔הstrongchazakahH2389 יְגָרְשֵׁ֖םhe will drive out themyegareshemH1644 מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃from land hismeartzoH776

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 6:1

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

NOW SHALT THOU SEE. When I bring the plagues upon Egypt things will start getting better for Israel, as I. That is, I.E.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

6:2

וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokevaydaberH1696 אֱלֹהִ֖יםGodʾelohimH430 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֑הMosesmoshehH4872 וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 אֵלָ֖יוto himʾelavH413 אֲנִ֥יIʾaniH589 יְהוָֽה׃[am] YahwehyahwehH3068

6:3

וָאֵרָ֗אand I appearedvaera'H7200 אֶל־toʾel-H413 אַבְרָהָ֛םAbrahamʾavrahamH85 אֶל־toʾel-H413 יִצְחָ֥קIsaacyitzchakH3327 וְאֶֽל־and toveel-H413 יַעֲקֹ֖בJacobyaakoH3290 בְּאֵ֣ל<in> GodbeelH410 שַׁדָּ֑יAlmightyshadaiH7706 וּשְׁמִ֣יand name myushemiH8034 יְהוָ֔הYahwehyahwehH3068 לֹ֥אnotlo'H3808 נוֹדַ֖עְתִּיI made myself knownnoda'tiH3045לָהֶֽם׃to <the> themlahem

6:4

וְגַ֨םand alsovegamH1571 הֲקִמֹ֤תִיI establishedhakimotiH6965 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּרִיתִי֙covenant myberitiH1285 אִתָּ֔םwith themʾitamH854 לָתֵ֥תto givelatetH5414לָהֶ֖םto <the> themlahemאֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 אֶ֣רֶץ[the] land ofʾeretzH776 כְּנָ֑עַןCanaankenaanH3667 אֵ֛ת<obj.>ʾetH853 אֶ֥רֶץ[the] land ofʾeretzH776 מְגֻרֵיהֶ֖םsojournings theirmegureihemH4033 אֲשֶׁר־whichʾasher-H834 גָּ֥רוּthey sojournedgaruH1481בָֽהּ׃in <the> itvah

6:5

וְגַ֣ם׀and alsovegamH1571 אֲנִ֣יIʾaniH589 שָׁמַ֗עְתִּיI have heardshama'tiH8085 אֶֽת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 נַאֲקַת֙[the] groaning ofnaakatH5009 בְּנֵ֣י[the] people ofbeneiH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelyisraelH3478 אֲשֶׁ֥רwhomʾasherH834 מִצְרַ֖יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 מַעֲבִדִ֣ים[are] compelling to labormaavidimH5647 אֹתָ֑ם<obj.> themʾotamH853 וָאֶזְכֹּ֖רand I have rememberedvaezkorH2142 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּרִיתִֽי׃covenant myberitiH1285

6:6

לָכֵ֞ן<to> thereforelakhenH3651 אֱמֹ֥רsayʾemorH559 לִבְנֵֽי־to [the] people oflivnei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֘לIsraelyisraelH3478 אֲנִ֣יIʾaniH589 יְהוָה֒[am] YahwehyahwehH3068 וְהוֹצֵאתִ֣יand I will bring outvehotzetiH3318 אֶתְכֶ֗ם<obj.> youʾetkhemH853 מִתַּ֙חַת֙from undermitachatH8478 סִבְלֹ֣ת[the] forced labor ofsivlotH5450 מִצְרַ֔יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 וְהִצַּלְתִּ֥יand I will delivervehitzaltiH5337 אֶתְכֶ֖ם<obj.> youʾetkhemH853 מֵעֲבֹדָתָ֑םfrom labor theirmeavodatamH5656 וְגָאַלְתִּ֤יand I will redeemvegaaltiH1350 אֶתְכֶם֙<obj.> youʾetkhemH853 בִּזְר֣וֹעַby an armbizroa'H2220 נְטוּיָ֔הoutstretchednetuyahH5186 וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖יםand with acts of judgmentuvishfatimH8201 גְּדֹלִֽים׃greatgedolimH1419

6:7

וְלָקַחְתִּ֨יand I will takevelakachtiH3947 אֶתְכֶ֥ם<obj.> youʾetkhemH853לִי֙for <the> myselfliלְעָ֔םto a peopleleamH5971 וְהָיִ֥יתִיand I will becomevehayitiH1961לָכֶ֖םfor <the> youlakhemלֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים<into> GodlelohimH430 וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗םand you will knowvida'temH3045 כִּ֣יthatkiH3588 אֲנִ֤יIʾaniH589 יְהוָה֙[am] YahwehyahwehH3068 אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔םGod yourʾeloheikhemH430 הַמּוֹצִ֣יאwho brought outhamotzi'H3318 אֶתְכֶ֔ם<obj.> youʾetkhemH853 מִתַּ֖חַתfrom undermitachatH8478 סִבְל֥וֹת[the] forced labor ofsivlotH5450 מִצְרָֽיִם׃EgyptmitzrayimH4714

6:8

וְהֵבֵאתִ֤יand I will bringvehevetiH935 אֶתְכֶם֙<obj.> youʾetkhemH853 אֶל־intoʾel-H413 הָאָ֔רֶץthe landhaaretzH776 אֲשֶׁ֤רwhichʾasherH834 נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙I lifted upnasatiH5375 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 יָדִ֔יhand myyadiH3027 לָתֵ֣תto givelatetH5414 אֹתָ֔הּ<obj.> itʾotahH853 לְאַבְרָהָ֥םto AbrahamleavrahamH85 לְיִצְחָ֖קto IsaacleyitzchakH3327 וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֑בand to JacobuleyaakoH3290 וְנָתַתִּ֨יand I will givevenatatiH5414 אֹתָ֥הּ<obj.> itʾotahH853לָכֶ֛םto <the> youlakhemמוֹרָשָׁ֖הa possessionmorashahH4181 אֲנִ֥יIʾaniH589 יְהוָֽה׃[am] YahwehyahwehH3068

6:9

וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokevaydaberH1696 מֹשֶׁ֛הMosesmoshehH4872 כֵּ֖ןthuskenH3651 אֶל־toʾel-H413 בְּנֵ֣י[the] people ofbeneiH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelyisraelH3478 וְלֹ֤אand notvelo'H3808 שָֽׁמְעוּ֙they listenedshameuH8085 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 מִקֹּ֣צֶרfrom shortness ofmikotzerH7115 ר֔וּחַspiritruachH7307 וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖הand from laborumeavodahH5656 קָשָֽׁה׃hardkashahH7186

Moses Pleads Uncircumcised Lips

6:10

וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokevaydaberH1696 יְהוָ֖הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesmoshehH4872 לֵּאמֹֽר׃<to> sayinglemorH559

Ramban on Exodus 6:10

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

AND THE ETERNAL SPOKE UNTO MOSES ‘LEIMOR’ (SAYING). The commentators. R’dak in his Book of Roots, under the root amar (saying). said that throughout the entire Torah, the word leimor means “saying to Israel,” the purport thereof being that G-d said to Moses, “Say these, My words, to Israel.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

6:11

בֹּ֣אgobo'H935 דַבֵּ֔רspeakdaberH1696 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פַּרְעֹ֖הPharaohparohH6547 מֶ֣לֶךְ[the] king ofmelekhH4428 מִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 וִֽישַׁלַּ֥חso he may let govishalachH7971 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּנֵֽי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃from land hismeartzoH776

6:12

וַיְדַבֵּ֣רand he spokevaydaberH1696 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 לִפְנֵ֥י<to> beforelifneiH6440 יְהוָ֖הYahwehyahwehH3068 לֵאמֹ֑ר<to> sayinglemorH559 הֵ֤ןhere!henH2005 בְּנֵֽי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵל֙IsraelyisraelH3478 לֹֽא־notlo'-H3808 שָׁמְע֣וּthey have listenedshameuH8085 אֵלַ֔יto meʾelaiH413 וְאֵיךְ֙and how?veeikhH349 יִשְׁמָעֵ֣נִיwill he listen to meyishmaeniH8085 פַרְעֹ֔הPharaohfarohH6547 וַאֲנִ֖יand IvaaniH589 עֲרַ֥ל[am] uncircumcised ofʾaralH6189 שְׂפָתָֽיִם׃lipssefatayimH8193

Ramban on Exodus 6:12

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

BEHOLD, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAVE NOT HEARKENED UNTO ME because You have done nothing [for Israel] so that my words should be acceptable to them. AND HOW THEN SHALL PHARAOH HEAR ME?

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

6:13

וַיְדַבֵּ֣רand he spokevaydaberH1696 יְהוָה֮YahwehyahwehH3068 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֣הMosesmoshehH4872 וְאֶֽל־and toveel-H413 אַהֲרֹן֒AaronʾaharonH175 וַיְצַוֵּם֙and he commanded themvaytzavemH6680 אֶל־toʾel-H413 בְּנֵ֣י[the] people ofbeneiH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelyisraelH3478 וְאֶל־and toveel-H413 פַּרְעֹ֖הPharaohparohH6547 מֶ֣לֶךְ[the] king ofmelekhH4428 מִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 לְהוֹצִ֥יאto bring outlehotzi'H3318 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּנֵֽי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 מֵאֶ֥רֶץfrom [the] land ofmeeretzH776 מִצְרָֽיִם׃EgyptmitzrayimH4714

Ramban on Exodus 6:13

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

Rashi wrote: “The purport of this command is explained in the second section, 71 Further, Verses 29-30. after the order of genealogy.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

The Families of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi

6:14

אֵ֖לֶּהtheseʾelehH428 רָאשֵׁ֣י[were] [the] heads ofrasheiH7218 בֵית־[the] household ofveit-H1004 אֲבֹתָ֑םancestors theirʾavotamH1 בְּנֵ֨י[the] sons ofbeneiH1121 רְאוּבֵ֜ןReubenreuvenH7205 בְּכֹ֣ר[the] firstborn ofbekhorH1060 יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsraelyisraelH3478 חֲנ֤וֹךְ[were] HanochchanokhH2585 וּפַלּוּא֙and Palluufalu'H6396 חֶצְר֣וֹןHezronchetzronH2696 וְכַרְמִ֔יand CarmivekharmiH3756 אֵ֖לֶּהtheseʾelehH428 מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת[were] [the] clans ofmishpechotH4940 רְאוּבֵֽן׃ReubenreuvenH7205

Ramban on Exodus 6:14

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

THE SONS OF REUBEN…. Scripture did not wish to begin with the statement, And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations, 80 Verse. so that it should not appear that henceforth in honor of Moses, Levi is first in genealogy.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976