Exodus 6 · Verse 1

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 6:1, King James Version

Exodus 6:1 in other translations

BSBBut the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
WEBThe LORD 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.”
ASVAnd Jehovah said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
YLTAnd Jehovah saith unto Moses, ‘Now dost thou see that which I do to Pharaoh, for with a strong hand he doth send them away, yea, with a strong hand he doth cast them out of his land.'
DARBYAnd Jehovah said to Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh; for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
BBEAnd the Lord said to Moses, Now you will see what I am about to do to Pharaoh; for by a strong hand he will be forced to let them go, driving them out of his land because of my outstretched arm.
WebsterThen the LORD said to 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 from his land.

What does Exodus 6:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ex 6:1-13. Renewal of the Promise.

1. the Lord said unto Moses--The Lord, who is long-suffering and indulgent to the errors and infirmities of His people, made allowance for the mortification of Moses as the result of this first interview and cheered him with the assurance of a speedy and successful termination to his embassy.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

God encourages Moses, and promises to show wonders upon Pharaoh, and to bring out his people with a strong hand, Exo 6:1. He confirms this promise by his essential name Jehovah, Exo 6:2, Exo 6:3; by the covenant he had made with their fathers, Exo 6:4, Exo 6:5. Sends Moses with a fresh message to the Hebrews, full of the most gracious promises, and confirms the whole by appealing to the name in which his unchangeable existence is implied, Exo 6:6-8. Moses delivers the message to the Israelites, but through anguish of spirit they do not believe, Exo 6:9. He receives a new commission to go to Pharaoh, Exo 6:10, Exo 6:11. He excuses himself on account of his unreadiness of speech, Exo 6:12. The Lord gives him and Aaron a charge both to Pharaoh and to the children of Israel, Exo 6:13. The genealogy of Reuben, Exo 6:14; of Simeon, Exo 6:15; of Levi, from whom descended Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Exo 6:16. The sons of Gershon, Exo 6:17; of Kohath, Exo 6:15; of Merari, Exo 6:19. The marriage of Amram and Jochebed, Exo 6:20. The sons of Izhar and Uzziel, the brothers of Amram, Exo 6:21, Exo 6:22. Marriage of Aaron and Elisheba, and the birth of their sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Exo 6:23. The sons of Korah, the nephew of Aaron, Exo 6:24. The marriage of Eleazar to one of the daughters of Putiel, and the birth of Phinehas, Exo 6:25. These genealogical accounts introduced for the sake of showing the line of descent of Moses and Aaron, Exo 6:26, Exo 6:27. A recapitulation of the commission delivered to Moses and Aaron, Exo 6:29, and a repetition of the excuse formerly made by Moses, Exo 6:30. Verse 1 With a strong hand - יד חזקה yad chazakah, the same verb which we translate to harden; see Clarke on Exo 4:21 (note). The strong hand here means sovereign power, suddenly and forcibly applied. God purposed to manifest his sovereign power in the sight of Pharaoh and the Egyptians; in consequence of which Pharaoh would manifest his power and authority as sovereign of Egypt, in dismissing and thrusting out the people. See Exo 12:31-33.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 6:1-9
We are most likely to prosper in attempts to glorify God, and to be useful to men, when we learn by experience that we can do nothing of ourselves; when our whole dependence is placed on him, and our only expectation is from him. Moses had been expecting what God would do; but now he shall see what he will do. God would now be known by his name Jehovah, that is, a God performing what he had promised, and finishing his own work. God intended their happiness: I will take you to me for a people, a peculiar people, and I will be to you a God. More than this we need not ask, we cannot have, to make us happy. He intended his own glory: Ye shall know that I am the Lord. These good words, and comfortable words, should have revived the drooping Israelites, and have made them forget their misery; but they were so taken up with their troubles, that they did not heed God's promises. By indulging discontent and fretfulness, we deprive ourselves of the comfort we might have, both from God's word and from his providence, and go comfortless.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Exodus 6:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehMosesH4872
עַתָּ֣ה'a.TahnowH6258
תִרְאֶ֔הtir.'Ehyou will seeH7200
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher[that] whichH834
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה'e.'e.SehI will doH6213
לְפַרְעֹ֑הle.far.'Ohto PharaohH6547
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
בְיָ֤דve.Yadby a handH3027
חֲזָקָה֙cha.za.KahstrongH2389
יְשַׁלְּחֵ֔םye.sha.le.Chemhe will let go themH7971
וּבְיָ֣דu.ve.Yadand by a handH3027
חֲזָקָ֔הcha.za.KahstrongH2389
יְגָרְשֵׁ֖םye.ga.re.Shemhe will drive out themH1644
מֵאַרְצֽוֹ\׃\ \סme.'ar.Tzofrom land hisH776

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 6:1

  • Exodus 12:33

    And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

  • Exodus 3:19-20

    And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

  • Exodus 12:39

    And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

  • Exodus 12:31

    And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

  • Psalms 136:12

    With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

  • Exodus 11:1

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

  • Ezekiel 20:33-34

    As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

  • Deuteronomy 32:39

    See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

  • Psalms 12:5

    For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:17

    Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

  • Isaiah 63:12

    That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

  • Psalms 89:13

    Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 God renews his promise by his name JEHOVAH.
9 Moses vainly attempts to encourage the Israelites.
10 He and Aaron are again sent to Pharaoh.
14 The genealogy of Reuben, of Simeon, and of Levi, of whom came Moses and Aaron.
26 The history resumed.

Now shalt.
14:13; Nu 23:23; De 32:39; 2Ki 7:2,19; 2Ch 20:17; Ps 12:5
with a strong.
3:19,20; De 4:34; Ps 89:13; 136:12; Isa 63:12; Eze 20:33,34
drive them.
11:1; 12:31,33,39

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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:

Read all of Exodus 6

Exodus 6:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		JEHOVÁ respondió á Moisés: Ahora verás lo que yo haré á Faraón; porque con mano fuerte los ha de dejar ir; y con mano fuerte los ha de echar de su tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ Éternel dit à Moïse: Tu verras maintenant ce que je ferai au Pharaon, car contraint par main forte, il les laissera aller, et contraint par main forte, il les chassera de son pays.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jehova sprach zu Mose: Nun sollst du sehen, was ich dem Pharao tun werde; denn durch eine starke Hand gezwungen soll er sie ziehen lassen, und durch eine starke Hand gezwungen soll er sie aus seinem Lande wegtreiben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixitque Dominus ad Moysen: Nunc videbis quæ facturus sim Pharaoni: per manum enim fortem dimittet eos, et in manu robusta ejiciet illos de terra sua.