Exodus 6:2 kjv
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
Exodus 6:2 nkjv
And God spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD.
Exodus 6:2 niv
God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD.
Exodus 6:2 esv
God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD.
Exodus 6:2 nlt
And God said to Moses, "I am Yahweh ? 'the LORD.'
Exodus 6 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:1 | When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before Me, and be blameless..." | God's self-revelation to Abraham as "El Shaddai" |
| Gen 26:24 | And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you..." | God reaffirms His identity to Isaac |
| Gen 28:13 | And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac..." | God identifies as YHWH to Jacob at Bethel |
| Exod 3:14 | God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” | Foundation of "I AM," relating to YHWH |
| Exod 3:15 | God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations." | Eternal nature of the name YHWH |
| Exod 6:3 | I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by My name the LORD (YHWH) I did not make Myself known to them." | Clarification of how YHWH was revealed |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations... | God's faithfulness and covenant-keeping |
| Psa 83:18 | that people may know that You, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth. | Proclamation of YHWH's universal sovereignty |
| Psa 102:27 | But You are the same, and Your years have no end. | God's unchangeable nature |
| Psa 115:3 | Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. | God's absolute sovereignty |
| Isa 43:10 | “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me." | Affirmation of unique deity: "I am He" |
| Isa 44:6 | Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no God." | YHWH as the sole, eternal God |
| Jer 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes... | Contrast with false gods, asserting YHWH's reality |
| Mal 3:6 | For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. | God's unchanging nature and faithfulness |
| Jn 8:24 | I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” | Jesus' self-identification echoing Exod 3 |
| Jn 8:58 | Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” | Jesus claims eternal, divine "I AM" status |
| Col 1:17 | And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. | Christ's pre-existence and sustaining power |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son... | God's communication through various means |
| Heb 13:8 | Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. | Consistency of divine nature, akin to YHWH |
| Rev 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” | Christ's divine self-declaration echoing YHWH |
Exodus 6 verses
Exodus 6 2 Meaning
Exodus 6:2 is a profound divine declaration, establishing God's personal identification with Moses, reinforcing His sovereign power, and reaffirming His covenantal faithfulness, particularly at a moment when Moses and the Israelites were overwhelmed by despair and doubt regarding their liberation from Egyptian bondage. God introduces Himself not merely as a generic deity, but as "the LORD" (YHWH), assuring His active presence and unwavering commitment to fulfill His promises to Israel.
Exodus 6 2 Context
Exodus 6:2 follows a critical juncture in the narrative: Moses' initial efforts to free Israel from Egypt have met with intensified oppression, not liberation. Pharaoh not only refused Moses' request but also increased the Israelites' burden, making them gather their own straw for brickmaking (Exod 5:6-19). This led to severe disillusionment among the Israelite foremen, who rebuked Moses, and Moses himself despairingly questioned God, asking, "Why have You brought trouble upon this people? Why did You ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all" (Exod 5:22-23). Amidst this profound human discouragement and questioning, Exodus 6:2 serves as God's direct and authoritative response. It is a moment of divine self-revelation intended to restore faith, affirm His identity, and reassert His ultimate power and faithfulness to His covenant promises, laying the foundation for the mighty acts of deliverance that would follow.
Exodus 6 2 Word analysis
- And God: The Hebrew word for God is
Elohim(אֱלֹהִים), a plural form often used in the Old Testament to denote the one true God, emphasizing His majesty and multifaceted power, though grammatically taking singular verbs. This phrase introduces the divine initiative in communication. - spoke: The Hebrew verb is
wayyedabber(וַיְדַבֵּר), a Qal imperfect form ofdabarwith awawconsecutive, meaning "and he spoke" or "he spoke" indicating a definite, direct, and purposeful communication from God. It denotes a weighty, significant utterance. - to Moses: Indicates a specific and personal address to God's chosen deliverer. Moses, who had just expressed doubt, is being directly reassured. This highlights the relational aspect of God's communication with His servant.
- and said to him: Reinforces the direct, personal nature of God's revelation. This is not a vague impression but a clear verbal declaration.
- "I am: The Hebrew
Ani(אֲנִי), the first-person singular pronoun "I," immediately connects this statement to the foundational revelation in Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM" (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh). It signifies God's self-existence, eternal nature, and active presence. It is a profound declaration of identity. - the LORD": This translates the Tetragrammaton,
YHWH(יְהֹוָה), the sacred and incommunicable personal name of God, often rendered "Yahweh" or "Jehovah" in English. Unlike generic titles for deity (Elohim),YHWHrepresents God's covenant name, intimately linked to His redemptive action and faithfulness to His promises. The revelation of this name here confirms God's unique identity as the ever-present, ever-active God who fulfills His Word, distinct from all other claimed deities.
Words-group analysis:
- "And God spoke to Moses and said to him": This phrase emphasizes God's intentionality and directness in responding to Moses' complaint. It shows divine initiative in dialogue with humanity, particularly at a moment of crisis, underscoring His sovereignty over circumstances and His commitment to His chosen leader.
- "I am the LORD": This statement is the theological crux of the verse. It asserts God's ultimate authority, His unwavering nature, and His power to act. In the face of Pharaoh's resistance and Israel's despair, this is God's supreme self-attestation. It functions as both a declaration of immutable identity and an assurance of imminent, effective intervention. The profound significance of
YHWH(the LORD) becomes a banner under which all subsequent miraculous deliverance unfolds. It is a declaration against the impotence of Egyptian gods and the apparent triumph of Pharaoh, asserting YHWH's sole, active, and personal dominion over all things.
Exodus 6 2 Bonus section
The repeated divine utterance, "I am the LORD," throughout the book of Exodus (and especially Leviticus and Ezekiel) acts as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic backdrop of ancient Egypt and the surrounding nations. Every display of divine power, every plague, every command to Israel regarding worship and morality, serves to demonstrate the singularity, supremacy, and distinct character of YHWH compared to the pantheon of gods worshiped by the Egyptians. It emphasizes God's personal stake in the events and His unchanging, active presence in His people's lives and in history, directly challenging the notion that any other deity or ruler (like Pharaoh, who considered himself divine) could compare. This verse inaugurates a deeper, covenantal understanding of God's name for Israel, linked to His redemptive acts.
Exodus 6 2 Commentary
Exodus 6:2 serves as God's powerful reassertion of His identity and purpose, precisely when human faith wavered. Having heard Moses' lament, God doesn't merely give instructions but declares who He is: "I am the LORD." This is more than a name; it is a profound declaration of self-existence, eternal presence, and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant. It reminds Moses and Israel that their deliverer is YHWH, the God who keeps His Word, contrasting sharply with their present experience of increased hardship and Pharaoh's apparent strength. This foundational identity will empower Moses to continue his mission, provide assurance to the suffering Israelites, and demonstrate to Egypt the incomparable sovereignty of the one true God over all false deities and human power structures. It sets the stage for God's mighty acts, revealing His power not just as El Shaddai (God Almighty) to the patriarchs (Exod 6:3), but now as YHWH, the covenant-keeping, present, and actively redeeming God who would undeniably prove His nature through their liberation.