Exodus 6 5

Exodus 6:5 kjv

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Exodus 6:5 nkjv

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

Exodus 6:5 niv

Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

Exodus 6:5 esv

Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.

Exodus 6:5 nlt

You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.

Exodus 6 verses

Exodus 6 5 Meaning

This verse declares God's active engagement with the suffering of the Israelites, specifying that He has "heard the groaning" caused by their Egyptian bondage and has consequently "remembered His covenant." It reveals God's faithfulness to His ancient promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, indicating that His impending action of deliverance is not a sudden whim but a deliberate fulfillment rooted in His character and sworn commitments.

Exodus 6 5 Context

Exodus 6:5 is part of God's reaffirmation to Moses, building upon the initial command in Exodus 3 and addressing Moses' despair after his first, seemingly failed, encounter with Pharaoh. Moses and the Israelites had faced increased oppression following his attempt to obey God (Ex 5:19-23). In response, God strengthens Moses by revealing more fully His covenant name, YHWH, and by reminding him that He is actively engaged with their suffering. This verse immediately follows God's declaration that He revealed Himself to the patriarchs as El Shaddai, but not by His name YHWH, reinforcing that He is now acting decisively as the covenant-keeping God. It clarifies that the upcoming deliverance is not merely a response to their present suffering, but a fulfillment of ancient, sacred promises, specifically the promise of the land of Canaan (Ex 6:4).

Exodus 6 5 Word analysis

• And I have also heard (וְגַם אֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי - v'gam 'ani sham'ati):
  • "Heard" (שָׁמַעְתִּי - sham'ati): From the root שָׁמַע (shama), meaning "to hear," "to listen," "to obey." Here, it signifies divine perception, not mere audibility but an understanding that leads to action. God’s hearing implies attentive listening, acknowledging the cry of His people, and an intention to respond. This stands in contrast to idols who have ears but cannot hear (Ps 115:6).
  • "I have also" (וְגַם אֲנִי - v'gam 'ani): Emphatic, signifying "I, indeed" or "even I." This personal and strong emphasis by God highlights His direct and undeniable involvement. It reinforces His active concern beyond simply "seeing their affliction" (Ex 3:7) and moves into a realm of specific, compassionate understanding.
• the groaning (נַאֲקַת - na'aqat):
  • From the noun נַאֲקָה (na'aqah), meaning "groaning," "sighing," "crying out in anguish or pain." This word denotes a deep, unarticulated sound of distress, beyond words. It suggests suffering so profound that speech is impossible, an agonizing lamentation that reaches heaven. This is the spontaneous expression of utter misery under heavy burden.
• of the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'nei Yisra'el):
  • Signifies the direct descendants of Jacob, who was renamed Israel. This highlights their identity as God's chosen, covenant people, emphasizing their special relationship and the significance of their suffering in the eyes of their covenant Lord. It links their current distress to the foundational promises given to their forefathers.
• whom the Egyptians keep in bondage (אֲשֶׁר מִצְרַיִם מַעֲבִידִם אֹתָם - 'asher Mitzrayim ma'avidim 'otam):
  • "Keep in bondage" (מַעֲבִידִם - ma'avidim): From the verb עָבַד ('avad), meaning "to work," "to serve," but in the Hiphil causative stem here, "to make work," "to enslave," "to subject to hard labor." This clarifies the specific nature of their oppression as forced, harsh servitude, contrasting sharply with their destined role as God's "firstborn son" (Ex 4:22). This legalistic, institutionalized slavery is portrayed as abhorrent to God's purpose for His people.
  • This phrase explicitly states the agents and nature of the suffering, linking it directly to the Egyptians and their tyrannical rule. It underscores the profound injustice that necessitated divine intervention.
• and I have remembered (וָאֶזְכֹּר - va'ezkor):
  • From the verb זָכַר (zakar), meaning "to remember," "to call to mind," "to be mindful of," and crucially, "to act on behalf of." In biblical context, God's remembrance is never passive recall but an active, determinative engagement. When God remembers, He initiates action according to what He remembers. It signifies the moment His foreordained plan, tied to His covenant, moves into active fulfillment.
  • This term highlights God's steadfastness and reliability. He doesn't forget, but activates His memory-based commitment in His perfect timing.
• My covenant (אֶת־בְּרִיתִי - 'et-b'riti):
  • "Covenant" (בְּרִית - berit): A foundational theological concept, referring to a solemn, binding agreement established by God with His people. It is unilateral in its establishment, based on God's initiative and grace, and bilateral in its obligations (though in this context, it emphasizes God's side). This refers primarily to the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning land, descendants, and blessing, which inherently included protection and deliverance from affliction (Gen 12:1-3, Gen 15, Gen 17, Gen 28).
  • "My" (-ִי - i): The suffix denotes God's personal ownership and initiation of this covenant. It is His solemn commitment, ensuring its inviolable nature.
  • The remembering of this specific covenant connects God's immediate action to His historical promises, demonstrating divine consistency and showing that His current plan for redemption is part of a larger, long-term divine agenda established generations prior.

Exodus 6 5 Bonus section

The concept of God "remembering" in the Hebrew Bible, as seen in this verse, is distinct from human memory. It is not about recalling something forgotten, as God does not forget. Instead, it implies a divine shift from a state of passive allowance (which is not inactivity but strategic waiting) to active, interventionist fulfillment of His previous declarations or promises. This is particularly relevant after periods of seemingly delayed fulfillment or increased hardship, such as Israel's centuries of slavery. God's "remembrance" thus signals a divine "tipping point" or "appointed time" where the plan that was already in motion behind the scenes now becomes visibly manifest in history, marked by miraculous intervention and the overturning of oppression in favor of His covenant people. It reinforces God's consistent purpose and highlights His perfect timing in bringing His will to pass.

Exodus 6 5 Commentary

Exodus 6:5 powerfully communicates the character of God as a compassionate and faithful Deliverer. He is not distant or indifferent to the cries of His oppressed people. His "hearing" of Israel's "groaning" is an active perception of their deepest agony, compelling His engagement. Crucially, this response is not spontaneous or arbitrary but profoundly rooted in His covenant faithfulness. His "remembering" His covenant signifies the activation of His ancient promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning land and nationhood, which necessitated deliverance from any opposing power. The severity of Israel's "bondage" under the Egyptians becomes the direct trigger for God to manifest His mighty hand, demonstrating that divine action is intertwined with human suffering and the unwavering integrity of God's Word. This verse assures the people (and readers) that God is sovereign over circumstances, a faithful oath-keeper, and true to His commitments, ensuring that their current misery would give way to promised redemption.