Exodus 6:10 is a short transitional verse that tells us God spoke directly to Moses, giving him the next step in a conversation that has been moving toward Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The verse itself is brief, but it marks the moment God re-commissions Moses after the people had rejected his earlier message. The speaker is the LORD, and the one being addressed is Moses, the man God had called from the burning bush to lead his people out of slavery.
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying…
Exodus 6:10 (WEB)
What Exodus 6:10 Means
The phrase “The LORD spoke to Moses” is the heart of the verse. Scripture repeatedly presents God as one who initiates communication, not someone who must be found or persuaded. Here the Lord takes the first word, even though Moses has just been discouraged by his own people’s refusal to listen. The verse also uses the older covenant name for God, the LORD, which in Hebrew is the personal name tied to God’s faithfulness to his promises.
The word “saying” introduces the instruction that follows in the next verse, so Exodus 6:10 is really a doorway rather than a complete thought. It does not promise that Pharaoh will obey, that the plagues will end quickly, or that Moses will feel confident. What it does show is that God keeps working through his chosen messenger even when the human response is slow, hesitant, or hostile.
The Context of Exodus 6:10
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses and forms the second book of the Torah, the opening section of the Hebrew Scriptures. It tells the story of Israel’s descent into slavery in Egypt and their dramatic escape under God’s hand. The original audience was the people of Israel, who needed to understand that their suffering had not gone unnoticed and that God was keeping his covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In the verses just before Exodus 6:10, Moses delivers God’s promise of redemption, but the people cannot hear it because of their anguish and cruel bondage. In the verses after, Moses protests that he is a poor speaker and that Pharaoh will never listen to him. Seen in this setting, Exodus 6:10 shows God refusing to abandon the mission simply because the first attempt failed. The verse becomes a pivot where divine persistence meets human weakness.
Key Phrases in Exodus 6:10
Exodus 3:10
Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
(WEB)
This verse records God’s original commissioning of Moses at the burning bush, when he sends him to Pharaoh. Reading it alongside Exodus 6:10 shows that God’s call has not changed, even though Moses has grown discouraged. The same divine voice that first called him continues to direct him.
Exodus 4:10
Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
(WEB)
In this passage Moses protests that he is not eloquent and struggles with his speech. Reading it with Exodus 6:10 helps explain why Moses hesitates, and it shows God’s willingness to address his concerns while still sending him forward.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 6:10
Lord, you speak even when we are tired, discouraged, or unsure of our own voice. Thank you that your word does not depend on how well we listen the first time. Help me to hear your voice clearly today and to take the next faithful step you show me, trusting that you are still working through your people. Give me courage when the path feels heavy and patience when my efforts seem unnoticed. Amen.
