Exodus 6:13 tells us that God gave Moses and Aaron a clear assignment: to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and to deliver that command to Pharaoh himself. The verse is a short narrative summary that marks a turning point in the story, moving from Moses’s doubts to the commissioning of the two brothers as God’s spokesmen. The LORD is the speaker, and the words are addressed to Moses and Aaron, who are then told to carry the message to both the Israelite people and the king of Egypt.
The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Exodus 6:13 (WEB)
What Exodus 6:13 Means
The verse begins with the simple statement that “the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron.” This is the same God who has been speaking throughout the chapter, and it shows that the mission is not Moses’s own idea. Scripture presents the call as coming from outside the leaders themselves. The words “gave them a command” carry the sense of an official charge, as if God were handing over a task with full authority behind it.
The verse then names two audiences. The command concerns “the children of Israel” and also “Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron are to act as go-betweens, first confronting the most powerful ruler in the region and then leading his former slaves out of his land. The goal stated is clear: to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. The verse does not describe how this will happen or promise that Pharaoh will easily agree. It records the assignment, and the rest of the book shows how difficult it proves to be.
The Context of Exodus 6:13
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is the second book of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Its audience is the Israelite community, who needed to understand how they came to be a nation and why they were delivered from slavery. The book moves from the oppression of the Israelites under Pharaoh to their rescue and the making of a covenant at Sinai.
Just before this verse, in verses 10 through 12, Moses expresses doubt, saying the people have not listened to him and that he is “of uncircumcised lips,” which seems to mean that he does not speak well. Verse 13 answers that doubt not with an argument but with a renewed commission. The verses that follow in 14 through 16 shift to a genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, which sets Moses and Aaron within the family line of Israel. This context shows that the command is grounded in God’s ongoing purpose for a particular people, not in the qualifications of the men who receive it.
Key Phrases in Exodus 6:13
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 earlier verse records God’s first commissioning of Moses at the burning bush, sending him to Pharaoh to bring Israel out of Egypt. Reading it alongside Exodus 6:13 shows that the mission was consistent from the beginning, even as Moses continued to hesitate.
Exodus 14:13
Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.
(WEB)
This verse comes at the moment of rescue, when the Israelites stand at the edge of the sea. It shows the outcome of the command given in Exodus 6:13, displaying God’s deliverance as the people are led out of Egypt.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 6:13
Lord, you speak first and you give the task with your own authority. When I feel small or unsure about what you have placed before me, remind me that the call comes from you and not from my own strength. Help me to take the next faithful step, trusting that you are at work in the people and situations I face. Give me courage to speak when I am asked to speak and patience to wait when I cannot see the way forward. Amen.
