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Complete Jewish Bible

Exodus 6:9

Moshe said this to the people of Isra'el. But they wouldn't listen to him, because they were so discouraged, and their slavery was so cruel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Despondency;   Moses;   Thompson Chain Reference - Despair;   Hope-Despair;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - God;   Person, Personhood;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exodus, Book of;   Spirit;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Anguish;   Exodus, the Book of;   Feeble-Minded;   Psychology;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Moshe spoke so to the children of Yisra'el, but they didn't listen to Moshe for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
King James Version
And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
Lexham English Bible
And Moses spoke thus to the Israelites, but they did not listen to Moses, because of discouragement and because of hard work.
New Century Version
So Moses told this to the Israelites, but they would not listen to him. They were discouraged, and their slavery was hard.
New English Translation
Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and hard labor.
Amplified Bible
Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their impatience and despondency, and because of their forced labor.
New American Standard Bible
So Moses said this to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Moses told the children of Israel thus: but they hearkened not vnto Moses, for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their weakness of spirit and hard slavery.
Contemporary English Version
When Moses told this to the Israelites, they were too discouraged and mistreated to believe him.
Darby Translation
And Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not listen to Moses from anguish of spirit, and from hard service.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Moses told this to the Israelites, but the people would not listen to him. They were working so hard that they were not patient with Moses.
English Standard Version
Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.
George Lamsa Translation
And Moses spoke so to the children of Israel; but they did not listen to him, because of their misery and because of bondage.
Good News Translation
Moses told this to the Israelites, but they would not listen to him, because their spirit had been broken by their cruel slavery.
Christian Standard Bible®
Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor.
Literal Translation
And Moses spoke to the sons of Israel. And they did not listen to Moses, from anguish of spirit and from hard bondage.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Moses tolde this vnto the childre of Israel. But they herkened not vnto him, for very anguysh of sprete, & for sore laboure.
American Standard Version
And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
Bible in Basic English
And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, but they gave no attention to him, because of the grief of their spirit and the cruel weight of their work.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Moyses tolde the children of Israel euen so: but they hearkened not vnto Moyses for anguishe of spirite and for cruell bondage.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel; but they hearkened not unto Moses for impatience of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
King James Version (1611)
And Moses spake so vnto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not vnto Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for cruell bondage.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, and they hearkened not to Moses for faint-heartedness, and for their hard tasks.
English Revised Version
And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
Berean Standard Bible
Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Moises telde alle thingis to the sones of Irael, whiche assentide not to hym for the angwisch of spirit, and for the hardest werk.
Young's Literal Translation
And Moses speaketh so unto the sons of Israel, and they hearkened not unto Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for harsh service.
Update Bible Version
And Moses so spoke to the sons of Israel: but they didn't listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel slavery.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses spoke so to the children of Israel: but they hearkened not to Moses, by reason of anguish of spirit, and cruel bondage.
World English Bible
Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn't listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
New King James Version
So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.
New Living Translation
So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.
New Life Bible
So Moses said this to the people of Israel. But they did not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and how hard they were made to work.
New Revised Standard
Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Moses spake thus unto the sons of Israel, but they hearkened not unto Moses, through shortness of spirit, and through hard service.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses told all this to the children of Israel: but they did not hearken to him, for anguish of spirit, and most painful work.
Revised Standard Version
Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel; but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel bondage.
THE MESSAGE
But when Moses delivered this message to the Israelites, they didn't even hear him—they were that beaten down in spirit by the harsh slave conditions.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.

Contextual Overview

1 Adonai said to Moshe, "Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh. With a mighty hand he will send them off; with force he will drive them from the land!" Haftarah Sh'mot: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 27:6–28:13; 29:22–23 (A); Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1–2:3 (S) B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Sh'mot: Mattityahu (Matthew) 22:23–33; 41–46; Mark 12:18–27; 35–37; Luke 20:27–44; Acts 3:12–15; 5:27–32; 7:17–36; 22:12–16; 24:14–16; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 11:23–26 God spoke to Moshe; he said to him, "I am Adonai . I appeared to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya‘akov as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ Adonai ]. Also with them I established my covenant to give them the land of Kena‘an, the land where they wandered about and lived as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Isra'el, whom the Egyptians are keeping in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant. "Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: ‘I am Adonai . I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am Adonai your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya‘akov — I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am Adonai .'" Moshe said this to the people of Isra'el. But they wouldn't listen to him, because they were so discouraged, and their slavery was so cruel. Adonai said to Moshe, "Go in; and tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the people of Isra'el leave his land." Moshe said to Adonai , "Look, the people of Isra'el haven't listened to me; so how will Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?" But Adonai spoke to Moshe and Aharon and gave them orders concerning both the people of Isra'el and Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt. (ii) These were the heads of their families: the sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Isra'el were Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi. These were the families of Re'uven. The sons of Shim‘on were Y'mu'el, Yamin, Ohad, Yakhin, Tzochar and Sha'ul the son of a Kena‘ani woman. These were the families of Shim‘on. These are the names of the sons of Levi with their descendants: Gershon, K'hat and M'rari. Levi lived to be 137 years old. The sons of Gershon were Livni and Shim‘i, with their families. The sons of K'hat were ‘Amram, Yitz'har, Hevron and ‘Uzi'el. K'hat lived to be 133 years old. The sons of M'rari were Machli and Mushi. These were the families of Levi with their descendants. ‘Amram married Yokheved his father's sister, and she bore him Aharon and Moshe. ‘Amram lived to be 137 years old. The sons of Yitz'har were Korach, Nefeg and Zikhri. The sons of ‘Uzi'el were Misha'el, Eltzafan and Sitri. Aharon married Elisheva daughter of ‘Amminadav and sister of Nachshon, and she bore him Nadav, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar. The sons of Korach were Asir, Elkanah and Avi'asaf. These were the Korchi families. El‘azar the son of Aharon married one of the daughters of Puti'el, and she bore him Pinchas. These were the heads of the families of Levi, family by family. These are the Aharon and Moshe to whom Adonai said, "Bring the people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt, division by division," and who told Pharaoh king of Egypt, to let the people of Isra'el leave Egypt. These are the same Moshe and Aharon. On the day when Adonai spoke to Moshe in the land of Egypt, (iii) he said, "I am Adonai . Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything I say to you." Moshe answered Adonai , "Look, I'm such a poor speaker that Pharaoh won't listen to me." 2 Adonai said to Moshe, "Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh. With a mighty hand he will send them off; with force he will drive them from the land!" Haftarah Sh'mot: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 27:6–28:13; 29:22–23 (A); Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1–2:3 (S) B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Sh'mot: Mattityahu (Matthew) 22:23–33; 41–46; Mark 12:18–27; 35–37; Luke 20:27–44; Acts 3:12–15; 5:27–32; 7:17–36; 22:12–16; 24:14–16; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 11:23–26 God spoke to Moshe; he said to him, "I am Adonai . 3 I appeared to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya‘akov as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ Adonai ]. 4 Also with them I established my covenant to give them the land of Kena‘an, the land where they wandered about and lived as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Isra'el, whom the Egyptians are keeping in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant. 6 "Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: ‘I am Adonai . I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am Adonai your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya‘akov — I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am Adonai .'" 9 Moshe said this to the people of Isra'el. But they wouldn't listen to him, because they were so discouraged, and their slavery was so cruel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

hearkened: Exodus 5:21, Exodus 14:12, Job 21:4, Proverbs 14:19

anguish: Heb. shortness, or, straitness, Numbers 21:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:14 - their lives Exodus 6:12 - children Job 9:16 - would I Ezekiel 20:5 - lifted up mine hand Mark 16:11 - believed

Cross-References

Genesis 2:4
(A: iv, S: ii) Here is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created. On the day when Adonai , God, made earth and heaven,
Genesis 5:1
(vi) Here is the genealogy of Adam. On the day that God created man he made him in the likeness of God;
Genesis 5:22
After Metushelach was born, Hanokh walked with God 300 years and had sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:24
Hanokh walked with God, and then he wasn't there, because God took him.
Genesis 6:9
But Noach found grace in the sight of Adonai . Haftarah B'resheet: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 42:5–43:10 (A); 42:5–21 (S) B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah B'resheet: Mattityahu (Matthew) 1:1–17; 19:3–9; Mark 10:1–12; Luke 3:23–38; Yochanan (John) 1:1–18; 1 Corinthians 6:15–20; 15:35–58; Romans 5:12–21; Ephesians 5:21–32; Colossians 1:14–17; 1 Timothy 2:11–15; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 1:1–3; 3:7–4:11; 11:1–7; 2 Kefa (2 Peter) 3:3–14; Revelation 21:1–5; 22:1–5 Here is the history of Noach. In his generation, Noach was a man righteous and wholehearted; Noach walked with God.
Genesis 6:15
Here is how you are to build it: the length of the ark is to be 450 feet, its width seventy-five feet and its height forty-five feet.
Genesis 7:1
(ii) Adonai said to Noach, "Come into the ark, you and all your household; for I have seen that you alone in this generation are righteous before me.
Genesis 10:1
Here is the genealogy of the sons of Noach — Shem, Ham and Yefet; sons were born to them after the flood.
Genesis 17:1
When Avram was 99 years old Adonai appeared to Avram and said to him, "I am El Shaddai [God Almighty]. Walk in my presence and be pure-hearted.
Genesis 48:15
Then he blessed Yosef: "The God in whose presence my fathers Avraham and Yitz'chak lived, the God who has been my own shepherd all my life long to this day,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel,.... After this manner, and in the above words, declaring all that the Lord made known to him, and promised to do for them; which one would have thought would have revived their spirits, and refreshed and comforted their hearts under their troubles, and encouraged a lively exercise of faith and hope of deliverance:

but they hearkened not unto Moses; being disappointed of deliverance by him, and their afflictions being increased, and lying heavy upon them, they were heartless and hopeless;

for anguish of spirit; trouble of mind and grief of heart, with which they were swallowed up; or "for shortness of breath" b, being so pressed that they could hardly breathe, and so were incapable of attending to what was spoken to them:

and for cruel bondage; under which they laboured, and from which they had scarce any respite, and saw no way of deliverance from it.

b מקצר רוח "ob brevem anhelitum", Munster.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They hearkened not - The contrast between the reception of this communication and that recorded in Exodus 4:31 is accounted for by the change of circumstances. On the former occasion the people were comparatively at ease, accustomed to their lot, sufficiently afflicted to long for deliverance, and sufficiently free in spirit to hope for it.

For anguish - See the margin; out of breath, as it were, after their cruel disappointment, they were quite absorbed by their misery, unable and unwilling to attend to any fresh communication.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 6:9. But they hearkened not — Their bondage was become so extremely oppressive that they had lost all hope of ever being redeemed from it. After this verse the Samaritan adds, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians: for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness. This appears to be borrowed from Exodus 14:12.

Anguish of spirit — קצר רוח kotzer ruach, shortness of spirit or breath. The words signify that their labour was so continual, and their bondage so cruel and oppressive, that they had scarcely time to breathe.


 
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