Exodus 6:28-30 · Bible study
Exodus 6:28-30 Commentary: Moses' Objection Repeated
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Moses repeat his complaint after God's commission?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moses restates his inadequacy after God’s commission, preparing the way for God’s provision of Aaron as spokesman.
- Key words: ‘uncircumcised lips’ (עֲרַל שְׂפָתַיִם), a vivid idiom for impeded or shameful speech.
- Main debate: Whether Moses had a literal speech defect or used a cultural metaphor for lack of eloquence/authority.
- Theological theme: God’s patient response to human weakness; His sovereignty supplies what His servants lack.
- Best use: In sermons or small groups on calling, inadequacy, and divine provision, especially alongside Exodus 4 and Jeremiah 1.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
28Now on the day that the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,
29He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I say to you.”
30But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
WEB World English Bible 2000
28On the day when Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
29Yahweh said to Moses, “I am Yahweh. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I tell you.”
30Moses said before Yahweh, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?”
KJV King James Version 1769
28And it came to pass on the day when the Lord spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
29That the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, I am the Lord: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.
30And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?
ASV American Standard Version 1901
28And it came to pass on the day when Jehovah spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
29that Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, I am Jehovah: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee.
30And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
28And it cometh to pass in the day of Jehovah's speaking unto Moses in the land of Egypt,
29that Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, `I am Jehovah, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I am speaking unto thee.'
30And Moses saith before Jehovah, `Lo, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how doth Pharaoh hearken unto me?'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
28And it came to pass on the day when Jehovah spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
29that Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, I am Jehovah: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.
30And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how will Pharaoh hearken unto me?
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
28In the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt.
29And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord; speak thou to Pharao, king of Egypt, all that I say to thee.
30And Moses said before the Lord: Lo I am of uncircumcised lips, how will Pharao hear me?
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 6:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators generally agree that Exodus 6:28-30 resumes the narrative thread after the genealogical interruption in verses 14, 27. The Cambridge Bible observes that verse 29 recapitulates God’s charge from verses 2 and 11, while verse 30 repeats Moses’ objection from verse 12. This repetition serves to reconnect the story after the genealogy and to set up God’s answer in chapter 7. Gill and Keil & Delitzsch note that Moses again calls himself ‘of uncircumcised lips’, an idiom for inability or inadequacy in speech. The passage does not advance the plot but prepares the reader for God’s decisive response: the commissioning of Aaron as Moses’ prophet and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal speech impediment: Exodus 4:10 where Moses explicitly calls himself 'slow of speech and slow of tongue'; the repeated 'uncircumcised lips' points to a physical condition.
- Metaphor for inadequacy: The idiom 'uncircumcised' appears elsewhere (Lev 26:41, Jer 6:10) for closed ears or hearts; it likely signifies Moses feeling ritually/socially unfit rather than a physical defect.
- Narrative resumption view: The repetition serves a literary function: resuming the thread after the genealogy (vv14-27) and setting up God's response in 7:1-5.
What is clear: God responds to Moses' repeated objection by commissioning Aaron as his prophet and promising to harden Pharaoh's heart, showing that His purpose advances despite human hesitation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Moses' speech condition | Both literal and figurative interpretations acknowledge that Moses felt deeply inadequate to speak before Pharaoh. | Some traditions (e.g., Wesleyan, Baptist) read Exodus 4:10 as a literal speech impediment; others see 'uncircumcised lips' as a cultural metaphor for shame, ineloquence, or social unfitness. |
| Purpose of the repetition | All agree the passage resumes the narrative after the genealogy and leads into God's answer in chapter 7. | Some commentators (e.g., Cambridge, Keil & Delitzsch) see it primarily as a literary device to reconnect the story; others (e.g., Gill, Clarke) emphasize Moses' continued faithlessness as a real spiritual struggle. |
| Chapter division | The story flows continuously into Exodus 7:1-5. | Clarke and Barnes argue verses 28-30 should begin chapter 7; most English Bibles keep them in chapter 6, following the Masoretic tradition. |
Historical & Cultural Context
These three verses sit at a hinge in the Exodus narrative. Immediately before them, a genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (6:14, 27) interrupts the story. That genealogy traces the Levitical line through to Moses and Aaron, validating their credentials as leaders. With verse 28, the narrator returns to the moment just after God’s commissioning speech in 6:2, 8.
The phrase ‘the day when Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt’ anchors the scene in time and place. Moses and Aaron stand in Egypt, likely still reeling from Pharaoh’s harsh rejection in chapter 5. The expression ‘uncircumcised lips’ draws on a Hebrew idiom: the foreskin (עָרֵל, arel) symbolises something blocked or unfit. A ‘foreskinned’ heart (Lev 26:41) means closed to God; ‘uncircumcised lips’ suggest speech that is obstructed, clumsy, or unfit for persuasion. Moses may be referencing an actual speech impediment (as in 4:10), or he may be using a cultural metaphor for shame and inadequacy.
Politically, Pharaoh held absolute power. For a shepherd-turned-prophet to demand Israel’s release seemed absurd. Moses’ repeated hesitation reflects both his personal fear and the crushing weight of the task. The reference to Pharaoh ‘king of Egypt’ underscores the human obstacle. God’s answer in chapter 7, that Aaron will speak as Moses’ prophet, directly addresses this recurring objection.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 6:28-30. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. Differences among English translations (e.g., ‘uncircumcised lips’ vs ‘unskilled in speech’) reflect translation choices, not textual uncertainty.
Reception History
Early church readers, such as Origen and Chrysostom, saw Moses’ repeated objection as a lesson in humility and God’s patience. They often linked his ‘uncircumcised lips’ to the broader theme of human inability met by divine empowerment. Reformers including Luther and Calvin drew on this passage to argue that God’s calling does not depend on human eloquence; He supplies what He requires. In modern commentary, the passage is valued for its narrative structure: the repetition creates tension and highlights God’s sovereignty. Pastoral writers have used it to comfort believers who feel unqualified, pointing to God’s provision of partners (Aaron) and His overriding power.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God renews His call. He speaks again, reaffirming ‘I am Yahweh’ (v.29) after the genealogy, showing that His purpose does not stop.
- Moses restates his objection. He falls back on the same excuse (v.30), revealing persistent fear and self-focus.
- God prepares His answer. The next verses (7:1-5) show God turning Moses’ weakness into a plan: Aaron the spokesman, Pharaoh hardened, and signs multiplied.
Five-point outline
- God’s patience in repetition: He speaks again after the genealogy.
- The content of the command: ‘Tell Pharaoh all that I tell you’, full disclosure.
- Moses’ unchanged response: still ‘uncircumcised lips.’
- The question Moses asks: ‘How shall Pharaoh listen to me?’, a cry of despair.
- The transition to answer: chapter 7 begins without a break in many Hebrew manuscripts, showing God’s immediate reply.
Illustration hooks
- The reluctant volunteer: A church member asked to teach a class hesitates, saying ‘I’m not a speaker.’ Even after reassurance, the same fear surfaces. God doesn’t give up.
- The skipped note: A musician misses a high note twice in rehearsal. The director doesn’t scold; instead, he changes the arrangement. God adapts His method, not His mission.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God get tired of my repeated doubts? (The narrative shows patience, not frustration.)
- If I feel unqualified after a clear calling, is that a sin or just honesty? (Moses models both, and God answers.)
- Why does the Bible record this repetition instead of skipping to God’s answer? (It shows that God hears our real fears.)
Leading a Discussion
These verses catch Moses in a loop: God commissions, Moses objects. Yet the repetition is not idle; it reveals a pattern in ministry. God does not replace Moses but prepares to work through his weakness. As you discuss, pay attention to the emotions behind Moses’ question: ‘How shall Pharaoh listen to me?’
Discussion questions
- What phrase does God repeat from earlier in the chapter (compare v.29 with 6:2)? Why do you think He emphasises His name now?
- In verse 30, Moses calls himself ‘of uncircumcised lips.’ What do you think that meant for his self-image? How does he view himself compared to Pharaoh?
- Why do you think the narrator repeats this objection verbatim from 6:12? What does this repetition tell us about Moses’ state of mind?
- How does God’s response in chapter 7 address Moses’ specific fear? Look at 7:1-2. What roles does God assign to Moses and Aaron?
- Can you think of a time when you repeated the same concern to God more than once? How did you sense Him responding?
- The genealogy in verses 14-27 appears right before this scene. How might knowing his family heritage help or not help Moses in this moment?
- What does this passage teach about God’s patience with human leaders? How might that encourage you in a current challenge?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 6:2 | God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am Yahweh. |
| Exodus 6:6 | Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments. |
| Exodus 6:8 | I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.’” |
| Exodus 6:11 | “Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.” |
| Exodus 7:2 | You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh. |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke sees Moses's speech difficulty as a deliberate providential counterbalance, not merely a weakness. God balanced Moses's great gifts with a clear limitation to prevent pride, so that no human could glory in their own abilities before him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that this verse and the ones after it actually begin a fresh section of the story and rightly belong with the following chapter. For him, the break here marks a clear narrative subdivision.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator points out that verses 29-30 resume the main narrative after a break, recapping God's earlier words and Moses' repeated objection. This leads directly into chapter 7, which serves as the actual answer to Moses' complaint.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that this exchange repeats what was already recorded, serving as a bridge to the next chapter. He highlights Moses' self-description of uncircumcised lips as a complaint about being a poor speaker, weak and unskilled compared to Pharaoh, a mighty king surrounded by eloquent orators.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observe that the narrative thread broken off earlier now resumes. They also draw attention to the Hebrew phrase "on the day," noting that the word for "day" is in a grammatical construction that governs an entire clause without a connecting word, as seen in other Old Testament passages.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that a messenger sent by God must deliver the entire message, holding nothing back. His point is that partial obedience in proclaiming God's word is disobedience. A faithful ambassador does not pick and choose which parts to share but declares the whole counsel God has given.