6:4a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4a For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

4b and redeemed you from the house of slavery.

In these lines, the LORD began to give evidence that he had not wronged the people of Israel. Rather, he had been good to them. His goodness was shown in the significant events of Israel’s past. The first event he talked about was that he rescued them out of slavery in Egypt.

For: Here this word introduces the LORD’s answer to the questions in 6:3. He had not wronged or wearied them. On the contrary, he had shown them kindness.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

For (English Standard Version)
-or-
Indeed (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
In fact (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

Some versions leave this word implied. For example:

I brought you out of Egypt (Good News Translation)

brought you up…redeemed you: Both phrases refer to the LORD’s rescue of the people from slavery in Egypt. The phrase brought you up describes it as a change of their location. The phrase redeemed you describes it as a change of their circumstances from being slaves to being free people.

brought you up: The Hebrew word for brought you up literally means to bring someone upward from a lower to a higher place. It also has a figurative meaning of raising someone up from the underworld, giving life to someone dead. In this context, it may have both literal and figurative meanings.

Some languages will not have a single word or phrase with both these meanings. If that is true in your language it is recommended that you translate the literal meaning and leave the figurative meaning implied. For example:

For I brought you out of Egypt (New Living Translation (2004))

redeemed you: In Hebrew, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as redeemed you is literally “I ransomed you.” The word “ransom” means “transfer ownership of a person or object to another through payment of a price or an equivalent substitute.”

Here are some other ways to translate the word in this context:

and ransomed you from the house of slavery (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
from the place of slavery I released you (New American Bible)
-or-
and freed you from slavery (New Century Version)

the land of Egypt…the house of slavery: Both phrases refer to Egypt. The phrase the land of Egypt describes the literal location. The phrase the house of slavery describes Egypt figuratively with reference to the circumstances of the people while they were there.

house of slavery: In this phrase, the word house refers to a place, the land of Egypt. It does not indicate a literal house.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the place where you were forced to work very hard
-or-
the place of slavery (New American Bible)
-or-
the land of slavery (New International Version)
-or-
the place of slave-labour (New Jerusalem Bible)

Some versions leave the word house implied. For example:

I rescued you from slavery (Good News Translation)

6:4c

I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam: The LORD gave the people effective leaders. This was a second significant event in Israel’s past that gave evidence of the LORD’s goodness to his people.

I sent…before you: This phrase probably indicates that the LORD chose and sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead the people out of Egypt, through the wilderness of Sinai, and to the promised land.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. (Good News Translation)
-or-

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you. (New Century Version)

Moses…Aaron and Miriam: The Hebrew is more literally, “I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.” In some languages it is natural to list the most important name first, as is shown here. The Berean Standard Bible and some other translations separate Moses to stylistically show his importance. Others follow the Hebrew more closely. The birth order of these siblings was probably Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. In some other languages, it is natural to list the oldest first. Translate these three names in the order that is most natural in your language.

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