Exodus 7:6
ESV
Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them.
NIV
Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them.
NASB
So Moses and Aaron did this; as the Lord commanded them, so they did.
CSB
So Moses and Aaron did this; they did just as the Lord commanded them.
NLT
So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them.
KJV
And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.
NKJV
Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did.
What does Exodus 7:6 mean?
While these words are simple, they imply a remarkable level of trust. Moses and Aaron are being told to return (Exodus 7:1–5) to the Egyptian ruler who rudely rejected their first request (Exodus 5:1–9) with spite and retaliation (Exodus 5:19–21). As the following verse notes, these are not young men (Exodus 7:7). Yet they put themselves in danger by challenging an incredibly powerful ruler—because the Lord told them to do so (Exodus 7:2). Despite nothing going right for Israel so far, the two men will act according to faith.The next several chapters are dramatic. Moses and Aaron announce the Lord's plagues on Egypt; sometimes, they are called on to physically trigger those catastrophes. Yet they are not the source of power—they are simply obeying God. This theme will continue after Israel is freed (Exodus 12:41) and needs guidance in the wilderness (Psalm 77:20).
Exodus 7:1–7 completes the encouragement and summary which began in chapter 6. God intends to free Israel (Exodus 1:11–14) through spectacular miracles. These will demonstrate His power. Moses and Aaron (Exodus 4:14–16) will obey, despite both men being more than eighty years old.
God again repeats (Exodus 3:19–20; 4:19–23; 6:6) the basic outline of how Israel will be freed from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:11–14). He then commands Moses and Aaron to show Pharaoh one of the miraculous signs given for that purpose (Exodus 4:2–5). Egyptian magicians seem to duplicate the feat, so Pharaoh still refuses to hear Mo-ses' message. This results in the first plague: all water in Egypt, including the Nile river, becomes blood. This lasts seven days. The Lord then tells Moses to repeat the demand for Israel's release.
