ה֥וּא אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם הֹוצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם׃
(Exodus 6:26)
This verse identifies Aharon and Moshe as the leaders appointed by YHWH to lead the Israelites out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). It’s short, but it packs rich grammar: subject pronouns, relative clauses, direct speech, and imperative verbs. Let’s learn how each piece works together.
English Translation (Clear and Literal)
This is Aharon and Moshe, to whom YHWH said, “Bring out the children of Yisra’el from the land of Mitsrayim according to their divisions.”
Sentence Flow: Identifying and Commanding
The sentence starts by pointing to a pair: “This is Aharon and Moshe.” Then it uses a relative clause to describe what YHWH said to them, ending with His command. The structure is:
- הוּא אַהֲרֹן וּמֹשֶׁה — This is Aharon and Moshe
- אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה לָהֶם — whom YHWH said to
- הֹוצִיאוּ… — “Bring out…” (the command)
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| הוּא | This is / it is | Pronoun used here to point emphatically—“This is Aharon and Moshe.” |
| אַהֲרֹן וּמֹשֶׁה | Aharon and Moshe | Subjects being identified. The וּ = “and.” |
| אֲשֶׁר | who / whom | Relative pronoun connecting the people to what YHWH said to them. |
| אָמַר | said | Perfect tense verb, 3rd person masculine singular, from אָמַר (“to say”). |
| יְהוָה | YHWH | The subject who gave the command. |
| לָהֶם | to them | Preposition + suffix: “to them” (Aharon and Moshe). |
| הֹוצִיאוּ | Bring out! | Imperative verb, masculine plural, from יָצָא in the Hiphil stem (causative: “cause to go out”). Commanded to both Aharon and Moshe. |
| אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | the children of Yisra’el | אֶת marks the direct object. בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל = “children (sons) of Israel.” |
| מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם | from the land of Mitsrayim | Preposition מִן (“from”) + אֶרֶץ (“land”) + proper noun מִצְרַיִם (“Egypt”). |
| עַל־צִבְאֹתָם | by their divisions | צִבְאֹות = “armies” or “groupings,” often used for organized groups. עַל = “according to” here. צִבְאֹתָם = “their groupings.” |
Visual Snapshot: Who Did What?
| Subject | Action | Commanded To |
|---|---|---|
| YHWH | אָמַר — said | אַהֲרֹן וּמֹשֶׁה |
| אַהֲרֹן וּמֹשֶׁה | הֹוצִיאוּ — bring out | בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל |
What We Learned from This Sentence
- You saw how Hebrew points to someone with הוּא (“this is…”), even for multiple people.
- You practiced identifying a relative clause with אֲשֶׁר and saw how it links people to actions.
- You learned an imperative verb with plural ending: הֹוצִיאוּ.
- You worked with prepositions like מִן, עַל, and לְ in context.
This small verse carries big grammar: leadership, divine speech, and national action—all packed into one clear Hebrew sentence. You’re learning how to follow the movement and meaning of Scripture in the original words!
