Exodus 3
The Burning Bush
1Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb.
2The LORD’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
4When the LORD saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”
5He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”
6Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
8I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
The Divine Name and Commission
13Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”
14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.
16Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.
17I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’
18They will listen to your voice. You shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD, our God.’
19I know that the king of Egypt won’t give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do among them, and after that he will let you go.
21I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed.
22But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her who visits her house, jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing. You shall put them on your sons, and on your daughters. You shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Moses encounters God at the burning bush on Mount Horeb, where he receives his divine calling to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage. God reveals His sacred name 'I AM WHO I AM' and commissions Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to the promised land. Despite Moses' initial reluctance and questions about his adequacy, God promises His presence and provides specific instructions for approaching the Hebrew elders.
Context
This pivotal chapter follows Moses' flight to Midian in chapter 2 and establishes the divine foundation for the exodus narrative that dominates the remainder of the book.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-6The Burning Bush EncounterMoses discovers the unconsumed burning bush and receives God's call on holy ground.
- 7-10God's Mission of DeliveranceGod declares His awareness of Israel's suffering and commissions Moses to lead the exodus.
- 11-12Moses' First ObjectionMoses questions his own adequacy, and God promises His presence as assurance.
- 13-15The Divine Name RevealedGod reveals His eternal name 'I AM WHO I AM' in response to Moses' second concern.
- 16-22Instructions for the MissionGod provides Moses with specific directions for approaching the elders and Pharaoh.
The Burning Bush
3:1–3:12God appears to Moses in a burning bush and calls him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Moses responds with humility and fear, while God promises His presence and support.
quotation_chain
Moses receives five divine names in twelve verses—more concentrated divine self-revelation than anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible, culminating in the revolutionary "I AM WHO I AM.
The Divine Name and Commission
3:13–3:22God reveals His divine name 'I AM' to Moses and details the plan for Israel's exodus from Egypt. God promises to demonstrate His power against Egypt and ensure Israel's departure with great wealth.
person_contrast
Moses, typically associated with law-giving and obedience, here receives unprecedented divine power promises and wealth guarantees, marking his transformation from shepherd to liberator.
Exodus 3:1
Exodus 18:1lexicalNow Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his peop…
Exodus 18:5lexicalJethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at…
Psalms 78:52lexicalBut he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Exodus 3:6
Genesis 50:24lexicalJoseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land w…
Genesis 31:53lexicalThe God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of hi…
Exodus 2:24lexicalGod heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Deuteronomy 9:27lexicalRemember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Don’t look at the stubbornness of this people, nor at their wickednes…
Exodus 4:5lexical“This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the…
Exodus 3:8
Exodus 13:5lexicalIt shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite,…
Joshua 12:8lexicalin the hill country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South;…
Judges 3:5lexicalThe children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebu…
Exodus 34:11lexicalObserve that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the…
Exodus 23:23lexicalFor my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite…
Exodus 3:15
Psalms 135:13lexicalYour name, LORD, endures forever; your renown, LORD, throughout all generations.
Deuteronomy 9:27lexicalRemember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Don’t look at the stubbornness of this people, nor at their wickednes…
Exodus 4:5lexical“This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the…
Exodus 33:1lexicalThe LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt,…
Exodus 6:3lexicalI appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them.
Exodus 3:16
Genesis 35:29lexicalIsaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, burie…
Genesis 50:24lexicalJoseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land w…
Genesis 31:53lexicalThe God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of hi…
Exodus 2:24lexicalGod heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Leviticus 26:42lexicalthen I will remember my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remem…
Exodus 3:17
Exodus 13:5lexicalIt shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite,…
Joshua 9:1lexicalWhen all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the grea…
Deuteronomy 20:17lexicalbut you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite…
Joshua 3:10lexicalJoshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite…
Joshua 11:3lexicalto the Canaanite on the east and on the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the hill country,…
Exodus 3:22
Exodus 12:35lexicalThe children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels…
2 Samuel 8:10lexicalthen Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and str…
Exodus 11:2lexicalSpeak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of s…
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