Exodus3
American Standard Version · Public Domain
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 the mountain of God, unto Horeb.
2And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3And Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4And when Jehovah saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
7And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them?
14And God said unto Moses, I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.
15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
16Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us: and now let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Jehovah our God.
19And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
21And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
22but every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall despoil the Egyptians.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God appears to Moses in a burning bush. (1–6). God sends Moses to deliver Israel. (7–10). The name Jehovah. (11–15). The deliverance of the Israelites promised. (16–22).
vv1-6
The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second as a shepherd in Midian, the third as a king in Jeshurun. How changeable is the life of man! The first appearance of God to Moses, found him tending sheep. This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness and contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his learning. Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he finds us employed. Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God. To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it. The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the church in bondage in Egypt. And it fitly reminds us of the church in every age, under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed. Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divine holiness and justice, also of the afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul changed into the Divine nature and image. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God, must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory, though it be in a bush. Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission. We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service. God does not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am. The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave. No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker. By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, and strengthened his belief of a future state. Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, Lu 20:37. Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upon God. The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear.
vv7-10
God notices the afflictions of Israel. Their sorrows; even the secret sorrows of God's people are known to him. Their cry; God hears the cries of his afflicted people. The oppression they endured; the highest and greatest of their oppressors are not above him. God promises speedy deliverance by methods out of the common ways of providence. Those whom God, by his grace, delivers out of a spiritual Egypt, he will bring to a heavenly Canaan. (Ex 3:11-15)
vv11-15
Formerly Moses thought himself able to deliver Israel, and set himself to the work too hastily. Now, when the fittest person on earth for it, he knows his own weakness. This was the effect of more knowledge of God and of himself. Formerly, self-confidence mingled with strong faith and great zeal, now sinful distrust of God crept in under the garb of humility; so defective are the strongest graces and the best duties of the most eminent saints. But all objections are answered in, Certainly I will be with thee. That is enough. Two names God would now be known by. A name that denotes what he is in himself, I AM THAT I AM. This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies, 1. That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself. 2. That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. 3. That he is incomprehensible; we cannot by searching find him out: this name checks all bold and curious inquiries concerning God. 4. That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature; let Israel know this, I AM hath sent me unto you. I am, and there is none else besides me. All else have their being from God, and are wholly dependent upon him. Also, here is a name that denotes what God is to his people. The Lord God of your fathers sent me unto you. Moses must revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was almost lost; and then they might expect the speedy performance of the promises made unto their fathers.
Key Words
הָיָה: to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
רָעָה: to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
צֹאן: a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
חָתַן: to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage
יִתְרוֹ: Jethro, Moses' father-in-law
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
מִדְיָן: Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants
נָהַג: to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
Cross References
Exodus 3Stephen's inspired rehearsal of Moses' life explicitly recounts this appearance of the Angel in Sinai's desert.
Supported by Matthew Poole, Calvin
Jesus quotes verse 6 here to prove the resurrection of the dead to the Sadducees.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Direct historical fulfillment of God's promise that Israel would receive favor and spoil the Egyptians.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The literal execution of the command for women to borrow jewels of silver, gold, and raiment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Moses' final blessing invokes the favor of 'him that dwelt in the bush' as a lasting memorial.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus claims the divine name 'I AM' from verse 14, asserting His self-existent deity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of the ancient Abrahamic covenant promise that Israel would come out with great substance.
Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole
The direct narrative statement that God gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.
The repeated instruction from God to Moses immediately prior to the final plague of Egypt.
The burning lamp and smoking furnace in Abraham's vision parallel the burning, unconsumed bush.
Supported by JFB
Explains that God is 'not ashamed to be called their God' because He prepared their city.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Stephen's speech directly quotes God's declaration that He has 'seen the affliction of my people'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the immediate direct answer to Moses' question in verse 13 regarding God's name.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Poetic celebration of God bringing Israel out of Egypt specifically with silver and gold.
Parallels the warning to set bounds and keep distance at holy Mount Sinai.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Elijah wraps his face in his mantle at Horeb, mimicking Moses hiding his face in fear.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical transition showing God remembering His covenant when Israel cried under taskmasters.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Joseph's dying prophecy that God will surely 'visit' you is fulfilled in the word spoken here.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills God's warning in verse 19, where Pharaoh defiantly asks, 'Who is the Lord?'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Legal parallel where Hebrew masters are commanded not to let their departing servants go empty.
Samuel summarizes God sending Moses and Aaron to bring the fathers out of Egypt.
Supported by Calvin
Historical reflection on God making Israel to be pitied by their captors throughout their history.