Exodus3
New Living Translation
1One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God.
2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.
3“This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.
5“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.
6I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
8So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
9Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
10Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
11But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
13But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14God replied to Moses, “I am who i am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.”
15God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.
16“Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, “I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you.
17I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.”’
18“The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord, our God.’
19“But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.
20So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.
21And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.
22Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.”
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.