Exodus 3:1-10

Listen to Exodus 3:1-10

Moses at the Burning Bush

1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, [a] the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, [b] the mountain of God. 1
2 There the angel [c] of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.
3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” [d]
6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” [e] At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” [f]

Exodus 3:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 2

In this chapter we are informed how that the Lord appeared to Moses in a bush on fire, but not consumed, Ex 3:1-6, declared unto him that he had seen and observed the afflictions of the children of Israel, and was determined to deliver them, Ex 3:7-9, that he gave him a call to be the deliverer of them, answered his objections to it, and instructed him what he should say, both to the elders of Israel and to Pharaoh, Ex 3:10-18, and assured him, that though at first Pharaoh would refuse to let them go, yet after many miracles wrought, he would be willing to dismiss them, when they should depart with great substance, Ex 3:19-22.

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Cross References 1

  • 1. (Acts 7:30–38)

Footnotes 6

  • [a] Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18.
  • [b] That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai
  • [c] Or Angel
  • [d] Cited in Acts 7:33
  • [e] Cited in Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, and Acts 7:32
  • [f] Cited in Acts 7:34
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