Exodus 3:1-6

The Burning Bush

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the ¹mountain of God.

2 ²And ³the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. ”

4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, ⁴God called to him ⁵out of the bush, “Moses, Moses! ” And he said, “Here I am. ”

5 Then he said, “Do not come near; ⁶take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. ”

6 And he said, ⁷“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ” And Moses hid his face, for ⁸he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. 3:1 ch. 4:27; 18:5; 24:13; Num. 10:33; 1 Kgs. 19:8
• 2. 3:2 For ver. 2-10, see Acts 7:30-35
• 3. 3:2 Isa. 63:9
• 4. 3:4 ch. 19:3
• 5. 3:4 Deut. 33:16
• 6. 3:5 Josh. 5:15; [ch. 19:12; Eccles. 5:1]
• 7. 3:6 ch. 4:5; Gen. 28:13; 1 Kgs. 18:36; Cited Matt. 22:32; Mark 12:26; [Luke 20:37]
• 8. 3:6 [1 Kgs. 19:13; Isa. 6:1, 2, 5]