Exodus 3:1-6

The Burning Bush

1 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of ¹Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to ²Horeb, the ³mountain of God.

2 ⁴The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a ⁵bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

3 So Moses said, "⁶I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up."

4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, ⁷God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."

5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; ⁸remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

6 He said also, "⁹I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." ¹⁰Then Moses hid his face, for he was ¹¹afraid 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. Exodus 2:18; Exodus 4:18; Exodus 18:12; Numbers 10:29
• 2. Exodus 3:12; Exodus 17:6; Exodus 33:6; 1 Kings 19:8
• 3. Exodus 4:27; Exodus 18:5; Exodus 24:13
• 4. Genesis 16:7-11; Genesis 21:17; Genesis 22:11, 15; Ex 3:4-11, 16; Judges 13:13-21; Acts 7:30
• 5. Deuteronomy 33:16; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:30
• 6. Acts 7:31
• 7. Exodus 4:5
• 8. Joshua 5:15; Acts 7:33
• 9. Genesis 28:13; Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:5; Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37
• 10. Acts 7:32
• 11. Judges 13:22; Revelation 1:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "rear part"
• [b]. Lit "the"
• [c]. Lit "Let me turn"
• [d]. Lit "great"