Back to Exodus 3

Exodus 3:2-10

Yahweh’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

When Yahweh saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”

He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Exodus 3:2-10 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Now 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 God’s mountain, to Horeb. Yahweh’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

When Yahweh saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”

He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Yahweh’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

    Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

    When Yahweh saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”

    He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”

    Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

    Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

    I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

    Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

    Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

  • KJV King James Version

    And the angel of the LORD 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.

    And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

    And when the LORD 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.

    And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

    Moreover 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.

    And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

    And 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 Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

    Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

    Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And the angel of the LORD 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.

    And Moses said: 'I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.'

    And when the LORD 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.'

    And He said: 'Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.'

    Moreover 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.

    And the LORD 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 pains;

    and 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.

    And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto Me; moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

    Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.'

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Cross-references (157)

  • Psalms 145:19 (v7) He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
  • Psalms 106:44 (v7) Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry.
  • Joshua 5:15 (v5) The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.
  • Genesis 50:24 (v8) Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to…
  • Exodus 2:23-25 (v7) In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and…
Show all 100 cross-references
  • Genesis 15:18-21 (v8) In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great…
  • Exodus 3:17 (v8) I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the…
  • Psalms 34:6 (v7) This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
  • Nehemiah 9:9 (vv6–7) “You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,
  • Exodus 22:23 (v7) If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;
  • Acts 7:30-35 (v2) “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When…
  • Exodus 13:5 (v8) It shall be, when Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,…
  • Deuteronomy 1:25 (v8) They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, “It is a good land…
  • Genesis 29:32 (v7) Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband…
  • Exodus 1:11 (vv7, 9) Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
  • Isaiah 63:9 (vv2, 7) In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore…
  • Deuteronomy 8:7-9 (v8) For Yahweh your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of springs, and underground water flowing into valleys and…
  • Psalms 22:24 (v7) For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he…
  • Psalms 34:4 (v7) I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
  • Jeremiah 11:5 (v8) that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.” Then I…
  • Acts 7:33 (v5) The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
  • Exodus 19:12 (v5) You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever…
  • Numbers 13:27 (v8) They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us. Surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
  • 1 Samuel 9:16 (v7) “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel.…
  • Isaiah 43:2 (v2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire,…
  • Luke 20:37 (vv2, 6) But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of…
  • Psalms 142:3 (v7) When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:1 (v5) Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know…
  • Ezekiel 20:6 (v8) in that day I swore to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and…
  • Micah 6:4 (v10) For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
  • Genesis 18:21 (vv7–8) I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
  • Deuteronomy 33:16 (vv2, 4) for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on…
  • Mark 12:26 (vv2, 6) But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the…
  • Exodus 2:23 (v9) In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and…
  • Psalms 91:15 (v8) He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
  • Proverbs 22:22-23 (v9) Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court; for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of…
  • Matthew 22:32 (v6) ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
  • John 6:38 (v8) For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
  • Hebrews 4:15 (v7) For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like…
  • Exodus 1:13-14 (v9) The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, and they made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, and…
  • Exodus 4:5 (v6) “This is so that they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has…
  • Exodus 6:6-8 (v8) Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you…
  • Psalms 66:12 (v2) You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance.
  • Genesis 28:13 (v6) Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give the land you lie…
  • Genesis 28:16-17 (v5) Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” He was afraid, and said, “How awesome…
  • Exodus 3:7 (v9) Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I…
  • Exodus 12:51 (v8) That same day, Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
  • 1 Samuel 12:6 (v10) Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
  • Psalms 34:8 (v8) Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
  • Psalms 105:26 (v10) He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
  • Isaiah 63:11-12 (v10) Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his…
  • Acts 7:31 (v3) When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him,
  • Acts 7:32 (v6) ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look.
  • Hebrews 12:20 (v5) for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.
  • Psalms 12:5 (vv8–9) “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety…
  • Acts 7:34 (vv6, 10) I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come,…
  • Genesis 11:5 (v8) Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.
  • Exodus 1:22 (v9) Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
  • Exodus 3:16 (v2) Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,…
  • Exodus 19:21 (v5) Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish.
  • Deuteronomy 7:1 (v8) When Yahweh your God brings you into the land where you go to possess it, and casts out many nations before you—the Hittite, the…
  • Deuteronomy 11:9-24 (v8) and that you may prolong your days in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing…
  • Deuteronomy 27:3 (v8) You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which Yahweh your God gives…
  • Jeremiah 32:22 (v8) and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.
  • Malachi 3:1 (v2) “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the…
  • Revelation 1:17 (v6) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last,
  • Genesis 16:7-13 (v2) Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant,…
  • Genesis 48:16 (v2) the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and…
  • Exodus 3:4-10 (v2) When Yahweh saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”…
  • Deuteronomy 4:20 (v2) But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today.
  • 1 Kings 18:36 (v6) At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near, and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it…
  • Psalms 77:20 (v10) You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
  • Ecclesiastes 4:1 (v9) Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no…
  • Ecclesiastes 5:8 (v9) If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter,…
  • Isaiah 64:1 (v8) Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence.
  • Jeremiah 50:33-34 (v9) Yahweh of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast.…
  • Daniel 3:27 (v2) The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had…
  • Hosea 12:13 (v10) By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
  • Micah 2:1-3 (v9) Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of…
  • John 3:13 (v8) No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
  • Genesis 15:13-17 (v2) He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will…
  • Genesis 22:1 (v4) After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
  • Genesis 22:11 (v4) Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
  • Genesis 22:15-16 (v2) Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, and said, “ ‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done…
  • Genesis 46:2 (v4) God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.”
  • Exodus 33:2-3 (v8) I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the…
  • Exodus 34:11 (v8) Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the…
  • Numbers 14:7-8 (v8) They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly…
  • 1 Samuel 3:4 (v4) Yahweh called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.”
  • 1 Samuel 3:6 (v4) Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my…
  • 1 Samuel 3:8 (v4) Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had…
  • Nehemiah 9:22-25 (v8) Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the…
  • Psalms 22:4-5 (v8) Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not…
  • Psalms 103:6-7 (v10) Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
  • Hosea 12:4-5 (v2) Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with…
  • Acts 7:36 (v10) This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
  • Acts 9:4 (v4) He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
  • Genesis 15:14 (v8) I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;
  • Exodus 22:23-31 (v8) If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill…
  • Leviticus 10:3 (v5) Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, ‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the…

100 distinct cross-references across this passage (157 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (22 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 This signifieth that the Church is not consumed by…

This signifieth that the Church is not consumed by the fire of affliction, because God is in the midst thereof.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–10 Exo 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 The angel of the Lord; not a created angel,…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v7 Now that Moses had put off his shoes (for,…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–10 And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him,....…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2, 5, 6, 7, 8 Verse 2. The angel of the Lord] Not a…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 Exo 3:2. The Angel of the Lord appeared to…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 The angel of the Lord - See the note…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2, 5, 6, 8 The Lord appeared. That is, and angel representing God,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2, 4, 5, 6, 10 the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv2, 5, 6, 7 2. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–10 2. the angel of Jehovah] The ‘angel of Jehovah,’…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–8 (2) The angel of the Lord.—Heb., an angel of…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–10 The angel of the Lord. Literally, "an angel of…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 10 I am the God of thy father.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v7 MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Exo_3:7-10
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On v10 Exo 3:10 - - Exo 3:20.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v2 (See Scofield "Heb 1:4").
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v7 The Command to go to Egypt
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4, 7, 9 set apart
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 3:2 Technically, the angel of the Lord is the…
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