Exodus

Exodus 3:1–6

1Meanwhile, 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. 2There the angelc 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. 3So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

4When 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 6Then 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.

Footnotes

  • a 3:1 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18|EXO 2:18.
  • b 3:1 That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai
  • c 3:2 Or Angel
  • d 3:5 Cited in Acts 7:33|ACT 7:33
  • e 3:6 Cited in Matthew 22:32|MAT 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, and Acts 7:32

Read all of Exodus 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Exodus 3:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Meanwhileוּמֹשֶׁ֗הū·mō·šehConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
Mosesוּמֹשֶׁ֗הū·mō·šehConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
wasהָיָ֥הhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
shepherdingרֹעֶ֛הrō·‘ehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7462 pasture, tend, graze
the flockצֹ֛אןṣōnNoun - common singular constructH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
of his father-in-lawחֹתְנ֖וֹḥō·ṯə·nōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2859 wife's father
Jethroיִתְר֥וֹyiṯ·rōwNoun - proper - masculine singularH3503 Jethro
the priestכֹּהֵ֣ןkō·hênNoun - masculine singular constructH3548 priest
of Midianמִדְיָ֑ןmiḏ·yānNoun - proper - masculine singularH4080 Midjan
He ledוַיִּנְהַ֤גway·yin·haḡConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5090 drive, conduct
the flockהַצֹּאן֙haṣ·ṣōnArticle; Noun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
to the far sideאַחַ֣ר’a·ḥarAdverbH310 behind
of the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֔רham·miḏ·bārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4057 mouth
and cameוַיָּבֹ֛אway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Horebחֹרֵֽבָה׃ḥō·rê·ḇāhNoun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH2722 Horeb
the mountainהַ֥רharNoun - masculine singular constructH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God

Exodus 3:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
There the angelמַלְאַ֨ךְmal·’aḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4397 messenger
of the LORDיְהֹוָ֥הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
appearedוַ֠יֵּרָאway·yê·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
to himאֵלָ֛יו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
in a blazingבְּלַבַּת־bə·lab·baṯ-Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3827 flame
fireאֵ֖שׁ’êšNoun - common singularH784 fire
from withinמִתּ֣וֹךְmit·tō·wḵPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
a bushהַסְּנֶ֑הhas·sə·nehArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5572 blackberry bush
Moses sawוַיַּ֗רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
the bushהַסְּנֶה֙has·sə·nehArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5572 blackberry bush
ablazeבֹּעֵ֣רbō·‘êrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH1197 burn, consume
with fireבָּאֵ֔שׁbā·’êšPreposition-b, Article; Noun - common singularH784 fire
but it was notאֵינֶ֥נּוּ’ê·nen·nūAdverb; third person masculine singularH369 nothing, nought
consumedאֻכָּֽל׃’uk·kālVerb - QalPass - Participle - masculine singularH398 eat

Exodus 3:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
thoughtוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
I must go overאָסֻֽרָה־’ā·su·rāh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH5493 turn aside
and seeוְאֶרְאֶ֔הwə·’er·’ehConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularH7200 see
thisהַזֶּ֑הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
marvelousהַגָּדֹ֖לhag·gā·ḏōlArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH1419 great
sightהַמַּרְאֶ֥הham·mar·’ehArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4758 sight, appearance, vision
Why isמַדּ֖וּעַmad·dū·a‘InterrogativeH4069 wherefore?
the bushהַסְּנֶֽה׃has·sə·nehArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5572 blackberry bush
notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
burning upיִבְעַ֥רyiḇ·‘arVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1197 burn, consume

Exodus 3:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
sawוַיַּ֥רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
thatכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
he had gone overסָ֣רsārVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5493 turn aside
to lookלִרְא֑וֹתlir·’ō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7200 see
Godאֱלֹהִ֜ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
called outוַיִּקְרָא֩way·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
to himאֵלָ֨יו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
from withinמִתּ֣וֹךְmit·tō·wḵPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
the bushהַסְּנֶ֗הhas·sə·nehArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5572 blackberry bush
Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
Hereהִנֵּֽנִי׃hin·nê·nîInterjection; first person common singularH2009 lo! behold!
I amוַיֹּ֛אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
he answeredוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say

Exodus 3:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Do notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
comeתִּקְרַ֣בtiq·raḇVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH7126 come near, approach
any closerהֲלֹ֑םhă·lōmAdverbH1988 of place, hither
saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Take offשַׁל־šal-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH5394 slip or drop off
your sandalsנְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙nə·‘ā·le·ḵāNoun - feminine plural construct; second person masculine singularH5275 sandal, shoe
forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the placeהַמָּק֗וֹםham·mā·qō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
whereאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
youאַתָּה֙’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are standingעוֹמֵ֣ד‘ō·w·mêḏVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5975 take one's stand, stand
is holyקֹ֖דֶשׁqō·ḏešNoun - masculine singularH6944 sacred, sanctity
groundאַדְמַת־’aḏ·maṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH127 ground, land

Exodus 3:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then He saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Iאָנֹכִי֙’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
am the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hêNoun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of your fatherאָבִ֔יךָ’ā·ḇî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
the Godאֱלֹהֵ֧י’ĕ·lō·hêNoun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם’aḇ·rā·hāmNoun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י’ĕ·lō·hêNoun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of Isaacיִצְחָ֖קyiṣ·ḥāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH3327 Isaac
and the Godוֵאלֹהֵ֣יwê·lō·hêConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya·‘ă·qōḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3290 Jacob
At thisמֹשֶׁה֙mō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mō·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4872 Moses
hidוַיַּסְתֵּ֤רway·yas·têrConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5641 hide, conceal
his faceפָּנָ֔יוpā·nāwNoun - common plural construct; third person masculine singularH6440 face, before
forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
he was afraidיָרֵ֔אyā·rêVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3372 fear
to lookמֵהַבִּ֖יטmê·hab·bîṭPreposition-m; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5027 look
atאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃hā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Exodus 3:1 1 Kings 19:8 · Exodus 17:6 · Psalm 78:70–72 · Numbers 10:29 · Malachi 4:4 · Judges 4:11 · Exodus 18:1–6 · Amos 7:14–15 · Exodus 2:16 · Exodus 3:5 · Deuteronomy 4:10 · Exodus 19:3

Exodus 3:2 Acts 7:30–35 · Isaiah 43:2 · Deuteronomy 33:16 · Mark 12:26 · Luke 20:37 · Psalm 66:12 · Malachi 3:1 · Exodus 3:16 · Isaiah 63:9 · Deuteronomy 4:20 · Exodus 3:4–10 · Daniel 3:27

Exodus 3:3 Acts 7:31 · Psalm 107:8 · Job 37:14

Exodus 3:4 Deuteronomy 33:16 · Acts 9:4 · 1 Samuel 3:8 · 1 Samuel 3:4 · Genesis 22:11 · Genesis 46:2 · Genesis 22:1 · 1 Samuel 3:6 · Acts 10:3 · Psalm 62:11 · Acts 10:13 · 1 Samuel 3:10

Exodus 3:5 Joshua 5:15 · Acts 7:33 · Exodus 19:12 · Ecclesiastes 5:1 · Hebrews 12:20 · Genesis 28:16–17 · Exodus 19:21 · Leviticus 10:3

Exodus 3:6 Luke 20:37 · Matthew 22:32 · Exodus 4:5 · Mark 12:26 · Acts 7:32 · Genesis 28:13 · Revelation 1:17 · 1 Kings 18:36 · Isaiah 6:1–5 · Judges 13:22 · Jeremiah 24:7 · Jeremiah 32:38

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.