Focused Passage

Exodus 3:1-6

The LORD Calls Moses from the Burning Bush

The LORD appears to Moses in the burning bush, reveals His holiness and covenant name, announces His concern for Israel's suffering, and sends Moses to Pharaoh with the promise of deliverance.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2There the angel 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.”

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Meanwhile, Mosesוּמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwasהָיָ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularshepherdingרֹעֶ֛הH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe flockצֹ֛אןH6629Noun - common singular constructof his father-in-lawחֹתְנ֖וֹH2859Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularJethroיִתְר֥וֹH3503Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestכֹּהֵ֣ןH3548Noun - masculine singular constructof Midianמִדְיָ֑ןH4080Noun - proper - masculine singularHe ledוַיִּנְהַ֤גH5090Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe flockהַצֹּאן֙H6629Article | Noun - common singularto the far sideאַחַ֣רH310Adverbof the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֔רH4057Article | Noun - masculine singularand cameוַיָּבֹ֛אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionHorebחֹרֵֽבָה׃H2722Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singularthe mountainהַ֥רH2022Noun - masculine singular constructof Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was also called Reuel; see Exodus 2:18.
  • That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai
Verse 2

Original words

There the angelמַלְאַ֨ךְH4397Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהֹוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularappearedוַ֠יֵּרָאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto himאֵלָ֛יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularin a blazingבְּלַבַּת־H3827Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructfireאֵ֖שׁH784Noun - common singularfrom withinמִתּ֣וֹךְH8432Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructa bushהַסְּנֶ֑הH5572Article | Noun - masculine singularMoses sawוַיַּ֗רְאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .וְהִנֵּ֤הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionthe bushהַסְּנֶה֙H5572Article | Noun - masculine singularablazeבֹּעֵ֣רH1197Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwith fireבָּאֵ֔שׁH784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular. . .וְהַסְּנֶ֖הH5572Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularbut it was notאֵינֶ֥נּוּH369Adverb | third person masculine singularconsumedאֻכָּֽל׃H398Verb - QalPass - Participle - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or Angel
Verse 3

Original words

So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularthoughtוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularI must go overאָסֻֽרָה־H5493Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular. . .נָּ֣אH4994Interjectionand seeוְאֶרְאֶ֔הH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularmarvelousהַגָּדֹ֖לH1419Article | Adjective - masculine singularsightהַמַּרְאֶ֥הH4758Article | Noun - masculine singularWhy isמַדּ֖וּעַH4069Interrogativethe bushהַסְּנֶֽה׃H5572Article | Noun - masculine singularnotלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleburning upיִבְעַ֥רH1197Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

When the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsawוַיַּ֥רְאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionhe had gone overסָ֣רH5493Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto lookלִרְא֑וֹתH7200Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructGodאֱלֹהִ֜יםH430Noun - masculine pluralcalled outוַיִּקְרָא֩H7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto himאֵלָ֨יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularfrom withinמִתּ֣וֹךְH8432Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthe bushהַסְּנֶ֗הH5572Article | Noun - masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁ֥הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁ֖הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularHereהִנֵּֽנִי׃H2009Interjection | first person common singularI amוַיֹּ֛אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhe answeredוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Do notאַל־H408Adverbcomeתִּקְרַ֣בH7126Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularany closerהֲלֹ֑םH1988Adverb[God] saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularTake offשַׁל־H5394Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularyour sandalsנְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙H5275Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular. . .מֵעַ֣לH5921Preposition-m. . .רַגְלֶ֔יךָH7272Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthe placeהַמָּק֗וֹםH4725Article | Noun - masculine singularwhereאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativeyouאַתָּה֙H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularare standingעוֹמֵ֣דH5975Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular. . .עָלָ֔יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularis holyקֹ֖דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singular. . .הֽוּא׃H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singulargroundאַדְמַת־H127Noun - feminine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Cited in Acts 7:33
Verse 6

Original words

Then He saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularIאָנֹכִי֙H595Pronoun - first person common singularam the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof your fatherאָבִ֔יךָH1Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֧יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֥יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Isaacיִצְחָ֖קH3327Noun - proper - masculine singularand the Godוֵאלֹהֵ֣יH430Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בH3290Noun - proper - masculine singularAt this, Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhidוַיַּסְתֵּ֤רH5641Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis faceפָּנָ֔יוH6440Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionhe was afraidיָרֵ֔אH3372Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto lookמֵהַבִּ֖יטH5027Preposition-m | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructatאֶל־H413PrepositionGodהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃H430Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, and Acts 7:32

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.