Focused Passage

Exodus 3:13-22

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

13 Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

16 Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.

17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

18 The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’

19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.

20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform among them. And after that, he will release you.

21 And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed.

22 Every woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

Then Moses מֹשֶׁ֜ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular asked וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular אֶל־ אֶל־ H413 Preposition God הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural Suppose הִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Interjection I אָנֹכִ֣י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular go בָא֮ H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Israelites בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular and say וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular to them לָהֶ֔ם Preposition | third person masculine plural The God אֱלֹהֵ֥י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of your fathers אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural has sent me שְׁלָחַ֣נִי H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular to you אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural and they ask וְאָֽמְרוּ־ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural me לִ֣י Preposition | first person common singular What מַה־ H4100 Interrogative is His name שְּׁמ֔וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular What מָ֥ה H4100 Interrogative should I tell אֹמַ֖ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular them אֲלֵהֶֽם׃ H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural
Verse 14

Original words

God אֱלֹהִים֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular I AM אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular WHO אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative I AM אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular This is what כֹּ֤ה H3541 Adverb . . . תֹאמַר֙ H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular you are to say וַיֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to the Israelites לִבְנֵ֣י H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular I AM אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular has sent me שְׁלָחַ֥נִי H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular to you אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE
Verse 15

Original words

God אֱלֹהִ֜ים H430 Noun - masculine plural also ע֨וֹד H5750 Adverb told וַיֹּאמֶר֩ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Say תֹאמַר֮ H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Israelites בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular The LORD יְהוָ֞ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of your fathers אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֗ם H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֨י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Abraham אַבְרָהָ֜ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Isaac יִצְחָ֛ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the God וֵאלֹהֵ֥י H430 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of Jacob יַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular has sent me שְׁלָחַ֣נִי H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular to you אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural This זֶה־ H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular is My name שְּׁמִ֣י H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular forever לְעֹלָ֔ם H5769 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular and this וְזֶ֥ה H2088 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular is how I am to be remembered זִכְרִ֖י H2143 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular in every generation לְדֹ֥ר H1755 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular . . . דֹּֽר׃ H1755 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Go לֵ֣ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular assemble וְאָֽסַפְתָּ֞ H622 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the elders זִקְנֵ֣י H2205 Adjective - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular and say וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular to them אֲלֵהֶם֙ H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural The LORD יְהוָ֞ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֤י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of your fathers אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural the God אֱלֹהֵ֧י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Abraham אַבְרָהָ֛ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular Isaac יִצְחָ֥ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jacob וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular has appeared נִרְאָ֣ה H7200 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular and said לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct I have surely attended to פָּקֹ֤ד H6485 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . פָּקַ֙דְתִּי֙ H6485 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular you אֶתְכֶ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural and וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker [have seen] what has been done הֶעָשׂ֥וּי H6213 Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular to you לָכֶ֖ם Preposition | second person masculine plural in Egypt בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

And I have promised וָאֹמַ֗ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular to bring you up אַעֲלֶ֣ה H5927 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶתְכֶם֮ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural out of your affliction מֵעֳנִ֣י H6040 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct in Egypt מִצְרַיִם֒ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land אֶ֤רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of the Canaanites הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ H3669 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hittites וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י H2850 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Amorites וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ H567 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Perizzites וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י H6522 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Hivites וְהַחִוִּ֖י H2340 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jebusites וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י H2983 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition a land אֶ֛רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular flowing זָבַ֥ת H2100 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct with milk חָלָ֖ב H2461 Noun - masculine singular and honey וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ H1706 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

[The elders of Israel] will listen וְשָׁמְע֖וּ H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural to what you say לְקֹלֶ֑ךָ H6963 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and you אַתָּה֩ H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular must go וּבָאתָ֡ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular with [them] וְזִקְנֵ֨י H2205 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֗יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular and tell וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֤ם H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural him אֵלָיו֙ H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular The LORD יְהוָ֞ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֤י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Hebrews הָֽעִבְרִיִּים֙ H5680 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural has met נִקְרָ֣ה H7136 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular with us עָלֵ֔ינוּ H5921 Preposition | first person common plural Now וְעַתָּ֗ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb please נָּ֞א H4994 Interjection let us take נֵֽלֲכָה־ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural a three-day שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת H7969 Number - masculine singular construct . . . יָמִים֙ H3117 Noun - masculine plural journey דֶּ֣רֶךְ H1870 Noun - common singular construct into the wilderness בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר H4057 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular so that we may sacrifice וְנִזְבְּחָ֖ה H2076 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural to the LORD לַֽיהוָ֥ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular our God אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Verse 19

Original words

But I וַאֲנִ֣י H589 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular know יָדַ֔עְתִּי H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular that כִּ֠י H3588 Conjunction the king מֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֖יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular will not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle allow יִתֵּ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶתְכֶ֛ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural you to go לַהֲלֹ֑ךְ H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct unless וְלֹ֖א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle a mighty hand compels him חֲזָקָֽה׃ H2389 Adjective - feminine singular . . . בְּיָ֥ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Literally except by a mighty hand
Verse 20

Original words

So I will stretch out וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֤י H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker My hand יָדִי֙ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular and strike וְהִכֵּיתִ֣י H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Egyptians מִצְרַ֔יִם H4713 Noun - proper - feminine singular with all בְּכֹל֙ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the wonders נִפְלְאֹתַ֔י H6381 Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural construct | first person common singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I will perform אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular among them בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular And after וְאַחֲרֵי־ H310 Conjunctive waw | Preposition that כֵ֖ן H3651 Adverb he will release יְשַׁלַּ֥ח H7971 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular you אֶתְכֶֽם׃ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Verse 21

Original words

And I will grant וְנָתַתִּ֛י H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular people הָֽעָם־ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular such favor חֵ֥ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular in the sight בְּעֵינֵ֣י H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc of the Egyptians מִצְרָ֑יִם H4713 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular that when כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you leave תֵֽלֵכ֔וּן H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun you will not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle go away תֵלְכ֖וּ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural empty-handed רֵיקָֽם׃ H7387 Adverb
Verse 22

Original words

Every אִשָּׁ֤ה H802 Noun - feminine singular woman shall ask וְשָׁאֲלָ֨ה H7592 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular her neighbor מִשְּׁכֶנְתָּהּ֙ H7934 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular and any woman staying וּמִגָּרַ֣ת H1481 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct in her house בֵּיתָ֔הּ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular for silver כֶ֛סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular . . . וּכְלֵ֥י H3627 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct and gold זָהָ֖ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular jewelry כְּלֵי־ H3627 Noun - masculine plural construct and clothing וּשְׂמָלֹ֑ת H8071 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural and you will put them וְשַׂמְתֶּ֗ם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition your sons בְּנֵיכֶם֙ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and daughters בְּנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם H1323 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural So you will plunder וְנִצַּלְתֶּ֖ם H5337 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Egyptians מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4713 Noun - proper - feminine singular

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