Exodus Chapter 3

Moses at the Burning Bush

1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2And 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. 3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4And 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. 5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6Moreover 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.

7And 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; 8And 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. 9Now 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.

10Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. 16Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: 17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 18And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 19And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 21And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 22But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Moses at the Burning Bush
(Acts 7:30–38)

1 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. 2 The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 Moses said, “I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” 4 When Yahweh saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5 He said, “Don’t come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” 6 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; for he was afraid to look at God.

7 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. 8 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. 9 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.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell 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,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, 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 my memorial to all generations. 16 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, has appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt; 17 and 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 Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 They will listen to your voice, and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh, our God.’ 19 I know that the king of Egypt won’t give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20 I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in its midst, and after that he will let you go. 21 I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her who visits her house, jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons, and on your daughters. You shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Moses at the Burning Bush
(Acts 7:30–38)

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

4 When 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 6 Then 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.

7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. 8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” f

11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

12 “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.” g

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. h 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. i 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.”

Footnotes:

1 a Moses’ father-in-law Jethro  was also called Reuel ; see Exodus 2:18.
1 b That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai
2 c Or Angel
5 d Cited in Acts 7:33
6 e Cited in Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, and Acts 7:32
10 f Cited in Acts 7:34
12 g Cited in Acts 7:7
14 h Or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE
19 i Literally except by a mighty hand

Moses at the Burning Bush

1And Moses hath been feeding the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, priest of Midian, and he leadeth the flock behind the wilderness, and cometh in unto the mount of God, to Horeb; 2and there appeareth unto him a messenger of Jehovah in a flame of fire, out of the midst of the bush, and he seeth, and lo, the bush is burning with fire, and the bush is not consumed. 3And Moses saith, 'Let me turn aside, I pray thee, and I see this great appearance; wherefore is the bush not burned?' 4and Jehovah seeth that he hath turned aside to see, and God calleth unto him out of the midst of the bush, and saith, 'Moses, Moses;' and he saith, 'Here am I.' 5And He saith, 'Come not near hither: cast thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place on which thou art standing is holy ground.' 6He saith also, 'I am the God of thy father, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob;' and Moses hideth his face, for he is afraid to look towards God.

7And Jehovah saith, 'I have certainly seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and their cry I have heard, because of its exactors, for I have known its pains; 8and I go down to deliver it out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to cause it to go up out of the land, unto a land good and broad, 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. 9'And now, lo, the cry of the sons of Israel hath come in unto Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them,

10and now, come, and I send thee unto Pharaoh, and bring thou out My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.' 11And Moses saith unto God, 'Who am I, that I go unto Pharaoh, and that I bring out the sons of Israel from Egypt?' 12and He saith, 'Because I am with thee, and this is to thee the sign that I have sent thee: in thy bringing out the people from Egypt -- ye do serve God on this mount.'

13And Moses saith unto God, 'Lo, I am coming unto the sons of Israel, and have said to them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they have said to me, What is His name? what do I say unto them?' 14And God saith unto Moses, 'I AM THAT WHICH I AM;' He saith also, 'Thus dost thou say to the sons of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.' 15And God saith again unto Moses, 'Thus dost thou say unto the sons of Israel, Jehovah, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name -- to the age, and this My memorial, to generation -- generation. 16'Go, and thou hast gathered the elders of Israel, and hast said unto them: Jehovah, God of your fathers, hath appeareth unto me, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I have certainly inspected you, and that which is done to you in Egypt; 17and I say, I bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 18'And they have hearkened to thy voice, and thou hast entered, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye have said unto him, Jehovah, God of the Hebrews, hath met with us; and now, let us go, we pray thee, a journey of three days into the wilderness, and we sacrifice to Jehovah our God. 19'And I -- I have known that the king of Egypt doth not permit you to go, unless by a strong hand, 20and I have put forth My hand, and have smitten Egypt with all My wonders, which I do in its midst -- and afterwards he doth send you away. 21'And I have given the grace of this people in the eyes of the Egyptians, and it hath come to pass, when ye go, ye go not empty; 22and every woman hath asked from her neighbour, and from her who is sojourning in her house, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and ye have put them on your sons and on your daughters, and have spoiled the Egyptians.'

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Exodus 3?

2Introduction to Exodus 3

3Context of Exodus 3

4Ancient Key Word Study

5Compare & Contrast

6Exodus 3 Unique Insights

7Exodus 3 Connections to Yeshua

8Exodus 3 Scriptural Echoes

9Exodus 3 Devotional

10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Exodus 3?

Introduction to Exodus 3

Exodus 3 stands as one of the most pivotal chapters in all of Scripture, marking the dramatic encounter between God and Moses at the burning bush. This supernatural meeting transforms a shepherd into the deliverer of Israel and reveals the sacred name of God (יהוה). The chapter serves as the launching point for the greatest redemption story in the Old Testament, foreshadowing an even greater exodus to come through the Messiah.

This revolutionary encounter occurs in the mundane setting of Moses’ everyday shepherding duties, demonstrating how God often breaks into our ordinary moments with extraordinary revelation. The chapter masterfully weaves together themes of divine holiness, human inadequacy, and God’s sovereign power to accomplish His purposes through seemingly unlikely vessels.

Context of Exodus 3

Within the book of Exodus, chapter 3 serves as the divine response to the groaning of Israel recorded in chapter 2. After establishing Moses’ background, preservation, exile, and new life in Midian, the narrative dramatically shifts from the horizontal plane of human activity to the vertical intervention of divine initiative. This chapter bridges the gap between Israel’s enslavement and their upcoming liberation, setting in motion the events that will lead to the Passover and the exodus itself.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter stands as a cornerstone of God’s redemptive plan. The burning bush encounter echoes God’s previous appearances to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while anticipating future theophanies throughout Scripture. The revelation of God’s name here becomes foundational for understanding His character and covenant relationship with Israel throughout the Old Testament.

This chapter also establishes crucial theological concepts that resonate throughout Scripture: God’s holiness, His intimate awareness of His people’s suffering, His faithfulness to His covenant promises, and His pattern of working through human instruments despite their perceived inadequacies. These themes find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Yeshua the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

סְנֶה (seneh) – “Bush”: This word appears only here and in Deuteronomy’s reference to this event. Its uniqueness may connect to Mount Sinai’s name, suggesting the burning bush prefigured the later revelation of God’s law in fire on the mountain. The bush, likely a common desert bramble, emphasizes God’s choice to reveal Himself through the ordinary and humble.
בָּעַר (ba’ar) – “Burning”: The Hebrew participle indicates continuous action – the bush was “continuing to burn.” This supernatural preservation of the bush while burning symbolized Israel’s preservation in Egyptian affliction and God’s eternal, self-sustaining nature.
קָדַשׁ (qadash) – “Holy”: First use of “holy” in Exodus, literally meaning “set apart.” The command to remove sandals recognizes the ground’s temporary consecration by God’s presence, establishing a pattern for later worship practices and teaching reverence before divine revelation.
אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה (ehyeh asher ehyeh) – “I AM WHO I AM”: This profound name reveals God’s self-existence, eternal nature, and freedom from external definition. The imperfect verb tense suggests continuous action: “I will be what I will be,” pointing to God’s consistent character and ongoing involvement with His people.
פָּקַד (paqad) – “Visit/Attend to”: This verb carries the sense of personal intervention and inspection. God’s “visiting” of His people indicates both His sovereign oversight and intimate involvement in their circumstances, a theme that culminates in the incarnation.
יָדַע (yada) – “Know”: Used to describe God’s intimate knowledge of Israel’s suffering, this word goes beyond mere intellectual awareness to convey deep, experiential knowledge and personal concern. This same word is used throughout Scripture to describe covenant relationship.
שָׁלַח (shalach) – “Send”: The root of Moses’ commission carries the weight of divine authorization and empowerment. This word becomes a key theme in prophetic calls throughout Scripture, ultimately finding fulfillment in the sending of the Messiah.
אוֹת (ot) – “Sign”: The promise of a sign to validate Moses’ commission establishes a pattern of divine authentication of messengers, pointing forward to the ultimate authentication of Yeshua through signs and wonders.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 2: “The angel of יהוה appeared to him in a flame of fire” – The text could have simply stated God appeared, but the specific mention of the angel (מַלְאַךְ) of יהוה suggests a distinct manifestation of divine presence while maintaining God’s transcendence. This particular phrasing preserves both divine accessibility and otherness.
Verse 5: “Remove your sandals” – Rather than commanding Moses to prostrate himself or perform ritual cleansing, this specific command emphasized the immediate sanctification of space by divine presence. The removal of sandals, representing daily contact with the mundane world, became a powerful physical gesture of entering into sacred space.
Verse 6: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” – This threefold identification, rather than a simple “God of your fathers,” emphasizes the personal, covenant-keeping nature of God and His faithfulness through multiple generations. Each patriarch had a unique relationship with God, yet He remained faithful to all.
Verse 8: “A good and spacious land” – The Hebrew employs specific terms (טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה) that echo the language of the Garden of Eden, suggesting not just political liberation but restoration to an ideal state of blessing under God’s rule.
Verse 11: “Who am I?” – Moses’ response reveals deep humility, contrasting with his earlier self-confident attempt to deliver Israel (Exodus 2:11-14). The Hebrew construction emphasizes his sense of inadequacy, setting up God’s response about divine sufficiency.
Verse 14: “I AM WHO I AM” – The choice of the imperfect verb form creates deliberate ambiguity between present and future tense, encompassing both God’s eternal self-existence and His active presence with His people through time.
Verse 15: “This is My name forever” – The Hebrew לְעֹלָם (forever) is written defectively, without the expected ו, which rabbinical tradition interprets as suggesting the partial concealment of God’s name until the messianic age.

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Exodus 3 Unique Insights

The burning bush encounter presents a fascinating study in divine accommodation. Jewish tradition notes that God chose a lowly thorn bush rather than a mighty cedar to demonstrate that He dwells with the humble and oppressed. The Midrash Rabbah observes that the bush’s thorns symbolized God’s presence with Israel in their suffering, stating “I am with them in their affliction” (עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה).

The early church father Gregory of Nyssa saw in the burning bush a prefiguration of the incarnation – divine nature united with human nature without consuming it. This interpretation gains weight when we consider that the same Hebrew word for “flame” (לַבָּה) appears in Song of Solomon 8:6 to describe love that “burns like a blazing fire.” This connects to the concept of God’s passionate love for His people expressing itself in both judgment (against oppressors) and salvation (for the oppressed).

The revelation of the divine name presents multiple layers of meaning. The Jewish philosopher Maimonides argued that “I AM WHO I AM” represents God’s absolute self-sufficiency and independence from all creation. Meanwhile, the Zohar connects the threefold repetition of אֶהְיֶה (I AM) in verses 14-15 to the three patriarchs mentioned earlier, suggesting God’s consistent self-revelation through covenant history.

The location of this revelation at “the mountain of God” (Horeb/Sinai) carries geographical significance. Archaeological evidence suggests this area was associated with divine presence in ancient near eastern culture, making God’s choice to reveal Himself here both culturally relevant and subversive – showing His superiority over other claimed deities.

Exodus 3 Connections to Yeshua

The burning bush theophany powerfully prefigures the incarnation of Yeshua. Just as the bush contained divine fire without being consumed, so the Messiah would unite divine and human natures without diminishing either. The Gospel of John particularly draws on the “I AM” revelation, with Yeshua’s seven “I AM” statements claiming this divine self-designation for Himself (John 8:58).

Moses’ commission as deliverer foreshadows the Messiah’s greater mission of redemption. Like Moses, Yeshua would be rejected by His people initially (John 1:11), yet become God’s chosen instrument of deliverance. The exodus He would lead, however, would be spiritual rather than merely political, delivering people not from earthly bondage but from slavery to sin.

The pattern of divine revelation established here – God initiating contact, revealing His character, commissioning a messenger, and promising His presence – finds its ultimate expression in the incarnation. Yeshua becomes the final “Word made flesh” (John 1:14), the perfect revelation of God’s character (Hebrews 1:3), and the ultimate promise of God’s presence with His people (Matthew 28:20).

Exodus 3 Scriptural Echoes

The burning bush narrative resonates throughout Scripture in multiple ways. The concept of holy ground reappears in Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5:15) and finds ultimate fulfillment in the new creation where all ground becomes holy (Revelation 21:3).

The divine name revealed here becomes central to Israel’s worship and identity. Prophets like Isaiah draw on it to emphasize God’s unique sovereignty (Isaiah 43:11-13). The name’s significance extends into the New Testament, where Yeshua’s “I AM” statements connect His identity to the God of the burning bush.

Moses’ reluctance and God’s patience become a pattern referenced throughout Scripture. Jeremiah’s call narrative (Jeremiah 1:4-10) closely parallels this encounter, showing God’s consistent way of working through hesitant human instruments. Paul later reflects on this principle, noting God’s preference for working through weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Exodus 3 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to recognize that our ordinary moments can become sacred encounters with God. Just as Moses was going about his routine shepherding duties, God can break into our daily lives with divine purpose. This invites us to approach each day with holy expectancy, ready to hear God’s voice in unexpected places.

The removal of sandals teaches us about approaching God with reverence while embracing intimacy. In our casual age, we must remember that familiarity with God should deepen our awe, not diminish it. Yet this same God invites us to know His personal name and character, balancing transcendence with immanence.

Moses’ struggle with inadequacy speaks to our own feelings of insufficiency in God’s service. The focus quickly shifts from “Who am I?” to “I will be with you,” reminding us that God’s calling always comes with God’s enabling. Our weaknesses become platforms for displaying His strength when we yield them to Him.

Did You Know

The Hebrew word סְנֶה (seneh) for the burning bush appears only six times in the entire Old Testament, and all references are to this specific event, suggesting its unique significance in salvation history.
Ancient Jewish tradition suggests that Moses was 80 years old at the time of the burning bush encounter, having spent 40 years in Egypt and 40 years in Midian, forming a pattern that would continue with 40 years leading Israel.
The mountain where this encounter occurred has two names in Scripture – Horeb and Sinai. Some scholars suggest these names reflect different tribal or cultural traditions, while others propose they describe different aspects of the same location.
The practice of removing shoes in sacred spaces continues in Middle Eastern cultures today, including in synagogues and mosques, directly influenced by this biblical account.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Midianites, among whom Moses lived, were skilled metalworkers. This adds significance to the burning bush symbol, as they would have been particularly familiar with fire that refined but did not consume.
The divine name revealed here, יהוה, appears over 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible, yet its exact pronunciation was considered so sacred that it was only spoken by the High Priest on Yom Kippur.
The phrase “I AM WHO I AM” in Hebrew contains the same root (היה) as the name Yahweh, creating a profound theological and linguistic connection between God’s nature and His name.
The specific phrase “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” appears in this exact form 11 times in Scripture, becoming a central confession of Jewish faith and appearing in traditional prayer liturgies.

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