The Burning Bush

Exodus 3

1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the w mountain of God. 2 x And y the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, z God called to him a out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then he said, "Do not come near; b take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." 6 And he said, c "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for d he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, e "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their f taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and g I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and h to bring them up out of that land to a i good and broad land, a land j flowing with milk and honey, to the place of k the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, l the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the m oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 n Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, o "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 He said, p "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, q you shall serve God on this mountain."

13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am." 1 And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, r 'I am has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The Lord, 2 the s God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is t my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and u gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, v "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that w I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land w flowing with milk and honey."' 18 And x they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel y shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has z met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.' 19 But I know that the king of Egypt a will not let you go unless compelled b by a mighty hand. 3 20 So c I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with d all the wonders that I will do in it; e after that he will let you go. 21 And f I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for g silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So h you shall plunder the Egyptians."

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 4:27
    The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.
    Exodus 18:5
    Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
    Exodus 24:13
    So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.
    Numbers 10:33
    So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
    1 Kings 19:8
    And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 3:2 - 10
    And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
    Acts 7:30 - 35
    Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
  3. Cross References
    Isaiah 63:9
    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 lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 19:3
    While Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:16
    With the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers.
  6. Cross References
    Joshua 5:15
    And the commander of the Lord 's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
    Exodus 19:12
    And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, 'Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.
    Ecclesiastes 5:1
    Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 4:5
    "that they may believe that the Lord, the God o...
    Genesis 28:13
    And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "...
    1 Kings 18:36
    And at the time of the offering of the oblation...
    Matthew 22:32
    'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac,...
    Mark 12:26
    And as for the dead being raised, have you not ...
    Luke 20:37
    But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed...
  8. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:13
    And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?
    Isaiah 6:1 - 2
    In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
    Isaiah 6:5
    And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 2:23 - 25
    During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.
    Nehemiah 9:9
    And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea.
    Psalms 106:44
    Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 5:13 - 14
    The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 11:5
    And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.
    Genesis 11:7
    Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.
    Genesis 18:21
    I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 6:6
    Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
    Exodus 12:51
    And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
    Genesis 50:24
    And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:25
    And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, 'It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.
    Deuteronomy 8:7 - 8
    For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills.
    Deuteronomy 8:9
    A land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.
  14. Cross References
    Exodus 13:5
    And when the Lord brings you into the land of t...
    Exodus 33:3
    Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; bu...
    Leviticus 20:24
    But I have said to you, 'You shall inherit thei...
    Numbers 13:27
    And they told him, "We came to the land to whic...
    Deuteronomy 26:9
    And he brought us into this place and gave us t...
    Deuteronomy 26:15
    Look down from your holy habitation, from heave...
    Jeremiah 11:5
    That I may confirm the oath that I swore to you...
    Jeremiah 32:22
    And you gave them this land, which you swore to...
    Ezekiel 20:6
    On that day I swore to them that I would bring ...
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 15:18 - 21
    On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 2:23
    During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.
  17. Cross References
    Exodus 1:11 - 14
    Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
    Exodus 1:22
    Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 105:26
    He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
    Micah 6:4
    For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 6:12
    But Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?
    1 Samuel 18:18
    And David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?
    Isaiah 6:5
    And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!
    Isaiah 6:8
    And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me.
    Jeremiah 1:6
    Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 4:12
    Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
    Exodus 4:15
    You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.
    Deuteronomy 31:8
    It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
    Deuteronomy 31:23
    And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.
    Joshua 1:5
    No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
  21. Cross References
    Exodus 19:1
    On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
  22. Cross References
    Exodus 6:3
    I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ...
    Psalms 68:4
    Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up ...
    John 8:58
    Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you...
    Hebrews 13:8
    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today an...
    Revelation 1:4
    John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Gr...
    Revelation 4:8
    And the four living creatures, each of them wit...
  23. Cross References
    Exodus 3:6
    And he said, "I am the God of your 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 at God.
  24. Cross References
    Hosea 12:5
    The Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial name:
    Psalms 135:13
    Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
  25. Cross References
    Exodus 4:29
    Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel.
  26. Cross References
    Exodus 4:31
    And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
    Genesis 50:24
    And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
    Luke 1:68
    Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
  27. Cross References
    Exodus 3:8
    And 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 broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
  28. Cross References
    Exodus 3:8
    And 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 broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
  29. Cross References
    Exodus 4:31
    And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
  30. Cross References
    Exodus 5:1
    Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'
  31. Cross References
    Numbers 23:3 - 4
    And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height.
    Numbers 23:15 - 16
    Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.
  32. Cross References
    Exodus 5:2
    But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.
    Exodus 7:4
    Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.
  33. Cross References
    Exodus 6:1
    But the Lord said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.
    Exodus 13:3
    Then Moses said to the people, "Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.
  34. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 6:22
    And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.
    Nehemiah 9:10
    And performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day.
    Jeremiah 32:20
    You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.
    Acts 7:36
    This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.
    Exodus 7:1 - 12:1
    And the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
  35. Cross References
    Exodus 4:21
    And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
  36. Cross References
    Exodus 12:31
    Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 11:2 - 3
    Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.
    Exodus 12:35 - 36
    The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing.
    Genesis 15:14
    But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
  38. Cross References
    Exodus 33:6
    Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.
  39. Cross References
    Ezekiel 39:10
    So that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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