Exodus 3

1 Meanwhile, Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] was shepherding [caring for, tending to] the flock [a group of sheep or goats, figuratively describing people] of his father-in-law [related by marriage, connected through wedding vows] Jethro, the priest [a person who serves God and leads others in worship] of Midian [a son of Abraham, his country, and descendants, a tribe living in the desert north]. He led [guided, directed] the flock to the far side [the backside, the inner parts] of the wilderness [a desert or open field, a place of spiritual testing] and came to Horeb [another name for Mount Sinai, a significant location], the mountain [a hill] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator, the one true God]. word study 2 There the angel [messenger of God] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] appeared to him in a blazing fire [flame of fire] from within a bush [thorny blackberry bush]. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire [burning with flames], but it was not consumed [not being burned up, not eaten by the fire]. word study 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over [turn aside, remove myself] and see [gaze at, behold] this marvelous [great, extraordinary] sight [appearance, vision]. Why [for what reason, on account of what] is the bush [thorny bush, blackberry bush] not burning up [being consumed, destroyed by fire]?” word study 4 When the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] saw [to look after, to care for] that he had gone over to look, God [Elohim, the supreme God] called out [to summon, to invite] to him from within the bush [a thorny bush], “Moses, Moses [having a special calling, a leader of God’s people]!” “Here I am [behold, I am present, ready to respond],” he answered. word study 5 “Do not [by no means, under no circumstances] come any closer,” God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] said. “Take off [remove, slip off] your sandals [shoes, foot coverings], for the place [location, ground] where you are standing [present, positioned] is holy [set apart, sacred] ground [land, earth].” word study 6 Then He said, “I [the self-existent One] am the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of your father [ancestor, patriarch], the God of Abraham [the father of faith], the God of Isaac [the son of promise], and the God of Jacob [the one who wrestled with God].” At this, Moses [the Israelite leader] hid his face [covered his presence], for he was afraid [reverently fearful] to look [gaze upon] at God [the Almighty]. word study 7 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said, “I have indeed seen [with great concern, observed carefully] the affliction [misery, trouble] of My people [nation, My chosen ones] in Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]. I have heard [listened attentively to] them crying out [wailing, lamenting] because of their oppressors [taskmasters, those who drive them], and I am aware of [have knowledge of, understand] their sufferings [pains, sorrows]. word study 8 I have come down [to intervene] to rescue them from the hand [power, control] of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land [region, territory] to a good [pleasant, beneficial] and spacious [broad, wide] land, a land [territory, region] flowing with milk [abundance, richness] and honey [sweetness, delight]—the home [place, dwelling] of the Canaanites [merchants, traders], Hittites [descendants of Heth], Amorites [members of a Canaanite tribe], Perizzites [inhabitants of southern Canaan], Hivites [members of an ancient tribe], and Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, early Jerusalem]. word study 9 And now [at this moment, in this present time] the cry [outcry, lamentation] of the Israelites [sons of Jacob, God’s chosen people] has reached [come unto, approached] Me, and I have seen [observed, looked upon] how severely [with great cruelty, in a harsh manner] the Egyptians [those from the land of Egypt] are oppressing [treating unjustly, exerting force upon] them. word study 10 Therefore, go [come now, at this time]! I am sending [to dispatch, to commission] you to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] to bring [to lead out, to deliver] My people [My nation, the children of Israel] the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, the chosen people] out of Egypt [a land of bondage, a place of slavery].” word study 11 But Moses [the Israelite leader] asked God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], “Who [what person, which one] am I [a humble servant], that I should go [to walk, to proceed] to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] and bring [to lead out, to deliver] the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob] out of Egypt [a land of bondage, a place of oppression]?” word study 12 “I will surely be with you [as your Helper and Guide],” God [Elohim, the supreme God] said, “and this will be the sign [a miraculous token, a wonder] to you that I have sent you [my messenger]: When you have brought the people [the nation of Israel, God’s chosen ones] out of Egypt [a place of bondage, a land of slavery], all of you will worship [serve, give reverence to] God on this mountain [a place of spiritual encounter, a holy site].” word study 13 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, a humble servant] asked God [Elohim, the one supreme God], “Suppose I go [approach, come to] to the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob] and say to them, ‘The God [the Almighty, divine Father] of your fathers [ancestors, patriarchs] has sent me [appointed, commissioned] to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name [character, reputation, divine identity]?’ What should I tell them [respond, answer, declare]?” word study 14 God [Elohim, the supreme deity] said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM [I AM THAT I AM, the self-existent One]. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM [the Eternal, unchanging One] has sent me to you [toward you, to be with you].’” word study 15 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob], ‘The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim] of your fathers [ancestors]—the God of Abraham [the father of faith], the God of Isaac [the son of promise], and the God of Jacob [the one who wrestled with God]—has sent me [as a messenger] to you.’ This is My name [identity and character] forever [for all eternity], and this is how I am to be remembered [honored and revered] in every generation [period of time]. word study 16 Go, assemble [gather together, call to meet] the elders [old, wise, and experienced leaders] of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers]—the God of Abraham [the father of faith], Isaac [he laughs], and Jacob [he who supplants]—has appeared [been seen, revealed Himself] to me and said: I have surely attended to [visited, overseen, and cared for] you and have seen [observed, taken notice of] what has been done [made, brought about] to you in Egypt [a land of bondage]. word study 17 And I have promised [said, declared] to bring you up out of your affliction [misery, trouble] in Egypt, into the land [territory, region] of the Canaanites [descendants of Canaan], Hittites [sons of Heth], Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], Perizzites [inhabitants of the countryside], Hivites [an ancient tribe in Palestine], and Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem]—a land [country, territory] flowing [abundant, overflowing] with milk and honey [a sweet and valuable food].’ word study 18 The elders [leaders, chiefs] of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king [ruler, monarch] of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD [Yehovah, the God of the covenant], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of the Hebrews [descendants of Eber], has met [revealed Himself, encountered] with us. Now please [we pray, I beseech] let us take a three-day [a journey of three days] journey into the wilderness [the desert, a place of solitude], so that we may sacrifice [offer, give] to the LORD our God [the one true God, our sovereign].’ word study 19 But I [emphatically, as if to say’I alone’] know that the king [royal ruler, monarch] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] will not allow [give permission, let] you to go [walk, journey, depart] unless [except by means of] a mighty [strong, powerful] hand compels [forces, constrains] him. word study 20 So I will stretch out My [open, powerful] hand and strike [smite, inflict punishment on] the Egyptians with all [every, the entirety of] the wonders [miraculous signs, amazing deeds] I will perform [do, accomplish] among them [in their midst, surrounded by them]. And after [following, subsequent to] that, he will release [let go, set free] you. word study 21 And I will grant [bestow, give freely] this people [nation, community] such favor [graciousness, kindness] in the sight [eyes, gaze] of the Egyptians that when you leave [depart, go out], you will not go away [walk, depart] empty-handed [without anything, in vain]. word study 22 Every woman [female, wife, or lady] shall ask [request, borrow, or inquire of] her neighbor [fellow citizen, one who lives nearby] and any woman [lady, female] staying [sojourning, dwelling] in her house [dwelling place, home] for silver [money, wealth] and gold [precious metal, treasure] jewelry [ornaments, treasures] and clothing [garments, apparel], and you will put [place, set] them on your sons [male children, descendants] and daughters [female children, offspring]. So you will plunder [spoil, despoil, rescue] the Egyptians [people of Egypt, Egyptian nation].” word study