Exodus 3:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Go and 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, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt,

NIV: "Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.

NASB: Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to me, saying, 'I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.

CSB: "Go and 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 paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt.

NLT: Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — has appeared to me. He told me, 'I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you.

KJV: Go, 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:

NKJV: Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;

God is speaking to Moses out of the miraculous burning bush (Exodus 3:1–4). In response to Moses' initial fears and doubts, God provided reassurance and clearly stated His identity. This included the crucial identification of God with the term "I am," and the title of Lord, typically presented using small capitals in English, and sometimes displayed as Yahweh or Jehovah (Exodus 3:11–15).

Moses is commissioned with three commands. First, he must return to Egypt (Exodus 2:14–15) to fulfill this mission (Exodus 3:10).

Second, Moses was to gather the "elders of Israel." The concept of an "elder" generally refers to an experienced and reliable authority, which may be formal or informal. This is the first mention of these elders in Scripture; it seems Israel's use of elders began during their slavery. This governing body is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament, including multiple in Exodus (Exodus 3:18; 4:29; 12:21; 17:5, 6; 18:12; 19:7; 24:1, 9, 14).

Third, Moses is to give these elders a specific message (Exodus 3:17). The God of Israel's patriarchs knows about His people's suffering in Egypt. God had not forgotten or forsaken them. The next verse will continue with God's promise regarding freedom from slavery.

Exodus 3:16–19 records a message Moses is to deliver when he arrives in Egypt. This is addressed to the '"elders of Israel," and includes a statement meant to be spoken to Pharaoh. God promises to free Israel from slavery. He will establish them in a fertile, free land. The first step in this liberation is to ask Egypt's king for a relatively minor concession: three days for Israel to worship their God. Pharaoh is predicted to refuse this, demonstrating his complete lack of empathy for the Hebrew people.

Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law when he sees a miraculous sight: a bush which is on fire, but not burnt up. From this fire, God speaks to Moses, appointing him as the leader of the nation of Israel, whom God intends to free from Egyptian slavery. God identifies Himself in this passage using the famous terminology ''I am.'' Despite Moses' fears and doubts, God gives him a message to take to the elders of Israel, and eventually to Pharaoh himself.

Prior chapters in Exodus explained how the descendants of Abraham became a populous nation, but also one enslaved in Egypt. Exodus 3 describes the moment when God calls Moses to lead Israel out of slavery. This is accomplished through the miracle of the burning bush. This begins a dialogue between God and Moses. It includes messages for both Israel and Pharaoh which will continue into chapter 4.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.