Exodus 3:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."

NIV: So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."

NASB: So Moses said, 'I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!'

CSB: So Moses thought, "I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?"

NLT: This is amazing,' Moses said to himself. 'Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.'

KJV: And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

NKJV: Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

Moses is tending his father-in-law's sheep (Exodus 3:1), having settled in Midian (Exodus 2:16–22) after fleeing his birth home of Egypt (Exodus 2:14–15). One day, Moses noticed a bush which was burning with fire, but not "burnt up" by the fire. Here, Moses says he will investigate. Moses may have only thought these words to himself, though it is possible he spoke the words aloud. He calls it a "great sight," meaning he clearly understood something unique was taking place. Moses was certainly familiar with fire and knew that fire is supposed to destroy wood. He wanted to know why this situation was different.

God is often associated with fire (Genesis 15:17; 19:24; Exodus 24:17; 40:34–38; Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Psalm 50:3; Isaiah 30:23–32; 33:14–16; 66:15–16; Daniel 7:9–10; Acts 2:1–4; Hebrews 12:28–29). After freeing them from Egypt, God will appear before the Israelites in the form of a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:17–22). He would lead His people to return to this very mountain where Moses would experience the Lord once again and receive the Ten Commandments directly from the Lord (Exodus 19—20). The Lord remained as a fire to give the people light for travel, revealing His power as He led His people from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 13:21–22).

Exodus 3:1–8 describes the initial contact between Moses and God. This involves one of Scripture's most memorable images: the burning bush. Moses is tending sheep for his father-in-law in Midian, after fleeing from Egypt some forty years prior. He sees a bush which is covered in fire, but not being burnt up. "The angel of the Lord'' declares God's intent to liberate Israel from their slavery in Egypt.

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.