Exodus 3:1-17 ▼

1 Meanwhile, Moses (drawn out) was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian (strife). He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Mount Sinai), the mountain of God {Elohim}.

2 There the angel (Angel) of the LORD {YHWH} 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 (drawn out) thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

4 When the LORD {YHWH} saw that he had gone over to look, God {Elohim} called out to him from within the bush, “Moses (drawn out), 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 .”

6 Then He said, “I am the God {Elohe} of your father, the God of Abraham (father of many), the God of Isaac (he laughs), and the God of Jacob .” At this, Moses (drawn out) hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 The LORD {YHWH} said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt (land of bondage). 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 (land of bondage) 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 (merchants), Hittites, Amorites (sayers), Perizzites (villagers), Hivites, and Jebusites (Jerusalemites).

9 And now the cry of the Israelites (God prevails) has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians (double straits) are oppressing them.

10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh (great house) to bring My people the Israelites (God prevails) out of Egypt .”

11 But Moses (drawn out) asked God {Elohim}, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh (great house) and bring the Israelites (God prevails) out of Egypt (land of bondage)?”

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 (land of bondage), all of you⁺ will worship God {Elohim} on this mountain .”

13 Then Moses (drawn out) asked God {Elohim}, “Suppose I go to the Israelites (God prevails) 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 {Elohim} said to Moses (drawn out), “I AM WHO I AM (I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE). This is what you are to say to the Israelites (God prevails): ‘I AM has sent me to you⁺.’”

15 God {Elohim} also told Moses (drawn out), “Say to the Israelites (God prevails), ‘The LORD {YHWH}, the God of your⁺ fathers—the God of Abraham (father of many), the God of Isaac (he laughs), and the God of Jacob (he grasps the heel)—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 (he wrestles with God) and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of your⁺ fathers—the God of Abraham (father of many), Isaac (he laughs), and Jacob (he grasps the heel)—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you⁺ and have seen what has been done to you⁺ in Egypt (land of bondage).

17 And I have promised to bring you⁺ up out of your affliction in Egypt (land of bondage), into the land of the Canaanites (merchants), Hittites, Amorites (sayers), Perizzites (villagers), Hivites, and Jebusites (Jerusalemites)—a land flowing with milk and honey.’