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Exodus 3
New Catholic Bible
Exodus 3
New Catholic Bible
The Burning Bush[a]
Chapter 3
The Call of Moses.[b] 1 Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the animals across the desert and came to Horeb,[c] the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord[d] appeared to him in the flames of a fire burning in the midst of a bush. He observed it and, behold, the bush glowed with fire but was not consumed. 3 Moses said, “I wish to draw near to observe this wondrous thing and see why this bush does not burn up.”
4 The Lord saw that he was approaching to see God and he called out from the bush, “Moses, Moses.” He answered, “Here I am.” 5 He continued, “Do not approach. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.[e]
7 The Lord said, “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know about their sufferings. 8 I have come down to free them out of the hands of the Egyptians and to lead them from that land to a land that is beautiful and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey,[f] the place where the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites are found. 9 The cry of the Israelites has come up to me and I myself have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians torment them. 10 Now go! I send you to Pharaoh. Lead my people, the Israelites, from Egypt.”
11 Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He answered, “I am with you. Behold, this is proof that I have sent you, when you will lead the people from Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.”
13 God Reveals His Name.[g] Moses said to God, “If I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you,’ but they say to me, ‘What is his name,’ what should I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”[h] Then he said, “You will say to the children of Israel, ‘I am sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “You will say to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, sent me to you.’ This is my name forever. This is the title with which I will be remembered from one generation to the next.”
16 Moses Is Invested with His Mission.[i]“Go, gather the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, has appeared to me,[j] the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, saying, “I have seen you and what is done to you in Egypt. 17 I have said, ‘I will make them go out from the humiliation of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.’ ” ’
18 “They will listen to your voice. You and the elders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has appeared to us. Let us make a three days’ journey into the desert to make a sacrifice to the Lord, our God.’ 19 I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to leave unless he is forced. 20 I will therefore stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all kinds of wonders that I will work in their midst. Afterward, they will let you go.
21 “I will make this people find favor in the sight of the Egyptians. When you leave, you will not leave empty-handed. 22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and those living in her house for silver and gold and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. You will plunder the Egyptians.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 3:1 This grand text has always appealed to the most religious Jews and Christians. To those who strive to deepen their sense of their existence before God, the flaming fire and the Divine Name reveal the extent to which the Lord surpasses all that he has created but also how his love brings him close to human beings in order to lead them toward their destiny.
- Exodus 3:1 It is when Moses least expects it that he is called by God. The mystery of the fire that burns without being consumed astounds him. It is then that he discovers the sign of the presence and the devouring love of the Lord who so surpasses the creature that the latter feels crushed. But God keeps himself present in human history. Resolved to deliver his people, he chooses to have need of a man in order to manifest the divine power by giving him a mission to complete that is beyond human powers. History is about to take a new turn.
- Exodus 3:1 Horeb: i.e., another name for “Sinai.”
- Exodus 3:2 Angel of the Lord: an expression that signifies God himself (see Gen 16:7).
- Exodus 3:6 Moses’ action is based on the long held belief that no one can see God and live (see Gen 32:30).
- Exodus 3:8 Land flowing with milk and honey: an expression used by Eastern peoples to signify fertility (the terms are taken from the world of shepherds); the Pentateuch often uses the phrase to mean the Promised Land.
- Exodus 3:13 In Semitic thought, for a person to reveal his name to someone was equivalent to putting himself in that person’s power. When the Lord of Israel describes himself as “He who is” (Yahweh), as the One who is there for his people, he is refusing to manifest himself completely, while at the same time revealing himself to be the living God who is always present in the midst of his people and involved with them. In the same way, Jesus will reassure his Apostles at the time of his leaving them: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20).
- Exodus 3:14 I am who I am: later, as a show of awe and respect, the title Adonai, “my Lord,” would be used.
- Exodus 3:16 Moses, entrusted with his mission, is to announce that God is preparing to have his people leave Egypt despite Pharaoh’s refusal to let them go.
- Exodus 3:16 Appeared to me: to the Israelites this means that Moses has received special recognition from the Lord and his words are to be heeded. Elders: a title given to those who traditionally spoke for the children of Israel.
Exodus 3
New International Version
Exodus 3
New International Version
Moses and the Burning Bush
3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro(A) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,(B) and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,(C) the mountain(D) of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord(E) appeared to him in flames of fire(F) from within a bush.(G) Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called(H) to him from within the bush,(I) “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”(J)
5 “Do not come any closer,”(K) God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”(L) 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”(M) At this, Moses hid(N) his face, because he was afraid to look at God.(O)
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen(P) the misery(Q) of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned(R) about their suffering.(S) 8 So I have come down(T) to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,(U) a land flowing with milk and honey(V)—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites(W) and Jebusites.(X) 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing(Y) them. 10 So now, go. I am sending(Z) you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”(AA)
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I(AB) that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you.(AC) And this will be the sign(AD) to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.(AE)”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’(AF) Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am(AG) has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[d] the God of your fathers(AH)—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob(AI)—has sent me to you.’
16 “Go, assemble the elders(AL) of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(AM)—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen(AN) what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt(AO) into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’(AP)
18 “The elders of Israel will listen(AQ) to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews,(AR) has met(AS) with us. Let us take a three-day journey(AT) into the wilderness to offer sacrifices(AU) to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand(AV) compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand(AW) and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders(AX) that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.(AY)
21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed(AZ) toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.(BA) 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver(BB) and gold(BC) and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder(BD) the Egyptians.”(BE)
Footnotes
- Exodus 3:6 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch (see Acts 7:32) fathers
- Exodus 3:12 The Hebrew is plural.
- Exodus 3:14 Or I will be what I will be
- Exodus 3:15 The Hebrew for Lord sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for I am in verse 14.
出埃及 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
出埃及 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
上帝呼召摩西
3 摩西为岳父米甸祭司叶忒罗放羊。一天他领着羊群穿越旷野，来到上帝的山——何烈山。 2 忽然有耶和华的天使在荆棘里的火焰中向他显现。摩西看见荆棘虽然在燃烧，却没有被烧毁。 3 摩西想：“我要过去看这个奇异的景象，荆棘为什么没有被烧掉呢？” 4 耶和华上帝见他要上前观看，就从荆棘丛中呼唤他说：“摩西！摩西！”摩西说：“我在这里。” 5 上帝说：“别再靠近，脱下你脚上的鞋子，因为你所站的地方是圣地。” 6 又说：“我是你祖先的上帝，是亚伯拉罕的上帝，以撒的上帝，雅各的上帝。”摩西害怕看上帝，就把脸蒙起来。 7 耶和华说：“我已经看见我子民在埃及所受的苦难，听见了他们因监工的压迫而发出的呼求。我知道他们的痛苦。 8 我下来是要从埃及人手中救他们，带他们离开那里，到一个辽阔肥沃的奶蜜之乡，就是现在迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人居住的地方。 9 现在，以色列人的呼求传到我耳中，我也看到了埃及人怎样压迫他们。 10 现在去吧，我要派你到法老那里，带领我的以色列子民离开埃及。” 11 但摩西对上帝说：“我是谁啊？怎么能去见法老，把以色列人从埃及领出来呢？” 12 上帝说：“我必与你同在，你带百姓离开埃及后，你们必在这座山上事奉我——这将是我派你去的证据。” 13 摩西问上帝：“假如我到以色列人那里，对他们说，‘你们祖先的上帝派我来你们这里。’他们如果问我，‘祂叫什么名字？’我该怎样回答他们呢？” 14 上帝对摩西说：“我是自有永有者。你要这样回答以色列人，‘那位自有永有者派我到你们这里。’” 15 上帝又对摩西说：“你要告诉以色列人是我派遣你到他们那里，我是他们祖先的上帝耶和华，是亚伯拉罕的上帝，以撒的上帝，雅各的上帝。耶和华是我的名字，直到永远，世世代代的人都要这样称呼我。 16 你去招聚以色列的长老，对他们说，‘你们祖先的上帝耶和华，就是亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝向我显现，说祂关切你们，知道你们在埃及的遭遇。 17 祂应许要带领你们脱离在埃及所受的苦难，到迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、比利洗人，希未人和耶布斯人住的地方，那里是奶蜜之乡。’ 18 以色列的长老们必定听从你的话，你就跟他们一起去见埃及王，对他说，‘希伯来人的上帝耶和华向我们显现。现在请你容许我们走三天的路程，到旷野去，向我们的上帝耶和华献祭。’ 19 我也知道除非我用大能的手向他施压，不然埃及王不会让你们离开。 20 因此，我必伸手行各种神迹攻击埃及，之后他必让你们离开。 21 我必使埃及人恩待你们，好叫你们不致空手离开埃及。 22 你们的妇女只管向埃及邻居及住在邻居家的妇女索取金器、银器和衣服，给自己的儿女穿戴，你们必这样夺取埃及人的财物。”
Exodus 3
New King James Version
Exodus 3
New King James Version
Moses at the Burning Bush(A)
3 Now Moses was tending the flock of (B)Jethro his father-in-law, (C)the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to (D)Horeb, (E)the mountain of God. 2 And (F)the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this (G)great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called (H)to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. (I)Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, (J)“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 (K)he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the Lord said: (L)“I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry (M)because of their taskmasters, (N)for I know their [a]sorrows. 8 So (O)I have come down to (P)deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land (Q)to a good and large land, to a land (R)flowing with milk and honey, to the place of (S)the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, (T)the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the (U)oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 (V)Come now, therefore, and 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, (W)“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 So He said, (X)“I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a (Y)sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, (Z)‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is (AA)My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 16 Go and (AB)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, (AC)“I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said (AD)I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 Then (AE)they will heed your voice; and (AF)you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has (AG)met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt (AH)will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will (AI)stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with (AJ)all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and (AK)after that he will let you go. 21 And (AL)I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 (AM)But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, (AN)articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So (AO)you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 3:7 pain
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified) (CCB)
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.