And the Lord said, “I have certainly (A)seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their outcry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down (B)to rescue them from the [a]power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a (C)good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of (D)the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. And now, behold, (E)the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

The Mission of Moses

10 And now come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, (F)so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “(G)Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 And He said, “Assuredly (H)I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: (I)when you have brought the people out of Egypt, (J)you shall [b]worship God at this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “[c](K)I AM WHO [d]I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘[e]I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God furthermore said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘(L)The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is the [f](M)name for [g]all generations to use to call upon Me. 16 Go and (N)gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘(O)The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to me, saying, “[h](P)I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 So (Q)I said, I will bring you up out of the oppression of Egypt to the land of (R)the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land (S)flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 Then (T)they will [i]pay attention to what you say; and (U)you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt, and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please let us go a (V)three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt (W)will not permit you to go, (X)except [j]under compulsion. 20 So I will reach out with (Y)My hand and strike Egypt with all My (Z)miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and (AA)after that he will let you go. 21 I will grant this people (AB)favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman (AC)shall ask her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will (AD)plunder the Egyptians.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:8 Lit hand
  2. Exodus 3:12 Or serve
  3. Exodus 3:14 Related to the name of God, YHWH, rendered Lord, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be
  4. Exodus 3:14 Related to the name of God, YHWH, rendered Lord, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be
  5. Exodus 3:14 Related to the name of God, YHWH, rendered Lord, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be
  6. Exodus 3:15 I.e., name used in prayer, vows, and ceremony
  7. Exodus 3:15 Lit generation of generation
  8. Exodus 3:16 Lit Visiting I have visited
  9. Exodus 3:18 Lit hear your voice
  10. Exodus 3:19 Lit by a strong hand

And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, [a]I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, [b]I am hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: 17 and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us: and now let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Jehovah our God. 19 And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20 And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 22 but every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall despoil the Egyptians.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 3:14 Or, I am, because I am. Or, I am who am. Or, I will be that I will be
  2. Exodus 3:14 Hebrew Ehyeh. From the same root as Jehovah.