Bible Commentaries
Exodus 3

Verse 1

kept the flock. Forty years, Acts 7:30 .

Jethro = Reuel, Exodus 2:18 .

Midian . A. descendant of Abraham, by Keturah. Moses was called in this land (Arabia); Mahomet also arose there. backside. Would be the West side, very fertile. First mention of Desert of Sinai is in connection with feeding a flock!

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Horeb . Never used in New Testament. There "the wisdom of Egypt "had to be unlearned and God made known, Isaiah 50:4 .

Verse 2

Angel of the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. ( App-4 ). Genitive of App. ( App-17 ): i.e. Jehovah Himself, Exodus 3:4 , then "God" (Exodus 3:4 ). Compare Genesis 18:1 , Genesis 18:13 , Genesis 18:17 , Genesis 18:20 , Genesis 18:22 , Genesis 18:33 ; Genesis 19:1 , Genesis 19:24 ; and compare Genesis 32:24 , Genesis 32:30 with Hosea 12:3 , Hosea 12:4 . appeared. Forty years after.

bush burned . Same lesson as the "furnace" of Genesis 15:17 ,

Verse 4

God called . Only here in Exodus. See note on Exodus 19:3 . Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Moses , Moses. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ). Compare Genesis 22:11 .Genesis 22:5; Genesis 22:5 He [God = Elohim ] said. Occurs four times in Exodus. (Exodus 3:6 , Exodus 3:6 , Exodus 3:12 , Exodus 3:14 ). is. Hebrew "it [is]".

holy . = Separated, or set apart [for God]. Always the rendering of Hebrew. kodesh (first occurance here) except Psalms 42:4 , where it is hagag - holy day; and Deuteronomy 33:8 , Psalms 16:2 ; Psalms 86:2 ; Psalms 89:19 ; Psalms 145:17 , where it is hasid = favour, or grace. Kodesh must have one identical meaning (as above) in all passages; and does not imply moral quality except when used of God Himself. It is rendered "consecrated", "dedicated", "hallowed", "holiness", "saint", and "sanctuary", which are distinguished in the notes under their respective occurrences.

Verse 6

I. Pronoun emphatic.

God = 'Elohim, the Creator. Note the five-fold repetition. ( App-10 ). Christ founds the doctrine of Resurrection on this verse. See note on Matthew 22:31 , Matthew 22:32 .

afraid . Compare Acts 7:32 .

Verse 7

the LORD said = Jehovah said (Hebrew. 'amar, requiring the words spoken). This expression occurs forty-five "sundry times" in Exodus, and in ten "divers manners" (see App-10 ), and compare Leviticus 1:1 ; Leviticus 5:14 .Numbers 3:40 , and see note on Exodus 6:10 . (1) The LORD said, Exodus 3:7 ; Exodus 33:21 . (2) To Moses (or to "him"), Exodus 4:2 , Exodus 4:4 , Exodus 4:6 , Exodus 4:11 , Exodus 4:19 ; Exodus 6:1 ; Exodus 7:1 , Exodus 7:14 ; Exodus 9:22 ; Exodus 10:1 , Exodus 10:12 , Exodus 10:21 ; Exodus 11:1 , Exodus 11:9 ; Exodus 14:26 ; Exodus 16:4 , Exodus 16:29 ; Exodus 17:5 ; Exodus 19:9 , Exodus 19:10 , Exodus 19:24 ; Exodus 24:12 ; Exodus 32:7 , Exodus 32:9 , Exodus 32:33 ; Exodus 33:1 , Exodus 33:17 ; Exodus 34:1 , Exodus 34:27 . (3) To Moses to say unto Aaron, Exodus 8:16 . (4) To Moses to say unto Pharaoh, Exodus 4:21 (compare 22); Exodus 8:20 ; Exodus 9:1 , Exodus 9:13 . (5) To Moses to rehearse to Joshua 17:14 . (6) To Moses to charge the people, Exodus 19:21 . (7) To Moses to speak to the people, Exodus 3:11 . (compare Exodus 3:2 ). (8) To Moses to say to the children of Israel, Exodus 14:15 ; Exodus 20:22 ; Exodus 33:5 . (9) To Moses and unto Aaron, Exodus 9:8 ; Exodus 12:43 . (10) To Aaron, Exodus 4:27 .

I have surely seen . Hebrew "seeing I have seen". Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ); see note on Genesis 26:28 . All begins with God. All is of His grace. Note the five statements in verses: Exodus 3:7 , Exodus 3:8 ; and "My People". Compare Deuteronomy 32:8 , Deuteronomy 32:9 .

Verse 8

deliver . Connect this with "serve" in Exodus 3:12 ; and connect both with 1 Thessalonians 1:9 , 1 Thessalonians 1:10 .

good. Five-fold description of the land: good, large, milk, honey, place of the nations. See App-10 . milk and honey. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 .

Canaanites . Six nations named. The number of man (see App-10 ).

and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ).

Verse 9

children = sons.

Verse 10

I will send . Compare Acts 7:23 .

Pharaoh . See App-37 .

Verse 11

Who am I. ? Figure of speech Erotesis, in expostulation ( App-6 ) for emphasis. Occupation with self is the cause of all distrust. Note these four instances. Compare Exodus 4:1 , Exodus 4:10-12 , Exodus 4:13 . Very different from the Moses of Exodus 2:11-14 .

Verse 12

I will be with thee . Here the meaning of name "Jehovah" is anticipated.

God . Hebrew. eth ha 'Elohim, very emphatic. God Himself = the Triune God. Compare "deliver", Exodus 3:8 .

Verse 14

God ['Elohim] said. This expression occurs twice in Exodus, only here in Exodus 3:14 and Exodus 3:15 .

I AM THAT I AM. Hebrew. 'ehyeh asher 'ehyeh. I will be what I will be (or become). App-48 .

I AM. Hebrew 'ehyeh = I will be (speaking of Himself).

Verse 15

The LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. = He will be, spoken of by others. See App-4 and compare Revelation 1:4 , "which is " = continuance in time present; "which was" = continuance in time past; "which is to come" = continuance for ever. The French, "The Eternal", is a much better rendering than Lord, which = Master and Owner. What He will be is left to be filled up according to the needs of those with whom He is in covenant-He Who becometh Saviour, Redeemer, Deliverer, Strengthener, Comforter, &c.

for ever . He changeth not. Malachi 3:6 . He is therefore Israel's God to-day, as then.

Verse 16

surely visited you . Figure of speech Polyptoton, "visiting I have visited you" ( App-6 ). Genesis 50:24 , Genesis 50:25 .

seen . Ellipsis of the second verb. Figure of speech Zeugma (Protozeugma). App-6 .

Verse 18

sacrifice . Hebrew. zabach. See App-43 .

Verse 19

no, not , &c. Figure of speech Epitasis ( App-6 ).

Verse 22

borrow . This is a most unfortunate rendering. Hebrew. sha'al, to ask. Out of 168 occurrences, only six times "borrow", but 162 ask, beg, require, &c. Compare Exodus 11:2 ; Exodus 12:35 , Exodus 12:35-36 . Psalms 2:8 . 1 Samuel 1:20 ; 1 Samuel 8:10 . Genesis 24:47 , Genesis 24:57 ; Genesis 32:17 ; Gen 43:7 . 1 Kings 3:11 .

jewels : or articles. Compare Genesis 15:14 and Exodus 3:21 above.