Exoduschapter 3

22 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th or 13th century BC · The Law

In Jewish life

The reading

Weekly portion 13 of 54

שְׁמוֹת Shemot, Exodus 1:1 to 6:1

Read with it: Isaiah 27:6 to 28:13 and 29:22 to 29:23 in Ashkenazi use, and Jeremiah 1:1 to 2:3 in Sephardi use.

The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →

How it is read

The corpus carries no English text for any commentator on this chapter, so nothing here is quoted. Rashi comments twice on the first verse and twice on the bush of verse 2. He comments again at the removing of the shoes, at the sending, and at the giving of the Name (Rashi on Exodus 3:5:1, 3:10:1, 3:14:1 and 3:15:1). Ibn Ezra comments at the call in verse 4, at the God of the fathers in verse 6, and at Moses asking what he shall say (Ibn Ezra on Exodus 3:4:1, 3:6:1 and 3:13:1). Sefaria reports no licence for the Rashi version it holds, and CC-BY-NC for the Ibn Ezra translation. The corpus therefore keeps the reference and the link and leaves the words with their publishers.

What the rabbis say

The rabbis take up Moses hiding his face at Berakhot 7a:30. On the command to take off the shoes they taught at Berakhot 62b:23 and Bava Batra 110a:3. On the voice that called him by name they taught in Bamidbar Rabbah 1:3 and 14:21. On the promise to be with him they taught in Bereshit Rabbah 16:5 and 76:1. The Name of verse 14 is taken up at Avot DeRabbi Natan 34:2 and Bava Batra 73a:8.

The text, verse by verse

Each word shows the Hebrew, the English under it, how it sounds and its Strong’s number. A rule between verses marks where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.

The Bush That Burned Unconsumed

3:1

וּמֹשֶׁ֗הand MosesumoshehH4872 הָיָ֥הhe washayahH1961 רֹעֶ֛הpasturingroehH7462 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 צֹ֛אן[the] flock oftzonH6629 יִתְר֥וֹJethroyitroH3503 חֹתְנ֖וֹfather-in-law hischotenoH2859 כֹּהֵ֣ן[the] priest ofkohenH3548 מִדְיָ֑ןMidianmidyanH4080 וַיִּנְהַ֤גand he drovevaiyinhagH5090 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הַצֹּאן֙the flockhatzonH6629 אַחַ֣רbehindʾacharH310 הַמִּדְבָּ֔רthe wildernesshamidbarH4057 וַיָּבֹ֛אand he camevaiyavo'H935 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הַ֥ר[the] mountain ofharH2022 הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים<the> GodhaelohimH430 חֹרֵֽבָה׃Horeb towardschorevahH2722

Onkelos Exodus 3:1

Targum

Moshe tended the sheep of his father-in-law Yisro, priest [ minister ] of Midian.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 [with Onkelos translation]

3:2

וַ֠יֵּרָאand he appearedvaiyera'H7200 מַלְאַ֨ךְ[the] angel ofmalakhH4397 יְהֹוָ֥הYahwehyahwehH3068 אֵלָ֛יוto himʾelavH413 בְּלַבַּת־in a flame ofbelabat-H3827 אֵ֖שׁfireʾeshH784 מִתּ֣וֹךְfrom [the] middle ofmitokhH8432 הַסְּנֶ֑הthe bushhasenehH5572 וַיַּ֗רְאand he sawvaiyar'H7200 וְהִנֵּ֤הand there!vehinehH2009 הַסְּנֶה֙the bushhasenehH5572 בֹּעֵ֣ר[was] burningboerH1197 בָּאֵ֔שׁwith <the> firebaeshH784 וְהַסְּנֶ֖הand the bushvehasenehH5572 אֵינֶ֥נּוּnot itʾeinenuH369 אֻכָּֽל׃[was] consumedʾukalH398

3:3

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 אָסֻֽרָה־I will turn asideʾasurah-H5493 נָּ֣אpleasena'H4994 וְאֶרְאֶ֔הso I may seeveerehH7200 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הַמַּרְאֶ֥הthe sighthamarehH4758 הַגָּדֹ֖ל<the> greathagadolH1419 הַזֶּ֑ה<the> thishazehH2088 מַדּ֖וּעַwhy?madua'H4069 לֹא־notlo'-H3808 יִבְעַ֥רis it burningyivarH1197 הַסְּנֶֽה׃the bushhasenehH5572

3:4

וַיַּ֥רְאand he sawvaiyar'H7200 יְהוָ֖הYahwehyahwehH3068 כִּ֣יthatkiH3588 סָ֣רhe had turned asidesarH5493 לִרְא֑וֹתto looklirotH7200 וַיִּקְרָא֩and he calledvaiyikra'H7121 אֵלָ֨יוto himʾelavH413 אֱלֹהִ֜יםGodʾelohimH430 מִתּ֣וֹךְfrom [the] middle ofmitokhH8432 הַסְּנֶ֗הthe bushhasenehH5572 וַיֹּ֛אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מֹשֶׁ֥הO MosesmoshehH4872 מֹשֶׁ֖הMosesmoshehH4872 וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 הִנֵּֽנִי׃here [am] IhineniH2009

3:5

וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 אַל־may notʾal-H408 תִּקְרַ֣בyou draw neartikravH7126 הֲלֹ֑םherehalomH1988 שַׁל־take offshal-H5394 נְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙sandals yournealeikhaH5275 מֵעַ֣לfrom onmealH5921 רַגְלֶ֔יךָfeet yourragleikhaH7272 כִּ֣יforkiH3588 הַמָּק֗וֹםthe placehamakomH4725 אֲשֶׁ֤רwhichʾasherH834 אַתָּה֙youʾatahH859 עוֹמֵ֣ד[are] standingomedH5975 עָלָ֔יוon itʾalavH5921 אַדְמַת־[is] ground ofʾadmat-H127 קֹ֖דֶשׁholinesskodeshH6944 הֽוּא׃ithu'H1931

3:6

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 אָנֹכִי֙IʾanokhiH595 אֱלֹהֵ֣י[am] [the] God ofʾeloheiH430 אָבִ֔יךָfather yourʾavikhaH1 אֱלֹהֵ֧י[the] God ofʾeloheiH430 אַבְרָהָ֛םAbrahamʾavrahamH85 אֱלֹהֵ֥י[the] God ofʾeloheiH430 יִצְחָ֖קIsaacyitzchakH3327 וֵאלֹהֵ֣יand [the] God ofveloheiH430 יַעֲקֹ֑בJacobyaakoH3290 וַיַּסְתֵּ֤רand he hidvaiyasterH5641 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 פָּנָ֔יוface hispanavH6440 כִּ֣יforkiH3588 יָרֵ֔אhe was afraidyare'H3372 מֵהַבִּ֖יטfrom lookingmehabitH5027 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃<the> GodhaelohimH430

I Have Seen My People's Affliction

3:7

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 יְהוָ֔הYahwehyahwehH3068 רָאֹ֥הcertainly <to see>raohH7200 רָאִ֛יתִיI have seenraitiH7200 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 עֳנִ֥י[the] affliction ofʾoniH6040 עַמִּ֖יpeople myʾamiH5971 אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichʾasherH834 בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם[is] in EgyptbemitzrayimH4714 וְאֶת־and <obj.>veetH853 צַעֲקָתָ֤םcry of distress theirtzaakatamH6818 שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙I have heardshama'tiH8085 מִפְּנֵ֣י<from> because ofmipeneiH6440 נֹֽגְשָׂ֔יוtaskmasters itsnogesavH5065 כִּ֥יforkiH3588 יָדַ֖עְתִּיI knowyada'tiH3045 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 מַכְאֹבָֽיו׃pains itsmakhovavH4341

3:8

וָאֵרֵ֞דand I have come downvaeredH3381 לְהַצִּיל֣וֹ׀to deliver itlehatziloH5337 מִיַּ֣דfrom [the] hand ofmiyadH3027 מִצְרַ֗יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4714 וּֽלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ֮and to bring up itulehaalotoH5927 מִן־frommin-H4480 הָאָ֣רֶץthe landhaaretzH776 הַהִוא֒<the> thathahiv'H1931 אֶל־intoʾel-H413 אֶ֤רֶץa landʾeretzH776 טוֹבָה֙goodtovahH2896 וּרְחָבָ֔הand spaciousurechavahH7342 אֶל־intoʾel-H413 אֶ֛רֶץa landʾeretzH776 זָבַ֥תflowing ofzavatH2100 חָלָ֖בmilkchalavH2461 וּדְבָ֑שׁand honeyudevashH1706 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מְק֤וֹם[the] place ofmekomH4725 הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙the Canaanite[s]hakenaaniH3669 וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔יand the Hittite[s]vehachitiH2850 וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙and the Amorite[s]vehaemoriH567 וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔יand the Perizzite[s]vehapperiziH6522 וְהַחִוִּ֖יand the Hivite[s]vehachiviH2340 וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃and the Jebusite[s]vehayvusiH2983

3:9

וְעַתָּ֕הand nowveatahH6258 הִנֵּ֛הthere!hinehH2009 צַעֲקַ֥ת[the] cry of distress oftzaakatH6818 בְּנֵי־[the] people ofbenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 בָּ֣אָהit has comebaahH935 אֵלָ֑יto meʾelaiH413 וְגַם־and alsovegam-H1571 רָאִ֙יתִי֙I have seenraitiH7200 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הַלַּ֔חַץthe oppressionhalachatzH3906 אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichʾasherH834 מִצְרַ֖יִםEgyptmitzrayimH4713 לֹחֲצִ֥ים[are] oppressinglochatzimH3905 אֹתָֽם׃<obj.> themʾotamH853

3:10

וְעַתָּ֣הand thereforeveatahH6258 לְכָ֔הgo !lekhahH1980 וְאֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֖and I will send youveeshlachakhaH7971 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פַּרְעֹ֑הPharaohparohH6547 וְהוֹצֵ֛אand bring outvehotze'H3318 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 עַמִּ֥יpeople myʾamiH5971 בְנֵֽי־[the] people ofvenei-H1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃from EgyptmimitzrayimH4714

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 3:10

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

As My messenger to Pharaoh. 84 The Hebrew reads, ve-attah lekha (come now therefore). I.E.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

3:11

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מֹשֶׁה֙MosesmoshehH4872 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים<the> GodhaelohimH430 מִ֣יwho?miH4310 אָנֹ֔כִי[am] IʾanokhiH595 כִּ֥יthatkiH3588 אֵלֵ֖ךְI will goʾelekhH1980 אֶל־toʾel-H413 פַּרְעֹ֑הPharaohparohH6547 וְכִ֥יand thatvekhiH3588 אוֹצִ֛יאI will bring outʾotzi'H3318 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 בְּנֵ֥י[the] people ofbeneiH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelyisraelH3478 מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃from EgyptmimitzrayimH4714

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 3:11

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

AND MOSES SAID…WHO AM I. There is no difference between the words ani (I) and anokhi (I).

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004

3:12

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he saidvaiyomerH559 כִּֽי־thatki-H3588 אֶֽהְיֶ֣הI will beʾehyehH1961 עִמָּ֔ךְwith youʾimakhH5973 וְזֶה־and thisvezeh-H2088לְּךָ֣for <the> youlekhaהָא֔וֹת[will be] the signhaotH226 כִּ֥יthatkiH3588 אָנֹכִ֖יIʾanokhiH595 שְׁלַחְתִּ֑יךָI sent youshelachtikhaH7971 בְּהוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֤when bringing out youbehotziakhaH3318 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הָעָם֙the peoplehaamH5971 מִמִּצְרַ֔יִםfrom EgyptmimitzrayimH4714 תַּֽעַבְדוּן֙you will serve !taavdunH5647 אֶת־<obj.>ʾet-H853 הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים<the> GodhaelohimH430 עַ֖לonʾalH5921 הָהָ֥רthe mountainhaharH2022 הַזֶּֽה׃<the> thishazehH2088

I AM Has Sent Me to You

3:13

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 מֹשֶׁ֜הMosesmoshehH4872 אֶל־toʾel-H413 הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים<the> GodhaelohimH430 הִנֵּ֨הhere!hinehH2009 אָנֹכִ֣יIʾanokhiH595 בָא֮[am] about to gova'H935 אֶל־toʾel-H413 בְּנֵ֣י[the] people ofbeneiH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵל֒IsraelyisraelH3478 וְאָמַרְתִּ֣יand I will sayveamartiH559לָהֶ֔םto <the> themlahemאֱלֹהֵ֥י[the] God ofʾeloheiH430 אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֖םancestors yourʾavoteikhemH1 שְׁלָחַ֣נִיhe has sent meshelachaniH7971 אֲלֵיכֶ֑םto youʾaleikhemH413 וְאָֽמְרוּ־and they will sayveameru-H559לִ֣יto <the> meliמַה־what?mah-H4100 שְּׁמ֔וֹ[is] name hisshemoH8034 מָ֥הwhat?mahH4100 אֹמַ֖רwill I sayʾomarH559 אֲלֵהֶֽם׃to themʾalehemH413

Ramban on Exodus 3:13

RambanSpain, 1194–1270· Commentary

WHAT IS HIS NAME? WHAT SHALL I SAY UNTO THEM? This verse calls aloud for an explanation. It is incomprehensible that Moses should say, And they shall say unto me: What is His name? meaning that this will be a sign to them to believe in him.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

3:14

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 אֱלֹהִים֙GodʾelohimH430 אֶל־toʾel-H413 מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesmoshehH4872 אֶֽהְיֶ֖הI amʾehyehH1961 אֲשֶׁ֣ר[that] whichʾasherH834 אֶֽהְיֶ֑הI amʾehyehH1961 וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he saidvaiyomerH559 כֹּ֤הthuskohH3541 תֹאמַר֙you will saytomarH559 לִבְנֵ֣יto [the] people oflivneiH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelyisraelH3478 אֶֽהְיֶ֖הI amʾehyehH1961 שְׁלָחַ֥נִיhe has sent meshelachaniH7971 אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃to youʾaleikhemH413

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 3:14

Ibn EzraSpain, 1089–1167· Commentary

AND GOD SAID…I AM. Its meaning is, That I Am. 112 According to I.E. That I Am explains I Am.

Read it in full at Sefaria · Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004