The Meaning of Exodus 3:3 Explained

Exodus 3:3

KJV: And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

YLT: And Moses saith, 'Let me turn aside, I pray thee, and I see this great appearance; wherefore is the bush not burned?'

Darby: And Moses said, Let me now turn aside and see this great sight, why the thorn-bush is not burnt.

ASV: And Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Discover Exodus 3:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Exodus 3:3?

MEANING: What does Exodus 3:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Exodus 3:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Exodus 3:3?

What is the context of Exodus 3:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

What does Exodus 3:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 3:1-12 - God's Message From The Bush

The learning of Egypt was not sufficient to equip Moses for his life-work. He is taken to the solitudes of the wilderness. That is God's college. All who have done the greatest work in the world have graduated there-Elijah at Horeb, Ezekiel at Chebar, Paul in Arabia, and John in Patmos. God's workers may take their arts course in the universities, but must take their Divinity course alone with Him. Often in the middle of daily duty we come on the outshining of his Presence. Let us be on the outlook for it, and take off our shoes.

This burning bush has generally been taken as the emblem of the Church amid the fires of tribulation; but there is a deeper meaning. The fire was the token of God's presence. The bush was unconsumed, because God's love is its own fuel. Notice the successive steps: "I have seen;" "heard;" "know;" "am come down;" "will send." The "cry" of the previous chapter is answered by the "coming down" of this. See Luke 18:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 3

¹ Moses keeps Jethro's flock
² God appears to him in a burning bush
⁹ He sends him to deliver Israel
¹³ The name of God
¹⁵ His message to Israel, and Pharaoh, whose opposition is foretold
²⁰ He is assured of Israel's deliverance

What do the individual words in Exodus 3:3 mean?

And said Moses I will turn aside now and see - sight great this why not does burn the bush

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אָסֻֽרָה־ נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה אֶת־ הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹא־ יִבְעַ֥ר הַסְּנֶֽה

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה	Moses
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: מֹשֶׁה Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
אָסֻֽרָה־	I will turn aside
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular Root: סוּר Sense: to turn aside, depart.
נָּ֣א	now
Parse: Interjection Root: נָא Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה	and see
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular Root: רָאָה Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־	-
Parse: Direct object marker Root: אֹות Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה	sight
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: מַרְאֶה Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
הַגָּדֹ֖ל	great
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular Root: גָּבֹול Sense: great.
הַזֶּ֑ה	this
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular Root: זֶה Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
מַדּ֖וּעַ	why
Parse: Interrogative Root: מַדּוּעַ Sense: why?, on what account?, wherefore?.
יִבְעַ֥ר	does burn
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: בָּעַר Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
הַסְּנֶֽה	the bush
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: סְנֶה Sense: a bush, thorny bush.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 3:3?

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Similar Scriptures for Exodus 3:3

		Acts 7:31 [4]
		Psalms 107:8 [3]
		Psalms 111:2-4 [2]
		Job 37:14 [2]