Exodus 3:2
New International Version
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

New Living Translation
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

English Standard Version
And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

Berean Standard Bible
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

King James Bible
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

New King James Version
And 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.

New American Standard Bible
Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed.

NASB 1995
The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

NASB 1977
And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of the bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

Amplified Bible
The Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed.

American Standard Version
And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Contemporary English Version
There an angel of the LORD appeared to him from a burning bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but it was not burning up.

English Revised Version
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Messenger of the LORD appeared to him there as flames of fire coming out of a bush. Moses looked, and although the bush was on fire, it was not burning up.

Good News Translation
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a flame coming from the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but that it was not burning up.

International Standard Version
the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flaming fire from the center of a bush. As Moses continued to watch, amazingly the bush kept on burning, but was not consumed.

Majority Standard Bible
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

NET Bible
The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked--and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed!

New Heart English Bible
The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and look, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

World English Bible
Yahweh’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Messenger of YHWH appears to him in a flame of fire, out of the midst of the bush, and he sees, and behold, the bush is burning with fire, and the bush is not consumed.

Young's Literal Translation
and there appeareth unto him a messenger of Jehovah in a flame of fire, out of the midst of the bush, and he seeth, and lo, the bush is burning with fire, and the bush is not consumed.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the messenger of Jehovah will be seen to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bramble; and he will see, and behold, the bramble burning in fire, and the bramble was not consumed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. And he saw that the bush was burning and was not burnt.

New American Bible
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush. When he looked, although the bush was on fire, it was not being consumed.

New Revised Standard Version
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush was on fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Angel of LORD JEHOVAH appeared to him in a flame of fire from within the bush, and he saw the bush that was on fire with fire in it, and the bush was not burned.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flaming fire out of the bush, and he sees that the bush burns with fire, - but the bush was not consumed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses at the Burning Bush
1Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. 3So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”…

Cross References
Acts 7:30-32
After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. / When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him: / ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

Luke 20:37
Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

Mark 12:26
But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

Matthew 22:32
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Acts 7:35
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

Deuteronomy 33:16
with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it, and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers.

Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Judges 13:3-22
The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son. / Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. / For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” ...

Genesis 16:7-13
Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. / “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. / So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” ...

Genesis 22:11
Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

Genesis 31:11
In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

Genesis 48:16
the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

Hosea 12:4
Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—

Zechariah 3:2
And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

1 Kings 19:12
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.


Treasury of Scripture

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

angel.

Exodus 3:4,6
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I…

Genesis 16:7-13
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur…

Genesis 22:15,16
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, …

bush burned.

Genesis 15:13-17
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; …

Deuteronomy 4:20
But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Psalm 66:12
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

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Angel Appeared Appeareth Blazing Burn Burned Burning Bush Consumed Fire Flame Flames Midst Moses Thorn-Bush Thorn-Tree Tree Within
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Angel Appeared Appeareth Blazing Burn Burned Burning Bush Consumed Fire Flame Flames Midst Moses Thorn-Bush Thorn-Tree Tree Within
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.














the Angel of the LORD
The phrase "the Angel of the LORD" is a significant theological term in the Old Testament, often understood as a theophany, or a visible manifestation of God to humankind. In Hebrew, "mal'ak YHWH" can be translated as "messenger of Yahweh." This figure is not merely an angelic being but is often equated with God Himself, as seen in subsequent verses where the Angel speaks as God. This appearance signifies divine intervention and the beginning of a pivotal moment in salvation history, where God initiates the deliverance of His people from bondage.

appeared to him
The Hebrew verb "ra'ah" means "to see" or "to appear." This indicates a divine revelation, where God makes Himself known to Moses in a tangible way. The appearance is not just a visual experience but a profound encounter that changes the course of Moses' life. It underscores the personal nature of God's call and His willingness to reveal Himself to those He chooses for His purposes.

in a flame of fire
Fire in the Bible often symbolizes the presence of God, His holiness, and His purifying power. The Hebrew word "esh" for fire is used here to convey the intensity and purity of God's presence. Fire is both awe-inspiring and fearsome, representing God's power to purify and refine. This imagery prepares Moses for the holy ground he is about to tread and the divine mission he is to undertake.

within a bush
The Hebrew word "seneh" refers to a thorny bush or bramble. The choice of a humble bush for this divine encounter highlights God's ability to use the ordinary for extraordinary purposes. It reflects the theme of God's sovereignty and His preference for using the lowly and humble to accomplish His will, a recurring theme throughout Scripture.

Moses saw
The act of seeing, "ra'ah" in Hebrew, is more than a physical observation; it is an invitation to perceive and understand God's actions and intentions. Moses' attention to the sight before him marks the beginning of his transformation from a shepherd to the leader of Israel. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual awareness and responsiveness to God's revelations.

the bush ablaze with fire
The continuous burning of the bush without being consumed is a miraculous sign. It symbolizes God's eternal nature and His self-sustaining power. The fire that does not consume the bush can also be seen as a metaphor for Israel's endurance amidst the trials of slavery in Egypt, sustained by God's presence and promise.

but it was not consumed
This phrase highlights the miraculous nature of the event. The Hebrew word "akal" means "to consume" or "to eat." The bush's resistance to the consuming fire signifies God's protection and preservation. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to preserve His people and His purposes despite overwhelming circumstances. This miracle foreshadows the deliverance of Israel, where God will protect and sustain them through the trials ahead.

(2) The angel of the Lord.--Heb., an angel of Jehovah. In Exodus 3:4 the angel is called both "Jehovah and "Elohim," whence it is concluded, with reason, that it was the Second Person of the Trinity who appeared to Moses.

Out of the midst of a bush.--Literally, out of the midst of the acacia. As the seneh, or acacia, is very common in the Sinaitic region, we can scarcely suppose that a special tree, growing alone, is intended. Probably the article is one of reference, and the meaning is, "the bush of which you have all heard." (Comp. John 3:24.)

Verse 2. - The angel of the Lord. Literally, "an angel of Jehovah." Taking the whole narrative altogether, we are justified in concluding that the appearance was that of "the Angel of the Covenant" or" the Second Person of the Trinity himself;" but this is not stated nor implied in the present verse. We learn it from what follows. The angel "appeared in a flame of fire out of the midst of the thorn-bush" - not out of "a thorn-bush - which may be explained by there being only one on the spot, which however seems improbable, as it is a common tree; or by Moses having so often spoken of it, that, when he came to write to his countrymen, he naturally called it "the bush," meaning "the bush of which you have all heard." So St. John says of the Baptist (John 3:24) that "he was not yet cast into the prison, meaning, prison into which you all know that he was cast. Seneh, the word translated "bush," is still the name of a thorny shrub, a species of acacia, common in the Sinaitic district.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
There the Angel
מַלְאַ֨ךְ (mal·’aḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

of the LORD
יְהֹוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

appeared
וַ֠יֵּרָא (way·yê·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

to
אֵלָ֛יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

him in a blazing
בְּלַבַּת־ (bə·lab·baṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3827: Flame

fire
אֵ֖שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

from within
מִתּ֣וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

a bush.
הַסְּנֶ֑ה (has·sə·neh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5572: Perhaps blackberry bush

Moses saw
וַיַּ֗רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the bush
הַסְּנֶה֙ (has·sə·neh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5572: Perhaps blackberry bush

ablaze
בֹּעֵ֣ר (bō·‘êr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

with fire,
בָּאֵ֔שׁ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

but it was not
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ (’ê·nen·nū)
Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

consumed!
אֻכָּֽל׃ (’uk·kāl)
Verb - QalPass - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat


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