Exodus 3:4
New International Version
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

New Living Translation
When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

English Standard Version
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Berean Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

New American Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

NASB 1995
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

NASB 1977
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, so God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Amplified Bible
When the LORD saw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Christian Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses! ” “Here I am,” he answered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!"” Here I am,” he answered.”

American Standard Version
And when Jehovah 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.

Contemporary English Version
When the LORD saw Moses coming near, he called him by name from the bush, and Moses answered, "Here I am."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the LORD saw that Moses had come over to see it, God called to him from the bush, "Moses, Moses!" Moses answered, "Here I am!"

Good News Translation
When the LORD saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Yes, here I am."

International Standard Version
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from the center of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He said, "Here I am."

Majority Standard Bible
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, ?Moses, Moses!? ?Here I am,? he answered.

NET Bible
When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

New Heart English Bible
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses. Moses." He said, "Here I am."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

World English Bible
When Yahweh saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH sees that he has turned aside to see, and God calls to him out of the midst of the bush and says, “Moses! Moses!” And he says, “Here I [am].”

Young's Literal Translation
and Jehovah seeth that he hath turned aside to see, and God calleth unto him out of the midst of the bush, and saith, 'Moses, Moses;' and he saith, 'Here am I.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will see that he turned aside to see, and God will call to him from the midst of the bramble, and he will say, Moses, Moses! And he will say, Behold me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the Lord saw that he went forward to see, he called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses. And he answered: Here I am.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the Lord, discerning that he proceeded on to see it, called to him from the midst of the bush, and he said, “Moses, Moses.” And he responded, “Here I am.”

New American Bible
When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush: Moses! Moses! He answered, “Here I am.”

New Revised Standard Version
When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH saw that he turned aside to see, and God called to him from within the bush, and he said, “Moshe, Moshe”, and he said, “Here I am.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And when the Lord saw that he drew nigh to see, the Lord called him out of the bush, saying, Moses, Moses; and he said, What is it?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses at the Burning Bush
3So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” 4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. 5“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”…

Cross References
Acts 7:30-33
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. ...

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 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

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

1 Samuel 3:4-10
Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” / He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. / Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” ...

Judges 6:11-14
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” / “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.” ...

1 Kings 19:12-13
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Genesis 46:2
And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.

Acts 9:4
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

Acts 22:7
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

John 10:3
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Matthew 22:31-32
But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: / ‘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.”

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.’

Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. / He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

unto him.

Deuteronomy 33:16
And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

Moses.

Genesis 22:1,11
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am

Genesis 46:2
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

1 Samuel 3:4,6,8,10
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I…

Jump to Previous
Bush Crying Midst Moses Side Thorn-Bush Tree Turned Turning Within
Jump to Next
Bush Crying Midst Moses Side Thorn-Bush Tree Turned Turning 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.














When the LORD saw
The phrase begins with "the LORD," which in Hebrew is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature. This moment marks a divine observation, indicating God's omniscience and His active involvement in the affairs of humanity. The LORD's seeing is not passive but an intentional act of engagement, highlighting His readiness to intervene in the lives of His people.

that he had gone over to look
Moses' action of going over to look signifies his curiosity and willingness to engage with the divine. This phrase underscores the importance of human response to God's initiatives. Moses' decision to investigate the burning bush reflects a heart open to divine revelation, a necessary posture for receiving God's call.

God called to him from within the bush
Here, "God" is "Elohim" in Hebrew, a term that denotes power and majesty. The calling from "within the bush" signifies God's immanence, His presence in the midst of creation. This theophany, or visible manifestation of God, reveals that God can use ordinary elements of creation to convey His extraordinary presence and purposes.

'Moses, Moses!'
The repetition of Moses' name is a Hebrew idiom expressing intimacy and urgency. It reflects God's personal knowledge of Moses and His desire for a personal relationship. This double calling is seen elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., "Abraham, Abraham" in Genesis 22:11), indicating a moment of significant divine communication.

And Moses said, 'Here I am.'
Moses' response, "Here I am," is a statement of readiness and availability. In Hebrew, "Hineni" is a term of submission and willingness to listen and obey. This response is crucial for anyone called by God, demonstrating a heart prepared to receive divine instruction and to act upon it.

(4) When the Lord saw . . . God called.--Heb., When Jehovah saw, Elohim called. The German theory of two authors of Exodus, one Jehovistic and the other Elohistic, is completely refuted by this passage; for it is impossible to ascribe one clause of a sentence to one author, and the next to another. If originally the same term had been used in both places, a reviser would not have altered one without altering both.

Moses, Moses.--Comp. Genesis 26:11; 1Samuel 3:10; and Acts 9:4. The repetition marks extreme urgency.

Verse 4. - When the Lord saw... God called. This collocation of words is fatal in the entire Elohistic and Jehovistic theory, for no one can suppose that two different writers wrote the two clauses of the sentence. Nor, if the same term was originally used in both clauses, would any reviser have altered one without altering both. Out of the midst of the bush. A voice, which was the true voice of God, appeared to Moses to proceed out of the midst of the fire which enveloped the thorn-bush. An objective reality is described, not a vision. Moses, Moses. The double call implies urgency. Compare the call of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

that
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he had gone over
סָ֣ר (sār)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

to look,
לִרְא֑וֹת (lir·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7200: To see

God
אֱלֹהִ֜ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

called out
וַיִּקְרָא֩ (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

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

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

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

“Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֥ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

Moses!”
מֹשֶׁ֖ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

“Here
הִנֵּֽנִי׃ (hin·nê·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I am,”
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

he answered.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


Links
Exodus 3:4 NIV
Exodus 3:4 NLT
Exodus 3:4 ESV
Exodus 3:4 NASB
Exodus 3:4 KJV

Exodus 3:4 BibleApps.com
Exodus 3:4 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 3:4 Chinese Bible
Exodus 3:4 French Bible
Exodus 3:4 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 3:4 When Yahweh saw that he turned aside (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 3:3
Top of Page
Top of Page