King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Now Moshe was tending the sheep of Yitro his father-in-law, the priest of Midyan. Leading the flock to the far side of the desert, he came to the mountain of God, to Horev.
Berean Standard Bible:
Meanwhile, 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.
American Standard Version:
Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Now Moses{H4872} kept{H1961}{H7462} the flock{H6629} of Jethro{H3503} his father in law{H2859}, the priest{H3548} of Midian{H4080}: and he led{H5090} the flock{H6629} to the backside{H310} of the desert{H4057}, and came{H935} to the mountain{H2022} of God{H430}, even to Horeb{H2722}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 19:8
- And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Exodus 17:6
- Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Psalms 78:70
- He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Psalms 78:72
- So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Numbers 10:29
- ¶ And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
Exodus 18:1
- ¶ When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, [and] that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
Exodus 18:6
- And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 3:1
**Exodus 3:1 Themes:**
- Divine Encounter: The verse sets the stage for a pivotal divine encounter, where Moses meets God in the form of a burning bush. This event marks a significant turning point in Moses' life and the history of the Israelites.
- Calling and Commission: Moses is being prepared for his role as a leader and deliverer of his people, which begins with his mundane task of shepherding, symbolizing God's ability to use the ordinary for the extraordinary.
- God's Providence: The narrative underscores the theme of God's providence and timing, as Moses is led to the very place where God will reveal Himself and commission him.
- Humility and Service: Moses' role as a shepherd reflects the humility and servitude that will characterize his leadership.
**Historical Context:**
- Moses in Midian: At this point in the biblical narrative, Moses has fled from Egypt to Midian after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:11-15). He has married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, a Midianite priest, and has been living in exile, working as a shepherd.
- The Hebrews in Egypt: The Israelites, or Hebrews, have been enslaved in Egypt for centuries, suffering under increasingly harsh oppression since the time when a new Pharaoh came to power who did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8).
- The Setting: Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, is a sacred place where God will later give the Ten Commandments to Moses. This mountain is often associated with the presence of God in the biblical narrative.
- The Time Period: The events of Exodus are traditionally dated to the late Bronze Age, around the 13th century BCE, although the exact historical timing is a subject of scholarly debate.
In summary, Exodus 3:1 is a transitional verse that moves Moses from his life as a fugitive shepherd to the critical role of deliverer of the Israelites. It highlights themes of divine calling, God's sovereignty, and the readiness of an unexpected leader to respond to the needs of his people.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - Strong's Number: H1961
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָיָה
Transliteration: hâyâh
Pronunciation: haw-yaw
Description: a primitive root (compare הָוָא); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary); beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. - Strong's Number: H7462
There are 144 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָעָה
Transliteration: râʻâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend); [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. - Strong's Number: H6629
There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֹאן
Transliteration: tsôʼn
Pronunciation: tsone
Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds). - Strong's Number: H3503
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִתְרוֹ
Transliteration: Yithrôw
Pronunciation: yith-ro'
Description: from יֶתֶר with pron. suffix; his excellence; Jethro, Moses' father-in-law; Jethro. Compare יֶתֶר. - Strong's Number: H2859
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָתַן
Transliteration: châthan
Pronunciation: khaw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage; join in affinity, father in law, make marriages, mother in law, son in law. - Strong's Number: H3548
There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּהֵן
Transliteration: kôhên
Pronunciation: ko-hane'
Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. - Strong's Number: H4080
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְיָן
Transliteration: Midyân
Pronunciation: mid-yawn'
Description: the same as מִדְיָן; Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants; Midian, Midianite. - Strong's Number: H5090
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָהַג
Transliteration: nâhag
Pronunciation: naw-hag'
Description: a primitive root; to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh; acquaint, bring (away), carry away, drive (away), lead (away, forth), (be) guide, lead (away, forth). - Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - Strong's Number: H4057
There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְבָּר
Transliteration: midbâr
Pronunciation: mid-bawr'
Description: from דָבַר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H2022
There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הַר
Transliteration: har
Pronunciation: har
Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H2722
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֹרֵב
Transliteration: Chôrêb
Pronunciation: kho-rabe'
Description: from חָרַב; desolate; Choreb, a (generic) name for the Sinaitic mountains; Horeb.