Exodus 3:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When ADONAI saw that he had gone over to see, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moshe! Moshe!" He answered, "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.

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And when the LORD^{H3068} saw^{H7200} that he turned aside^{H5493} to see^{H7200}, God^{H430} called^{H7121} unto him out of the midst^{H8432} of the bush^{H5572}, and said^{H559}, Moses^{H4872}, Moses^{H4872}. And he said^{H559}, Here am I.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 3:4

**Exodus 3:4 Summary:**

**Themes:**
- Divine Encounter: The verse describes a pivotal moment where God reveals Himself to Moses in a miraculous way, signifying a personal and transformative encounter with the divine.
- God's Initiative: It emphasizes God's initiative in seeking out Moses, highlighting the theme of God's active role in human history and in the lives of individuals.
- Moses' Humility and Readiness to Respond: Moses' response, "Here am I," reflects his readiness to listen and respond to God, illustrating themes of humility, obedience, and availability.
- Theophany: The burning bush is a theophany, a visible manifestation of God, which is a recurring theme in the Bible where God reveals Himself in a tangible way.
- Call to Mission: This event marks the beginning of Moses' call to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, underscoring themes of deliverance, liberation, and God's concern for the oppressed.

**Historical Context:**
- The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, suffering under the harsh rule of a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph, the Israelite who had previously saved Egypt from famine.
- Moses, a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh's court, had fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. In Midian, he married and became a shepherd.
- The encounter at the burning bush occurs during Moses' time as a fugitive and shepherd, when he is leading his father-in-law's flock in the wilderness near Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai).
- This event is set within the context of God's promise to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to deliver their descendants from oppression and lead them to a promised land.
- The divine name "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14) is revealed to Moses in this context, signifying God's eternal and self-sufficient nature, and His presence with His people.

In this verse, God's call to Moses is the beginning of a significant narrative in the Bible that leads to the Exodus, the giving of the Law, and the formation of Israel as a nation under God's guidance.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5493
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סוּר
   Transliteration: çûwr
   Pronunciation: soor
   Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8432
   There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
   Transliteration: tâvek
   Pronunciation: taw'-vek
   Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5572
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סְנֶה
   Transliteration: çᵉneh
   Pronunciation: sen-eh'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to prick; a bramble; bush.
   
8. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
9. 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.