Exodus 3:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He said, "Don't come any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy ground.

Berean Standard Bible:

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

American Standard Version:

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, Draw not nigh^{H7126} hither^{H1988}: put off^{H5394} thy shoes^{H5275} from off thy feet^{H7272}, for the place^{H4725} whereon^{H834} thou standest^{H5975} is holy^{H6944} ground^{H127}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 3:5

Exodus 3:5 is a pivotal moment in the Hebrew Bible, specifically within the narrative of the book of Exodus, which recounts the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This verse is part of the larger story of Moses, who, while tending his father-in-law's flock near Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai), encounters the divine presence in the form of a burning bush.

In this verse, God speaks to Moses, instructing him not to come closer to the bush and to remove his shoes because the ground he is standing on is holy. This command serves several purposes: it signifies the separation between the sacred and the profane, emphasizing the reverence that should be shown in the presence of the divine. The removal of shoes is an act of humility and respect, acknowledging the sacredness of the space. It also echoes a common ancient Near Eastern practice of showing reverence by going barefoot in the presence of a deity or in a sacred place.

The themes present in this verse include the holiness of God, the sanctity of certain places where God chooses to reveal Himself, and the proper human response to the divine presence, which is one of awe and obedience. Historically, this event marks the beginning of Moses' mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and is foundational to Jewish and Christian conceptions of divine calling and sacred space. The instruction to Moses also prefigures the later covenant between God and Israel, which will be formally established at this same mountain, Sinai, where God's laws and commandments will be given to Moses for the people.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7126
   There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרַב
   Transliteration: qârab
   Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
   Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1988
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הֲלֹם
   Transliteration: hălôm
   Pronunciation: hal-ome'
   Description: from the article (see הָלְאָהxlit hâlᵉâh corrected to hâlᵉʼâh); hither; here, hither(-(to)), thither.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5394
   There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשַׁל
   Transliteration: nâshal
   Pronunciation: naw-shal'
   Description: a primitive root; to pluck off, i.e. divest, eject or drop; cast (out), drive, loose, put off (out), slip.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5275
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַעַל
   Transliteration: naʻal
   Pronunciation: nah'-al
   Description: or (feminine) נַעֲלָה; from נָעַל; properly, a sandal tongue; by extension a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry, or of something valueless); dryshod, (pair of) shoe((-latchet), -s).
   
6. Strong's Number: H7272
   There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֶגֶל
   Transliteration: regel
   Pronunciation: reh'-gel
   Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4725
   There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָקוֹם
   Transliteration: mâqôwm
   Pronunciation: maw-kome'
   Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever).
   
8. Strong's Number: H834
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲשֶׁר
   Transliteration: ʼăsher
   Pronunciation: ash-er'
   Description: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5975
   There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָמַד
   Transliteration: ʻâmad
   Pronunciation: aw-mad'
   Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
   
10. Strong's Number: H6944
    There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
    Transliteration: qôdesh
    Pronunciation: ko'-desh
    Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
    
11. Strong's Number: H127
    There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֲדָמָה
    Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
    Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
    Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.