The Burning Bush

Exodus 3

While shepherding in the wilderness, Moses sees a bush burning without being consumed, and the Lord speaks to him from it, revealing his name and calling him to bring Israel out of Egypt. The Lord promises to deliver the people from bondage and bring them into a good land, and instructs Moses what to say to Pharao and to the elders of Israel.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW when Moses was feeding the flocks of Jothor his father-in-law the priest of Madiam he led them below the wilderness and came to the mountain Choreb.

BrentonAnd Moses was feeding the flock of Jothor his father-in-law, the priest of Madiam; and he brought the sheep nigh to the wilderness, and came to the mount of Choreb.

GreekΚαὶ Μωυσῆς ἦν ποιμαίνων τὰ πρόβατα Ἰοθὸρ τοῦ γαμβροῦ αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ἱερέως Μαδιὰμ, καὶ ἤγαγεν τὰ πρόβατα ὑπὸ τὴν ἔρημον, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος Χωρήβ.

KJVNow 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.

JPSNow Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the farthest end of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb.

ThomsonAnd an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a fire blazing out of a bush. And when he saw that the bush blazed with fire, but was not consumed,

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekὬφθη δὲ αὐτῷ Ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς ἐκ τοῦ βάτου· καὶ ὁρᾷ ὅτι ὁ βάτος καίεται πυρί, ὁ δὲ βάτος οὐ κατεκαίετο.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonMoses said, I will go near and see this great sight; why the bush is not consumed.

BrentonAnd Moses said, I will go near and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς, παρελθὼν ὄψομαι τὸ ὅραμα τὸ μέγα τοῦτο, ὅτι οὐ κατακαίεται ὁ βάτος.

KJVAnd Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

JPSAnd Moses said: ‘I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.’

ThomsonBut when the Lord saw that he drew near to look; the Lord called to him out of the bush saying, Moses! Moses! And he said, What is it?

BrentonAnd 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?

GreekὩς δὲ εἶδεν Κύριος ὅτι προσάγει ἰδεῖν, ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν Κύριος ἐκ τοῦ βάτου, λέγων, Μωυσῆ, Μωυσῆ· ὁ δὲ εἶπε, τί ἐστιν;

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.’

ThomsonAnd He said, Approach not hither. Loose the sandals from thy feet; for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

BrentonAnd he said, Draw not nigh hither: loose thy sandals from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

GreekὉ δὲ εἶπε, μὴ ἐγγίσῃς ὧδε· λύσαι τὸ ὑπόδημα ἐκ τῶν ποδῶν σου, ὁ γὰρ τόπος. ἐν ᾧ σὺ ἕστηκας, γῆ ἁγία ἐστί.

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

JPSAnd He said: ‘Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’

ThomsonThen He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaak, and the God of Jacob. Whereupon Moses turned away his face; for he was afraid to look forward in the presence of God.

BrentonAnd he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraam, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and Moses turned away his face, for he was afraid to gaze at God.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ πατρός σου, Θεὸς Ἁβραὰμ, καὶ Θεὸς Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ Θεὸς Ἰακώβ· ἀπέστρεψε δὲ Μωυσῆς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, εὐλαβεῖτο γὰρ κατεμβλέψαι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ.

KJVMoreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

JPSMoreover He said: ‘I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

ThomsonAnd the Lord said to Moses, I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt and have heard their cry on the account of their task masters; for I know their sorrow, therefore I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land, and conduct them to a land good and spacious—to a land flowing with milk and honey—to the country of the Chananites and the Chettites and the Amorites, and the Pherezites, and the Gergasites and the Evites and the Jebusites.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to Moses, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and I have heard their cry caused by their task-masters; for I know their affliction.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, ἰδὼν εἶδον τὴν κάκωσιν τοῦ λαοῦ μου τοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ τῆς κραυγῆς αὐτῶν ἀκήκοα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐργοδιωκτῶν· οἶδα γὰρ τὴν ὀδύνην αὐτων,

KJVAnd the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

JPSAnd the LORD said: ‘I have surely seen the affliction of My people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their pains;

Thomson—

BrentonAnd I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land, and to bring them into a good and wide land, into a land flowing with milk and honey, into the place of the Chananites, and the Chettites, and Amorites, and Pherezites, and Gergesites, and Evites, and Jebusites.

Greekκαὶ κατέβην ἐξελέσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων, καὶ ἐξαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐκείνης, καὶ εἰσαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς γῆν ἀγαθὴν καὶ πολλήν, εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι, εἰς τὸν τόπον τῶν Χαναναίων, καὶ Χετταίων, καὶ Ἀμοῤῥαίων, καὶ Φερεζαίων, καὶ Γεργεσαὶων, καὶ Εὐαίων, καὶ Ἰεβουσαίων.

KJVAnd I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

JPSand I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

ThomsonAnd now behold the cry of the children of Israel hath reached me and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them,

BrentonAnd now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come to me, and I have seen the affliction with which the Egyptians afflict them.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ κραυγὴ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἥκει πρὸς με· κᾀγὼ ἑώρακα τὸν θλιμμὸν, ὃν οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι θλίβουσιν αὐτούς.

KJVNow therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

JPSAnd now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto Me; moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

Thomsonnow therefore come: I will send thee to Pharao king of Egypt and thou shalt bring My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

BrentonAnd now come, I will send thee to Pharao king of Egypt, and thou shalt bring out my people the children of Israel from the land of Egypt.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν δεῦρο, ἀποστείλω σε πρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐξάξεις τὸν λαόν μου τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου.

KJVCome now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

JPSCome now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.’

ThomsonThereupon Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharao king of Egypt, and that I should bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt?

BrentonAnd Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharao king of Egypt, and that I should bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, τίς εἰμι ἐγὼ, ὅτι πορεύσομαι πρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ὅτι ἐξάξω τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου;

KJVAnd Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

JPSAnd Moses said unto God: ‘Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?’

ThomsonUpon which God spoke to Moses saying, That I will be with thee, even this is the sign for thee. And because I will send thee, therefore when thou hast brought My people out of Egypt you shall worship God on this mountain.

BrentonAnd God spoke to Moses, saying, I will be with thee, and this shall be the sign to thee that I shall send thee forth,—when thou bringest out my people out of Egypt, then ye shall serve God in this mountain.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς Μωυσῇ, λέγων, ὅτι ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ· καὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον ὅτι ἐγώ σε ἐξαποστελῶ, ἐν τῷ ἐξαγαγεῖν σε τὸν λαόν μου ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ λατρεύσετε τῷ Θεῷ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τοῦτῳ.

KJVAnd he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

JPSAnd He said: ‘Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.’

ThomsonThen Moses said to God, Behold when I come to the Israelites and say to them, The God of our fathers hath sent me to you; and they shall say, What is his name? What shall I say to them?

BrentonAnd Moses said to God, Behold, I shall go forth to the children of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of our fathers has sent me to you; and they will ask me, What is his name? What shall I say to them?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξελεύσομαι πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐρῶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν ἀπέσταλκέ με πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐρωτήσουσί με, τί ὄνομα αὐτῷ; τί ἐρῶ πρὸς αὐτούς;

KJVAnd Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

JPSAnd Moses said unto God: ‘Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them: The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me: What is His name? what shall I say unto them?’

ThomsonOn which God spoke to Moses saying, I am The I Am. Moreover He said, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, The I Am hath sent me to you.

BrentonAnd God spoke to Moses, saying, I am THE BEING; and he said, Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, THE BEING has sent me to you.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων, ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Ὤν· καὶ εἶπεν, οὕτως ἐρεῖς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, ὁ Ὢν ἀπέσταλκέ με πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

KJVAnd God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

JPSAnd God said unto Moses: ‘I AM THAT I AM’; and He said: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: I AM hath sent me unto you.’

ThomsonAgain God said to Moses, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, The Lord, the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaak, and the God of Jacob hath sent me to you. This is My everlasting name and memorial to all generations.

BrentonAnd God said again to Moses, Thus shalt thou say to the sons of Israel, The Lord God of our fathers, the God of Abraam, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, has sent me to you: this is my name for ever, and my memorial to generations of generations.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς πάλιν πρὸς Μωυσῆν, οὕτως ἐρεῖς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ, Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, Θεὸς Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ Θεὸς Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ Θεὸς Ἰακὼβ, ἀπέσταλκέ με πρὸς ὑμᾶς· τοῦτό μου ἐστὶν ὄνομα αἰώνιον, καὶ μνημόσυνον γενεῶν γενεαῖς.

KJVAnd God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

JPSAnd God said moreover unto Moses: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.

ThomsonGo therefore and assemble the Senate of the children of Israel and say to them, The Lord, the God of our fathers hath appeared to me, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaak, and the God of Jacob saying, With watchfulness I have observed you and all that hath befallen you in Egypt.

BrentonGo then and gather the elders of the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, The Lord God of our fathers has appeared to me, the God of Abraam, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, saying, I have surely looked upon you, and upon all the things which have happened to you in Egypt.

GreekἘλθὼν οὐν συνάγαγε τὴν γερουσίαν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμων ὦπταί μοι, Θεὸς Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ Θεὸς Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ Θεὸς Ἰακὼβ, λέγων, ἐπισκοπῇ ἐπέσκεμμαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ὅσα συμβέβηκεν ὑμῖν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ.

KJVGo, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

JPSGo, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying: I have surely remembered you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.

ThomsonMoreover He said, I will bring you up from the oppression of the Egyptians to the land of the Chananites and the Chettites and the Amorites and the Pherezites, and the Gergasites and the Evites and the Jebusites—to a land flowing with milk and honey,

BrentonAnd he said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of the Egyptians to the land of the Chananites and the Chettites, and Amorites and Pherezites, and Gergesites, and Evites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, ἀναβιβάσω ὑμᾶς ἐκ τῆς κακώσεως τῶν Αἰγυπτίων, εἰς τὴν γῆν τῶν Χαναναίων, καὶ Χετταίων, καὶ Ἀμοῤῥαίων, καὶ Φερεζαίων, καὶ Γεργεσαίων, καὶ Εὑαίων, καὶ Ἰεβουσαίων, εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι.

KJVAnd I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

JPSAnd I have said: I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Thomsonand they will hearken to thy voice, and thou and the Senate of Israel shall go to Pharao king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him, The God of the Hebrews hath called us; let us therefore go three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to our God.

BrentonAnd they shall hearken to thy voice, and thou and the elders of Israel shall go in to Pharao king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him, The God of the Hebrews has called us; we will go then a journey of three days into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to our God.

GreekΚαὶ εἰσακούσονταί σου τῆς φωνῆς· καὶ εἰσελεύσῃ σὺ, καὶ ἡ γερουσία Ἰσραὴλ, πρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Ἑβραίων προσκέκληται ἡμᾶς· πορευσόμεθα οὖν ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ἵνα θύσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.

KJVAnd they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

JPSAnd they shall hearken to thy voice. And thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him: The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us. And now let us go, we pray thee, three days’journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

ThomsonBut I know that Pharao king of Egypt will not suffer you to go, but by a strong hand.

BrentonBut I know that Pharao king of Egypt will not let you go, save with a mighty hand;

GreekἘγὼ δὲ οἶδα ὅτι οὐ προήσεται ὑμᾶς Φαραὼ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου πορευθῆναι, ἐὰν μὴ μετὰ χειρὸς κραταιᾶς.

KJVAnd I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

JPSAnd I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, except by a mighty hand.

ThomsonTherefore I will stretch forth My hand and smite the Egyptians with all My wonders which I will do among them. And after these he will dismiss you.

Brentonand I will stretch out my hand, and smite the Egyptians with all my wonders, which I shall work among them, and after that he will send you forth.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα, πατάξω τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς θαυμασίοις μου, οἷς ποιήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς· καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξαποστελεῖ ὑμᾶς.

KJVAnd I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

JPSAnd I will put forth My hand, and smite Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in the midst thereof. And after that he will let you go.

ThomsonAnd I will give the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that when you go, you shall not go away empty;

BrentonAnd I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, and whenever ye shall escape, ye shall not depart empty.

GreekΚαὶ δώσω χάριν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ἐναντίον τῶν Αἰγυπτίων· ὅταν δὲ ἀποτρέχητε, οὐκ ἀπελεύσεσθε κενοί·

KJVAnd I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

JPSAnd I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. And it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty;

Thomsonbut every woman shall ask of her neighbour and of him who sojourneth in her house vessels of silver and of gold, and raiment which you shall put on your sons and your daughters and you shall spoil the Egyptians.

BrentonBut every woman shall ask of her neighbour and fellow lodger, articles of gold and silver, and apparel; and ye shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters,—and spoil ye the Egyptians.

GreekἈλλὰ αἰτήσει γυνὴ παρὰ γείτονος καὶ συσκήνου αὐτῆς σκεύη ἀργυρᾶ, καὶ χρυσᾶ, καὶ ἱματισμόν· καὶ ἐπιθήσετε ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν, καὶ σκυλεύσατε τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους.

KJVBut every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

JPSbut every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.’