Exodus 3 4

Exodus 3:4 kjv

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.

Exodus 3:4 nkjv

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."

Exodus 3:4 niv

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."

Exodus 3:4 esv

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."

Exodus 3:4 nlt

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.

Exodus 3 verses

Exodus 3 4 Meaning

Exodus 3:4 describes the pivotal moment where God actively initiates communication with Moses, following Moses's attentive turning aside towards the extraordinary sight of the burning bush. It marks the commencement of God's personal call to Moses for the divine mission of delivering Israel from Egypt. God's act of "seeing" Moses's responsiveness triggers the divine voice, signaling that His interaction with humanity is often predicated on human readiness and humility to perceive His presence. The repetition of "Moses, Moses!" emphasizes the personal, direct, and urgent nature of this divine summons.

Exodus 3 4 Context

Exodus 3:4 is nestled within the account of Moses's first direct encounter with God. Having fled Egypt decades prior and now tending sheep in Midian, Moses, then 80 years old, led his flock to Horeb, the "mountain of God." There, he witnessed an astonishing phenomenon: a bush engulfed in flames yet not consumed. This verse highlights Moses's crucial response to this anomaly. Instead of fear or indifference, he deliberately "turned aside" to investigate. This action, an act of intentional observation and humble curiosity, is depicted as the very thing God was awaiting. The context emphasizes God's proactive nature in revealing Himself and initiating His plan, choosing a solitary shepherd in the wilderness as the instrument for Israel's deliverance, thereby validating divine revelation and the personal call of God to His chosen vessels. It contrasts the quiet wilderness with the monumental historical shifts God is about to orchestrate through this encounter.

Exodus 3 4 Word analysis

• When the LORD (YHWH) saw:

  • When: Signals a crucial turning point, a temporal indicator of divine response.
  • the LORD (YHWH - יהוה): This is the Tetragrammaton, the sacred, unpronounceable name of God, indicating His covenant faithfulness and self-existent nature. It's the personal, redemptive name of God, not just a general deity. This "seeing" by YHWH means far more than mere visual perception; it implies divine understanding, recognition, and intention to act. God's observation is purposeful.
  • saw (וַיַּרְא, vayyar): From the root ra'ah (רָאָה), "to see, perceive, understand." Here, it signifies divine comprehension of Moses's internal disposition—his attentiveness, humility, and willingness to approach the mystery, rather than ignoring it or running in fear. It's not just a passive observation, but an active, responsive discernment of Moses's heart.

• that he turned aside to see:

  • he (וַיֵּרֶא, vayyar): Moses.
  • turned aside (וַיִּפֶן, vayyiphen): From panah (פָּנָה), "to turn, to face, to turn the attention." It denotes a deliberate, conscious act of redirecting one's path and focus. Moses was not merely glancing; he changed direction. This act signifies his humble curiosity, readiness, and reverence in the face of the inexplicable, distinguishing him from someone who would rush away or ignore.
  • to see (לִרְאוֹת, lir'ot): From ra'ah (רָאָה). This complements turned aside. Moses's turn was for the purpose of seeing, i.e., examining, understanding, observing closely. His action was one of investigation and attentiveness.

• God called to him out of the bush:

  • God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The general, plural name for God, emphasizing His power, creator attributes, and majestic nature. While YHWH indicates the covenant God, Elohim here provides a broader understanding of the mighty One initiating the call.
  • called (וַיִּקְרָא, vayyiqra): From qara (קָרָא), "to call, summon, proclaim." It signifies a clear, audible, and direct communication. It is God's initiative; Moses didn't call to God first. This act is the hallmark of prophetic encounters throughout the Bible.
  • to him: Moses. The call is specifically directed, personal.
  • out of the bush (מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה, mittokh hasseneh): The source of the voice. The bush, seemingly ordinary, becomes the locus of divine revelation. It emphasizes God's immanence—His presence within creation—without being consumed by it. The unconsumed bush symbolizes God's unapproachable holiness and enduring presence.

• "Moses, Moses!":

  • "Moses, Moses!": The direct, repeated address. The reduplication of a name in Hebrew emphasizes urgency, intimacy, seriousness, and often, an impending momentous announcement or warning (e.g., Abraham, Abraham!; Samuel, Samuel!; Jerusalem, Jerusalem!). It secures attention and confirms the identity of the person being addressed, leaving no doubt that it is a personal and direct communication. It speaks to God's complete knowledge of Moses.

Exodus 3 4 Bonus section

• God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility: This verse beautifully illustrates the interplay between God's sovereign initiative and human responsibility. God orchestrated the burning bush, but Moses had to turn aside to acknowledge and investigate. His response created the space for God's call to be heard.
• The Power of Attentiveness: The seemingly simple act of "turning aside to see" reveals a core characteristic valued by God: attentiveness to His wondrous workings and a willingness to step outside the ordinary to investigate the extraordinary. This humility precedes revelation.
• Preparatory Phase: Moses had spent forty years in Midian as a shepherd, a period of quiet formation after the hurried life in Pharaoh's court. God chooses this specific moment, on His mountain, when Moses is in a humble role, signifying that God often calls His chosen after a period of silent preparation.
• Type of Theophany: This verbal call follows a visual theophany (burning bush). The sight captivates, but the voice illuminates and instructs, showing God communicating through multiple sensory experiences to make His presence undeniable.

Exodus 3 4 Commentary

Exodus 3:4 captures the very first utterance of God to Moses in a pivotal, direct encounter, triggered by Moses's attentive and humble response to the miraculous burning bush. It demonstrates God's initiative in drawing near to humanity, yet also highlights that human attentiveness is often a prerequisite for receiving divine revelation. God "saw" Moses's deliberate act of "turning aside," indicating that He perceives not just our actions but the disposition of our hearts. This is not casual curiosity but a profound, reverent readiness.

The calling out of "Moses, Moses!" signifies several profound truths. Firstly, it is profoundly personal; God knows His chosen servants by name. This immediately establishes an intimate, though still reverential, relationship. Secondly, the repetition underscores urgency, emphasis, and confirms the certainty of the divine voice—it's undeniably God speaking to him, setting him apart. Thirdly, the location of the voice "out of the bush" reinforces God's immanence, His ability to manifest in creation, but without being contained or consumed by it, underscoring His distinctness and holiness. This direct call sets the stage for Moses's life-transforming mission, underscoring that the call of God is often clear, personal, and requires a listening ear and an attentive heart.