Exodus 3 6

Exodus 3:6 kjv

Moreover 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.

Exodus 3:6 nkjv

Moreover He said, "I am the God of your 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.

Exodus 3:6 niv

Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:6 esv

And he said, "I am the God of your 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 at God.

Exodus 3:6 nlt

I am the God of your father ? the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3 verses

Exodus 3 6 Meaning

Exodus 3:6 describes the pivotal moment where God identifies Himself to Moses from within the burning bush, establishing His identity not merely as a generic deity, but specifically as the covenant-keeping God of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses' immediate response of fear and awe underscores the profound holiness and majesty of this divine encounter, acknowledging the incomprehensible presence of the Almighty. This self-revelation sets the foundation for God's redemptive plan for Israel, rooted in His historical promises to their ancestors.

Exodus 3 6 Context

Exodus 3:6 occurs within the narrative of Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush on Mount Horeb. Prior to this, Moses had fled Egypt, married Zipporah, and was tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock. The preceding verses (Ex 3:1-5) describe Moses' curiosity being drawn to the miraculously burning yet unconsumed bush. As Moses approaches, God calls out to him by name and instructs him to remove his sandals, declaring the ground holy. It is immediately following this command that God reveals His identity in Ex 3:6, establishing the foundational covenantal relationship before commissioning Moses for the liberation of Israel from Egyptian bondage. This revelation is crucial as it links the current plight of Israel to God's ancient promises, emphasizing divine continuity and faithfulness across generations.

Exodus 3 6 Word analysis

• "He said": (וַיֹּאמֶר - wa-yomer) - This immediate and direct speech from God emphasizes divine initiative and authority. God Himself addresses Moses, not through an intermediary. It marks the commencement of a personal and direct revelation.
• "I am": While "I am" is not explicitly a separate Hebrew word here, the phrase "I am the God" (אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ אָנֹכִי - Anokhi Elohei Avikha) highlights the divine "I" (אנכי - anokhi) – indicating a self-existent, self-sufficient God. This divine "I" is contrasted with human existence and dependence. It is the beginning of the deeper revelation of God's Name "I AM WHO I AM" in Ex 3:14, affirming His active, abiding presence.
• "the God": (אֱלֹהֵי - Elohei, the construct form of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) - Elohim is a plural noun used with singular verbs for God throughout Genesis and other parts of the Old Testament, suggesting majesty, fullness, and supreme power of the one true God. By using this term, God presents Himself as the sovereign Creator, ruler, and ultimate authority, distinct from the myriad of lesser deities in Egyptian polytheism. This term is inherently polemical, declaring singularity and power.
• "of your father": (אָבִיךָ - avīkha) - Refers not to Moses' immediate biological father (Amram), but to the ancestral patriarchs collectively, establishing a lineage and continuity. It roots Moses within the covenant heritage and positions God as deeply invested in Israel's history from its earliest beginnings. It is a deeply personal connection for Moses, making him heir to a legacy.
• "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob": This tripartite declaration is fundamental. It reaffirms God's enduring covenant faithfulness and personal relationship with specific individuals.
  • Abraham (אַבְרָהָם - Avraham): The recipient of the foundational promises of land, nationhood, and blessing to all families of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).
  • Isaac (יִצְחָק - Yitschaq): The son of promise through whom the covenant was specifically continued (Gen 26:24).
  • Jacob (יַעֲקֹב - Ya'akov): Renamed Israel, progenitor of the twelve tribes, emphasizing God's relationship with the collective nation (Gen 28:13).This triple naming signifies:
    1. Continuity: God's covenant is unbroken through generations.
    2. Faithfulness: He remembers His promises.
    3. Personality: He is not an abstract force, but one who relates personally to humanity.
    4. Immutability: He remains the same throughout time.
    5. Life: As Jesus interprets, He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, implying resurrection and continued existence (Matt 22:32).
• "And Moses hid his face": (וַיַּסְתֵּר מֹשֶׁה פָּנָיו - wa-yaster Moshe panaw) - A natural and instinctive human response to an overwhelming divine encounter. It signifies deep humility, reverence, awe, and perhaps an awareness of unworthiness in the face of absolute holiness. It's a recognition of the radical otherness of God.
• "for he was afraid": (כִּי יָרֵא - ki yare') - The word yare' means to fear, dread, stand in awe, reverence. This fear is not merely terror but profound respect and acknowledgment of God's immense power, purity, and glory. It demonstrates an understanding that finite humans cannot endure the full, unmediated presence of an infinite and holy God.
• "to look at God": (מֵהַבִּיט אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים - mehabbiṭ el-ha'Elohim) - To gaze directly at God's glory was believed to be impossible for mortals (Ex 33:20), resulting in death. This demonstrates Moses' profound awareness of divine majesty and human fragility. His response highlights the appropriate attitude of a creature before its Creator.

Exodus 3 6 Bonus section

• Theophany: The burning bush, from which God spoke, is a theophany, a visible manifestation of God. Yet, Moses' inability to "look at God" shows the limit of this manifestation—it revealed God's presence and voice but not His unmediated form.
• God of the Living: The profound theological implication highlighted by Jesus (Matt 22:32) is that identifying as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" implies their continued existence beyond physical death. This passage inherently points towards the doctrine of resurrection and God's relationship with living souls. God is not bound by human conceptions of life and death, but actively sustains His relationship with those who have died in faith.
• Covenant Relationship: This verse is a powerful reaffirmation of God's election of Abraham's descendants and His commitment to bring about the covenant promises, establishing a living, dynamic relationship between God and His chosen people, which extends throughout the history of Israel and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Exodus 3 6 Commentary

Exodus 3:6 is a foundational statement of God's identity, revealing Him not as an unfamiliar deity but as the familiar, covenant-keeping God of Israel's past, present, and future. By invoking Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God powerfully asserts His unwavering faithfulness to His promises made generations earlier, signaling that the current suffering of Israel under Pharaoh is not forgotten. This revelation underscores His personal involvement in history and His continuity across generations. Moses' response—hiding his face out of reverence and fear—is the proper human reaction to encountering divine holiness. It acknowledges God's supreme transcendence and the profound separation between humanity and the glorious, pure essence of the Almighty. This moment of deep spiritual reverence precedes and underpins the extraordinary divine commission given to Moses, teaching that genuine service to God flows from a place of awe and humble recognition of His true nature. This verse teaches us that true worship begins with reverent acknowledgment of who God is: faithful, powerful, and supremely holy. It demonstrates that divine intimacy is always rooted in recognizing God's absolute otherness and holiness.