Exodus 3:3
New International Version
So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

New Living Translation
“This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

English Standard Version
And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

Berean Standard Bible
So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

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

New King James Version
Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

New American Standard Bible
So Moses said, “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!”

NASB 1995
So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”

NASB 1977
So Moses said, “I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burned up?”

Amplified Bible
So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.”

Christian Standard Bible
So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?

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

Contemporary English Version
"This is strange!" he said to himself. "I'll go over and see why the bush isn't burning up."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So he thought, "Why isn't this bush burning up? I must go over there and see this strange sight."

Good News Translation
"This is strange," he thought. "Why isn't the bush burning up? I will go closer and see."

International Standard Version
Then Moses told himself, "I'll go over and see this remarkable sight. Why isn't the bush burning up?"

Majority Standard Bible
So Moses thought, ?I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up??

NET Bible
So Moses thought, "I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?"

New Heart English Bible
Moses said, "I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

World English Bible
Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses says, “Now I turn aside and see this great appearance. Why is the bush not burned?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith, 'Let me turn aside, I pray thee, and I see this great appearance; wherefore is the bush not burned?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will say, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bramble will not burn.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Moses said, “I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

New American Bible
So Moses decided, “I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe said, “I shall turn aside, I shall see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses said: 'I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses said, I will go near and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses at the Burning Bush
2There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. 3So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” 4When 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.…

Cross References
Acts 7:30-31
After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. / When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:

Deuteronomy 33:16
with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it, and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers.

Luke 20:37
Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

Mark 12:26
But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

Acts 7:32
‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

Hebrews 11:27
By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

1 Kings 19:12-13
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. / When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Genesis 46:2
And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.

Judges 6:11-12
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

1 Samuel 3:4-10
Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” / He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. / Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” ...

Isaiah 6:1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. / Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” ...

Ezekiel 1:4
I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,

Matthew 22:31-32
But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: / ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

John 12:29
The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Job 37:14
Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Psalm 107:8
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalm 111:2-4
The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein…

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Exodus 3
1. Moses keeps Jethro's flock.
2. God appears to him in a burning bush.
9. He sends him to deliver Israel.
13. The name of God.
15. His message to Israel, and Pharaoh, whose opposition is foretold.
20. He is assured of Israel's deliverance.














So Moses thought
This phrase introduces us to the internal deliberation of Moses, a pivotal figure in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for "thought" here is "אָמַר" (amar), which often means to say or speak. However, in this context, it reflects an internal dialogue, highlighting Moses' reflective nature. This moment of contemplation is significant as it marks the beginning of Moses' direct encounter with God. Historically, Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, in the wilderness of Midian, a place of solitude and reflection, which often precedes divine encounters in Scripture.

I must go over
The phrase "I must go over" indicates a decisive action. The Hebrew root "סוּר" (sur) means to turn aside or depart. This action signifies Moses' willingness to deviate from his path to explore something extraordinary. It reflects a spiritual principle of being open to divine interruptions in our daily lives. Moses' decision to investigate the burning bush is a metaphor for the spiritual curiosity that leads to deeper understanding and revelation.

and see this marvelous sight
The word "marvelous" is translated from the Hebrew "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), meaning great or significant. The sight of the burning bush, which was not consumed, was indeed a great wonder. This phrase emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's manifestations. In the historical context, such a sight would have been both awe-inspiring and terrifying, drawing Moses closer to the divine presence. It serves as a reminder of God's power and the mystery of His ways.

why the bush is not burning up
This final phrase captures Moses' curiosity and desire for understanding. The Hebrew word for "burning up" is "בָּעַר" (ba'ar), which means to consume or destroy by fire. The bush's resistance to being consumed symbolizes God's eternal nature and His ability to sustain and preserve. In a broader theological context, it represents the indestructible nature of God's covenant with His people. Moses' inquiry into this phenomenon sets the stage for his calling and the revelation of God's name, "I AM WHO I AM," which follows in the subsequent verses. This moment is a turning point, where Moses transitions from a shepherd to the leader of Israel, guided by the divine presence.

(3) I will now turn aside.--A minute touch, in dicating that Moses is the writer. He remembers that the bush did not grow on the track which he was pursuing, but lay off it, and that he had to "turn aside," in order to make his inspection.

This great sight.--The phenomenon was strange and unusual--worthy of note, whatever might be the cause.

Verse 3. - I will turn aside. Suspecting nothing but a natural phenomenon, which he was anxious to investigate. The action bespeaks him a man of sense and intelligence, not easily scared or imposed upon.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Moses
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

thought,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I must go over
אָסֻֽרָה־ (’ā·su·rāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

and see
וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה (wə·’er·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

this
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

marvelous
הַגָּדֹ֖ל (hag·gā·ḏōl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

sight.
הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה (ham·mar·’eh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision

Why is
מַדּ֖וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

the bush
הַסְּנֶֽה׃ (has·sə·neh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5572: Perhaps blackberry bush

not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

burning up?”
יִבְעַ֥ר (yiḇ·‘ar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish


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OT Law: Exodus 3:3 Moses said I will turn aside now (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 3:2
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