“Why have you done this and let the boys live?”1 the king of Egypt accused the midwives. Hebrew women are vigorous, they answered, they give birth before the midwife gets to them!2 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “All sons that are born you must throw into the river, but all daughters you may let live.”3 But Moses’ mother disobeyed the law. She hid her baby for three months. Then she set him adrift in a papyrus basket, where Pharaoh’s daughter found him and raised him as her own.
In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and observed their hard labor, and he saw an Egyptian man attacking a Hebrew man, one of his own people. He looked this way and that and saw that no one was there, and then he attacked the Egyptian and concealed the body in the sand.4 Then he saw two Hebrew men fighting. When he tried to break it up one of them said, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Are you planning to kill me like you killed that Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid (yârêʼ, וַיִּירָא), thinking, “Surely what I did has become known.”5
The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἐφοβήθη (a form of φοβέω) here. There are no more occurrences of ἐφοβήθη in the New Testament. By choosing this word however they have made Moses’ fear equivalent to Sarah’s fear when she lied to God about laughing at him.6 It was like Lot’s fear to live in Zoar after witnessing the destruction of the surrounding cities,7 and Isaac’s fear to acknowledge Rebekah as his wife.8 It was like Jacob’s fear of Bethel the morning after his dream,9 and when he heard that Esau was coming out to meet him on his return to Canaan.10
When Pharaoh heard [what Moses did to the Egyptian], he sought to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian…11 During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God.12 And God responded (Exodus 3:1-5 NET).
Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked – and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed! So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” God said, “Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
God added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid (yârêʼ, יָרֵא) to look at God.13 In the Septuagint εὐλαβεῖτο (a form of εὐλαβέομαι) was used. It does not occur in the New Testament but is close to εὐλαβηθεὶς, translated reverent regard in Hebrews: By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard (εὐλαβηθεὶς, a participle of εὐλαβέομαι) constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.14
The Lord said [to Moses], “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them. So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”15
I think the rabbis who translated the Septuagint were wise to choose εὐλαβηθεὶς [Addendum 1/30/2026: The word in the Septuagint in Exodus 3:6 was actually εὐλαβεῖτο, a 3rd person singular form of εὐλαβέομαι in the present tense.] (a form of εὐλαβέομαι) here rather than φοβέω, a word that connotes flight. The NET online definition of εὐλαβηθεὶς is a continuum from caution through wariness to reverence. For Moses was not afraid to stand and argue with God: “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”16 And his question prompted a couple of my own about the timing of God’s calling. Wouldn’t it have been better to call a prince of Egypt for this diplomatic mission than a shepherd from Midian? And certainly the moralist in me would prefer that God had called Moses before he became a murderer and a fugitive from justice.
To address my first question I turned to Paul: For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”17 Paul quoted the prophetic word of God through Isaiah as a clear statement of God’s purpose and intent. This is like an overarching theme with God. Then Paul elaborated (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NET):
Think about the circumstances of your call (κλῆσιν, a form of κλῆσις), brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence [Table]. He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Given my upbringing and temperament it probably bears saying that Paul did not invent rules for God to obey. He revealed what he heard from Christ or observed of God’s behavior in Scripture. David was the youngest of Jesse’s sons (and a shepherd, by the way), not the eldest. Jephthah was the illegitimate son of Gilead and a prostitute. Solomon was apparently not the eldest of David’s sons with Bathsheba,18 and David’s and Bathsheba’s relationship began as an adulterous affair, yet God called Solomon Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord.
As for Moses being a murderer and a fugitive from justice it is clear that God was working at (what I would call) cross-purposes. If God sent me to gain the Israelites release from Pharaoh I would hope, and even prayer, that He would grant me favor with Pharaoh. He told Moses, So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.19 But I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.20
It occurred to me years ago that one way God might have hardened Pharaoh’s heart was to grant him wealth, position, power and prestige without first humbling him to serve God. As I imagine the scene now I see Moses, a murderer and fugitive from Egyptian justice, standing before the king of Egypt, saying, The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.21 It was almost guaranteed that his heart would be hardened against such a request from such a man. And if Egyptian justice had become forgetful of Moses’ crime as a prince in Egypt, Moses had become a Midianite shepherd. Again Pharaoh’s heart was likely to be hardened, for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting (KJV, an abomination) to the Egyptians.22
I am in the heart now of the issues that Paul considered important when discussing election: So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy [Table]. For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.23
What was God’s response to Moses’ objection? Surely I will be with you [literally, I AM with you], and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God on this mountain.24 God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble,25 both James and Peter quoted from the Proverbs of Solomon.
Anyone called to the salvation of righteousness in Jesus Christ might feel just like Moses. Who am I to love [my] enemy and pray for those who persecute [me] [Table], so that [I] may be like [my] Father in heaven [Table]?26 Who am I to Rejoice and be glad27 when people insult [me] and persecute [me] and say all kinds of evil things about [me] falsely on account of [You]?28 I’m not one of the prophets. Like Peter I might say, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”29 But as He promised Moses, I AM with you, so He does not intend that I do righteousness on my own, but tapped into that infinite daily living stream of his Holy Spirit, relying on his love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness, and his self-control. Against such things there is no law [Table].30
Addendum: February 6, 2026
According to a note (22) in the NET Paul quoted from Isaiah 29:14. The following table compares the Greek of that quotation with that of the Septuagint.
|
1 Corinthians 1:19b (NET Parallel Greek) |
Isaiah 29:14b (Septuagint BLB) Table |
Isaiah 29:14b (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν ἀθετήσω | ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν κρύψω | ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν κρύψω |
|
1 Corinthians 1:19b (NET) |
Isaiah 29:14b (NETS) |
Isaiah 29:14b (English Elpenor) |
| I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent. | [I will] destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will hide. | I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will hide the understanding of the prudent. |
According to a note (33) in the NET Paul quoted from Jeremiah 9:24. The following table compares the Greek of that quotation with that of the Septuagint.
|
1 Corinthians 1:31b (NET Parallel Greek) |
Jeremiah 9:24a (Septuagint BLB) Table |
Jeremiah 9:24a (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ὁ καυχώμενος ἐν κυρίῳ καυχάσθω | ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἐν τούτῳ καυχάσθω ὁ καυχώμενος συνίειν καὶ γινώσκειν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος | ἀλλ’ ἢ ἐν τούτῳ καυχάσθω ὁ καυχώμενος, συνίειν καὶ γινώσκεν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος |
|
1 Corinthians 1:31b (NET) |
Jeremiah 9:24a (NETS) |
Jeremiah 9:24a (English Elpenor) |
| Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. | But let him who boasts boast in this: that he understands and knows that I am the Lord | but let him that boasts boast in this, the understanding and knowing that I am the Lord |
Tables comparing Exodus 1:18; 1:19; 1:22; 2:11; 2:12; 2:14; 2:15: 2:23; 3:1; 3:2; 3:3; 3:4; 3:5; 3:7; 3:8; 3:9; 3:10; 3:11; 3:18; Genesis 46:34 and Exodus 3:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 1:18; 1:19; 1:22; 2:11; 2:12; 2:14; 2:15; 2:23; 3:1; 3:2; 3:3; 3:4; 3:5; 3:7; 3:8; 3:9; 3:10; 3:11; 3:18; Genesis 46:34 and Exodus 3:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.
| And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them: ‘Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?’ | And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? | Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?” |
| ἐκάλεσεν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου τὰς μαίας καὶ εἶπεν αὐταῖς τί ὅτι ἐποιήσατε τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο καὶ ἐζωογονεῖτε τὰ ἄρσενα | ἐκάλεσε δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου τὰς μαίας καὶ εἶπεν αὐταῖς· τί ὅτι ἐποιήσατε τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο καὶ ἐζωογονεῖτε τὰ ἄρσενα |
| Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why is it that you have done this thing and tried to keep the males alive?” | And the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, Why is it that ye have done this thing, and saved the male children alive? |
| And the midwives said unto Pharaoh: ‘Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.’ | And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. | The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women—for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!” |
| εἶπαν δὲ αἱ μαῖαι τῷ Φαραω οὐχ ὡς γυναῖκες Αἰγύπτου αἱ Εβραῖαι τίκτουσιν γὰρ πρὶν ἢ εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς αὐτὰς τὰς μαίας καὶ ἔτικτον | εἶπαν δὲ αἱ μαῖαι τῷ Φαραώ· οὐχ ὡς γυναῖκες Αἰγύπτου αἱ ῾Εβραῖαι, τίκτουσι γὰρ πρὶν ἢ εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς αὐτὰς τὰς μαίας· καὶ ἔτικτον |
| The midwives then said to Pharao, “The Hebrew women are not like the women of Egypt, for they give birth before the midwives go in to them,” and they were already giving birth. | And the midwives said to Pharao, The Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt, for they are delivered before the midwives go in to them. So they bore children. |
| And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying: ‘Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.’ | And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. | Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?” |
| συνέταξεν δὲ Φαραω παντὶ τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ λέγων πᾶν ἄρσεν ὃ ἐὰν τεχθῇ τοῖς Εβραίοις εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν ῥίψατε καὶ πᾶν θῆλυ ζωογονεῖτε αὐτό | συνέταξε δὲ Φαραὼ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ λέγων· πᾶν ἄρσεν, ὃ ἐὰν τεχθῇ τοῖς ῾Εβραίοις, εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν ῥίψατε· καὶ πᾶν θῆλυ, ζωογονεῖτε αὐτό |
| Then Pharao instructed all his people, saying, “Every male that might be born to the Hebrews, throw into the river, and every female, keep it alive.” | And Pharao charged all his people, saying, Whatever male [child] shall be born to the Hebrews, cast into the river; and every female, save it alive. |
| And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. | And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. | In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and observed their hard labor, and he saw an Egyptian man attacking a Hebrew man, one of his own people. |
| ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταῖς πολλαῖς ἐκείναις μέγας γενόμενος Μωυσῆς ἐξήλθεν πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ κατανοήσας δὲ τὸν πόνον αὐτῶν ὁρᾷ ἄνθρωπον Αἰγύπτιον τύπτοντά τινα Εβραῖον τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἀδελφῶν τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ | ᾿Εγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταῖς πολλαῖς ἐκείναις μέγας γενόμενος Μωυσῆς, ἐξῆλθε πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ. κατανοήσας δὲ τὸν πόνον αὐτῶν ὁρᾷ ἄνθρωπον Αἰγύπτιον τύπτοντά τινα ῾Εβραῖον τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἀδελφῶν τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ |
| Now it came to pass in the course of those many days, when he had fully grown, Moyses went out to his brothers, the sons of Israel. And as he observed their toil, he saw an Egyptian man beating some Hebrew from his own brothers, the sons of Israel. | And it came to pass in that length of time, that Moses having grown, went out to his brethren the sons of Israel: and having noticed their distress, he sees an Egyptian smiting a certain Hebrew of his brethren the children of Israel. |
| And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. | And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. | He looked this way and that and saw that no one was there, and then he attacked the Egyptian and concealed the body in the sand. |
| περιβλεψάμενος δὲ ὧδε καὶ ὧδε οὐχ ὁρᾷ οὐδένα καὶ πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον ἔκρυψεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἄμμῳ | περιβλεψάμενος δὲ ὧδε καὶ ὧδε οὐχ ὁρᾷ οὐδένα καὶ πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον, ἔκρυψεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἄμμῳ |
| Now when he looked around this way and that, he saw no one, and he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. | And having looked round this way and that way, he sees no one; and he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. |
| And he said: ‘Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian?’ And Moses feared, and said: ‘Surely the thing is known.’ | And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. | The man replied, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Are you planning to kill me like you killed that Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Surely what I did has become known.” |
| ὁ δὲ εἶπεν τίς σε κατέστησεν ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστὴν ἐφ᾽ ἡμῶν μὴ ἀνελεῖν με σὺ θέλεις ὃν τρόπον ἀνεῖλες ἐχθὲς τὸν Αἰγύπτιον ἐφοβήθη δὲ Μωυσῆς καὶ εἶπεν εἰ οὕτως ἐμφανὲς γέγονεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο | ὁ δὲ εἶπε· τίς σε κατέστησεν ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστὴν ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν; μὴ ἀνελεῖν με σὺ θέλεις, ὃν τρόπον ἀνεῖλες χθὲς τὸν Αἰγύπτιον; ἐφοβήθη δὲ Μωυσῆς, καὶ εἶπεν· εἰ οὕτως ἐμφανὲς γέγονε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο |
| But he said, “Who appointed you ruler and judge over us? You do not intend to kill me, do you, in the same way you killed the Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moyses was afraid and said, “Has this matter perhaps become so well known?” | And he said, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? wilt thou slay me as thou yesterday slewest the Egyptian? Then Moses was alarmed, and said, If [it be] thus, this matter has become known. |
| Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. | Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. | When Pharaoh heard about this event, he sought to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he settled by a certain well. |
| ἤκουσεν δὲ Φαραω τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ ἐζήτει ἀνελεῖν Μωυσῆν ἀνεχώρησεν δὲ Μωυσῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου Φαραω καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν γῇ Μαδιαμ ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς γῆν Μαδιαμ ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τοῦ φρέατος | ἤκουσε δὲ Φαραὼ τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο καὶ ἐζήτει ἀνελεῖν Μωυσῆν· ἀνεχώρησε δὲ Μωυσῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου Φαραὼ καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν γῇ Μαδιάμ, ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς γῆν Μαδιὰμ ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τοῦ φρέατος |
| Now Pharao heard about this matter, and he was seeking to kill Moyses. Then Moyses withdrew from Pharao’s presence and settled in the land of Madian. Now when he came into the land of Madian, he sat upon the well. | And Pharao heard this matter, and sought to slay Moses; and Moses departed from the presence of Pharao, and dwelt in the land of Madiam; and having come into the land of Madiam, he sat on the well. |
| And it came to pass in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died; and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto G-d by reason of the bondage. | And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. | During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God. |
| μετὰ δὲ τὰς ἡμέρας τὰς πολλὰς ἐκείνας ἐτελεύτησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου καὶ κατεστέναξαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων καὶ ἀνεβόησαν καὶ ἀνέβη ἡ βοὴ αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων | Μετὰ δὲ τὰς ἡμέρας τὰς πολλὰς ἐκείνας ἐτελεύτησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου. καὶ κατεστέναξαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων καὶ ἀνεβόησαν, καὶ ἀνέβη ἡ βοὴ αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων |
| Now after those many days the king of Egypt died, and the sons of Israel groaned from the tasks and cried out, and their cry rose up to God form their tasks. | And in those days after a length of time, the king of Egypt died; and the children of Israel groaned because of their tasks, and cried, and their cry because of their tasks went up to God. |
| Now 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 G-d, unto Horeb. | Now 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. | Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. |
| καὶ Μωυσῆς ἦν ποιμαίνων τὰ πρόβατα Ιοθορ τοῦ γαμβροῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἱερέως Μαδιαμ καὶ ἤγαγεν τὰ πρόβατα ὑπὸ τὴν ἔρημον καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος Χωρηβ | ΚΑΙ Μωυσῆς ἦν ποιμαίνων τὰ πρόβατα ᾿Ιοθόρ τοῦ γαμβροῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἱερέως Μαδιὰμ καὶ ἤγαγε τὰ πρόβατα ὑπὸ τὴν ἔρημον καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος Χωρήβ |
| And Moyses was tending the sheep of Iothor, his father-in-law, the priest of Madian, and he led the sheep beyond the wilderness and came to the mountain, Choreb. | And 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. |
| And the angel of HaShem 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. | And 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. | The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked, and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed! |
| ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐν φλογὶ πυρὸς ἐκ τοῦ βάτου καὶ ὁρᾷ ὅτι ὁ βάτος καίεται πυρί ὁ δὲ βάτος οὐ κατεκαίετο | ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς ἐκ τοῦ βάτου, καὶ ὁρᾷ ὅτι ὁ βάτος καίεται πυρί, ὁ δὲ βάτος οὐ κατεκαίετο |
| Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a fire of flame out of the bush, and he saw that the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not burning up. | And 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. |
| And Moses said: ‘I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.’ | And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. | So Moses thought, “I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?” |
| εἶπεν δὲ Μωυσῆς παρελθὼν ὄψομαι τὸ ὅραμα τὸ μέγα τοῦτο τί ὅτι οὐ κατακαίεται ὁ βάτος | εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς· παρελθὼν ὄψομαι τὸ ὅραμα τὸ μέγα τοῦτο, ὅτι οὐ κατακαίεται ὁ βάτος |
| Then Moyses said, “When I pass by, I will look at this great sight, why it is that the bush is not burning up.” | And Moses said, I will go near and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed. |
| And when HaShem saw that he turned aside to see, G-d called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said: ‘Moses, Moses.’ And he said: ‘Here am I.’ | >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. | When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” |
| ὡς δὲ εἶδεν κύριος ὅτι προσάγει ἰδεῖν ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν κύριος ἐκ τοῦ βάτου λέγων Μωυσῆ Μωυσῆ ὁ δὲ εἶπεν τί ἐστιν | ὡς δὲ εἶδε Κύριος ὅτι προσάγει ἰδεῖν, ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ὁ Κύριος ἐκ τοῦ βάτου λέγων· Μωυσῆ, Μωυσῆ. ὁ δὲ εἶπε τί ἐστι |
| Now when the Lord saw that he was drawing near to see, the Lord called him from the bush, saying, “Moyses, Moyses.” And he said, “What is it?” | And 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? |
| And He said: ‘Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’ | And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. | God said, “Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” |
| καὶ εἶπεν μὴ ἐγγίσῃς ὧδε λῦσαι τὸ ὑπόδημα ἐκ τῶν ποδῶν σου ὁ γὰρ τόπος ἐν ᾧ σὺ ἕστηκας γῆ ἁγία ἐστίν | ὁ δὲ εἶπε· μή ἐγγίσῃς ὧδε. λῦσαι τὸ ὑπόδημα ἐκ τῶν ποδῶν σου· ὁ γὰρ τόπος, ἐν ᾧ σὺ ἕστηκας, γῆ ἁγία ἐστί |
| And he said, “Do not come near here! Loose the sandal from your feet! For the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” | And he said, Draw not nigh hither: loose thy sandals from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. |
| And HaShem 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; | And 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; | The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. |
| εἶπεν 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 αὐτῶν | εἶπε 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 αὐτῶν |
| Then the Lord said to Moyses, “When I looked, I saw the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry on account of the taskmasters. For I know their pain. | And 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. |
| and 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. | And 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. | I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. |
| καὶ κατέβην ἐξελέσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς 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 Αμορραίων καὶ Φερεζαίων καὶ Γεργεσαίων καὶ Ευαίων καὶ Ιεβουσαίων | καὶ 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 ᾿Αμορραίων καὶ Φερεζαίων καὶ Γεργεσαίων καὶ Εὐαίων καὶ ᾿Ιεβουσαίων |
| And I came down to deliver them them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land and to bring them into a good and spacious land, into a land flowing with milk and honey, into the place of the Chananites and Chettites and Amorites and Pherezites and Heuites and Gergesites and Iebousites. | And 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. |
| And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto Me; moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. | Now 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. | And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them. |
| καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ κραυγὴ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἥκει πρός με κἀγὼ ἑώρακα τὸν θλιμμόν ὃν οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι θλίβουσιν αὐτούς | καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ κραυγὴ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἥκει πρός με, κἀγὼ ἑώρακα τὸν θλιμμόν, ὃν οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι θλίβουσιν αὐτούς |
| And now, look, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. | And 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. |
| Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.’ | Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. | So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” |
| καὶ νῦν δεῦρο ἀποστείλω σε πρὸς Φαραω βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐξάξεις τὸν λαόν μου τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου | καὶ νῦν δεῦρο ἀποστείλω σε πρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐξάξεις τὸν λαόν μου τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισρὴλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου |
| And now come, let me send you to Pharao, king of Egypt, and you will bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of the land of Egypt. | And 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. |
| And Moses said unto G-d: ‘Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ | And 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? | Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” |
| καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν θεόν τίς εἰμι ὅτι πορεύσομαι πρὸς Φαραω βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ὅτι ἐξάξω τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου | καὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· τίς εἰμι ἐγώ, ὅτι πορεύσομαι πρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ὅτι ἐξάξω τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου |
| And Moyses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharao, king of Egypt, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt?” | And 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? |
| And 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: HaShem, the G-d 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 HaShem our G-d. | And 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. | “The elders will listen to you, and then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ |
| καὶ εἰσακούσονταί σου τῆς φωνῆς καὶ εἰσελεύσῃ σὺ καὶ ἡ γερουσία Ισραηλ πρὸς Φαραω βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτόν ὁ θεὸς τῶν Εβραίων προσκέκληται ἡμᾶς πορευσώμεθα οὖν ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ἵνα θύσωμεν τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν | καὶ εἰσακούσονταί σου τῆς φωνῆς· καὶ εἰσελεύσῃ σὺ καὶ ἡ γερουσία ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτόν· ὁ Θεὸς τῶν ῾Εβραίων προσκέκληται ἡμᾶς· πορευσόμεθα οὖν ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ἵνα θύσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν |
| And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders’ council of Israel shall go in to Pharao, king of Egupt, and you shall say to him, “The God of the Hebrews has summoned us. Therefore, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to our God.’ | And 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. |
| that ye shall say: Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers; that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.’ | That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. | Tell him, ‘Your servants have taken care of cattle from our youth until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting to the Egyptians.” |
| ἐρεῖτε ἄνδρες κτηνοτρόφοι ἐσμὲν οἱ παῖδές σου ἐκ παιδὸς ἕως τοῦ νῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ἵνα κατοικήσητε ἐν γῇ Γεσεμ Ἀραβίᾳ βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν Αἰγυπτίοις πᾶς ποιμὴν προβάτων | ἐρεῖτε· ἄνδρες κτηνοτρόφοι ἐσμὲν οἱ παῖδές σου ἐκ παιδὸς ἕως τοῦ νῦν, καὶ ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν, ἵνα κατοικήσητε ἐν γῇ Γεσὲμ ᾿Αραβίας· βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν Αἰγυπτίοις πᾶς ποιμὴν προβάτων |
| you shall say, ‘We your servants are stockmen from childhood until now, both we and our fathers’—in order that you may settle in the land of Gesem of Arabia, for every shepherd of sheep is an abomination to Egyptians.” | Ye shall say, We thy servants are herdsmen from our youth until now, both we and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Gesem of Arabia, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians. |
| And 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 G-d upon this mountain.’ | And 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. | He replied, “Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God at this mountain.” |
| εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς Μωυσεῖ λέγων ὅτι ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ καὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον ὅτι ἐγώ σε ἐξαποστέλλω ἐν τῷ ἐξαγαγεῖν σε τὸν λαόν μου ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ λατρεύσετε τῷ θεῷ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ | εἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς Μωυσῇ λέγων· ὅτι ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον, ὅτι ἐγώ σε ἐξαποστέλλω ἐν τῷ ἐξαγαγεῖν σε τὸν λαόν μου ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ λατρεύσετε τῷ Θεῷ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ |
| But God spoke to Moyses, saying, “I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that I am sending you: when you have brought my people out of Egypt, you shall also serve God at this mountain.” | And 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. |
1 Exodus 1:18 (NET)
2 Exodus 1:19 (NET)
3 Exodus 1:22 (NET)
4 Exodus 2:11, 12 (NET)
5 Exodus 2:14 (NET)
11 Exodus 2:15 (NET)
12 Exodus 2:23 (NET)
14 Hebrews 11:7 (NET)
15 Exodus 3:7-10 (NET)
16 Exodus 3:11 (NET)
17 1 Corinthians 1:19 (NET)
19 Exodus 3:10 (NET)
21 Exodus 3:18b (NET)
22 Genesis 46:34b (NET)
23 Romans 9:16-18 (NET) See The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 4 for a table comparing the Greek of the quotation in Romans 9:17b to that of Exodus 9:16 in the Septuagint.
24 Exodus 3:12 (NET)
25 James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5 (NET) Table See Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 8 for a table comparing the Greek of the quotation in James 4:6 to that of Proverbs 3:34 in the Septuagint. See Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 8 for a table comparing the Greek of the quotation in 1 Peter 5:5 to that of Proverbs 3:34 in the Septuagint.
26 Matthew 5:44b-45a (NET)
27 Matthew 5:12a (NET)