Exodus 3:1-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:1-6

The years of the life of Moses are remarkably divided into three forties: the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jeshurun; so changeable is the life of men, especially the life of good men. He had now finished his second forty, when he received his commission to bring Israel out of Egypt. Note, Sometimes it is long before God calls his servants out of that work which of old he designed them for, and has been graciously... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:1

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian ,.... Who was either the same with Reuel or Raguel, spoken of in the preceding chapter; or, as others think, a son of his, the father being now dead; seeing it was now forty years since Moses came into Midian, Acts 7:30 . Demetrius F3 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 29. p. 439. , an Heathen writer, expressly says that Jothor a son of Raguel, and Zipporah or Sepphora, as he calls her, was his daughter,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:2

And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him ,.... Not a created angel, but the Angel of God's presence and covenant, the eternal Word and Son of God; since he is afterwards expressly called Jehovah, and calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which a created angel would never do: the appearance was: in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bush ; not in a tall, lofty, spreading oak or cedar, but in a low thorny bramble bush, which it might have been thought would have been... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:3

And Moses said, I will now turn aside ,.... From the place where he was, and the flock he was feeding, and get nearer to the bush, which seems to have been on one side of him and not directly before him: and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt ; inquire into, and find out, if he could, the reason of this strange and amazing sight; how it could be that a bush should be on fire and yet not burnt up, which might have been expected would have been destroyed at once; for what is a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:1

Jethro his father-in-law - Concerning Jethro, see Clarke's note on Exodus 2:18 . Learned men are not agreed on the signification of the word חתן chothen , which we translate father-in-law, and which in Genesis 19:14 , we translate son-in-law. It seems to be a general term for a relative by marriage, and the connection only in which it stands can determine its precise meaning. It is very possible that Reuel was now dead, it being forty years since Moses came to Midian; that Jethro was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:2

The angel of the Lord - Not a created angel certainly; for he is called יהוה Jehovah , Exodus 3:4 , etc., and has the most expressive attributes of the Godhead applied to him, Exodus 3:14 , etc. Yet he is an angel, מלאך malach , a messenger, in whom was the name of God, Exodus 23:21 ; and in whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Colossians 2:9 ; and who, in all these primitive times, was the Messenger of the covenant, Malachi 3:1 . And who was this but Jesus,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:1

Verse 1 1.Now Moses kept the flock. We have already said that he was occupied as a shepherd for a long time (viz., about forty years) before this vision appeared to him. The patience, then, of the holy man is commended by his continuance in this work; not that Moses had any intention of boastfully celebrating his own virtues, but that the Holy Spirit dictated what would be useful to us, and, as it were, suggested it to his mouth, that what he did and suffered might be an example for ever. For... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:2

Verse 2 2.And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him. It was necessary that he should assume a visible form, that he might be seen by Moses, not as he was in his essence, but as the infirmity of the human mind could comprehend him. For thus we must believe that God, as often as he appeared of old to the holy patriarchs, descended in some way from his majesty, that he might reveal himself as far as was useful, and as far as their comprehension would admit. The same, too, is to be said of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:3

Verse 3 3.And Moses said, I will now turn aside. It is certain that his mind was disposed to reverence from no rashness, but by divine inspiration. Although not yet accustomed to visions, he still perceives that, this is no unmeaning spectacle, but that some mystery was contained in it, which he must by no means neglect, and to the knowledge of which he was divinely called. In this, too, we must observe his tractableness, in turning aside to learn. For it often happens that God presents himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:1

Moses kept the flock . The Hebrew expresses that this was his regular occupation. Understand by "flock" either sheep or goats, or the two intermixed. Both anciently and at the present day the Sinaitic pastures support these animals, and not horned cattle. Of Jethro, his father-in-law . The word translated "father-in-law" is of much wider application, being used of almost any relation by marriage. Zipporah uses it of Moses in Exodus 4:25 , Exodus 4:26 ; in Genesis 19:12 , Genesis... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:1

Group of Brands