Exodus 3:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:11-15

God, having spoken to Moses, allows him also a liberty of speech, which he here improves; and, I. He objects his own insufficiency for the service he was called to (Exod. 3:11): Who am I? He thinks himself unworthy of the honour, and not par negotio?equal to the task. He thinks he wants courage, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh, to make a demand which might cost the demandant his head: he thinks he wants skill, and therefore cannot bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:13

And Moses said unto God ,.... Having received full satisfaction to his objection, taken from his own unfitness for such a service, and willing to have his way quite clear unto him, and his commission appear firm and valid to his people, he proceeds to observe another difficulty that might possibly arise: when I come unto the children of Israel : out of Midian into Egypt: and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you ; with a message to them to receive him as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:13

They shall say - What is his name? - Does not this suppose that the Israelites had an idolatrous notion even of the Supreme Being? They had probably drank deep into the Egyptian superstitions, and had gods many and lords many; and Moses conjectured that, hearing of a supernatural deliverance, they would inquire who that God was by whom it was to be effected. The reasons given here by the rabbins are too refined for the Israelites at this time. "When God," say they, "judgeth his creatures, he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:13

Verse 13 13.Behold, when I come to the children of Israel. If we believe that Moses spoke his own sentiments here, he would say, that he could not be the messenger of an unknown God; which seems highly improbable. For who can think that the faith of the holy Prophet was so obliterated, that he was forgetful of the true God, whom he had devoutly served? Whereas, in the name of his elder son, he had borne witness to his solemn recollection of Him, when he voluntarily professed himself a stranger... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:1-22

THE MISSION OF MOSES . After forty years of monotonous pastoral life, affording abundant opportunity for meditation, and for spiritual communion with God, and when he had attained to the great age of eighty years, and the hot blood of youth had given place to the calm serenity of advanced life, God at last revealed Himself to Moses "called him" ( Exodus 3:4 ), and gave him a definite mission. The present chapter is' intimately connected with the next. Together, they contain an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:11-17

Hindrances to service and how God removes them. 1 . THE HINDRANCE FOUND IN THE SENSE OF OUR OWN WEAKNESS ( Exodus 3:11 , Exodus 3:12 ). 1 . Moses knew the pomp and pride of the Egyptian court. He remembered how Israel had rejected him when he was more than he was now. Once he had believed himself able for the task, but he was wiser now: "Who am I ?" etc. He might serve God in the lowly place he held, but not there. Moses in this the type of multitudes. God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:13

What is his name? It is not at all clear why Moses should suppose that the Israelites would ask him this question, nor does it even appear that they did ask it. Perhaps, however, he thought that, as the Egyptians used the word "god," generically, and had a special name for each particular god—as Ammon, Phthah, Ra, Mentu, Her, Osiris, and the like—when he told his people of "the God of their fathers," they would conclude that he, too, had a proper name, and would wish to know it. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:13-15

God's revelation of himself under the name Jehovah, and the meaning of it. At first sight the name by which God shall be called may seem unimportant, as it is unimportant whether a man be called Tully or Cicero. But, originally, each name that is given to God is significant; and according as one name or another is commonly used, one idea or another of the Divine nature will be prevalent. Hitherto God had been known mainly to the Semites as El , Eliun , Elohim , "Exalted, Lofty," or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:13-15

The proper Name of God. "This is my name for ever," etc.—( Exodus 3:15 .) This incident of the burning bush teems with subjects susceptible of homiletic treatment. We name a few of the more important, which we ourselves do not linger to treat. 1 . THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE CHURCH , Exodus 3:2 . 2. THE DOCTRINE OF THE ANGEL - GOD . Note in Exodus 3:2-4 that "The Angel of Jehovah," "Jehovah," and "God," are one and the same. 3 . THE RESTRICTION ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:13-17

The second difficulty: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-what is his name? Moses feels that when he goes among his brethren, one of their first questions will be as to the name of this God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Consider— I. HOW IT WAS THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A QUESTION WAS SUGGESTED TO HIS MIND . All the deities of the other nations had names, and doubtless the gods of Egypt were well known by name to the Israelites. Part of the glory of... read more

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