Exodus 3:15-16 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:16-22

Moses is here more particularly instructed in his work, and informed beforehand of his success. 1. He must deal with the elders of Israel, and raise their expectation of a speedy removal to Canaan, Exod. 3:16, 17. He must repeat to them what God had said to him, as a faithful ambassador. Note, That which ministers have received of the Lord they must deliver to his people, and keep back nothing that is profitable. Lay an emphasis on that, Exod. 3:17: ?I have said, I will bring you up; that is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:15

And God said moreover unto Moses ,.... As a further explanation of the above name, and of the design and use of it: thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel : for their further instruction in the said name, and for the confirmation of the mission of Moses, and the success of it: the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you ; he who is Jehovah, and the covenant God of the ancestors of the people of Israel, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:16

Go and gather the elders of Israel together ,.... Not all the ancient men among them, nor the "judges" of the people of Israel; for it does not appear there were such among them in Egypt, until they came into the land of Canaan, but the heads of tribes or families: and say unto them, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me ; in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush at Horeb: saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:15

This is my name for ever - The name here referred to is that which immediately precedes, אלהים יהוה Yehovah Elohim , which we translate the Lord God, the name by which God had been known from the creation of the world, (see Genesis 2:4 ;). and the name by which he is known among the same people to the present day. Even the heathens knew this name of the true God; and hence out of our יהוה Yehovah they formed their Jao, Jeve, and Jove; so that the word has been literally fulfilled,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:16

Elders of Israel - Though it is not likely the Hebrews were permitted to have any regular government at this time, yet there can be no doubt of their having such a government in the time of Joseph, and for some considerable time after; the elders of each tribe forming a kind of court of magistrates, by which all actions were tried, and legal decisions made, in the Israelitish community. I have surely visited you - An exact fulfillment of the prediction of Joseph, Genesis 50:24 , God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:15

Verse 15 15.And God said moreover. God again assumes his name taken from the covenant which he had made with Abraham and his posterity, that the Israelites may know that they do not deceive themselves in an uncertain God, provided they depart not from the religion of their fathers; for as soldiers assemble round their standard to maintain the order of their ranks, so does he command them to look back upon the special grace of their adoption, and to know that they are a people elected of God,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:16

Verse 16 16.Go and gather. Because it was not easy either to gather the whole people into one place, or for his commission to be heard by so great a multitude, Moses is commanded to begin with the elders, and to speak to them concerning their coming deliverance, that they may thus by their authority arouse the body of the people to a good hope. For their dismissal must be sought for from the king in the name of all, and all their minds prepared for departure; since, unless they had timely... 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