Burning Bush — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Flaming bush on Mt Horeb, where Moses experienced God’s presence and received the commission to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt (Ex 3:1-15; Mk 12:26; Lk 20:37; Acts 7:30-34). The enigma of a plant burning without being consumed provided the opportunity for God to reveal his name, “I Am Who I Am.” The burning bush was a theophany, a visible revelation of God’s glory. Association of clouds, fire, and smoke with the manifestation of God’s glory is a common biblical theme (see Ex 13:21; 19:18; 1 Kgs 8:10-11; 2 Kgs 1:12; 2:11; Is 6:1-6; 2 Thes 1:7; Rv 1:14; 19:12).

Show passage in OET: MRK 12:26

OET-RV MRK 12:26

26 But as for the state of those who’ve died, didn’t you all read in the scriptures about Mosheh when God spoke to him in front of the burning thorn bush and said, ‘I am the god of Avraham and the god of Yitshak (Isaac) and the god of Ya’akov’ (Jacob)?

OET-LV MRK 12:26

26 But concerning the dead, that they _are _being _raised, not you _all _read in the scroll of _Mōsaʸs concerning the thorn _bush, how the god spoke to _him saying:
I am the god of _Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām), and god of _Isaʼak/(Yiʦḩāq), and the god of_Yakōb/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ)?

Show passage in OET: LUK 20:37

OET-RV LUK 20:37

37 But about the dead being raised, Mosheh (Moses) revealed it at the burning thorn bush when he called Yahweh the god of Avraham and of Yitshak (Isaac) and of Ya’akov (Jacob),

OET-LV LUK 20:37

37 But that the dead are _being _raised, even Mōsaʸs divulged at the thorn _bush, when he _is _calling the_master:
the god of _Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām), and the_god of _Isaʼak/(Yiʦḩāq), and the_god of_Yakōb/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ).

Show passage in OET: ACT 7:30–34

OET-RV ACT 7:30

30 After another forty years, he was in the wilderness around Mt. Sinay when he saw a messenger in the flame of a burning thorn bush.

OET-RV ACT 7:31

31 Mosheh was amazed at the vision when he saw it, so he approached the bush to look more closely when he heard Yahweh’s voice saying,

OET-RV ACT 7:32

32 ‘I am the god of your ancestors—the god of Avraham and of Yitshak (Isaac) and of Ya’akov (Jacob).’ At that point, Mosheh started trembling and was scared to go any closer to look,

OET-RV ACT 7:33

33 but Yahweh said, ‘Take off your sandals, because the ground you’re standing on is dedicated to God.

OET-RV ACT 7:34

34 I have noticed the mistreatment of my people in Mitsrayim and heard their groaning and so I came down to rescue them, so now I’m going to send you back to Mitsrayim.’

OET-LV ACT 7:30

30 And forty years having _been _fulfilled:
a_messenger was _seen to _him in the wilderness of_ the _Mount Sina/(Şīnay), in a_flame of _fire of_a_thorn _bush.

OET-LV ACT 7:31

31 And the Mōsaʸs having _seen it, marvelled at _the vision.
And him approaching to _observe it, there _became the_voice of_the_master:

OET-LV ACT 7:32

32 I am the god of _the fathers of _you, the god of _Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām), and of _Isaʼak/(Yiʦḩāq), and of_Yakōb/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ).
And Mōsaʸs having _become trembling, was_ not _daring to _observe.

OET-LV ACT 7:33

33 And the master said to _him:
Untie the sandal of _the feet of _you, because/for the place on which you _have _stood ground is holy.

OET-LV ACT 7:34

34 Having _seen, I _saw the mistreatment of _the people of _me which in Aiguptos/(Miʦrayim), and I _heard of _the groaning of _them, and I _came _down to _rescue them:
And now come, I _may _send_ you _out to Aiguptos.

Show passage in OET: EXO 13:21

OET-RV EXO 13:21

21 During the day, Yahweh went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way, and at nighttime, he went in a pillar of fire to be light to them, so they could travel both in the daytime and at night.

OET-LV EXO 13:21

21 And_YHWH was_going before_them by _day in_a _pillar _of cloud to_guide_them the_journey and_night in_a _pillar _of fire to_give _light to/for_them to_go by _day and_night.

Show passage in OET: EXO 19:18

OET-RV EXO 19:18

18 Yahweh descended onto Mt. Sinay surrounded by fire and the entire mountain smoked. Its smoke went up like the smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

OET-LV EXO 19:18

18 And_the _mountain _of Şīnay it _was _smoking of _it _of_all from_face/in _front _of that he _had _come _down on/upon/above_him/it YHWH in_fire and_ smoke _of_its _he/it _ascended like_the _smoke _of (the)_kiln and_ all _of the_mountain _it _trembled exceedingly.

Show passage in OET: KI1 8:10–11

OET-RV KI1 8:10

10 When the priests came back out of the holy place, a cloud filled Yahweh’s residence

OET-RV KI1 8:11

11 and the priests were unable to stand to minister because of the cloud, because Yahweh’s presence had filled his temple.

OET-LV KI1 8:10

10 And_he/it _was when_ the_priests _came _out from the _holy_place and_the_cloud it _filled DOM the _house _of YHWH.

OET-LV KI1 8:11

11 And_not the_priests they _were _able to_stand to_serve from_face/in _front _of the_cloud if/because the _glory _of YHWH it _filled DOM the _house _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: KI2 1:12

OET-RV KI2 1:12

12 Again Eliyah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your men,” and God’s fire came down from the sky, and it burnt up the captain and his men.

OET-LV KI2 1:12

12 And_ ʼĒliy^yāh _he _answered and_he/it _spoke to_them if am_(the)_man _of the_ʼElohīm I fire let _it _come _down from the_heavens and_let _it _consume you and_DOM your _fifty _of_men and_ the _fire _of god _it _came _down from the_heavens and_she/it _ate DOM_him/it and_DOM his _fifty _of_men.

Show passage in OET: KI2 2:11

OET-RV KI2 2:11

11 Then it had happened while they were walking and talking together. Wow, a chariot of fire and horses of fire drove between the two of them, separating them. Then Eliyah went up to the heavens in the gale.

OET-LV KI2 2:11

11 And_he/it _was they were_walking walking and_speaking and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _chariot _of fire and_horses _of fire and_they _separated between both _of_them and_ ʼĒliy^yāh _he/it _ascended in_whirlwind the_heavens.

Show passage in OET: ISA 6:1–6

OET-RV ISA 6:1

6 In the year that King Uziyah died, I saw my master sitting on a tall, elevated throne, and his long robe covered the temple floor.

OET-RV ISA 6:2

2 There were ‘serafs’ standing above him. They each had six wings—they used two to cover their faces, two to cover their feet, and two to fly with.

OET-RV ISA 6:3

3 They were calling out to each other,
⇔ “Commander-in-chief Yahweh is holy, yes, fully holy.
⇔ The whole earth is filled with his splendour.”

OET-RV ISA 6:4

4 Whenever one of them spoke, the sound of their voices make the doorways shake, and the temple was filled with smoke,

OET-RV ISA 6:5

5 and I said,
⇔ “This isn’t going to end well for me. Yes, I’m doomed because I am a man with unclean lips,
⇔ and I live among a people with unclean lips,
⇔ and yet my eyes have seen the king: Commander-in-chief Yahweh.”

OET-RV ISA 6:6

6 Then one of the ‘serafs’ flew to me. He was holding a hot coal that he’d taken off the altar with a pair of tongs.

OET-LV ISA 6:1

6 In_year of _the _death _of the_king ˊUzziy^yāh and_I _saw DOM my_master sitting on a _throne high and_lifted _up and_the _skirts _of_of _his _robe were_filling DOM the_temple.

OET-LV ISA 6:2

2 Seraphim were_standing from_above to_him/it six wings six wings belonged_to_one with_two_wings he _covered face _of_his and_with_two_wings he _covered feet _of_his and_with_two_wings he _flew.

OET-LV ISA 6:3

3 And_ this _he _called to this and_saying(ms) is_holy holy holy YHWH soldiers/messengers the _fullness of _all _of the_earth/land glory _of_is_his.

OET-LV ISA 6:4

4 And_ the _foundations _of the _thresholds _they _shook from_the _voice _of the_one _who_called and_the_house it _was _filled smoke.

OET-LV ISA 6:5

5 And_I _said woe to_me if/because I _am _destroyed if/because am_a _man unclean _of lips I and_among _of a _people unclean _of lips I am_dwelling if/because DOM the_king YHWH soldiers/messengers eyes _of_my they _have _seen.

OET-LV ISA 6:6

6 And_he _flew to_me one of the_seraphim and_was_in_hand _of_his a _live _coal which_with_tongs he _had _taken from_under the_altar.

Show passage in OET: TH2 1:7

OET-RV TH2 1:7

7 then all of you who’ve been oppressed will be able to relax when the master Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) comes back from heaven with his powerful army.

OET-LV TH2 1:7

7 and to _you _all which being _oppressed, relaxation with us at the revelation of _the master Yaʸsous from heaven, with messengers of _power of _him,

Show passage in OET: REV 1:14

OET-RV REV 1:14

14 His hair was gleaming white like wool or snow and his eyes were bright like a fiery flame.

OET-LV REV 1:14

14 And the head of _him and his hairs were white, as _though wool white as snow, and the eyes of _him like a_flame of _fire,

Show passage in OET: REV 19:12

OET-RV REV 19:12

12 His eyes shone like a flame of fire, and he had many crowns on his head, with a name written (on him? See v16) that no one knows except himself,

OET-LV REV 19:12

12 And the eyes of _him are a_flame of _fire, and on the head of _him crowns many, having name having _been _written, which no _one has _known, except not/lest he,

Jump to OET MRK 12:26 section.

Jump to OET LUK 20:37 section.

Jump to OET ACT 7:30–34 section.

Jump to OET EXO 13:21 section.

Jump to OET EXO 19:18 section.

Jump to OET KI1 8:10–11 section.

Jump to OET KI2 1:12 section.

Jump to OET KI2 2:11 section.

Jump to OET ISA 6:1–6 section.

Jump to OET TH2 1:7 section.

Jump to OET REV 1:14 section.

Jump to OET REV 19:12 section.

The burning bush was also symbolic of God’s holiness. Moses was commanded not to approach, but to remove his shoes because the place where he was standing was holy ground (Ex 3:5). Unlike the gods of Egypt, who were pictured as living in gloomy darkness, Israel’s God revealed himself as one who lives in unapproachable light (1 Tm 6:16). The burning bush evidently symbolized his intent not to consume or destroy his people, but to be their savior, to lead them out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land.