Burning Bush

Biblical Text

While tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, Moses came to "the mountain of God, even to Horeb." There the angel of the LORD appeared to him "in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush," and "the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed" (Exodus 3:2). The scene appears in chapter 3 of Exodus.

When Moses turned aside to see this sight, God called to him. God told him, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground," and identified himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:4–6). Moses then received the commission to lead Israel out of Egypt. The name "I AM THAT I AM" is also revealed in this encounter (Exodus 3:12–15).

Word and Background

The Hebrew word seneh (סְנֶה) refers to a low, thorny shrub or bush. In the Old Testament it occurs only in Exodus 3 and Deuteronomy 33:16. In the Deuteronomy passage, Moses blesses the tribe of Joseph and refers to God as "him that dwelt in the bush."

The exact identity of the plant is unknown. Various suggestions have been made, such as an acacia or a thorny bramble. Some see a wordplay between seneh and Sinai because of their similar sound, but this is not certain. Scholars also disagree about the location of Mount Horeb (see Mount Sinai).

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

In the Old Testament, fire frequently serves as a sign of God's presence and holiness, as in the fire on Mount Sinai and the pillar of fire in the wilderness. In the burning bush episode, God declares that he has seen the affliction of his people and heard their cry (Exodus 3:7). This event marks the starting point of the Exodus narrative.

The New Testament refers to the episode again with the phrase "the bush." Jesus cited this passage in answering the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection: God "is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living" (Mark 12:26–27; Luke 20:37–38). Stephen also recounts the event in his speech (Acts 7:30–35).

Interpretations and Debates

• The one who appeared in the flame: The text first says that "the angel of the LORD" appeared and then immediately presents God himself as speaking. Several church fathers and many Reformed interpreters regard this angel as Christ appearing before the Incarnation, that is, an Old Testament Christophany. Other interpreters regard him as an angel conveying God's word.
• The bush that was not consumed: Some interpreters in the Jewish tradition have read this as an image of Israel, suffering in Egypt yet not destroyed. In the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, some interpret it as a type of Mary, who bore God without losing her virginity. Protestants focus mainly on God's presence and holiness and on Moses' call.
• Symbol of the church: The burning bush, accompanied by the Latin motto "Nec tamen consumebatur" ("yet it was not consumed"), serves as the emblem of the Church of Scotland. As an image of a church that does not perish under persecution, it has become familiar among Presbyterian churches in many countries.
• "I AM THAT I AM": Some interpreters connect this name with Jesus' "I am" sayings, such as John 8:58 (see "I Am" sayings).
• Extrabiblical tradition: According to tradition, St. Catherine's Monastery on the Sinai Peninsula preserves the very bush to this day. This tradition, however, is not part of the biblical account.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the burning bush passage is frequently used in sermons on Moses' call. The command to "put off thy shoes" is often cited in discussions of reverence and humility in worship and service.