‹ Chapter 2Exodus 3 of 40Chapter 4

Exodus 3:1

וּמֹשֶׁ֗ה
Môsheh
and — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
הָיָ֥ה
hâyâh
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
רֹעֶ֛ה
râʻâh
to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
אֶת
ʼêth
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
צֹ֛אן
tsôʼn
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
יִתְר֥וֹ
Yithrôw
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law
חֹתְנ֖וֹ
châthan
to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage
כֹּהֵ֣ן
kôhên
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
מִדְיָ֑ן
Midyân
Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants
וַיִּנְהַ֤ג
nâhag
and — to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh
אֶת
ʼêth
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַצֹּאן֙
tsôʼn
the — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
אַחַ֣ר
ʼachar
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר
midbâr
the — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
וַיָּבֹ֛א
bôwʼ
and — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶל
ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַ֥ר
har
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
ʼĕlôhîym
the — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
חֹרֵֽבָה
Chôrêb
Choreb, a (generic) name for the Sinaitic mountains
Exodus 3:1 · Masoretic Text (WLC)
AMPLIFIED · 1 of 3
Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.
Rabbi's unlock
Exodus 3:1New

Exodus calls this mountain Horeb here, then switches to Sinai from chapter 19 onward - the same place carries both names throughout the Torah, without explanation for the switch. Both names stay in use side by side in later books too (Horeb reappears in Deuteronomy and 1 Kings). Whatever the reason for the two names, Exodus makes a point of introducing the mountain before Moses has any idea what will happen there: it's already "God's mountain" in the text's own voice, well before the burning bush or the giving of the law make it so in the story.

that's everything Rabbi's current library has flagged for this passage — new sources are added every week
Today's memory verse · from this session
Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.
Exodus 3:1
Ask Rabbi about this chapter