Exodus 3:11

World English Bible

Contextual Overview

¹¹ Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" ¹² He said, "Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." ¹³ Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you;' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?" ¹⁴ God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," and he said, "You shall tell the children of Israel this: "I AM has sent me to you." ¹⁵ God said moreover to Moses, "You shall tell the children of Israel this, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Exodus 4:10-13, Exodus 6:12, 1 Samuel 18:18, 2 Samuel 7:18, 1 Kings 3:7, 1 Kings 3:9, Isaiah 6:5-8, Jeremiah 1:6, Acts 7:23-25, 2 Corinthians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 3:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:26 - Bring Numbers 11:26 - went not out Judges 6:15 - wherewith 1 Samuel 16:2 - How can I go 2 Chronicles 2:6 - who am I then Proverbs 25:6 - in the presence 2 Corinthians 12:9 - My grace

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
Yahweh said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.

Psalms 50:21
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that the "I AM" was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.

Romans 3:20
Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses said unto God, who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh,.... A private person, an exile in a foreign country, a poor shepherd, unknown to Pharaoh, and had no interest in him; and he a great king, and possessed of numerous forces to defend his country, and prevent the Israelites' departure out of it: time was when he was known to a Pharaoh, dwelt in his court, and made a figure there, and had great interest and authority there, being the adopted son of the king's daughter; but now it was otherwise with him:

and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt: who though a people numerous, yet unarmed, and held in great bondage; and he might remember how he had been repulsed and rejected by some of them forty years ago, which might be discouraging to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who am I - These words indicate humility (compare Numbers 12:3), not fear. He feared failure, owing to incompetency, especially in the power of expression.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 3:11. Who am I - that I should bring — He was so satisfied that this was beyond his power, and all the means that he possessed, that he is astonished that even God himself should appoint him to this work! Such indeed was the bondage of the children of Israel, and the power of the people by whom they were enslaved, that had not their deliverance come through supernatural means, their escape had been utterly impossible.