Exodus 3:12

“I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God answers Moses’ objection in Exodus 3:11 by affirming His presence and providing a future event as verification of His commission. The exchange occurs at the burning bush immediately before the Exodus mission begins.

The words — אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ ('eh.Yeh 'i.Ma/kh) translates literally to "I will be with you," establishing the divine guarantee. This phrase introduces the sign that worship on the mountain will occur after the people are brought out of Egypt.

The thread — The promise of presence reappears in Exodus 3:12, Joshua 1:5, and Deuteronomy 31:23 as God commissions leaders for deliverance. Romans 8:31 draws the theological implication that God’s alignment with His people determines their standing before opposition.

Why it lands — The text states that worship on the mountain will serve as the concrete sign of the commission, not Moses’ personal credentials. It requires the reader to act on the stated promise of presence and wait for the specified outcome as confirmation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙va/i.Yo.merand/ he said כִּֽי־ki-that אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה'eh.YehI will be עִמָּ֔ךְ'i.Ma/khwith/ you וְזֶה־ve./zeh-and/ thisלְּךָ֣le./Khafor <the>/ youהָא֔וֹתha./'ot[will be] the/ sign כִּ֥יkithat אָנֹכִ֖י'a.no.KhiI שְׁלַחְתִּ֑יךָshe.lach.Ti./khaI sent/ you בְּהוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֤be./ho.tzi.'a./Khawhen/ bringing out/ you אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָעָם֙ha./'Amthe/ people מִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi./mitz.Ra.yimfrom/ Egypt תַּֽעַבְדוּן֙ta.'av.Du/nyou will serve/ !אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God עַ֖ל'alon הָהָ֥רha./Harthe/ mountain הַזֶּֽה׃ha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Cross-references

Joshua 1:5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Deuteronomy 31:23 Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Genesis 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
Exodus 4:12 Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:15 You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do.
Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Acts 11:21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.