Lexical Summary
Mosheh: Moses, Moses'
Original Word:משֶׁה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Mosheh
Pronunciation:moh-SHEH
Phonetic Spelling:(mo-sheh')
KJV: Moses
NASB:Moses, Moses'
Word Origin:[fromH4871 (מָשָׁה - drew)]
1. drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued
2. Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Moses
Frommashah; drawing out (of the water), i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver -- Moses.
see HEBREWmashah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
mashahDefinitiona great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver
NASB TranslationMoses (748), Moses' (16).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
767 , the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver (probably = Egyptian
mes, mesu, child,
son, Eb
GS 539, compare Di
Exodus 2:10, where see also older (abandoned) etymology); —
Exodus 2:10 +
Exodus 2:15 +; name occurs 706 t. in Hexateuch (Exodus 290 t, Leviticus 86 t., Numbers 233 t., Deuteronomy 38 t., Joshua 59 t.),
Judges 4 t. +
Judges 18:30 where read for (compare GFM);
1 Samuel 12:6,8, Kings 10 t.,
Micah 6:4;
Jeremiah 15:1;
Isaiah 63:11,12;
Malachi 3:22;
Psalm 77:21 7t.; Chronicles 3 t.,
Daniel 9:11,13; —
Moses was son of Amram and Jochebed
Exodus 6:20;
Numbers 26:59 (both P),
1 Chronicles 5:29;
1 Chronicles 23:13; of tribe of Levi
Exodus 2:1 (E; compare also foregoing); (younger) brother of Aaron
Exodus 4:14 (J),
Exodus 7:1,2,7 (P), etc., and brother of Miriam
Numbers 26:59 (P),
1 Chronicles 5:29 (compare
Exodus 15:20 E); called prophet
Deuteronomy 18:15,18;
Deuteronomy 34:10; agent by whom gave law
Exodus 20:19,20,21,22 (E) +; especially P ( , etc.),
Exodus 39:1,5,7,21,26,29,31;
Exodus 40:19,21,25,27,29,32;
Leviticus 7:38;
Leviticus 8:9,13,17,27,29 + often; lawgiver
Deuteronomy 33:4;
Joshua 1:7;
Joshua 1:13 (D) +; priest,
Psalm 99:6. Phrases are — (, , etc.)
Exodus 14:31 (J),
Numbers 12:7(E),
Deuteronomy 34:5(JE),
Joshua 1:1 (D) + 15 t. Joshua. (D);
1 Kings 8:53,56;
2 Kings 18:12;
2 Kings 21:8;
Malachi 3:22; 2Chronicles 1:3; 24:6;
Nehemiah 1:8;
Nehemiah 9:14;
Psalm 105:26;
1 Chronicles 6:34;
1 Chronicles 24:9;
Nehemiah 10:30;
Daniel 9:11;
Ezra 3:2;
Psalm 90:1Joshua 8:32 (D),
1 Kings 2:3;
2 Kings 23:25;
Malachi 3:22; 2Chronicles 23:18; 30:16;
Ezra 3:2;
Ezra 7:6;
Daniel 9:11,13; 2Chronicles 25:4; 35:12;
Nehemiah 13:1;
Joshua 8:13 (D),
Joshua 23:6 (D),
2 Kings 14:6;
Nehemiah 8:1.
[] see
, see II. .
see II. . see
see . [] see
, [] see
[] (Biblical Hebrewid.); —Ezra 6:18.
Topical Lexicon
Name and Early Life in EgyptMoses first appears inExodus 2 amid Pharaoh’s decree to drown Hebrew male infants. Rescued from the Nile, he was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter yet nursed by his own mother, a providential preparation for bilingual, bicultural leadership (Exodus 2:1-10).Hebrews 11:24-26 records that he “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure oppression with the people of God,” showing early faith in Israel’s covenant promises.
Divine Calling at the Burning Bush
At age forty, Moses fled to Midian (Exodus 2:11-25). After another forty years as a shepherd, God appeared “in a flame of fire from within a bush” (Exodus 3:2). Commissioned to deliver Israel, he learned God’s covenant name: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Aaron was appointed as spokesman, yet Moses remained the primary instrument of revelation and power (Exodus 4:14-16).
Confrontation with Pharaoh and the Exodus
Moses confronted Pharaoh with a repeated demand: “Let My people go” (Exodus 5:1). Through ten plagues God judged Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). Moses’ staff parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31), prefiguring salvation through judgment. At the Song of the Sea, Israel sang, “The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2).
Mediator of the Covenant at Sinai
At Mount Sinai Moses served as covenant mediator. The LORD spoke the Ten Commandments directly (Exodus 20:1-17) and delivered further statutes through Moses (Exodus 24:3-8). Blood sprinkled on both altar and people sealed the covenant. Moses then spent forty days in God’s presence receiving the pattern of the tabernacle (Exodus 25–31), later receiving renewed tablets after Israel’s apostasy with the golden calf (Exodus 34).
Lawgiver and Author of the Pentateuch
Numerous passages attribute Torah to Moses: “Moses wrote all the words of the LORD” (Exodus 24:4), “Moses wrote down this law” (Deuteronomy 31:9). Old and New Testament writers treat Genesis through Deuteronomy as Mosaic (Joshua 1:7,Ezra 6:18,Mark 12:26). Christ refers to “Moses” and “the Law” interchangeably (John 7:19). Inspiration and historicity are therefore affirmed.
Prophetic Role and Revelation
Numbers 12:6-8 distinguishes Moses from later prophets: “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles.”Deuteronomy 18:15-19 promises “a Prophet like you,” later applied to Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22-23). Moses’ visions include the burning bush, Mount Sinai, and repeated encounters in the tent of meeting (Exodus 33:9-11).
Intercessor and Shepherd of Israel
Moses repeatedly interceded to avert divine wrath (Exodus 32:11-14;Numbers 14:13-19).Psalm 106:23 notes, “He would have destroyed them—had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach.” His appeals were grounded in God’s character, covenant, and glory.
Organizer of Worship and Community
Under divine instruction Moses arranged Levitical priesthood, sacrificial system, festivals, purity laws, census, tribal encampment, judicial structure (Exodus 25–31; Leviticus;Numbers 1–4;Deuteronomy 16). He delegated judgment to elders (Exodus 18:13-26;Numbers 11:16-17) and led the construction and consecration of the tabernacle (Exodus 40:16-38).
Typological Foreshadowing of the Messiah
Moses anticipates Christ in birth preservation from infanticide, mediator role, miracles, Passover deliverance, manna provision (John 6:32-35), water from the rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), veiled glory (2 Corinthians 3:12-18), and transfiguration appearance (Matthew 17:3).Hebrews 3:5-6 contrasts Moses as “faithful as a servant” with Christ as Son.
Death, Burial, and Posthumous Influence
Denied entry to Canaan for striking the rock (Numbers 20:12), Moses viewed the land from Pisgah and died there at 120 with undimmed vigor (Deuteronomy 34:1-7). The LORD buried him, location unknown, preventing idolatry. His benediction on the tribes (Deuteronomy 33) andPsalm 90 extend his ministry. Jude 9 hints at angelic contention over his body, underscoring enduring significance.
Usage across Scripture
The name Moses occurs approximately 766 times in the Old Testament, spanning Exodus through Malachi. Key clusters: Exodus (290+), Numbers (130+), Deuteronomy (70+), Joshua (50+). Later writings invoke his authority in covenant renewal (2 Kings 14:6), reforms (Nehemiah 8:1), prophecy (Malachi 4:4). New Testament writers reference him another 80-plus times, confirming canonical unity and the abiding pattern of redemption.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמֹשֶׁ֔ה בְּמֹשֶׁ֗ה בְּמֹשֶׁה֙ בְמֹשֶֽׁה׃ במשה במשה׃ וּבְמֹשֶׁ֖ה וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒ וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה וּמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּמֹשֶׁ֖ה וּמֹשֶׁ֗ה וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה וּמֹשֶׁ֥ה וּמֹשֶׁה֙ וּמֹשֶׁה֩ ובמשה ומשה כְּמֹשֶׁ֑ה כמשה לְ֝מֹשֶׁ֗ה לְ֭מֹשֶׁה לְמֹשֶֽׁה׃ לְמֹשֶׁ֑ה לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה לְמֹשֶׁ֖ה לְמֹשֶׁ֛ה לְמֹשֶׁ֣ה לְמֹשֶׁ֤ה לְמֹשֶׁ֨ה לְמֹשֶׁ֪ה לְמֹשֶׁה֙ למשה למשה׃ מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה מֹ֠שֶׁה מֹשֶֽׁה׃ מֹשֶׁ֑ה מֹשֶׁ֔ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה מֹשֶׁ֗ה מֹשֶׁ֛ה מֹשֶׁ֜ה מֹשֶׁ֡ה מֹשֶׁ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֤ה מֹשֶׁ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֧ה מֹשֶׁ֨ה מֹשֶׁה מֹשֶׁה֒ מֹשֶׁה֙ מֹשֶׁה֩ מֹשֶׁה֮ משה משה׃ bə·mō·šeh ḇə·mō·šeh bəmōšeh ḇəmōšeh bemoSheh kə·mō·šeh kəmōšeh kemoSheh lə·mō·šeh ləmōšeh lemoSheh mō·šeh mōšeh moSheh ū·ḇə·mō·šeh ū·mō·šeh ūḇəmōšeh ūmōšeh umoSheh uvemoSheh vemoSheh
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