Do any denominations teach that Moses was talking with three distinct beings in the burning bush?
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A recent [question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/91738/do-protestant-trinitarians-see-a-completeness-of-the-canon-of-new-testament-scri?noredirect=1) says:
> The number three in the bible is significant.
…
Three persons are associated with the burning bush which Moses saw (Jehovah, Elohim and the Angel of the Lord).
[Exodus 3:1–6 (NKJV)](https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/exo/3/1-6/s_53001) describes this incident:
> Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian.
And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of *God[Elohim]*.
> And **the Angel** of the *LORD[YHWH]* appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.
So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
> Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
>
> So when **the LORD[YHWH]** saw that he turned aside to look, **God[Elohim]** called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
>
> Then *He[3MS]* said, “Do not draw near this place.
Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
> Moreover *He[3MS]* said, “I am the *God[Elohim]* of your father—the *God[Elohim]* of Abraham, the *God[Elohim]* of Isaac, and the *God[Elohim]* of Jacob.”
And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon **God[Elohim]**.
This contains 5 instances of “*Elohim*” and 1 of “*YHWH*”, which are indirect references.
and 2 instances of “*3MS*”, which are a third person masculine singular pronoun.
But, there are three different names directly associated with the being(s) in the flame:
- 1 **the Angel**
- 1 **YHWH**
- 2 **Elohim**
At one extreme:
- “**Elohim**” could be considered simply as a synonym for “**YHWH**” or “**the Angel**”.
- The one explicit reference to "**YHWH**" doesn't require his literal presence within the bush.
- I.e. the only being in the burning bush was **the Angel**.
At the other extreme, there are actually three distinct beings within the burning bush.
Do any denominations teach that Moses was talking with three distinct beings?
Asked by Ray Butterworth
(11838 rep)
Jun 27, 2022, 01:55 PM
Last activity: Mar 29, 2025, 07:35 AM
Last activity: Mar 29, 2025, 07:35 AM