Biblical Hebrew: Words RevealedPrøve

Biblical Hebrew: Words Revealed

The Meaning Behind “Moses”

Out of The Water

Every reader of the Bible is familiar with Moses – Moshe in Hebrew. His stories are among the most beloved in all of Scripture: the splitting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Ten Commandments, the manna in the wilderness. No prophet was able to get at close to God as Moses. We have read his name so many times that we feel that we know him personally. But have you ever stopped to think about his name? What does Moses mean?

After saving a Jewish infant boy from death, the daughter of Pharaoh “named him Moses, saying I drew him out of the water” (Ex. 2:10). When we read this verse in translation, it leaves us scratching our heads. This is because it only makes sense in the original Hebrew, where “she named him Moshe (מֹשֶׁה), saying: out of the water Meshi him (מְשִׁיתִהוּ)”. The similarity in sound between the name “Moshe” and the word “meshi” (drew) is what makes this verse shine.

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Uncover scripture’s hidden treasures

Pharaoh’s daughter named Moses after her own action, but the verb “Moshe” in Hebrew is in active form- “He draws out”. It is a suitable name for God’s chosen leader that drew the Israelites out of Egypt, out of the red sea. The Bible is full of gems that are waiting to be drawn out of the water.