burning bush

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burning bush

burning bush, name for a North American plant of the family Celastraceae (staff tree family). The scriptural burning bush not consumed by fire (Ex. 3.2) is sometimes associated with a bramble or thorn and was adopted by the Presbyterian Church as an emblem of its early persecution. Burning bush is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Celastrales, family Celastraceae.

Moses and the burning bush, where the voice of God appeared to him in flames of fire to tell Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Fortean Picture Library.

Burning Bush

(religion, spiritualism, and occult)

The third chapter of Exodus explains that Moses, soon to become the deliverer of the Hebrew people, fled from the wrath of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Forty years later, while tending the sheep of Jethro, his Midianite father-in-law, Moses heard the voice of God speaking to him from a bush that burned but was not consumed by the fire. Here Moses learned the name by which God would henceforth be called: "I Am Who I Am."

Although the monks at Saint Catherine's monastery at Mount Sinai have for generations cultivated a thorn bush of the species rubus collinus, thought to be the kind of bush Moses would have seen, no one knows for sure what kind of bush it was or even where the incident happened.

The significance of the burning bush lies in the fact that this dramatic event marked a transition in Moses' life. He became aware of the presence of the God of his ancestors, reluctantly left the safety of a comfortable, quiet life, and began a journey into history and legend.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Burning Bush

in biblical mythology, a thorny bush that burned without being consumed, through which Yahweh appeared to Moses, calling him to lead his people out of Egyptian bondage into the Promised Land.

burning bush

form taken by the Angel of the Lord to speak to Moses. [O.T.: Exodus 3:2-3]

See: Fire

burning bush

Old Testament the bush that burned without being consumed, from which God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2--4)

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

References in periodicals archive ?

It was also at the burning bush where Moses realized that God cannot be apprehended by the senses.

Light to Darkness: From Gnosis to Agape in the Apophatic Imagery of Gregory of Nyssa

While many invasive species are unfamiliar to most of us, others (like the aforementioned burning bush and Japanese barberry) are well-known popular cultivated species.

No vacancy! New York fights back against invasive species

Also, Moses while on his way to the site of the Burning Bush was submerged in mud after a rockslide and was muddy all over when God appeared to Moses in the form of a boy.

The biblical exodus story revisited

The Knight Family's comeback album, Burning Bush Moments was released in May of 2014 with the title track being released to radio stations nationally.

AOK Promotion & Production Release New Single and Bio from The Knight Family of Fall Branch, TN

It's hard to imagine a more demo appropriate first-impression aud for the imminently zeitgeisty "Girls" than SXSW attendees; the politically charged "Burning Bush" will follow up its Rotterdam bow with a spot at Toronto; 2011's "Mildred Pierce" coincidentally collected five Emmys eight days after its Venice screening; and after playing Cannes, "Candelabra" went on to become HBO's highest-rated original film in nearly a decade, cuming 11.4 million total viewers.

Broadcast muse: TV movies and minis find support and fans on the international festival circuit

Burning Bush focuses on the personal sacrifice of Prague history student Jan Palach who in September 1969 set himself on fire in protest against the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia (the so-called "Prague Spring").

HBO Europe's first major TV series

Built in the 6th Century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it is said to be close to the spot where Moses saw the burning bush. The monastery has a collection of religious artifacts and books, including a paper signed by Mohammed.

Red Sea treasure; Destination: Sharm el Sheikh Manchester > 2,550 miles, 5hrs, 45 mins >Sharm el Sheikh

While living in Massachusetts, she was employed by the Burning Bush, Auburn, Mass.

Linda L. (Kelly) Elliott

Participants included Katy Armes (artist & Burning Bush Barn), Brian and Maggie Ayling (Christian Arts Society), Sheona Beaumont (artist and ACE regional associate for Bristol), Diana Coulter (Church Buildings Council), Richard Davey (writer and ACE regional associate for the East Midlands), Annie Henry (artist and ordinand), Gavin Mart (Engedi Arts, see Short notes), Philip Martin (St James Alderholt), Charles McCarthy (artist, St Michael's Discoed), Patrice Moor (artist), Angela Peagram (Art and Sacred Places), Vivien Thickett and Janice Rider (All Saints, King's Heath) and Sara Schumacher (PhD student, St Andrews).

ACE regional programme

It reminded me of Moses at the burning bush hearing, "Remove your sandals because you're standing on holy ground." I participated in the ceremony, wearing my shoes, but immediately after the ceremony, I offered my sincere apology to the Elder.

The sin of being un-Christian

They have suppressed the fire and are busy in extinguishing burning bush and dried leaves," Director General Environment Sheikh Suleman told.

Fire revisits Margalla Hills; vast forest area gutted

"Gods and Kings", as the project is presently titled, will cover the entire breadth of Moses' existence, from birth to death, including the Jewish emancipation from Egypt, the Burning Bush, and receiving the Ten Commandments.