Moses is the towering figure of the Hebrew Bible’s opening act — the leader who, in the biblical narrative, brings Israel out of slavery in Egypt and delivers it the Law. The text explains his name as “drawn out,” for the daughter of Pharaoh who drew the infant from the Nile (Exodus 2:2, 2:10).
Born to Hebrew slaves but raised in Pharaoh’s palace, he flees to the wilderness, meets God at the burning bush, and returns to confront Pharaoh. The Exodus — the escape remembered ever after at Passover — leads to Mount Sinai, where biblical tradition says he received the Law. Scripture describes him speaking with God “face to face” (Exodus 33:11).
Tradition credits him with the Torah, the first five books also called the Pentateuch, and with the pattern of worship centered on the Tabernacle. In the account he dies within sight of the promised land but is not permitted to enter it.
Explore Moses and related terms in the full glossary → a.fortt.com/glossary-app
How this is made · A Fortt Media project, created & edited by Jon Fortt. Grounded in a curated Scripture database and carefully drafted and audited with the help of AI — described plainly, and written to assume no particular denomination or doctrine. Read the full approach → · Report a correction →
