What does Exodus 3:16 mean?
God is speaking to Moses out the miraculous burning bush. In response to Moses' initial fears and doubts, God provided reassurance and clearly stated His identity. This included the crucial identification of God with the term "I AM," and the title of LORD, typically presented using small capitals in English, and sometimes displayed as Yahweh or Jehovah.Moses is commissioned with three commands in this verse. First, he must return to Egypt to fulfill this mission. Second, Moses was to gather the "elders of Israel." This is the first mention of these elders who apparently began serving as the leaders of the Jewish people during their slavery. This governing body is mentioned thirty-one times in the Old Testament, including eight times in Exodus (Exodus 3:18; 12:21; 17:5, 6; 18:12; 24:1, 9) and fourteen times total in the Torah.
Third, Moses is to give these elders a specific message. In this verse, part of the message is given: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had appeared to Moses to reassure Israel that He has seen their afflictions in Egypt. This was to serve as a reminder God had not forgotten nor forsaken them. The next verse will continue with God's promise regarding freedom from slavery.