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Moses.

Moses is the central human figure of the Old Testament — born under threat of death, raised in Pharaoh's court, called from a burning bush to lead Israel out of Egypt, receiver of the Law at Sinai. His forty-year leadership through the wilderness is the formative period of Israel's identity. He never entered the Promised Land — God let him see it from Mount Nebo and buried him there. "There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10).

Timeline

• Born during Pharaoh's genocide, drawn from the Nile (Exodus 2)
• Fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian (Exodus 2)
• Burning bush and divine commission (Exodus 3–4)
• Ten plagues and the Exodus (Exodus 7–14)
• Forty years in the wilderness
• Receiving the Law at Sinai (Exodus 19–24, 32–34)
• Death on Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34)

Key verses

• Exodus 3:14 →
• Deuteronomy 18:15 →
• Deuteronomy 34:10 →

Why Moses matters

The New Testament reads Moses as the prototype of Christ — the great prophet, lawgiver, and deliverer. Hebrews compares Christ to Moses and finds Christ greater. The Transfiguration (Matthew 17) places Moses and Elijah with Jesus, showing him as the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. Every later prophet stands in the Mosaic tradition. The first five books of the Bible are traditionally credited to him.

Related tools

• All 29 figuresThe full index
• Bible verse lookupAny reference, ESV
• Trivia categoryProphet & Lawgiver