burning bush

American  

noun

1. Bible. a bush that “burned with fire and … was not consumed,” from which an angel spoke to Moses.

2. Also called firebush, summer cypress.  a shrubby plant, Kochia scoparia, of the amaranth family, having dense, feathery foliage that turns red in fall.

3. any of various plants of the genus Euonymus having bright red foliage in autumn.

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burning bush British  

noun

1. a rutaceous shrub, Dictamnus fraxinella , of S Europe and Asia, whose glands release a volatile inflammable oil that can burn without harming the plant: identified as the bush from which God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2–4)

2. any of several shrubs or trees, esp the wahoo, that have bright red fruits or seeds

3. another name for gas plant

4. any of several plants, esp kochia, with a bright red autumn foliage

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

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burning bush Cultural  

1. A bush described in the Book of Exodus; God revealed himself to Moses, telling him that he must go to the pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery, and that Moses must also lead them to the Promised Land. This was a miraculous appearance of God, for “the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” God told Moses, speaking out of the bush, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses asked God for his name, “God said unto Moses, ‘I Am That I Am.’”

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Etymology

Origin of burning bush

First recorded in 1775–85 as a plant name

Example Sentences

Mr. Epstein’s distinction between Jew and Jew-ish brings to mind Moses at the burning bush, and his first question to God—Who am I to go to Pharaoh?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Many also believe that this is the place where, according to the Bible and the Quran, God spoke to the prophet from the burning bush.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2025

The burning bush of a case study in FTX may finally be what it takes to light a fire under the pants of EA leaders about establishing a code of conduct for the community.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2022

The burning bush, never consumed by the fire, is symbolic in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other faiths including Baha’i.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2021

The consequence was that afterward he was brilliant as the burning bush till he finally went in his sober senses to bed.

From Memoirs of Life and Literature by Mallock, W. H. (William Hurrell)