Read & explore together
Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant
Sirach 45:1–5 praises Moses in careful, weighty language. Rather than retelling a story, it gathers key descriptions of who he was, what God did for him, and why he received God’s commandments.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In these verses from Sirach, Moses is described through a series of statements about God’s action toward him. The passage speaks of favour, glory, faithfulness, meekness, God’s voice, and the commandments Moses received in order to teach Jacob and Israel.
Sirach 45:1–5Main takeaway
Sirach 45:1–5 presents Moses as one whom God loved, sanctified, chose, and entrusted with commandments to teach the covenant and God’s judgments.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A man of mercy, favour, and blessed memoryThe passage begins by calling Moses “a man of mercy”. It says he “found favor in the sight of all people” and was “loved by God and men”.
Explanation
The passage begins by calling Moses “a man of mercy”. It says he “found favor in the sight of all people” and was “loved by God and men”. It also says, “his memory is blessed.” These phrases present Moses as honoured, loved, and remembered with blessing.
02God gave him honour before enemies and kingsSirach says God “made him equal to the glory of the saints” and “magnified him in the fears of his enemies.”
Explanation
Sirach says God “made him equal to the glory of the saints” and “magnified him in the fears of his enemies.” It also says, “By his words he caused the wonders to cease” and that God glorified him “in the sight of kings”. The emphasis stays on what God did for Moses.
03Sanctified in faithfulness and meeknessThe next verse names two qualities: “faithfulness and meekness”. Sirach says God sanctified Moses in these and “chose him out of all people”.
Explanation
The next verse names two qualities: “faithfulness and meekness”. Sirach says God sanctified Moses in these and “chose him out of all people”. The verse does not explain them further, but it clearly links God’s setting apart of Moses with these named characteristics.
04Commandments given so he could teachFinally, Sirach says God made Moses hear his voice, led him into “the thick darkness”, and gave him commandments “face to face”.
Explanation
Finally, Sirach says God made Moses hear his voice, led him into “the thick darkness”, and gave him commandments “face to face”. These are called “the law of life and knowledge”. The stated purpose is that Moses might teach “Jacob the covenant” and “Israel his judgments”.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which exact phrases in verse 1 show how highly Moses is spoken of?
Look for the direct descriptions, including “a man of mercy”, “found favor”, “loved by God and men”, and “his memory is blessed”.
02What qualities are named when Sirach says God sanctified Moses?
Answer with the two words the passage itself uses for Moses’ character.
03According to verse 5, why were the commandments given to Moses?
The verse states the purpose directly by saying what Moses was to teach Jacob and Israel.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 45:1–5
1He brought out of him a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all people, a man loved by God and men, even Moses, whose memory is blessed.
2He made him equal to the glory of the saints, and magnified him in the fears of his enemies.
3By his words he caused the wonders to cease. God glorified him in the sight of kings. He gave him commandments for his people and showed him part of his glory.
4He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness. He chose him out of all people.
5He made him to hear his voice, led him into the thick darkness, and gave him commandments face to face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his judgments.