3,800-Year-Old Inscriptions in Sinai May Reference Moses, Stirring Debate Among Scholars
by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
SINAI DESERT, EGYPT (Worthy News) – A startling new claim from the Egyptian desert suggests the earliest known reference to Moses may have been discovered in inscriptions dating back nearly 3,800 years.
American–Israeli epigraphist Michael S. Bar-Ron of Ariel University has reanalyzed Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions found at the turquoise mining site of Serabit el-Khadim. According to his study, at least two of the ancient carvings appear to read: “This is from Moses” (Zot M’Moshe) and “Declaration of Moses” (Ne’um Moshe).
If confirmed, this would mark the oldest written reference to Moses outside the Bible, predating the earliest Hebrew Scriptures by centuries. The inscriptions also reference the name El, the early Israelite term for God, and appear to reject the worship of pagan deities such as Ba‘alat.
Key Facts: Moses Discovery
- Location: Serabit el-Khadim, Sinai Desert
- Age: About 3,800 years old (1800–1600 B.C.)
- Inscription Reads: “This is from Moses” / “Declaration of Moses”
- Other References: Mentions the name El, rejects the pagan goddess Ba‘alat
- Potential Significance: Earliest written mention of Moses outside the Bible
- Status: Claims remain unverified, under scholarly review
Could this be the oldest extra-biblical evidence of Moses?
A Contested Breakthrough
Skepticism remains high in academic circles. Proto-Sinaitic writing is among the oldest alphabetic scripts and notoriously difficult to decipher. Several Egyptologists have warned against premature conclusions, noting that names similar to Moses appear elsewhere in Egyptian history and may not be unique to the biblical leader.
Bar-Ron himself admits his work is in early stages and not yet peer-reviewed, though he plans to release 3D scans of the inscriptions for scholarly review.
Prophetic Relevance
For Christians, however, the potential implications are powerful. The Bible describes Moses as the great deliverer of Israel, lawgiver at Sinai, and prophet of God. Finding his name carved in the Sinai desert — the very region where Israel wandered during the Exodus — resonates deeply with the biblical narrative.
Believers point to Daniel’s prophecy that in the last days “knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). Some see the timing of such discoveries as part of God’s unveiling of His Word to strengthen faith in an age of doubt.
And God’s promise through Isaiah remains true: “My word… shall not return void, but it shall accomplish that which I please” (Isaiah 55:11). Whether this find proves to be conclusive or not, the story underscores the enduring reliability of Scripture and God’s unfolding plan.
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