Do Not Draw Near This Place

It is significant that in Exodus 3:5 the verse begins with "Do not come any closer" or otherwise directly translated from the Hebrew " 'al tiq-rab ha-lom" as "do not draw near this place". Because when the same story is told by Stephen in Acts, verse 7:33 is the same verse as Exodus 3:5, except it completely lacks this warning introduction in the Greek.

In both verses, there is a telling of how God said to Moses ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.' But in the Old Testament, it is highlighted that God first said "do not draw near this place," to illuminate the power of His holiness. This part is eliminated in Stephen's telling, but it is noted that Moses had fear of the Lord, internally, in both cases.

It is significant. God is no less holy by the New Testament, but is now directly approachable. Perhaps the story lacks this warning to Moses so as to not confuse those under the New Covenant of Jesus' shed blood, which makes God approachable through Christ.