The Name of God

[JoshuaStone7]

Who is God/Elohim in the Bible?

"Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Exe 3:13

"God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am sent me to you.’ ” Exe 3:14

When God speaks of his own name, he says:

EH·WEH - I am who I am

The letters EH represent the word I.

When we speak God's name, we say He, which is the Hebrew word YA. Therefore we say, "He is" when saying the name of God YA-WEH. Only Elohim can say EH-WEH, for it means "I am."

"God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord (YA-WEH), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you." Ex 3:15

Moses didn't go to the Israelites and say, "I am sent me." He, in fact, said, "He is has sent me."

Joshua

[Athanasius]

Who is God/Elohim in the Bible?

"Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Exe 3:13

"God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am sent me to you.’ ” Exe 3:15

When God speaks of his own name, he says:

EH·WEH - I am who I am

The letters EH represent the word I.

When we speak God's name, we say He, which is the Hebrew word YA. Therefore we say, "He is" when saying the name of God YA-WEH. Only Elohim can say EH-WEH, for it means "I am."

"God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord (YA-WEH), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you." Ex 3:15

Moses didn't go to the Israelites and say, "I am sent me." He, in fact, said, "He is has sent me."

Joshua

I've always taken this (both the explanation of the 'name' in v14, which is mislabeled above, and the 'name' in v15) as an answer that isn't the answer Moses was maybe looking for.

As you note, given the nature of Hebrew, 'Eh-yeh asher Eh-yeh' could be taken a few ways: I am, I was, I will be, etc. I don't think, though, that this is a name as much as it's a way of conveying the awesomeness of God, which is an awesomeness that cannot be named: He is, but He also was, but He also will be. This isn't a name in the way that we would think of a name.

Burning bush, hey, what's your name?
I exist/I existed/I will exist

That's God as other at His most awesome.

So God says 'I am', and we would say 'He is'. It's a shift in perspective; from the first person to the third person (v15 following). It's more a description than a name, I think. At least, that's how I take it.

[JoshuaStone7]

I've always taken this (both the explanation of the 'name' in v14, which is mislabeled above, and the 'name' in v15) as an answer that isn't the answer Moses was maybe looking for.

Sometimes I think I have some kind of number inversion tendency or something...lol Thank you for the correction.

As you note, given the nature of Hebrew, 'Eh-yeh asher Eh-yeh' could be taken a few ways: I am, I was, I will be, etc. I don't think, though, that this is a name as much as it's a way of conveying the awesomeness of God, which is an awesomeness that cannot be named: He is, but He also was, but He also will be. This isn't a name in the way that we would think of a name.

So God says 'I am', and we would say 'He is'. It's a shift in perspective; from the first person to the third person (v15 following). It's more a description than a name, I think. At least, that's how I take it.

Well said. The context of the conversation was more of who God is rather than a name.

Placing the conversation in the time of Moses, it seems it was a way to separate Himself from the lifeless gods of the time, setting Himself apart as the God that is unto the Israelites, the eternal and only true God.

Joshua

[RandyPNW]

Who is God/Elohim in the Bible?

"Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Exe 3:13

"God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am sent me to you.’ ” Exe 3:15

When God speaks of his own name, he says:

EH·WEH - I am who I am

The letters EH represent the word I.

When we speak God's name, we say He, which is the Hebrew word YA. Therefore we say, "He is" when saying the name of God YA-WEH. Only Elohim can say EH-WEH, for it means "I am."

"God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord (YA-WEH), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you." Ex 3:15

Moses didn't go to the Israelites and say, "I am sent me." He, in fact, said, "He is has sent me."

Joshua

I've always taken this (both the explanation of the 'name' in v14, which is mislabeled above, and the 'name' in v15) as an answer that isn't the answer Moses was maybe looking for.

As you note, given the nature of Hebrew, 'Eh-yeh asher Eh-yeh' could be taken a few ways: I am, I was, I will be, etc. I don't think, though, that this is a name as much as it's a way of conveying the awesomeness of God, which is an awesomeness that cannot be named: He is, but He also was, but He also will be. This isn't a name in the way that we would think of a name.

Burning bush, hey, what's your name?
I exist/I existed/I will exist

That's God as other at His most awesome.

So God says 'I am', and we would say 'He is'. It's a shift in perspective; from the first person to the third person (v15 following). It's more a description than a name, I think. At least, that's how I take it.

My brother, who knows Hebrew at least some, whereas I know none, would at least partly agree with this. ...I think. Anyway, I do think Moses wanted a name--not just a concept. But in may ways, asking God for His name is like asking for a concept--what kind of God is He, and what distinguishes Him from other so-called gods?

Well, like is being said, "He is." In other words, what distinguishes Him is the fact He really exists whereas all of the other so-called gods don't.

[Athanasius]

Who is God/Elohim in the Bible?

"Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Exe 3:13

"God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am sent me to you.’ ” Exe 3:15

When God speaks of his own name, he says:

EH·WEH - I am who I am

The letters EH represent the word I.

When we speak God's name, we say He, which is the Hebrew word YA. Therefore we say, "He is" when saying the name of God YA-WEH. Only Elohim can say EH-WEH, for it means "I am."

"God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord (YA-WEH), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you." Ex 3:15

Moses didn't go to the Israelites and say, "I am sent me." He, in fact, said, "He is has sent me."

Joshua

I've always taken this (both the explanation of the 'name' in v14, which is mislabeled above, and the 'name' in v15) as an answer that isn't the answer Moses was maybe looking for.

As you note, given the nature of Hebrew, 'Eh-yeh asher Eh-yeh' could be taken a few ways: I am, I was, I will be, etc. I don't think, though, that this is a name as much as it's a way of conveying the awesomeness of God, which is an awesomeness that cannot be named: He is, but He also was, but He also will be. This isn't a name in the way that we would think of a name.

Burning bush, hey, what's your name?
I exist/I existed/I will exist

That's God as other at His most awesome.

So God says 'I am', and we would say 'He is'. It's a shift in perspective; from the first person to the third person (v15 following). It's more a description than a name, I think. At least, that's how I take it.

My brother, who knows Hebrew at least some, whereas I know none, would at least partly agree with this. ...I think. Anyway, I do think Moses wanted a name--not just a concept. But in may ways, asking God for His name is like asking for a concept--what kind of God is He, and what distinguishes Him from other so-called gods?

Well, like is being said, "He is." In other words, what distinguishes Him is the fact He really exists whereas all of the other so-called gods don't.

Right - Moses asked for a name, God answered but didn't give him quite that. This is who I am vs. this is what I'm called. What's more important, that we know who God is or that we know what God calls Himself?

Burning bush, what's your name?
Bro, if I listed all my names you'd be dead before I got half way through.

[JoshuaStone7]

Burning bush, what's your name?
Bro, if I listed all my names you'd be dead before I got half way through.

Agreed...

And to Randy's point: It would appear the only thing Moses could take to the Israelites was the knowledge of who sent him. And that was "He is," the God that exists. All the gods of the time had names; however, none were alive. So, in reality, there could not have been a more brilliant response on behalf of God, no?

Joshua

[RandyPNW]

Burning bush, what's your name?
Bro, if I listed all my names you'd be dead before I got half way through.

Agreed...

And to Randy's point: It would appear the only thing Moses could take to the Israelites was the knowledge of who sent him. And that was "He is," the God that exists. All the gods of the time had names; however, none were alive. So, in reality, there could not have been a more brilliant response on behalf of God, no?

Joshua

I would never question God's "brilliance," but I would have to say that God was just being honest.

[IMINXTC]

After 400 years of prophesied captivity, "I Am" should carry heavy significance to those in bondage. The self existent one - existence personified (?) - who is the God of their fathers,  has heard their pleas for deliverance.

[RandyPNW]

After 400 years of prophesied captivity, "I Am" should carry heavy significance to those in bondage. The self existent one - existence personified (?) - who is the God of their fathers,  has heard their pleas for deliverance.

Interesting, and dramatic, way of putting it. Totally agree!

[JoshuaStone7]

"I Am" should carry heavy significance to those in bondage.

I know it's a technicality; but, YHWH told Moses to tell the Israelites "He is" (YA-WEH) had sent him. YHWH calls himself "I am" (EH·WEH). So Moses told the Israelis '"He is" sent me.'

Anyway, all love...

Joshua

[Athanasius]

"I Am" should carry heavy significance to those in bondage.

I know it's a technicality; but, YHWH told Moses to tell the Israelites "He is" (YA-WEH) had sent him. YHWH calls himself "I am" (EH·WEH). So Moses told the Israelis '"He is" sent me.'

Anyway, all love...

Joshua

Truly a technicality as the semantic meaning is the same.

[JoshuaStone7]

Truly a technicality as the semantic meaning is the same.

Agreed, other than when explaining to someone the meaning of YHWH, or speaking about Him. I often hear Christians saying, "I Am" said this or that. Where if one would like to use correct vocabulary, one would say "He Is" said this or that, just as God directed Moses.

Is there a difference? Yes. Does it matter? Probably not...lol

In my humble opinion of course...

Joshua

[Athanasius]

Truly a technicality as the semantic meaning is the same.

Agreed, other than when explaining to someone the meaning of YHWH, or speaking about Him. I often hear Christians saying, "I Am" said this or that. Where if one would like to use correct vocabulary, one would say "He Is" said this or that, just as God directed Moses.

Is there a difference? Yes. Does it matter? Probably not...lol

In my humble opinion of course...

Joshua

I am
He is
Existence is not a real predicate

Er, Kant shows up when you least expect him.

But no, I agree with what you're saying. The speaker says "I am", and the hearer reports "He is". Although if someone wanted to say something like, "He is the great I am" then I'll nod and smile.

[RandyPNW]

Truly a technicality as the semantic meaning is the same.

Agreed, other than when explaining to someone the meaning of YHWH, or speaking about Him. I often hear Christians saying, "I Am" said this or that. Where if one would like to use correct vocabulary, one would say "He Is" said this or that, just as God directed Moses.

Is there a difference? Yes. Does it matter? Probably not...lol

In my humble opinion of course...

Joshua

I am
He is
Existence is not a real predicate

Er, Kant shows up when you least expect him.

But no, I agree with what you're saying. The speaker says "I am", and the hearer reports "He is". Although if someone wanted to say something like, "He is the great I am" then I'll nod and smile.

It may be something like He--God.  It may be like identifying "He" with "God." Perhaps like a room full of idols and Jesus standing among them, and then pointing at Jesus and saying, "He God."

[Athanasius]

Truly a technicality as the semantic meaning is the same.

Agreed, other than when explaining to someone the meaning of YHWH, or speaking about Him. I often hear Christians saying, "I Am" said this or that. Where if one would like to use correct vocabulary, one would say "He Is" said this or that, just as God directed Moses.

Is there a difference? Yes. Does it matter? Probably not...lol

In my humble opinion of course...

Joshua

I am
He is
Existence is not a real predicate

Er, Kant shows up when you least expect him.

But no, I agree with what you're saying. The speaker says "I am", and the hearer reports "He is". Although if someone wanted to say something like, "He is the great I am" then I'll nod and smile.

It may be something like He--God.  It may be like identifying "He" with "God." Perhaps like a room full of idols and Jesus standing among them, and then pointing at Jesus and saying, "He God."

I'm not sure I quite follow; it's a matter of grammar:

'I am' is something a person would say when talking about themselves. It's first-person.
'He is' is something a person would say when talking about another. It's third-person.

There's also the descriptive, 'He is the great I AM'. Here we see 'He is' used as a reference rather than a 'name'. This is likely why it seems awkward for us to talk about God as the 'He is' rather than the 'I am'. We do sing that way in worship, though.

In all cases, the meaning seems to be something like, "the self-existent one". It's the same self-description we read in Revelation 22.13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End". Said another way, Revelation 22.13 reads "I am". Where's Mr antiTrinity when you need him?