Exodus 3:13-15

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you, ’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name? ’ what shall I say to them? ”

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. ” ^[a] And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ¹‘I AM has sent me to you. ’”

15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, ^[b] the ²God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. ’ This is ³my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Exodus 3:13-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 2

In this chapter we are informed how that the Lord appeared to Moses in a bush on fire, but not consumed, Ex 3:1-6, declared unto him that he had seen and observed the afflictions of the children of Israel, and was determined to deliver them, Ex 3:7-9, that he gave him a call to be the deliverer of them, answered his objections to it, and instructed him what he should say, both to the elders of Israel and to Pharaoh, Ex 3:10-18, and assured him, that though at first Pharaoh would refuse to let them go, yet after many miracles wrought, he would be willing to dismiss them, when they should depart with great substance, Ex 3:19-22.

Cross References

• 1. 3:14 ch. 6:3; Ps. 68:4; John 8:58; Heb. 13:8; Rev. 1:4; 4:8
• 2. 3:15 ver. 6
• 3. 3:15 Hos. 12:5; [Ps. 135:13]

Footnotes

• [a] 3:14 Or I am what I am , or I will be what I will be
• [b] 3:15 The word Lord , when spelled with capital letters, stands for the divine name, 'YHWH', which is here connected with the verb 'hayah', “to be” in verse 14