What Was God’s Name Revealed As?
One of the most profound moments in Scripture occurs in Exodus 3, when God reveals His personal name to Moses. This revelation does not simply identify God; it discloses His character, His eternal nature, and His relationship with His people. Understanding this name helps illuminate God’s identity in both the Old and New Testaments and provides a theological foundation for how He interacts with humanity.
1. The Context of the Revelation
When Moses encountered the burning bush on Mount Horeb, he was called to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Feeling inadequate and uncertain, Moses asked God what name he should give when the Israelites asked who had sent him (Exodus 3:13). This question was not merely about identification but about authority, nature, and covenant relationship.
2. God’s Name: “I AM WHO I AM”
God responded:
“I AM WHO I AM.”
“This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
(Exodus 3:14)
This phrase, in Hebrew Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, carries rich depth and layered meaning.
a. Meaning of “I AM” (Ehyeh)
The Hebrew word Ehyeh is the first-person form of the verb “to be.” It expresses:
-
Self-existence — God depends on no one and nothing.
-
Eternal presence — God is the One who always is.
-
Constancy and faithfulness — God does not change with time or circumstances.
-
Sovereignty — God is the ultimate reality behind all existence.
God is essentially saying:
“I am the One who exists, who is real, who remains, who will be with you.”
b. A God of Presence
In Hebrew thought, this phrase does not only imply existence but presence. God assures Moses that He will be with him, will act, and will fulfill His promises.
3. The Name “Yahweh” (YHWH)
After giving the phrase “I AM,” God adds:
**“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”**
(Exodus 3:15)
He identifies Himself as:
YHWH – pronounced Yahweh
This name comes from the same root as Ehyeh and means:
-
“He is”,
-
or more theologically, “He who causes to exist,” “He who sustains,” or “He who is always present.”
a. The Tetragrammaton (YHWH)
The four Hebrew consonants YHWH form the most sacred name of God in the Old Testament. Out of reverence, ancient Israel avoided speaking it aloud. Instead, they used the word Adonai (“Lord”), a practice reflected in many English Bibles, where YHWH appears as LORD in all capitals.
b. God’s Covenant Name
Yahweh is not simply a label; it is a covenant name:
-
Revealing who God is to His people
-
Marking His faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
-
Signifying His promise to rescue Israel
Through this name, God binds Himself to His people as their Redeemer and Deliverer.
4. How God’s Name Represents His Character
Throughout Scripture, the name Yahweh reveals more than identity—it reveals attributes:
Yahweh-Rapha — The LORD who heals
Yahweh-Jireh — The LORD who provides
Yahweh-Shalom — The LORD who gives peace
Yahweh-Sabaoth — The LORD of hosts
Yahweh-Roi — The LORD who shepherds
Each title expands upon His nature, yet they all root back to His foundational name: Yahweh, the eternal, self-existent God.
5. God’s Name in the New Testament: “I AM” in Jesus
The significance of God’s name continues in the New Testament. Jesus repeatedly uses the phrase “I AM” in ways that directly echo God’s revelation to Moses.
Examples from the Gospel of John:
-
“I am the bread of life.”
-
“I am the light of the world.”
-
“Before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58)
This final statement is especially striking. Jesus uses the divine title “I AM”, resulting in the religious leaders attempting to stone Him for claiming God’s identity.
Thus, Christianity sees Jesus as the embodiment of Yahweh’s presence among His people.
6. Why God Revealed His Name
God’s self-revelation had several purposes:
a. To show His nature
God is eternal, unchanging, and self-sufficient.
b. To confirm His covenant
By revealing His name, God assured Moses that He remained the same God who had promised to rescue Israel.
c. To establish relationship
Names in the ancient world conveyed intimacy and trust. By giving His name, God invited His people into a deeper relational knowledge.
d. To reveal His active presence
“I AM” implies that God is not distant but actively involved in the lives of His people—past, present, and future.
Conclusion
The name God revealed—“I AM WHO I AM,” or Yahweh—stands as the most foundational self-disclosure of God in Scripture. It expresses His eternal existence, unwavering presence, and covenant faithfulness. This name is central to understanding His character throughout the Bible and forms the basis of how God interacts with humanity. Whether in the burning bush, in the wilderness, or in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s name reminds us that He is ever-present, unchanging, and fully sufficient.