Exodus 3 13

Exodus 3:13 kjv

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

Exodus 3:13 nkjv

Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"

Exodus 3:13 niv

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?"

Exodus 3:13 esv

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?"

Exodus 3:13 nlt

But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"

Exodus 3 verses

Exodus 3 13 Meaning

Exodus 3:13 presents Moses' pivotal question to God, acknowledging the impending encounter with the Israelites. Moses anticipates their skeptical query about the identity of the deity who "sent" him. This question, "What is His name?", is not merely a request for a label but seeks the divine essence, character, authority, and power by which God is known, and upon which Moses' mission would stand or fall before a people steeped in a polytheistic culture. It highlights the crucial need for Israel to recognize their specific covenant God amidst many perceived deities.

Exodus 3 13 Context

Exodus chapter 3 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative: Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses, tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock, is drawn by the miraculous sight of a bush burning without being consumed. God reveals Himself from the bush, calls Moses by name, and declares His intention to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This divine call comes to a reluctant Moses. God recounts His awareness of Israel's suffering and commissions Moses to lead them out. The historical context is critical; Israel has suffered under brutal Egyptian oppression for centuries, far from their ancestral land. They have likely adopted some aspects of Egyptian religious practices, which involved numerous named deities. Moses' question in verse 13 is a practical, crucial inquiry: he foresees that the enslaved Israelites will demand the name of this "God of their fathers" to verify the messenger's authority and understand the power of this deity against Egypt's gods. It's a question rooted in a world where a deity's name conveyed identity, power, and often, access.

Exodus 3 13 Word analysis

• Then Moses said to God,

  • Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh): "Drawn out." His very name reflects his miraculous rescue from water, foreshadowing his role in drawing Israel out of Egypt. He speaks directly to God, representing humanity's concerns.
  • said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyomer): Indicates direct speech and an immediate, articulate response from Moses.
  • to God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): A plural noun used for God, often signifying majesty, power, and divinity. It is a general term for deity, contrasting with the specific revelation that is about to occur.

• "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' "

  • Indeed (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection signifying attention or introducing something significant, akin to "Behold" or "Now." It emphasizes Moses' realistic assessment.
  • children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, benei Yisrael): The descendants of Jacob, who was renamed Israel ("prince with God"). It refers to the enslaved nation chosen by God for covenant relationship. They are not merely "Hebrews" but "children of Israel", underscoring their unique covenant heritage.
  • The God of your fathers (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, Elohei Avoteikhem): A foundational theological concept connecting to the patriarchal covenant (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). This title affirms continuity and God's faithfulness to His promises made generations prior, essential for Israelite identity.
  • has sent me (שְׁלָחַנִי, shelakhani): From the verb shalach, "to send," implying divine commission, authority, and purpose. Moses' legitimacy rests entirely on who has sent him.

• and they say to me, 'What is His name?'

  • What is His name? (מַה שְּׁמוֹ, Mah Shemo?): This is the core question. Shem (שֵׁם), "name," in ancient thought was more than a label; it revealed character, essence, authority, and power. Knowing a god's name enabled proper worship, invocation, and understanding of their specific domain or attributes. For the Israelites, accustomed to Egyptian polytheism where each deity (Ra, Amun, Osiris, etc.) had a specific name and function, identifying which God was acting was crucial for belief and trust.

• what shall I say to them?"

  • what shall I say to them? (מָה אֹמַר לָהֶם, mah omar lahem?): Moses' practical and desperate plea. He needs a definitive answer that will both authenticate his mission and instill faith and conviction in a downtrodden, potentially skeptical, people. He foresees the pragmatic need for divine credential.

Exodus 3 13 Bonus section

• Moses' question demonstrates his shift from shepherd to thoughtful leader, already anticipating the doubts and needs of his people.
• The ancient Near East understood a deity's name not just as identity but also as access; knowing the name gave a worshiper a means to invoke or appeal to that deity's specific power. Moses implicitly sought this authoritative "access" for the Israelites.
• This verse is the perfect setup for the grand theological unveiling of YHWH, highlighting the significance of God choosing to reveal His personal name to His chosen people, signifying a closer relationship and deeper understanding of His being.
• It counters any notion of God being a distant or nameless entity, affirming His specific, active, and personal involvement in human history.

Exodus 3 13 Commentary

Exodus 3:13 represents a profound moment in the unfolding narrative of God's self-revelation. Moses, still reeling from the miraculous appearance and daunting commission, displays practical insight into the challenges ahead. His question, "What is His name?" goes beyond simple curiosity. It arises from the very real social and religious context of ancient Egypt, where numerous deities existed, each with specific names, powers, and spheres of influence. To the enslaved Israelites, who may have integrated some Egyptian religious syncretism, "the God of your fathers" (a familiar but possibly generic term for them) would require specific identification. They would need to know which powerful deity was now acting on their behalf and how this deity compared to, or overpowered, the gods of their oppressors.

Moses' foresight anticipates the crucial need for a distinct revelation that would establish the covenant God's unique identity, authority, and singular power. This question serves as the divine prompt for God to reveal His personal, covenant name, YHWH (often rendered "LORD" in English, or "Yahweh"), and to articulate its profound meaning through the phrase "I AM WHO I AM." This is not just a name; it is a statement of absolute existence, self-sufficiency, unwavering presence, and active engagement with His people. Through Moses' pragmatic question, God is given the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between His general transcendence ("God of your fathers") and His specific, imminent, and powerful immanence, revealing Himself as the covenant-keeping, active Deliverer who IS and will BE whatever His people need. This revelation forms the very bedrock of Israelite theology and sets the stage for the miraculous Exodus.