Exodus 3 15

Exodus 3:15 kjv

And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Exodus 3:15 nkjv

Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'

Exodus 3:15 niv

God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers?the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?has sent me to you.' "This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

Exodus 3:15 esv

God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Exodus 3:15 nlt

God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors ? the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ? has sent me to you. This is my eternal name,
my name to remember for all generations.

Exodus 3 verses

Exodus 3 15 Meaning

Exodus 3:15 reveals God's definitive, eternal, and personal name, YHWH (often rendered as The Lord), to Moses, instructing him to use it when addressing the Israelites. This name, "The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," signifies His active presence, unchanging faithfulness, and perpetual covenant relationship with His people across all generations. It is His memorial-name, by which He is to be remembered, invoked, and worshipped throughout history as the living and acting God who keeps His promises and redeems His people.

Exodus 3 15 Context

Exodus 3:15 is a pivotal verse within the encounter at the burning bush. Moses, tending sheep in Midian, witnesses a bush burning without being consumed and hears God's voice. God identifies Himself and calls Moses to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Moses, apprehensive, asks what to say when the Israelites ask about God's name. Verse 14 provides the foundational answer, "I AM WHO I AM" (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh), indicating God's self-existence and sovereign presence. Verse 15 then specifies the name by which God is to be proclaimed to Israel and to all subsequent generations: YHWH, the personal covenant name that anchors His eternal character to His historical acts, particularly the deliverance about to unfold. Historically, this revelation takes place amidst a polytheistic Egyptian culture, where deities had many specific names. God's declaration of His unique and enduring name, especially linking it to their revered ancestors, asserts His ultimate authority and fidelity, establishing Himself as distinct from and superior to all other perceived gods.

Exodus 3 15 Word analysis

• "God said furthermore to Moses": Implies a continuation and further elaboration of the revelation, building upon the "I AM WHO I AM" in the previous verse. It emphasizes direct divine communication and instruction.
• "Thus you shall say": A divine mandate. Moses is not to speak his own words but deliver God's precise message, highlighting God's authority and Moses's role as His mouthpiece.
• "the sons of Israel": The direct recipients of this message, identifying them as the covenant people, the descendants of Jacob (Israel), emphasizing their unique relationship with God.
• "'The Lord'" (YHWH, יהוה): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's personal, revealed name. It is derived from the verb "to be" (hayah), closely linked to "I AM" (Exo 3:14). It signifies God's self-existence, eternal presence, and active participation in the covenant. It is the name through which God manifests His power, faithfulness, and redemptive nature.
• "the God of your fathers" (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, Elohei Avoteikhem): Links this new revelation directly to the established covenant relationship God had with the patriarchs. It affirms continuity, assuring Israel that the God now acting on their behalf is the same faithful God who chose and made promises to their ancestors.
• "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob": This explicit enumeration provides specific and beloved anchors for the Israelites. Each patriarch represents a historical person with whom God entered into a direct covenant and sustained a personal relationship, confirming His consistent character and fidelity through generations. This detailed reference counters any notion that this is a new, unknown deity.
• "has sent me to you": Confirms Moses's divine commission and authority. He is an emissary sent directly by this powerful, covenant-keeping God, validating his mission to both the Israelites and Pharaoh.
• "This is My name forever" (זֶה־שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם, zeh-shemi l'olam): "Forever" (לְעֹלָם, l'olam) denotes eternity, perpetuity, and endless duration. This declaration signifies the unchanging, timeless nature of God's revealed name and, by extension, His character, promises, and covenant. His name is not temporary or conditional but eternal.
• "and this is My memorial-name" (וְזֶה זִכְרִי, v'zeh zikri): "Memorial-name" (זִכְרִי, zikri, from זִכָּרוֹן, zikkaron) signifies a name by which one is to be remembered, called upon, invoked, and worshipped through all generations. It’s more than just identification; it’s a name that evokes remembrance of God's acts, His character, and His active presence. It’s the name through which future generations can appeal to His past faithfulness and present power.
• "to all generations" (לְדֹר וָדֹר, l'dor va'dor): Emphasizes the universal and unending reach of this revelation. God's name and its significance are meant to endure for all time and across all lines of descent, forming a permanent foundation for Israel's identity and worship.

Exodus 3 15 Bonus section

The full impact of "memorial-name" (zikkaron) goes beyond simple recollection; it signifies a dynamic remembrance that calls upon God's presence and provokes Him to act according to His past character and promises. For the Israelites, uttering this name would not just be an identification, but an invocation of the One who parted the Red Sea and delivered them. In a sense, it's a name that is inherently performative. Furthermore, the selection of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is crucial. Each faced unique trials and received specific affirmations of the covenant, solidifying its depth and multifaceted nature. This emphasizes that God's covenant is not generic but personal and enduring across individual lives and successive generations, creating a foundational theology of heritage and continuity. This verse, then, is not merely about a name; it is about the living, covenant-keeping God manifesting Himself uniquely for the redemption of His people, forever setting the stage for all His subsequent acts of salvation history, culminating in Christ.

Exodus 3 15 Commentary

Exodus 3:15 stands as a profound theological cornerstone, elaborating on the prior, enigmatic "I AM WHO I AM" from verse 14. God’s revelation of YHWH as His enduring name signifies not merely an identifier, but His eternal, active, and covenantal presence. This name is irrevocably linked to His unchanging character and His unwavering faithfulness to His promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By declaring "the God of your fathers," God establishes continuity, assuring Israel that the power intervening on their behalf is the same dependable God who guided their ancestors, thus building faith for their liberation from Egypt. The emphasis on "My name forever" and "My memorial-name to all generations" means this revelation transcends time; it is the definitive identity through which humanity can continually encounter, remember, and call upon the God who acts in history. It underscores that God is personal, actively involved, and distinct from any human construct or idol.