"Of all these many excursions into etymology by far the most
important is the derivation of the divine name YHWH from the
verb 'to be'; 'I AM; that is who I am. Tell them that I AM has sent
you to them' (Exod. 3:14). It is possible that the original narrator
meant the verbs to be taken as futures, and that 'I will be as I
will be' was a promise of the presence of God as and when he chose
to be present; for the same verb occurs two verses earlier in the
form 'I will be with you'. This line of thought leads us directly to
the child whose name is Immanuel (Isa. 7:14), to the application of
that name to Jesus (Matt 1:23), and to the promise with which
Matthew's Gospel ends, 'I am with you always, to the end of time'
(28:20). But that is not the way in which the translators of the
Septuagint understood the revelation of the divine name. They
translated it by hO WN, 'he who exists', and so made it possible for
later writers, beginning with the author of the Wisdom of Solomon
(13:1), to make a synthesis between the theology of the Old
Testament and the philosophy of the Greeks" (George Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, pp. 45-46).
Sporadic theological and historical musings by Edgar Foster (Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies and one of Jehovah's Witnesses).
Isa 8:8 seems to be conspicuously omitted from such discussions.
ReplyDeleteDoes Isaiah 8:8 LXX understand it to be a name?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Isa 8:8 LXX treats Immanuel as a proper name.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Testament in Greek by Theodotion translates EHYEH ASHER EHYEH as ESOMAI HOS ESOMAI. The rendering would lend support to the rendering in the NWT, namely I will be who/what I will be or I will prove to be, that would be the future first person singular "to be"
ReplyDeleteDear Brother Keefa,
ReplyDeleteThe more that I research Exod 3:14, I could not agree with you more. The lines of evidence strongly point toward Theodotion's rendering being correct. If time permits, I would like to share Robert Alter's notes on Exod 3:14. But for now, https://fosterheologicalreflections.blogspot.com/2009/08/richard-kearney-on-exodus-314.html
When God speaks to Moses in Exodus 3:14, saying, "I AM THAT I AM," He reveals a profound and multifaceted aspect of His nature. This declaration, "I AM," translated from the Hebrew "Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh," signifies God’s eternal, self-existent, and unchanging nature. It encapsulates the essence of His being as the One who is, who was, and who will be, highlighting His timeless existence and independence from all creation.
ReplyDeleteThe Hebrew name for God, often rendered as "Yahweh" or erroneously "Jehovah," derives from the verb "to be," encompassing past, present, and future. This name underscores God's perpetual presence and His role as the eternal sustainer of all that exists. It is a reminder to the Israelites of God’s constant presence, His historical acts of salvation, and His unwavering commitment to His people.
Moreover, in the ancient context, names carried significant meaning, often reflecting the essence and authority of an individual. By revealing His name to Moses, God not only asserts His identity but also His supreme authority and the reliability of His promises. This name assured the Israelites that the One who sent Moses was not an abstract deity, but the living God actively involved in their lives.
Additionally, the revelation of God's name serves as a declaration of His supremacy over other so-called gods. In a polytheistic world where names and titles indicated power and influence, God's self-identification as "I AM" established His uniqueness and His incomparable nature.
This divine self-revelation also implied God's unapproachable holiness and the mystery of His being. It reminded the people that while they could know and experience God's presence and actions, His full essence remained beyond human comprehension.
In summary, God's statement to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM," conveys His eternal, self-sufficient, and immutable nature. It assures His people of His everlasting presence and faithfulness, distinguishing Him from all other deities and underscoring His role as the ultimate source of all existence.