Did you know that the God of the Bible has a personal name like you and me? It is true. God’s name is used 6,828 times in the Old Testament (based on an Accordance search), but not at all in the New Testament.
God’s personal name is Yahweh (יהוה). It is frequently written as YHWH, called the tetragrammaton. God reveals the meaning of his name in Exodus 3:7–22 and 34:1–9. God’s name, Yahweh, refers to his saving activity, his punishment of sins, his forgiveness of sins, and his faithfulness.
Let’s take a look at the two passages where God reveals the meaning of his name to discover what it tells us about the one true God (Ex 3:7–22; 34:1–9).
The Meaning of God’s Name, Yahweh, in Exodus 3:7–22
Literary Context
While shepherding his Father-in-law’s flock on Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses stumbles upon a burning bush that will not be consumed by the flames (Ex 3:1–3). It is “the angel of Yahweh” who appears to Moses (3:2). God then calls to Moses out of the bush (3:4–5), reveals that He is the God of Moses’ ancestors (3:6), and commissions Moses (3:7–12).
To what does God commission Moses? God commissions Moses to free His people from slavery. God first tells Moses that He, God, has heard the cry of His people in slavery, knows their suffering, and is going to free/liberate them from their slavery to the Egyptians:
“Then the LORD [יהוה] said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land . . . .’”
EXODUS 3:7–8, emphasis added
God then tells Moses that He will use Moses to free his people from slavery to the Egyptians:
“Come, I [God] will send you [Moses] to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
EXODUS 3:10
God has chosen Moses as his instrument of salvation. It is by Moses that God will rescue his people.
The literary context of Exodus 3:1–12 is extremely important for understanding the meaning of God’s name. Exodus 3:1–12 is about salvation, liberation, freedom! God is planning to liberate his people who are enslaved to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. God will free them from their slavery so that they may serve Him, Yahweh:
“He [God] said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’”
EXODUS 3:12, emphasis added
God’s Name Revealed
After learning that God intends to use him, Moses, to free God’s people from slavery, Moses asks the following question:
“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
In response to Moses asking what the name of God is, God says the following famous words:
אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה (“I AM WHO I AM”)
EXODUS 3:14
The word אֶהְיֶה (“I am”) is the first person singular form of the Hebrew verb “to be” (היה). God is telling Moses who he is. In the following verse, God says to Moses:
“God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “יהוה (“HE IS”), 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, emphasis added
It is important to note that the name of God has switched from the first person singular אהיה (“I AM”) in 3:14 to the third person singular יהוה (“HE IS”; Yahweh) in 3:15. The name of God is still the same. The switch to the third person occurs because God’s people are going to call God יהוה (“HE IS”), not אהיה (“I AM”). In fact, יהוה (“HE IS”; Yahweh) is the name of God used throughout the rest of the Old Testament. Can you imagine praying to God and saying “Dear I Am . . . .” That would sound like you are praying to yourself! It makes much more sense for God’s people to pray “Dear He Is . . . .”
The Meaning of God’s Name Revealed
Now that we know God’s name is יהוה (Yahweh) and is loosely translated “HE IS,” we need to explore what it means for God to be “HE IS.”
The meaning of Yahweh (יהוה) as God’s name is still debated today. Here are some of the suggestions as to what Yahweh means:
- God’s being, his existence (“I am/He is the one who exists”)
- God’s uniqueness (“I am the only one like me”/“He is the only one like Him”)
- God’s presence (“I am/He is with you”)
- God’s abilities (“I/He will cause to be”)
- God’s actions (“I am what I say I am”/“He is what he says He is”)
The key problem with understanding God’s name is that we English speakers desire a predicate nominative. Usually “to be” verbs are followed by predicate nominatives: “I am eternal,” “I am unique,” “I am with you,” “I am your saviour.” Unfortunately, God’s name does not come with a predicate nominative; it is simply “I am” (אהיה; Ex 3:14) or “He is” (יהוה; Ex 3:15).
There are two likely solutions as to what God’s name means; one with which I disagree and one with which I agree. Both solutions draw on the literary context of Exodus 3 for help Let’s look at the one I disagree with first.
(1) Yahweh can refer to God’s presence (“I am present”/“He is present”). In Exodus 3:11, Moses questions God’s choice in choosing him to deliver Israel:
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’”
EXODUS 3:11
In response to Moses’ query, God says “I will be (אֶהְיֶה) with you” (Ex 3:12). Since the verb used in 3:12 to indicate God’s presence with Moses is the same verb as the divine name, some have concluded that it refers to God’s eternal presence with Israel as well. Although this solution has some plausibility, the real answer to Moses’ query is the sign that God gives Moses to prove He is with him—Moses will lead Israel out of slavery to Mount Horeb/Sinai where they will serve Yahweh (3:12).
(2) Yahweh refers to God’s saving activity (“I am the one who will save”/“He is saviour”). The literary context, as described in the subsection above, suggests the main topic of Exodus 3 is salvation/liberation. God is coming to save his people from slavery. Thus, “I AM/HE IS” refers to God’s saving activity. Every time the name Yahweh is used, it reminds God’s people that He is a saving God: the one who did save and the one who will save! This is most likely why God revealed his name just before the exodus. Every time God’s people say “Yahweh” they should think of God’s saving acts. Every time I say “Yahweh” I should think of God’s saving acts.
The Meaning of God’s Name, Yahweh, in Exodus 34:1–9
The second place that God reveals the meaning of his name, Yahweh (יהוה), is Exodus 34:1–9.
Literary Context
Prior to God revealing the meaning of his name for a second time, Israel commits their most grievous sin to date—idolatry! In Exodus 32, Israel makes and worships a golden calf:
“And he [Aaron] received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’”
EXODUS 32:4
Although Yahweh determined to destroy Israel for their idolatry, Moses intercedes for them (Ex 32:7–14). However, when Moses sees the idolatry with his own eyes, he smashes the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments out of anger (32:15–20).
Because of Israel’s idolatry, Yahweh both punishes Israel with a plague (Ex 32:35) and determines not to go with Israel to the promised land, lest he destroy them (33:1–6). However, Moses intercedes for the people again and convinces Yahwehto continue with His people (33:12–17). It is at this point, after God heeds Moses’ request, that Moses asks to see Yahweh’s glory, to which God allows:
“Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name Yahweh. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.’”
EXODUS 33:18–19, emphasis added
In Exodus 34, Moses reascends Mount Sinai with new stone tablets. When Moses ascends, Yahweh descends in a cloud and proclaims his name (Ex 34:1–7).
The Meaning of God’s Name Revealed
When God reveals his name to Moses on Mount Sinai, he proclaims his name (Yahweh) twice and follows it up with a description of who He is:
“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘Yahweh [יהוה], Yahweh [יהוה], a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
EXODUS 34:6–8, emphasis added
What follows the twice repeated declaration of God’s name, Yahweh, is a description of who Yahweh is. Yahweh, the one true God, is:
- Merciful
- Gracious
- Slow to anger
- Abounding in steadfast love (חֶסֶד)
- Abounding in faithfulness/reliability (4 & 5 can refer to covenant faithfulness)
- Keeping steadfast love for thousands of generations
- Forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin
- Not clearing the guilty (i.e., he punishes the guilty)
- Visiting iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generation (this is limited to those who hate God; see Ex 20:5–6).
Yahweh has revealed three new aspects of his character in light of Israel’s grievous sin with the golden calf. First, He is not a God to be tested or sinned against; he will punish iniquity as seen in Exodus 32:35. Second, He will always forgive when forgiveness is sought as seen in Exodus 33:4–6, 12–17. Third, He is faithful. Yahweh does not abandon his people or break his covenant with them as seen in Exodus 34:10–27. Further, Yahweh is faithful to his character seen in that he punished Israel for their idolatry and forgave them when they repented and Moses requested forgiveness. Yahweh is a faithful and trustworthy God.
Because of the golden calf incident, God’s people have now experienced God in a new way. They have experienced him punish iniquity; they have experienced his great forgiveness; and they have experienced his faithfulness. These new experiences have brought new meaning to the name Yahweh: “HE IS.” God’s people now know God as “HE IS punisher of iniquity,” “HE IS Forgiver of Iniquity,” and “HE IS Faithful to his Covenant, Promises, and His Character.”
Summary and Concluding Thoughts
Based on Exodus 3:13–15 and 34:6–8, there are four aspects to the meaning of God’s name, Yahweh. First, Yahweh (יהוה) refers to God as Saviour; salvation comes by His hand. Second, Yahweh refers to God as punisher of iniquity; he will always punish sin and wrongdoing. Third, Yahweh refers to God as one who forgives iniquity; he will forgive wrongdoing when it is sought. Fourth, Yahweh refers to God as faithful; he is faithful to his covenants, his promises, and his character.
Because the name Yahweh (יהוה) means “HE IS,” we can also summarize the meaning of God’s name in four declarations:
- HE IS Saviour
- HE IS Punisher of Iniquity
- HE IS Forgiver
- HE IS Faithful
I believe it is a travesty that God’s name, Yahweh, has fallen into disuse amongst Christians and many of God’s people today (a) do not know what God’s name is and (b) do not know what God’s name means. The significance of God’s name becomes most apparent when one realizes the gospel message is present in the meaning of Yahweh.
- HE IS Punisher of Iniquity. God punishes sin and wrongdoing and will punish you for your sins.
- HE IS Forgiver. If you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus (his death and resurrection), God will forgive you of your sins and will not punish you for your sins.
- HE IS Saviour. Once you have repented, believed in Jesus, and been forgiven, God saves you from sin, death, and Satan!
- HE IS Faithful. God will certainly do all that I just described. Nothing a person does will cause God to go back on his promise of salvation in Jesus Christ. Once you are saved, you will always be saved because God is faithful and trustworthy.
Isn’t it amazing that God’s name reminds us of the gospel! Isn’t it amazing that God’s work of salvation in Jesus is 100% consistent with his character as revealed in the Old Testament! Oh, how I wish that Christians and Pastors would use the name of God every day! Let’s begin now!