King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
God said further to Moshe, "Say this to the people of Isra'el: 'Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ADONAI], the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz'chak and the God of Ya'akov, has sent me to you.'This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered generation after generation.
Berean Standard Bible:
God also told 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, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
American Standard Version:
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the 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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And God{H430} said{H559} moreover{H5750} unto Moses{H4872}, Thus shalt thou say{H559} unto the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, The LORD{H3068} God{H430} of your fathers{H1}, the God{H430} of Abraham{H85}, the God{H430} of Isaac{H3327}, and the God{H430} of Jacob{H3290}, hath sent{H7971} me unto you: this is my name{H8034} for ever{H5769}, and this is my memorial{H2143} unto all{H1755} generations{H1755}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 17:7
- ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Genesis 17:8
- And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
Hebrews 13:8
- Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Malachi 3:6
- For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Hosea 12:5
- Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his memorial.
Micah 4:5
- For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
Exodus 3:6
- Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 3:15
Exodus 3:15 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Israelites and their relationship with God. It occurs during Moses' encounter with the burning bush, where God calls him to lead the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt. This verse captures the moment when God reveals His name to Moses, a name that would forever identify Him to the Israelites and future generations.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the period of Israelite enslavement in Egypt, which the Bible dates to around the 15th century BCE. The Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had been in Egypt for generations, and their situation had become dire under a new pharaoh who did not know Joseph and feared the Israelites' growing numbers.
In this verse, God is establishing His identity and connection to the patriarchs of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—highlighting a continuous relationship with their descendants. By declaring "The LORD God of your fathers," God is affirming His covenantal relationship with the Israelites, reassuring them of His faithfulness and presence in their history and current plight.
The central theme of Exodus 3:15 is the revelation of God's personal name, commonly represented in the Bible as YHWH (often vocalized as Yahweh or Jehovah). This name, translated as "LORD" in many English Bibles, signifies God's self-existence and eternal nature, often associated with the meaning "I AM WHO I AM" from the previous verse (Exodus 3:14). God emphasizes that this name will be His for all time, a memorial to all generations, indicating that His identity and the covenant relationship with His people will endure throughout history.
This verse underscores the importance of God's name as a symbol of His divine presence, power, and faithfulness to His promises. It serves as a foundational statement for the Israelites' faith and their understanding of God as the same deity worshipped by their ancestors, providing a sense of continuity and hope for deliverance. The declaration of God's name also sets the stage for the central role Moses will play in leading the Israelites to freedom and establishing them as a nation under God's guidance.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H5750
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹד
Transliteration: ʻôwd
Pronunciation: ode
Description: or עֹד; from עוּד; properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more; again, [idiom] all life long, at all, besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer, (any) more(-over), [idiom] once, since, (be) still, when, (good, the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet (within). - Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H85
There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham. - Strong's Number: H3327
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִצְחָק
Transliteration: Yitschâq
Pronunciation: yits-khawk'
Description: from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק. - Strong's Number: H3290
There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H8034
There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁם
Transliteration: shêm
Pronunciation: shame
Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. - Strong's Number: H5769
There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹלָם
Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
Pronunciation: o-lawm'
Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד. - Strong's Number: H2143
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֵכֶר
Transliteration: zêker
Pronunciation: zay'-ker
Description: or זֶכֶר; from זָכַר; a memento, abstractly recollection (rarely if ever); by implication, commemoration; memorial, memory, remembrance, scent. - Strong's Number: H1755
There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דּוֹר
Transliteration: dôwr
Pronunciation: dore
Description: or (shortened) דֹּר; from דּוּר; properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling; age, [idiom] evermore, generation, (n-) ever, posterity.