Exodus 3:14

KJV

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} said {H559} unto Moses {H4872}, I AM {H1961} THAT I AM {H1961}: and he said {H559}, Thus shalt thou say {H559} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, I AM hath sent {H7971} me unto you.

Complete Jewish Bible

God said to Moshe, "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh [I am/will be what I am/will be]," and added, "Here is what to say to the people of Isra'el: 'Ehyeh [I Am or I Will Be] has sent me to you.'"

Berean Standard Bible

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

American Standard Version

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In [Exodus 3:14](/exodus/3-14 "God Reveals His Name"), God reveals His profound and mysterious name, "I AM THAT I AM" (Hebrew: *Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh*), to Moses at the burning bush. This self-revelation signifies God's absolute self-existence, eternal nature, unchanging character, and active, reliable presence, providing Moses with the divine authority and assurance needed to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

### CONTEXT
This pivotal moment occurs when God commissions Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Moses, standing before the burning bush, expresses his apprehension and asks God for His name, a crucial request in ancient cultures where names were believed to encapsulate the essence, power, and authority of a person or deity. Knowing God's specific name would provide Moses with the necessary credibility and assurance when confronting Pharaoh and speaking to a people who had long endured oppression, reminding them of the covenant God of their ancestors. This divine encounter sets the stage for the exodus narrative, establishing God's identity as the sovereign and ever-present deliverer.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The KJV text of [Exodus 3:14](/exodus/3-14 "God Reveals His Name") records God's direct response to Moses' inquiry about His name: "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." This profound declaration, *Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh* (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה) in Hebrew, comes from the verb *hayah*, meaning "to be" or "to become." The form *Ehyeh* is the first-person singular imperfect, indicating an ongoing or continuous state of being. This statement is intimately connected to the personal name of God, YHWH (the Tetragrammaton), which is often understood as the third-person form ("He Is" or "He Causes to Be"). By revealing "Ehyeh," God emphasizes His immediate, self-existent being, which is the foundation of His name YHWH.

The multifaceted meaning of "I AM THAT I AM" conveys several critical aspects of God's nature:

* **God's Self-Existence (Aseity):** The phrase fundamentally declares that God's existence is inherent, uncaused, and dependent on nothing outside of Himself. He simply *is*, the ultimate reality and source of all being, existing eternally without beginning or end.
* **God's Sovereignty and Unchanging Character (Immutability):** "I AM THAT I AM" implies God's absolute freedom, control, and consistency. He is who He is, and He will always be who He is. He is not subject to change, external forces, or human limitations, ensuring His promises and character remain steadfast.
* **God's Active and Relational Presence:** The phrase can also be understood dynamically as "I Will Be Who I Will Be" or "I Will Be There As I Will Be There." This aspect assures Moses and the Israelites that God will be actively present with them through their trials and triumphs, fulfilling His purposes and promises in their lives. It speaks to His reliability and faithfulness in every circumstance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Divine Aseity:** The declaration "I AM THAT I AM" is the foundational statement of God's self-existence, meaning He is not contingent on anything else for His being. He is the uncaused first cause, the ultimate reality.
* **God's Immutability:** The name conveys God's unchanging nature. His character, promises, and purposes are steadfast and reliable across all generations, providing a secure basis for faith and trust.
* **Covenant Faithfulness:** The dynamic aspect of "I Will Be Who I Will Be" assures God's active presence and faithfulness to His covenant people, demonstrating His commitment to deliver and sustain them according to His revealed nature.
* **Divine Authority and Power:** The name establishes God's absolute authority over all creation and history. Moses is sent by the One who simply *is*, empowering him with the divine mandate to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel.
* **Transcendence and Immanence:** "I AM THAT I AM" simultaneously speaks to God's transcendence (His otherness, His being beyond human comprehension) and His immanence (His active involvement and presence within creation and human history).

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Understanding the profound meaning of "I AM THAT I AM" provides an unshakable foundation for our faith. It reminds us that the God we worship is the ultimate reality, the source of all existence, and utterly reliable. We can confidently trust His promises because His character is unchanging, and His presence is assured for those who belong to Him. He is not merely a historical figure or a philosophical concept, but the ever-present, self-sufficient God who is actively involved in the lives of His people, providing comfort, guidance, and strength in every circumstance. This truth calls us to worship Him with reverence and to rely on His unfailing nature.

### FAQ
**What does "I AM THAT I AM" truly mean?**

Answer: "I AM THAT I AM" (Hebrew: *Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh*) signifies God's absolute self-existence, meaning He is the source of His own being and dependent on nothing else. It also conveys His eternal and unchanging nature, alongside His active and reliable presence, assuring that He will be with His people as He has promised.

**How does "I AM" relate to the name YHWH?**

Answer: The Hebrew *Ehyeh* ("I AM") is the first-person singular form of the verb "to be" (*hayah*). YHWH, the Tetragrammaton, is understood as the third-person form ("He Is" or "He Causes to Be"). God's revelation of "Ehyeh" to Moses is His personal, immediate self-disclosure, providing the foundational meaning for His covenant name, YHWH, which emphasizes His continuous, active being and presence.

**Why did Moses ask for God's name, and why was it so important?**

Answer: In ancient cultures, a name revealed the essence, character, and authority of a person or deity. Moses' request for God's name was crucial for several reasons: to gain authority and credibility when speaking to the Israelites and Pharaoh, to understand the nature of the God who was commissioning him, and to assure the enslaved Israelites that the God of their ancestors was still active and powerful enough to deliver them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound revelation of God's name "I AM THAT I AM" to Moses finds its ultimate fulfillment and clearest expression in Jesus Christ. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly uses emphatic "I AM" statements (e.g., "I AM the bread of life," "I AM the light of the world," "I AM the good shepherd"), culminating in His declaration in [John 8:58](/john/8-58 "Jesus Claims Divine Identity"): "Before Abraham was, I am." This statement directly echoes the divine name revealed to Moses, asserting Jesus' pre-existence, eternal nature, and divine identity as the very God who spoke from the burning bush. Jesus is not merely a prophet or a teacher, but the embodiment of the self-existent, unchanging, and ever-present God who came to dwell among humanity, fulfilling the promise of God's active presence and delivering His people from the bondage of sin.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

John 8:58

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Psalms 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.

Isaiah 44:6

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God.

Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:17

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: