Exodus 3:14

The revelation of God’s name to Moses at the burning bush—one of the most theologically significant verses in scripture.

The Divine Name

The Hebrew “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה) is variously translated:

• “I AM WHO I AM”
• “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE”
• “I AM THAT I AM”

This is related to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the four-letter name of God considered too sacred to pronounce.

In Jewish Tradition

The name reveals God as the self-existent, eternal being. It became so sacred that Jews avoid pronouncing it, substituting “Adonai” (Lord) or “HaShem” (The Name).

In Christian Tradition

Jesus’ “I AM” statements in John’s Gospel (e.g., “I am the way, the truth, and the life”) deliberately echo this divine self-revelation, asserting his divine identity.

In Islamic Tradition

While Islam affirms Moses’ encounter with God, the emphasis is on Allah’s 99 beautiful names rather than the Tetragrammaton.