Exodus 3:14
New International Version
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.’”

New Living Translation
God replied to Moses, “ I Am Who I Am . Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”

English Standard Version
God said to Moses, “ I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘ I AM 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.’”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

NASB 1995
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

NASB 1977
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Amplified Bible
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Christian Standard Bible
God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God replied 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.

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God answered Moses, "I Am Who I Am. This is what you must say to the people of Israel: 'I Am has sent me to you.'"

Good News Translation
God said, "I am who I am. You must tell them: 'The one who is called I AM has sent me to you.'

International Standard Version
God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," and then said, "Tell the Israelis: 'I AM sent me to you.'"

Majority 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.??

NET Bible
God said to Moses, "I am that I am." And he said, "You must say this to the Israelites, 'I am has sent me to you.'"

New Heart English Bible
And God said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM," and he said, "You shall tell the children of Israel this: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM: And he said, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me to you.

World English Bible
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And God says to Moses, “I AM THAT WHICH I AM.” He also says, “Thus you say to the sons of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And God saith unto Moses, 'I AM THAT WHICH I AM;' He saith also, 'Thus dost thou say to the sons of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And God will say to Moses, I shall be that I shall be: and he will say, So shalt thou say to the sons of Israel, I Shall Be sent me to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO AM.” He said: “Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘HE WHO IS has sent me to you.’ ”

New American Bible
God replied to Moses: I am who I am. Then he added: This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.

New Revised Standard Version
God said to Moses, “I am who I am .” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And God said to Moses, I am AHIAH ASHAR HIGH (that is, THE LIVING GOD); and he said, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: AHIAH has sent me to you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And God said to Moshe: Ahiah Ashra High“I AM what I AM”, and he said, thus say to the children of Israel: Ahiah – “I AM” has sent me unto you.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God spoke to Moses, saying, I am THE BEING; and he said, Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, THE BEING has sent me to you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses at the Burning Bush
13Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” 14God 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.’” 15God 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.…

Cross References
John 8:58
“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

Isaiah 43:10-11
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come. / I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Isaiah 44:6
Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.

John 18:5-6
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them. / When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Isaiah 48:12
Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Malachi 3:6
“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.

Isaiah 41:4
Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.”


Treasury of Scripture

And God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.

I AM hath.

Exodus 6:3
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Job 11:7
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Psalm 68:4
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

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Children Israel Israelites Moses
Exodus 3
1. Moses keeps Jethro's flock.
2. God appears to him in a burning bush.
9. He sends him to deliver Israel.
13. The name of God.
15. His message to Israel, and Pharaoh, whose opposition is foretold.
20. He is assured of Israel's deliverance.














God said to Moses
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Exodus. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "Elohim," a plural form that denotes majesty and power. It is significant that God speaks directly to Moses, indicating a personal relationship and divine commissioning. Historically, this encounter occurs at the burning bush on Mount Horeb, a sacred site that underscores the holiness of the moment. Moses, a shepherd at this time, is being called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, highlighting God's sovereign choice and preparation of His servants.

I AM WHO I AM
The Hebrew phrase "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" is profound and enigmatic. It can be translated as "I AM WHO I AM," "I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE," or "I AM THAT I AM." This self-revelation of God emphasizes His eternal, self-existent nature. Unlike the gods of Egypt, who were tied to specific domains or functions, the God of Israel is independent and unchanging. This declaration is foundational for understanding God's character: He is the ultimate reality, the source of all being, and not contingent upon anything else. Theologically, it speaks to God's immutability and faithfulness, assuring Moses and the Israelites of His unchanging presence and power.

This is what you are to say to the Israelites
God provides Moses with a specific message for the Israelites, indicating the importance of divine communication and authority. The Israelites, enslaved in Egypt, are in need of hope and assurance. By instructing Moses on what to say, God is establishing Moses as His prophet and spokesperson. This directive also underscores the importance of obedience to God's word, as Moses is to convey exactly what God has revealed to him.

'I AM has sent me to you.'
The name "I AM" (Hebrew "Ehyeh") is a powerful declaration of God's presence and involvement. By using this name, God is assuring the Israelites of His active role in their deliverance. The phrase "has sent me to you" emphasizes the divine commissioning of Moses. He is not acting on his own authority but as an emissary of the Almighty. This assurance is crucial for the Israelites, who are about to embark on a journey of liberation and covenant relationship with God. Theologically, this highlights the concept of divine mission and the importance of recognizing God's authority in the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

(14) I AM THAT I AM.--It is generally assumed that this is given to Moses as the full name of God. But perhaps it is rather a deep and mysterious statement of His nature. "I am that which I am." My nature, i.e., cannot be declared in words, cannot be conceived of by human thought. I exist in such sort that my whole inscrutable nature is implied in my existence. I exist, as nothing else does--necessarily, eternally, really. If I am to give myself a name expressive of my nature, so far as language can be, let me be called "I AM."

Tell them I AM hath sent me unto you.--I AM, assumed as a name, implies (1) an existence different from all other existence. "I am, and there is none beside me" (Isaiah 45:6); (2) an existence out of time, with which time has nothing to do (John 8:58); (3), an existence that is real, all other being shadowy; (4) an independent and unconditioned existence, from which all other is derived, and on which it is dependent.

Verse 14. - I AM THAT I AM. No better translation can be given of the Hebrew words. "I will be that I will be (Geddes) is more literal, but less idiomatic, since the Hebrew was the simplest possible form of the verb substantive. "I am because I am" (Boothroyd) is wrong, since the word asher is certainly the relative. The Septuagint, Αγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν, explains rather than translates, but is otherwise unobjectionable. The Vulgate, sum qui sum, has absolute exactness. The idea expressed by the name is, as already explained, that of real, perfect, unconditioned, independent existence. I AM hath sent me to you. "I am" is an abbreviated form of "I am that I am," and is intended to express the same idea.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

“I AM
אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה (’eh·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

WHO
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I AM.
אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה (’eh·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

This is what
כֹּ֤ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

you are to say
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the Israelites:
לִבְנֵ֣י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

‘I AM
אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה (’eh·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

has sent me
שְׁלָחַ֥נִי (šə·lā·ḥa·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

to you.’”
אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


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Exodus 3:13
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