Lexical Summary esomai: will be, shall be Original Word: ἔσομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance should be, shall come to pass, may haveFuture of eimi; will be -- shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), X may have, X fall, what would follow, X live long, X sojourn. see GREEK eimi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfut. of eimi, q.v. Topical Lexicon Overviewἔσομαι is the first-person singular future of εἰμί, “to be.” As a verbal form it carries a rich theological freight, expressing the certainty of God’s future presence, the reliability of His covenant promises, and the believer’s confident hope. Though the form is not catalogued as a distinct occurrence in the Greek New Testament, it is the regular Septuagint rendering of the Hebrew אֶהְיֶה (ʾehyeh, “I will be”), and its Old Testament usage profoundly shapes New Testament theology. Old Testament Foundations 1. Covenant Identity This recurring formula links ἔσομαι to the establishment of covenant relationship. The verb underscores God’s initiative and faithfulness; He pledges Himself before expecting response. 2. Divine Self-Revelation 3. Prophetic Hope Theological Emphasis 1. God’s Faithful Presence ἔσομαι articulates more than existence; it promises active presence. “I will be with you” (e.g., Exodus 3:12; Joshua 1:5) empowers leaders and comforts the oppressed. The future tense secures ongoing companionship rather than a fleeting visitation. 2. Divine Ownership and Protection To say “I will be your God” asserts ownership (His people belong to Him), protection (He fights for them), and provision. This thread runs from the patriarchal narratives through the prophets and culminates in the eternal kingdom. 3. Assurance Grounded in God’s Nature Because God cannot deny Himself, every “I will be” stands on His unchanging character. Thus ἔσομαι is a cornerstone of biblical assurance; believers rest not on circumstances but on an irrevocable promise. Historical Reception Early Jewish commentary noticed the forward-looking force of אֶהְיֶה and the Greek ἔσομαι, highlighting God’s readiness to act in history. Christian writers such as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus read Exodus 3:14 christologically, perceiving the same divine “I will be” fulfilled in the incarnation and ongoing presence of Christ among His church. Ministry Application 1. Pastoral Care When counseling believers who fear abandonment, pastors recall God’s repeated “I will be with you.” The verb encourages trust that God’s presence is guaranteed despite unseen outcomes. 2. Mission and Service Every commission, from Moses to the church’s Great Commission, stands under the banner of divine accompaniment. Workers can move forward confidently, knowing the Lord pledges, “I will be.” 3. Worship and Spiritual Formation ἔσομαι invites worshippers to celebrate God’s steadfastness. Meditation on passages like Leviticus 26:12 fosters gratitude and fuels holiness, for the God who “will be” with His people calls them to walk with Him. Eschatological Consummation Revelation 21:3 mirrors the ancient formula: “He will dwell with them… and God Himself will be with them as their God.” The future tense blossoms into eternal reality; what was pledged by ἔσομαι becomes visible glory. For believers, this secures hope: the One who promised “I will be” will finally and fully dwell among His redeemed forever. Forms and Transliterations εσονται ἔσονται εσται ἔσται esontai ésontai estai éstaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ἐσθίειν — 6 Occ.ἐσθίετε — 6 Occ. ἐσθιέτω — 3 Occ. ἐσθίων — 11 Occ. ἐσθίωσιν — 2 Occ. ἐσθίοντα — 2 Occ. ἐσθίοντες — 4 Occ. ἐσθίοντι — 1 Occ. ἐσθιόντων — 4 Occ. ἐσθίουσιν — 8 Occ. ἐσόπτρῳ — 1 Occ. ἐσόπτρου — 1 Occ. ἑσπέρα — 1 Occ. ἑσπέραν — 1 Occ. ἑσπέρας — 1 Occ. Ἑσρώμ — 3 Occ. ἔσχατα — 4 Occ. ἐσχάταις — 3 Occ. ἐσχάτας — 1 Occ. ἐσχάτη — 11 Occ. |
    |