King James Version

What Does Exodus 3:15 Mean?

Exodus 3:15 in the King James Version says “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God... — study this verse from Exodus chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Exodus 3:15 · KJV


Context

13

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14

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.

15

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.

16

Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17

And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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 (וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה כֹּה־תֹאמַר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם... זֶה־שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר)—God expands the name revelation: The LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH)—the tetragrammaton, God's covenant name. It connects I AM (אֶהְיֶה, ehyeh) to the third person form: "He who is/will be." God of your fathers... Abraham, Isaac, Jacob roots this revelation in covenant history—not a new god but the patriarchs' God now revealing His personal name. This is my name for ever (זֶה־שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם)—eternal, unchanging identifier. My memorial unto all generations (זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר)—how God wants to be remembered and invoked. YHWH becomes Israel's most sacred name, so holy later Jews avoided pronouncing it, saying Adonai (Lord) instead.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The name YHWH (LORD) appears over 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible, far more than any other divine name. Its etymology from 'to be' emphasizes God's self-existence and faithfulness ('He who is' and 'He who will be'—always present, unchanging). The Exodus event and name revelation became the defining moment in Israel's history, referenced throughout Scripture as the paradigmatic act of divine redemption.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's eternal name YHWH assure you of His unchanging character and faithfulness across all generations?
  2. What does the connection between 'I AM' (v. 14) and 'YHWH' (v. 15) teach about God's self-revelation progressing from mystery to covenant relationship?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
תֹאמַר֮1 of 28

Thus shalt thou say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

ע֨וֹד2 of 28

moreover

H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י3 of 28

And God

H430

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

אֶל4 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֹשֶׁ֗ה5 of 28

unto Moses

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

כֹּֽה6 of 28
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

תֹאמַר֮7 of 28

Thus shalt thou say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל8 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בְּנֵ֣י9 of 28

unto the children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵל֒10 of 28

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

יְהוָ֞ה11 of 28

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י12 of 28

And God

H430

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

אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם13 of 28

of your fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י14 of 28

And God

H430

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

אַבְרָהָ֜ם15 of 28

of Abraham

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י16 of 28

And God

H430

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

יִצְחָ֛ק17 of 28

of Isaac

H3327

jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham

וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י18 of 28

And God

H430

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

יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב19 of 28

of Jacob

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

שְׁלָחַ֣נִי20 of 28

hath sent

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם21 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

זֶה22 of 28
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

שְּׁמִ֣י23 of 28

me unto you this is my name

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

לְעֹלָ֔ם24 of 28

for ever

H5769

properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

וְזֶ֥ה25 of 28
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

זִכְרִ֖י26 of 28

and this is my memorial

H2143

a memento, abstractly recollection (rarely if ever); by implication, commemoration

דֹּֽר׃27 of 28

generations

H1755

properly, a revolution of time, i.e., an age or generation; also a dwelling

דֹּֽר׃28 of 28

generations

H1755

properly, a revolution of time, i.e., an age or generation; also a dwelling


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 3:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 3:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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