Bible Strands
Exodus 3:13
Then 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?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses God at the burning bush immediately after God promises His presence and designates the mountain as a future worship site.
The words — The Hebrew אָנֹכִי ('a.no.Khi) translates literally as "I," and בָא֮ (va') conveys "am about to go," framing Moses' initial hesitation before his commission.
The thread — This inquiry about divine identity echoes Jacob's request for a name in Genesis 32:29 and anticipates God's direct response in Exodus 3:14, while Proverbs 30:4 and Isaiah 9:6 explore how God's nature is revealed to humanity.
Why it lands — The text records Moses' practical question about God's name before God's response, requiring the reader to confront the necessity of divine self-revelation for credible leadership.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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?
Cross-references
- Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Genesis 32:29 And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.
- Exodus 3:14 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.’”
- Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
- Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
- Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
- Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name.
- Judges 13:6 So the woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me. His appearance was like the angel of God, exceedingly awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.
- Judges 13:17 Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes to pass?”