(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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