Exodus 3:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God reveals His own name as the One who simply is, the living source of all that exists.
The Context of Exodus 3:14
At the burning bush on Mount Horeb, Moses has asked what he should say when the people demand the name of the God who sent him. This is God's answer, given just before He commissions Moses to confront Pharaoh and bring Israel out of Egypt.
What Does Exodus 3:14 Mean?
Moses wants a name to carry back, something to tell the slaves in Egypt when they ask who has remembered them. God answers with words that open like a door onto eternity: I AM THAT I AM. He does not borrow His being from anything else. He simply is, without beginning, depending on no one, the ground under everything that breathes. And from that unfathomable depth He bends down to a frightened shepherd and says, tell them I AM has sent you. The God who needs nothing chooses to be the God who comes.
Centuries later Jesus would take this very name onto His own lips, saying before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58), and those who heard understood the claim and reached for stones. The eternal I AM had come near in person, close enough to touch, to weep, and to die for us. The name that means everlasting life belongs to the One who gave His life so that we might share it.
Exodus 3:14 in the Original Language
ehyeh (אֶהְיֶה), 'I AM' -- from the verb to be, expressing God's self-existent, ever-present life; the source of the divine name LORD.
How to Apply Exodus 3:14 Today
When everything around us feels uncertain and passing, here is One who simply is, unchanging and always present. We can lean the whole weight of our lives on Him, the same yesterday, today, and forever. And in Jesus this eternal God has drawn near enough to know us by name.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 3:14
What does Exodus 3:14 mean?
God reveals His own name as the One who simply is, the living source of all that exists.
What is the context of Exodus 3:14?
At the burning bush on Mount Horeb, Moses has asked what he should say when the people demand the name of the God who sent him. This is God's answer, given just before He commissions Moses to confront Pharaoh and bring Israel out of Egypt.
How can I apply Exodus 3:14 today?
When everything around us feels uncertain and passing, here is One who simply is, unchanging and always present. We can lean the whole weight of our lives on Him, the same yesterday, today, and forever. And in Jesus this eternal God has drawn near enough to know us by name.