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NASB | Exodus 6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 6:3 "I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Israel) as God Almighty [El Shaddai], but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles]. [Gen 17:1] |
Bible Question: What does it mean here that "I appeared as God Almighty, by not by Lord"? Don't both refer to God? How can He appear as one but not the other? |
Bible Answer: Dear prayon, This is another excellent question! Ryrie's Study Bible explains it this way, "6:3 God Almighty (Heb., ), the strong or powerful God. See note on Gen. 17:1. The name Yahweh was known to the patriarchs (Gen. 13:4), but its significance as the One who would redeem Israel from Egyptian bondage was not known until this time." Nelson's NKJV Study Bible states, "6:3 The patriarchs had known God Almighty. It is not that they had never heard the name Yahweh, but they had not known God in an intimate way. The patriarchs knew a great deal about God and had experienced His goodness in many ways. But they had not had the revelation that was granted to Moses and the people of his day." The New Scofield Bible states, "Jehovah On the basis of this verse many critics have claimed that two of the sources of the books of Moses are a document using 'Elohim' for the name of God, and one employing Jehovah; and that this passage reveals that the writer was ignorant of the many sections of Genesis in which Jehovah (usually written LORD) is used. It is further assumed that the writer of Exo 6:3 believed that the name Jehovah was first made known in Moses’ time. The answer to these assumptions is as follows: (1) The statement, “By my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them” can also be translated as a rhetorical question, “By my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them?” (2) In the O.T. the verb “to know” generally means far more than to have an intellectual knowledge. There are many instances of this, such as Hos 6:3: “Let us acknowledge the LORD.” (3) The patriarchs were familiar with the name Jehovah, but their experience of God was largely that of Him as 'El-Shaddai' (cp. Gen 17:1, note), the One who provided for all their needs. Here in Exo 6:3 God tells Moses that He is now about to be revealed in that aspect of His character signified by Jehovah—i.e. His covenant-relation to Israel as the One who redeems her from sin and delivers her from Egypt (cp. vv. 6-8). (4) Actually there is no contrast in Exo 6:3 between Elohim and Jehovah, the names in this text being 'El-Shaddai' and Jehovah. And (5) the Genesis record over and over reveals knowledge of the name Jehovah; for an outstanding example, cp. Gen 49:18." So I am of the persuasion that the patriarchs did not fully understand the implications of the name of the One who would redeem His people until they actually went through and experience the Exodus from Egypt. Nolan |
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prayon | ||
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Makarios | ||
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Ray | ||
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fran1947 | ||
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ckongwa | ||
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marbible | ||
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True Truthseeker |