I-Am-Who-I-AM
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Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or
on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations
of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917
version of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating
to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments
of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
“I Am Who I Am”
The Actual Meaning of אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s Name in Exodus.
Shemot - Exodus 3:14
When our people the Israelites were enslaved in ‘Mitzrayim - Egypt’, many cried out to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim for deliverance. Then אֱלֹהִים answered their cry, using the expression “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14) to introduce Himself as their “Deliverer”. In English, that sounds like a philosophical statement about אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s existence. In Hebrew, the passage uses the verb “ehyeh” (being a form of the word “hayah”), normally translated “I am” or “I will be”. That translation is, in most situations, is adequate. But for the meaning of אֱלֹהִים- Elohim’s Name in Exodus 3 and several other places in the Tanakh, “hayah” carries the added weight of representing אֱלֹהִים himself: “YaHVah”, “I am”. In such contexts, more careful attention to the nuance of this verb is important.
Indeed, we the Hebrews, having languished under the whips of our oppressors, did not need to simply know that אֱלֹהִים exists. They needed to know that He was present with them. And that is precisely what אֱלֹהִים announced to Moshe - Moses and memorialized in his Name YaHVaH, as defined by the verb “ehyeh”. What does the Name in Hebrew mean? “יְהוָה” = YaHVaH.
The Meaning of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name at the Burning Bush:
אֱלֹהִים explained the meaning of his Name, said correctly “YaHVaH” (often represented in English translations of the Tanakh as “the LORD”, and sometimes vocalized by its consonantal root “YHVH”, while commissioning Moses at the burning bush. He instructed the prophet,
14 “And אֱלֹהִים
said unto Moses: ‘I AM THAT I AM’; and He said: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel: I AM (ehyeh)
hath sent me unto you’.
15 And אֱלֹהִים
said moreover unto
Moses: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: יְהוָה
-the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים
of your fathers, the אֱלֹהִים
of Abraham, the אֱלֹהִים
of Isaac, and the אֱלֹהִים
of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My Name for ever, and this is My
Memorial unto all generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:14-15. (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim explained the meaning of YaHVaH by placing it in parallel with the
similar-sounding Hebrew term “I am” (ehyeh, from
the root hayah). YaHVaH is ’
אֱלֹהִים-
Elohim’s Name, so closely identified with His being
that many of the orthodox Hebrews refuse to pronounce it, instead
saying “HaShem” (“the Name”) or “Adonai” (“Lord”), to guard
this Name’s sanctity., although אֱלֹהִים never asked for that, as rabbis have a mind
of their own, and have gone against אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s loving commandments’ countless
times!
It has been debated whether the word YaHVaH actually derives from the verb “hayah”. Even if the word YaHVaH does not derive from ‘hayah’, it sounds similar. And biblical authors often employed sound-alike phrases to indicate Name meanings (Genesis 25:25, 30). In this case, the meaning of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name YaHVaH is explained with the sound-alike “ehyeh”, a Hebrew being verb usually translated, “I am” or “I will be.” But the usage of being verbs such as “hayah / ehyeh” in Hebrew differs slightly but significantly from the way being verbs are used in most Western languages.
Misreading ‘I Am’:
Confusion arises about the meaning of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name translated “I am” and the related “YaHVaH” when we read those terms through Western lenses. In English, for example, being verbs such as “am,” “is,” and “are” express either equivalence or existence.
In the statement “I am a student”, the verb “am” indicates the equivalence of the subject “I” and the predicate “student” (I = student). We call this use a “linking verb”. But when a being verb is used without a predicate, as in the statements “he is” or “she will be”, the verb merely indicates the subject’s existence. In many languages like English, the phrase “I am” indicates the speaker’s existence. Read this way, יְהוָה - the LORD’s statement “I am” is a declaration, “I exist”.
Based on such readings, יְהוָה - YaHVaH has commonly been interpreted as a statement of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s self-existence or “aseity”, terms theologians use to indicate that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim had no beginning and does not depend for continued existence on anything other than his own self. We know without a doubt that, “אֱלֹהִים is independent, all-sufficient in Himself, and the only source of all existence and life. YaHVaH is the Name that describes this essence and identity most clearly.
Present with His People:
In the Tanakh’s Hebrew, the being verb ‘hayah’ conveys not just existence but manifest existence. It indicates the ‘appearance’, ‘presence’, or standing of a thing. To state, “There was (yehiy, a form of hayah) light” (Genesis 1:3) is to announce the manifestation, not just the existence, of light. To say, “יְהוָה - the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was (yehiy) a mighty tempest” (Jonah 1:4) is to announce the appearance of a storm as a result of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s wind.
In the Name יְהוָה - YaHVaH, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim made Himself known as a present being, present with and for His people. And wherever אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence is invoked, that announcement is pregnant with the certainty of his attention, his care, his power, and his grace. Perhaps a helpful paraphrase of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s words at the burning bush would be, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘I Am Present has sent me to you.’” אֱלֹהִים - sent Moses to the people in Egypt with that marvellous announcement. And the subsequent exodus events would be an object lesson for all generations that אֱלֹהִים is YaHVaH, present with his people in all their sufferings.
אֱלֹהִים has many titles in the Torah/Tanakh, such as “Father,” “Almighty,” “King,” and “Saviour.” Each of his titles reveals another of his many roles or attributes. But “YaHVaH” is more than a title, it is His only Name. Its meaning is clearly important for our understanding of the אֱלֹהִים of the Tanakh. It shows us not simply that אֱלֹהִים exists, but also that he is near to His people in love.
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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