Exodus 3:15 · Bible study
Exodus 3:15 Commentary: God's Name as Eternal Memorial
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
God reveals His covenant name 'Yahweh, God of your fathers' as a perpetual memorial. Study the meaning, context, and theological significance of Exodus 3:15.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God declares His name YHWH, tied to the patriarchs, as a permanent memorial for all generations.
- Key words: Shem (name), zeker (memorial), olam (forever), dor (generation).
- Main debate: Does 'this my name' refer to 'Yahweh' or to 'I AM'? Calvin argues for the former; others connect it to both.
- Theological theme: God's covenant faithfulness across generations, revealed in a name that assures deliverance.
- Best use: Grounding trust in God's unchanging character; a foundation for worship and hope in times of waiting.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
WEB World English Bible 2000
God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.
KJV King James Version 1769
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And God saith again unto Moses, `Thus dost thou say unto the sons of Israel, Jehovah, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name--to the age, and this My memorial, to generation--generation.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And God said moreover to Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath sent me to you; this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y dijo más Dios á Moisés: Así dirás á los hijos de Israel: Jehová, el Dios de vuestros padres, el Dios de Abraham, Dios de Isaac y Dios de Jacob, me ha enviado á vosotros. Este es mi nombre para siempre, este es mi memorial por todos los siglos.
E disse mais Deus a Moisés: Assim dirás aos filhos de Israel: o SENHOR, o Deus de vossos pais, o Deus de Abraão, Deus de Isaque e Deus de Jacó, me enviou a vós. Este é meu nome para sempre, este é meu memorial por todos os séculos.
Dieu dit encore à Moïse: Tu parleras ainsi aux enfants d’ Israël: L’ Éternel, le Dieu de vos pères, le Dieu d’ Abraham, le Dieu d’ Isaac et le Dieu de Jacob, m’ envoie vers vous. Voilà mon nom pour l’ éternité, voilà mon nom de génération en génération.
Und Gott sprach weiter zu Mose: Also sollst du den Kindern Israel sagen: Der HERR, eurer Väter Gott, der Gott Abrahams, der Gott Isaaks, der Gott Jakobs, hat mich zu euch gesandt. Das ist mein Name ewiglich, dabei soll man mein Gedenken für und für.
Toen zeide God verder tot Mozes: Aldus zult gij tot de kinderen Israels zeggen: De HEERE, de God uwer vaderen, de God van Abraham, de God van Izak, en de God van Jakob, heeft mij tot ulieden gezonden; dat is Mijn Naam eeuwiglijk, en dat is Mijn gedachtenis van geslacht tot geslacht.
Iddio disse ancora a Mosè: “Dirai così ai figliuoli d’Israele: L’Eterno, l’Iddio de’ vostri padri, l’Iddio d’Abrahamo, l’Iddio d’Isacco e l’Iddio di Giacobbe mi ha mandato da voi. Tale è il mio nome in perpetuo, tale la mia designazione per tutte le generazioni.
I mówił jeszcze Bóg do Mojżesza: Tak rzeczesz do synów Izraelskich: Pan, Bóg ojców waszych, Bóg Abrahamów, Bóg Izaaków, i Bóg Jakóbów posłał mię do was; toć imię moje na wieki, i to pamiętne moje od narodu do narodu;
И сказал еще Бог Моисею: так скажи сынам Израилевым: Господь, Бог отцов ваших, Бог Авраама, Бог Исаака и Бог Иакова послал меня к вам. Вот имя Мое на веки, и памятование о Мне из рода в род.
神 又 對 摩西 說：「你要對 以色列 人 這樣 說：『耶和華─你們祖宗的 神，就是亞伯拉罕的 神，以撒的 神，雅各的 神，打發我 到你們 這裡來。』耶和華是我的名，直到永遠；這 也是我的紀念，直到萬 代。
And God went on to say to Moses, Say to the children of Israel, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has sent me to you: this is my name for ever, and this is my sign to all generations.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 3:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse links the eternal self-existence of God ('I AM' of v.14) with His covenant faithfulness to the patriarchs. The name 'Yahweh, God of your fathers…' is declared to be God's permanent memorial. Clarke notes that the phrase 'this is my name forever' refers to 'Yehovah Elohim' and has been fulfilled in the continued recognition of this name across generations. Calvin argues that God calls Himself by the covenant relationship to assure Israel they are not following an unknown God but the God of their fathers, a safeguard against wavering. Barnes sees the name as a two-fold pledge: recall of ancient benefits and promise of a new manifestation. Keil and Delitzsch explain that 'name' expresses God's objective manifestation and 'memorial' the subjective recognition by generations. The verse thus grounds Israel's hope in God's unchanging character and faithful promises.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Name refers to patriarchal title: Calvin argues that the context (v.13-15) does not allow 'this my name' to refer to 'I AM' but to the God-of-your-fathers formula, which provides historical certainty.
- Name refers to 'Yahweh': Barnes and Keil & Delitzsch tie the name directly to 'Yahweh' as revealed in v.14-15, viewing the patriarchal formula as an elaboration of the same name. Clarke similarly identifies it as 'Yehovah Elohim.'
What is clear: God intends this revelation to be a permanent memorial of His covenant relationship with His people, assuring them of His faithfulness across all generations.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Referent of 'this my name' | God is revealing a name that expresses His nature and covenant commitment to Israel. | Calvin argues the referent is the patriarchal formula ('God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob'), not 'I AM', because the context demands continuity with the fathers. Others (Barnes, Keil) see it as referring to 'Yahweh' itself, grounded in the 'I AM' revelation. |
| Duration of 'forever' | The name will last throughout human history as a way of knowing and invoking God. | Clarke takes 'forever' (leolam) as literal eternity, while others read it as 'to the age', an indefinite but not necessarily timeless period. Both agree the phrase 'to all generations' implies an ongoing memorial as long as human history continues. |
| Significance of naming the patriarchs three times | The repetition reinforces continuity with the covenant made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob individually. | Some see it as a legal-style confirmation (three witnesses). Others emphasize the personal relationship with each patriarch, not just a generic 'fathers'. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the ancient Near East, every deity had a personal name. Knowing a god's name gave worshippers access and defined the god's character (Cambridge Bible). Israel had lived in Egypt for centuries. As Calvin notes, their long sojourn 'had much obscured that light of revelation which their fathers possessed.' The people might have known God existed, but the covenant promises could have felt distant or obsolete.
Moses asked for God's name (v.13), and God first answered 'I AM WHO I AM' (v.14). But here He adds a second identification: 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers.' This was not a new name but a reaffirmation of the relationship He had with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 17:7-8). By grounding His name in the patriarchs, God reminded Israel that His covenant was still active. The phrase 'this is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations' uses two key Hebrew terms: shem (name) and zeker (memorial). As Keil and Delitzsch put it, the name is God's objective self-disclosure; the memorial is how His people remember and worship Him. This dual declaration meant God would be known and invoked by this covenant name as long as human generations continued.
Clarke points out that even pagan nations borrowed the name Yehovah into their own gods (Jao, Jove), a remarkable testimony that God's name has indeed become a universal memorial. In a world where gods were many and their names tied to local myths, Israel's God gave Himself a name rooted in real history with real ancestors.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, with no major disagreements in the wording of the patriarchal names or the declaration of permanence.
Reception History
This verse's emphasis on God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became a central confession of Jewish identity. The formula recurs throughout the Old Testament (Ex 4:5; Dt 1:11) and appears in the New Testament when Jesus refers to the living God (Mk 12:26). Early Christian writers saw it as proof that the God of the patriarchs is the same God revealed in Christ. The phrase 'this is my name forever' has been used in liturgical settings to affirm God's unchanging faithfulness across generations. In hymnody and prayer, believers have repeated the patriarchal names as a way of grounding their hope in the history of God's salvation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- God's name is rooted in relationship. He is not a distant force but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a covenant bond that defined Israel's identity.
- God's name is everlasting. The words 'forever' and 'to all generations' declare that this relationship will not fade or be replaced. God's character and promises endure.
- God's name assures deliverance. By recalling His past faithfulness, God gives Israel certainty that He will act now. The same God who called the patriarchs is sending Moses.
Five-Point Outline
- The question behind the verse: Moses needs a name that carries authority for a people who have forgotten their God (v.13).
- The continuity: God links His self-revelation ('I AM') to the specific history of the patriarchs, showing He has not abandoned His plan.
- The commission: 'He has sent me to you', Moses becomes the bearer of this authoritative name.
- The declaration: 'This is my name forever', it is permanent, not a temporary title for one situation.
- The memorial: 'This is my memorial to all generations', God intends to be remembered and worshipped by this name.
Illustration Hooks
- A family ring passed down through five generations. Each wearer knows the story: the ring was given by the great-grandfather who survived a war. The ring itself is not valuable, but it carries the memory of a promise. Similarly, God's name carries the memory of His covenant.
- A child being adopted. The new parents say, 'You are now our child, this is your name.' The name creates a new identity and relationship. God gives Israel a name that declares: 'You are my people, and I am your God.'
- A historical marker at a battlefield. The plaque keeps the memory alive for future generations. God says His name itself is a memorial that will keep His mighty acts in remembrance.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why does God give two names ('I AM' and 'God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob') instead of one?
- What does it mean for God to have a 'memorial'? Doesn't He stay in our memory anyway?
- If God's name is 'Yahweh,' why do we say 'Lord' in our Bibles?
Leading a Discussion
In Exodus 3:15, God solidifies His revelation to Moses by linking His eternal name with the history of the patriarchs. This verse shows that God does not reveal abstract information; He gives a name that carries relationship and promise. As you discuss, think about what it means for God to have a 'memorial' and how this comforts people who feel forgotten.
Discussion Questions
- Observation: What does God tell Moses to say to the Israelites? List the specific phrases used to identify God.
- Observation: The verse says 'this is my name forever.' What might 'forever' mean in this context? Look at the phrase 'to all generations', what does that add?
- Interpretation: Why do you think God repeats the formula 'God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob' three times? What does that emphasize?
- Interpretation: Calvin argues that God is giving a 'two-fold pledge', ancient promises and a new deliverance. How does remembering the past help people trust for the future?
- Interpretation: The word 'memorial' (zeker) is used for God's name. In what ways do people 'remember' God today through this name?
- Application: When you face a difficult situation, how does remembering God's past faithfulness to you (or to your spiritual ancestors) shape your response?
- Application: How can we honor God's name as a 'memorial' in our worship and daily lives without treating it as a formula to manipulate Him?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 2:2 | On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. |
| Genesis 17:7 | I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. |
| Genesis 17:8 | I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.” |
| Exodus 3:6 | Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. |
| Exodus 4:5 | “This is so that they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” |
| Deuteronomy 1:11 | May Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! |
| Deuteronomy 1:35 | “Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land which I swore to give to your fathers, |
| Deuteronomy 4:1 | Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them, that you may live and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the name Yehovah Elohim has been known from creation, even among pagans who derived Jao and Jove from it. He distinguishes between the name as a memorial to all generations and its reference to God's eternal existence, which will be fully known when time ends.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that the name Jehovah is not just a title but a pledge with two sides: it recalls what God has already done for the patriarchs and promises a fresh revelation to come. This name is how God makes Himself known, and the memorial is how His people worship Him.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to anchor the Israelites in the certainty of their adoption. This title prevents them from wandering after ambiguous gods and revives faith weakened by long suffering in Egypt. The point is not the abstract "I AM" but the concrete covenant bond with the patriarchs.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that in ancient times, knowing a deity's personal name was essential for prayer and help, and the name often revealed the deity's nature. This cultural background clarifies why Moses needed to know God's name. The promise that the Israelites would receive valuables from the Egyptians is attributed to a specific source.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators stress that God gives Moses not just a temporary title but a permanent name: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is God's memorial forever, meaning every generation can call on Him by the same covenant name and know He remains the same faithful God.The Geneva annotators stress that God gives Moses not just a temporary title but a permanent name: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is God's memorial forever, meaning every generation can call on Him by the same covenant name and know He remains the same faithful God.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the name Jehovah, or I AM, is not a temporary title but God's perpetual covenant name. It binds Him forever to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God gives this name as a memorial, so His people in every generation will remember His promises and what He has done for them.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that Moses asked for God's name not because Israel had forgotten it, but because a name in this context reveals the bearer's nature and actions. God's answer, "I am that I am," declares Him as the absolute, self-determined God, utterly unlike Egypt's many deities, and gives His people unshakable confidence in His saving purposes.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that Moses, the man most qualified to lead Israel out of Egypt, protests his own inadequacy. For this commentator, such low self-opinion is a mark of true fitness for service: the more capable a person is, the less he thinks of himself.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes that God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to revive the Israelites' decaying faith in the covenant religion of their fathers. These three patriarchs were chosen as the covenant's trustees, distinct from other descendants, so that hearing their names would raise expectations for the promises to be fulfilled.