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Friday, July 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Exodus 3:13

Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' What do I tell them?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Israel;   Moses;   Religion;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fathers';   The Topic Concordance - Name;   Sending and Those Sent;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Sinai;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Exodus, book of;   Jesus christ;   Moses;   Name;   Priest;   Yahweh;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - God;   God, Name of;   God, Names of;   Jeremiah, Theology of;   Proverbs, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Frugality;   Name of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Exodus, the Book of;   God;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Call, Calling;   God of the Fathers;   Godhead;   I Am;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Moses;   Prayer;   Sinai;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Living (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Angels;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Rod;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Law;   Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Exodus, the;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Exodus, the Book of;   Faithful;   God;   God, Names of;   Law in the Old Testament;   Moses;   Name;   Unchangeable;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Moses;   Sinai, Mount;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Moshe said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Yisra'el, and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you;' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?"
King James Version
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Lexham English Bible
But Moses said to God, "Look, if I go to the Israelites and I say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they say to me, ‘What is his name?' then what shall I say to them?"
New Century Version
Moses said to God, "When I go to the Israelites, I will say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you.' What if the people say, ‘What is his name?' What should I tell them?"
New English Translation
Moses said to God, "If I go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, ‘What is his name?'—what should I say to them?"
Amplified Bible
Then Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?"
New American Standard Bible
Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Moses said vnto God, Behold, when I shall come vnto the children of Israel, and shall say vnto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me vnto you: if they say vnto me, What is his Name? what shall I say vnto them?
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am about to come to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' And they will say to me, ‘What is His name?' What shall I say to them?"
Contemporary English Version
Moses answered, "I will tell the people of Israel that the God their ancestors worshiped has sent me to them. But what should I say, if they ask me your name?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Moshe said to God, "Look, when I appear before the people of Isra'el and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you'; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' what am I to tell them?"
Darby Translation
And Moses said to God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Moses said to God, "But if I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me,' then the people will ask, ‘What is his name?' What should I tell them?"
English Standard Version
Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"
George Lamsa Translation
And Moses said to God, Behold, when I go to the children of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say to them?
Good News Translation
But Moses replied, "When I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you,' they will ask me, ‘What is his name?' So what can I tell them?"
Christian Standard Bible®
Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”
Literal Translation
And Moses said to God, Behold, I shall come to the sons of Israel and say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you; and they will say to me, What is His name? What shall I say to them?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Moses sayde vnto God: Beholde, whan I come to the childre of Israel, and saye vnto them: The God of youre fathers hath sent me vnto you, & they saye vnto me: What is his name? what shal I saye vnto them?
American Standard Version
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them?
Bible in Basic English
And Moses said to God, When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you: and they say to me, What is his name? what am I to say to them?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Moyses sayde vnto God: behold [when] I come vnto the chyldren of Israel, and shall say vnto them: the God of your fathers hath sent me vnto you. And if they saye vnto me, what is thy name? what answere shall I geue the?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Moses said unto God: 'Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them: The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me: What is His name? what shall I say unto them?'
King James Version (1611)
And Moses saide vnto God, Behold, when I come vnto the children of Israel, and shall say vnto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me vnto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say vnto them?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses said to God, Behold, I shall go forth to the children of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of our fathers has sent me to you; and they will ask me, What is his name? What shall I say to them?
English Revised Version
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
Berean Standard Bible
Then Moses asked God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is His name?' What should I tell them?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Moises seide to God, Lo! Y schal go to the sones of Israel, and Y schal seie to hem, God of youre fadris sente me to you; if thei schulen seie to me, what is his name, what schal Y seie to hem?
Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith unto God, `Lo, I am coming unto the sons of Israel, and have said to them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they have said to me, What [is] His name? what do I say unto them?'
Update Bible Version
And Moses said to God, Look, when I come to the sons of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say to them?
Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to God, Behold, [when] I come to the children of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of your fathers hath sent me to you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? What shall I say to them?
World English Bible
Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you;' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?"
New King James Version
Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, "What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"
New Living Translation
But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, ‘What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"
New Life Bible
Then Moses said to God, "See, I am going to the people of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they might say to me, ‘What is His name?' What should I say to them?"
New Revised Standard
But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Moses said unto God - Lo! as surely as, I, go in unto the sons of Israel, and say unto them, The God of your fathers, hath sent me unto you, So surely will they say unto me - What is his name? What shall I say unto them?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Moses said to God: Lo, I shall go to the children of Israel, and say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they shall say to me: What is his name? What shall I say to them?
Revised Standard Version
Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?"

Contextual Overview

11 Moses answered God, "But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 "I'll be with you," God said. "And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain." 13 Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' What do I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.'" 15 God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites: ‘ God , the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What is his name: Exodus 3:14, Exodus 15:3, Genesis 32:29, Judges 13:6, Judges 13:17, Proverbs 30:4, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Jeremiah 23:6, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 1:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:12 - children Exodus 33:19 - proclaim Exodus 34:6 - The Lord Numbers 6:27 - put my Deuteronomy 32:3 - Because 1 Kings 8:42 - great name Psalms 20:1 - God Psalms 48:10 - According Proverbs 18:10 - name Isaiah 42:8 - that is John 17:6 - have manifested Acts 22:14 - The God

Cross-References

Genesis 3:4
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
Genesis 3:6
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Genesis 3:9
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."
Genesis 3:12
The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?"
Genesis 44:15
Joseph accused them: "How can you have done this? You have to know that a man in my position would have discovered this."
1 Samuel 13:11
Samuel said, "What on earth are you doing?" Saul answered, "When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn't come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, I said, ‘The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven't yet come before God asking for his help.' So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering."
2 Samuel 3:24
Joab went straight to the king: "What's this you've done? Abner shows up, and you let him walk away scot-free? You know Abner son of Ner better than that. This was no friendly visit. He was here to spy on you, figure out your comings and goings, find out what you're up to."
John 18:35
Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Moses said unto God,.... Having received full satisfaction to his objection, taken from his own unfitness for such a service, and willing to have his way quite clear unto him, and his commission appear firm and valid to his people, he proceeds to observe another difficulty that might possibly arise:

when I come unto the children of Israel: out of Midian into Egypt;

and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; with a message to them to receive him as his ambassador and their deliverer:

and they shall say unto me, what is his name? a question it was probable they would ask, not through ignorance, since in their distress they had called upon the name of the Lord, and cried unto him for help and deliverance; but either to try Moses, and what knowledge he had of God: or there being many names by which he had made himself known; and especially was wont to make use of a new name or title when he made a new appearance, or any eminent discovery of himself, they might be desirous of knowing what was the present name he took:

what shall I say unto them? what name shall I make mention of?

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What is his name - The meaning of this question is evidently: “By which name shall I tell them that the promise is confirmed?” Each name of the Deity represented some aspect or manifestation of His attributes (compare the introduction to Genesis). What Moses needed was not a new name, but direction to use that name which would bear in itself a pledge of accomplishment. Moses was familiar with the Egyptian habit of choosing from the names of the gods that which bore specially upon the wants and circumstances of their worshippers, and this may have suggested the question which would be the first his own people would expect him to answer.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 3:13. They shall say - What is his name? — Does not this suppose that the Israelites had an idolatrous notion even of the Supreme Being? They had probably drank deep into the Egyptian superstitions, and had gods many and lords many; and Moses conjectured that, hearing of a supernatural deliverance, they would inquire who that God was by whom it was to be effected. The reasons given here by the rabbins are too refined for the Israelites at this time. "When God," say they, "judgeth his creatures, he is called אלהים Elohim; when he warreth against the wicked, he is called צבאות Tsebaoth; but when he showeth mercy unto the world, he is called יהוה Yehovah." It is not likely that the Israelites had much knowledge of God or of his ways at the time to which the sacred text refers; it is certain they had no written word. The book of Genesis, if even written, (for some suppose it had been composed by Moses during his residence in Midian,) had not yet been communicated to the people; and being so long without any revelation, and perhaps without even the form of Divine worship, their minds being degraded by the state of bondage in which they had been so long held, and seeing and hearing little in religion but the superstitions of those among whom they sojourned, they could have no distinct notion of the Divine Being. Moses himself might have been in doubt at first on this subject, and he seems to have been greatly on his guard against illusion; hence he asks a variety of questions, and endeavours, by all prudent means, to assure himself of the truth and certainty of the present appearance and commission. He well knew the power of the Egyptian magicians, and he could not tell from these first views whether there might not have been some delusion in this case. God therefore gives him the fullest proof, not only for the satisfaction of the people to whom he was to be sent, but for his own full conviction, that it was the supreme God who now spoke to him.


 
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