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.

EXODUS 3:14KJV
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Exodus 3:14 (KJV)

What does Exodus 3:14 mean?

God answers Moses’ question about his name with “I AM THAT I AM,” then tells Moses to identify his sender as “I AM.” The Hebrew can also be understood as “I will be what I will be,” connecting God’s self-identification with his promise to be with Moses.

The key is אֶהְיֶה (ehyeh), translated “I AM.” The same Hebrew form appears in Exodus 3:12, where God tells Moses, “Certainly I will be with thee.” Moses is being sent to bring Israel out of Egypt, and he has asked what to say when the Israelites ask God’s name. God’s answer echoes the promise of his presence already given to Moses.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 3:14

  • “AM” — אֶהְיֶה (ehyeh): This is a first-person form of הָיָה (hayah), “to be” or “to become.” It can express “I am” or “I will be,” depending on context. The form occurs twice in “I AM THAT I AM” and once more in “I AM hath sent me.” God turns the first-person expression into the designation Moses is to report.

  • “God” — אֱלֹהִים (elohim): This word can refer to God or gods, depending on its use. Here the verb “said” is singular, identifying one speaker: the God who has already identified himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

  • “children” — בְּנֵי (bene): This means “sons of” and, in a family or national setting, “descendants of.” “The children of Israel” means the Israelite people, not merely young children.

  • “sent” — שְׁלָחַנִי (shelachani): This means “has sent me.” The ending includes “me,” referring to Moses. In the message Moses must deliver, “I AM” is the sender and Moses is his appointed messenger.

Why Exodus 3:14 matters

  • The KJV’s present tense does not show the full Hebrew range. “I AM” is a possible rendering, but “I will be” is also possible. The nearby promise “I will be with thee” makes that future sense especially relevant.

  • God’s answer supplies Moses with words to carry to Israel. The repeated instructions—“Thus shalt thou say” and “I AM hath sent me”—place the self-identification within Moses’ mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Where else these words appear

“AM” Hebrew H1961 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
  • Exodus 18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
  • 2 Samuel 9:9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.