
Text -- Exodus 6:3 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB: Exo 6:3 - -- All enemies must fall, all difficulties must vanish before My omnipotent power, and the patriarchs had abundant proofs of this.
All enemies must fall, all difficulties must vanish before My omnipotent power, and the patriarchs had abundant proofs of this.

JFB: Exo 6:3 - -- Rather, interrogatively, by My name Jehovah was I not known to them? Am not I, the Almighty God, who pledged My honor for the fulfilment of the covena...
Rather, interrogatively, by My name Jehovah was I not known to them? Am not I, the Almighty God, who pledged My honor for the fulfilment of the covenant, also the self-existent God who lives to accomplish it? Rest assured, therefore, that I shall bring it to pass. This passage has occasioned much discussion; and it has been thought by many to intimate that as the name Jehovah was not known to the patriarchs, at least in the full bearing or practical experience of it, the honor of the disclosure was reserved to Moses, who was the first sent with a message in the name of Jehovah, and enabled to attest it by a series of public miracles.
Clarke: Exo 6:3 - -- By the name of God Almighty - אל שדי EL -Shaddal , God All-sufficient; God the dispenser or pourer-out of gifts. See Clarke on Gen 17:1 (note)
By the name of God Almighty -

Clarke: Exo 6:3 - -- But by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them - This passage has been a sort of crux criticorum , and has been variously explained. It is certain t...
But by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them - This passage has been a sort of crux criticorum , and has been variously explained. It is certain that the name Jehovah was in use long before the days of Abraham, see Gen 2:4, where the words
I believe the simple meaning is this, that though from the beginning the name Jehovah was known as one of the names of the Supreme Being, yet what it really implied they did not know.
A case of dispute between certain litigious neighbors being heard in court before a weekly sitting of the magistrates, a woman who came as an evidence in behalf of her bad neighbor, finding the magistrates inclining to give judgment against her mischievous companion, took her by the arm and said, "Come away! I told you you would get neither law nor justice in this place."A magistrate, who was as much an honor to his function as he was to human nature, immediately said, "Here, constable! take that woman and lodge her in Bridewell, that she may know there is some law and justice in this place."Thus the worthy magistrate proved he had the power implied in the name by executing the duties of his office. And God who was known as Jehovah, the being who makes and gives effect to promises, was known to the descendants of the twelve tribes to be That Jehovah, by giving effect and being to the promises which he had made to their fathers.
Defender -> Exo 6:3
Defender: Exo 6:3 - -- This statement is alleged to conflict with such passages as Gen 12:8 which indicate that the early patriarchs did indeed know God by His name, JEHOVAH...
This statement is alleged to conflict with such passages as Gen 12:8 which indicate that the early patriarchs did indeed know God by His name, JEHOVAH. The easiest resolution of the apparent contradiction is to regard the last clause as a rhetorical question (quite permissible in the Hebrew) - "by my name JEHOVAH was I not (also) known to them?""
TSK -> Exo 6:3
TSK: Exo 6:3 - -- God Almighty : El shadday , God Almighty; for shadday is evidently of affinity with the Arabic shadid , strong, mighty, and shiddat , streng...
God Almighty :
but by my name : If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, did not know the name Jehovah, then Moses must have used it in Genesis by prolepsis, or anticipation. Mr. Locke and others read it interrogatively, for the negative particle,
Jehovah : Exo 3:14; Gen 12:7, Gen 12:8, Gen 13:18, Gen 22:14; Psa 68:4, JAH, Psa 83:18; Isa 42:8, Isa 44:6, Isa 52:5, Isa 52:6; Joh 8:58; Rev 1:4

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Exo 6:2-3
Barnes: Exo 6:2-3 - -- There appears to have been an interval of some months between the preceding events and this renewal of the promise to Moses. The oppression in the m...
There appears to have been an interval of some months between the preceding events and this renewal of the promise to Moses. The oppression in the meantime was not merely driving the people to desperation, but preparing them by severe labor, varied by hasty wanderings in search of stubble, for the exertions and privations of the wilderness. Hence, the formal and solemn character of the announcements in the whole chapter.
I am the Lord ... - The meaning seems to be this: "I am Jehovah (Yahweh), and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but as to my name Jehovah, I was not made known to them."In other words, the full import of that name was not disclosed to them. See Exo 3:14.
God Almighty - Rather, "El Shaddai,"(
Poole -> Exo 6:3
Poole: Exo 6:3 - -- Quest How is this true, when God was known to them, and called by the name Jehovah? Gen 15:7 26:24 , &c.
Answ . 1. He speaks not of the letters or...
Quest How is this true, when God was known to them, and called by the name Jehovah? Gen 15:7 26:24 , &c.
Answ . 1. He speaks not of the letters or syllables, but of the thing signified by that name. For that denotes all his perfections, and, amongst others, the eternity, constancy, and immutability of his nature and will, and the infallible certainty of his word and promises. And this, saith he, though it was believed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, yet it was not experimentally known to them; for they only saw the promises afar off, Heb 11:13 .
Answ . 2. This negative expression may be understood comparatively, as many others are, as Gen 32:29 Mat 9:13 1Co 1:17 : q.d. They knew this but darkly and imperfectly, which will now be made known more clearly and fully.
PBC -> Exo 6:3
PBC: Exo 6:3 - -- God Almighty—All enemies must fall, all difficulties must vanish before My omnipotent power, and the patriarchs had abundant proofs of this. JFB
God Almighty—All enemies must fall, all difficulties must vanish before My omnipotent power, and the patriarchs had abundant proofs of this. JFB
Haydock -> Exo 6:3
Haydock: Exo 6:3 - -- My name Adonai. The name which is in the Hebrew text, is that most proper name of God, which signifieth his eternal self-existent being, (Exodus i...
My name Adonai. The name which is in the Hebrew text, is that most proper name of God, which signifieth his eternal self-existent being, (Exodus iii. 14,) which the Jews, out of reverence, never pronounce; but instead of it, whenever it occurs in the Bible, they read Adonai, which signifies the Lord; and therefore they put the points or vowels, which belong to the name Adonai, to the four letters of that other ineffable name, Jod, He, Vau, He. Hence some moderns have framed the name Jehovah: unknown to all the ancients, whether Jews or Christians: for the true pronunciation of the name, which is in the Hebrew text, by long disuse, is now quite lost. (Challoner) ---
This name was first clearly revealed to Moses, that he might have confidence in his special protection and love. (Menochius) ---
To know one by his name is to treat him with familiarity and distinction, Exodus xxxiii. 17. The pronunciation of the name of God might be known to Abraham, &c., but it was not so fully explained, nor the power and excellence of it declared in such a stupendous manner, as it was to Moses. (Du Hamel) ---
Or perhaps Moses made use of this name in the history of the patriarchs, because he wrote his account of them after this revelation. (Calmet) ---
The Septuagint always put Kurios, "the Lord," instead of the ineffable name; and our Saviour and his apostles, citing text where it occurs, follow their example. (Matthew iv. 7, 10; Romans xv. 11.) (Worthington) ---
Philo informs us, that it was death to pronounce it out of the temple, and since that was destroyed, it has never been heard. (Calmet) ---
Galatinus, who wrote in 1518, is supposed to have invented the word Jehovah, (see Amama Antib. p. 319,) the year after the pretended reformation began. (Haydock) ---
St. Jerome (ep. 136 ad Marc.) explains the ten names of God, but never reads Jehovah. (Tirinus)
Gill -> Exo 6:3
Gill: Exo 6:3 - -- And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty,.... Able to fulfil all his purposes, promises, and covenant, wi...
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty,.... Able to fulfil all his purposes, promises, and covenant, with whom nothing is impossible; or Elshaddai, God all-sufficient, who has a sufficiency of happiness in himself, and everything to supply the wants of his creatures in things temporal and spiritual, see Gen 17:1,
but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them; which he had in the preceding verse called himself by. This is not to be understood absolutely; for it is certain that he had made himself known by this name, and this name was known unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Gen 15:6, and but comparatively, as some think; that is, he was not so much made known to them by the one name as the other; though it may be questioned whether the one was more used in speaking to them than the other; wherefore others think, as Saadiah Gaon, that the word only is to be supplied, as in Gen 32:28 and the sense to be, that by his name Jehovah he was not only made known to them, but by his name Elshaddai, and others also; and others reconcile the difficulty thus, that though the name Jehovah itself was known to the patriarchs, by which they were assured that God is eternal, immutable, and faithful to his promises; yet he was not known as to the efficacy of this name, or with respect to the actual performance of his promise, as he now would be by delivering the children of Israel out of Egypt, and bringing them into the land of Canaan; though perhaps, by reading the words with an interrogation, the clause will appear more plain, "and by my name Jehovah was I not known to them?" t verily I was. Josephus u says, this name was not before made known to men, and that it was not lawful for a man to speak it; and this is the common notion of the Jews, that it is ineffable, and not lawful to be pronounced, and therefore they put Adonai and Elohim in the room of it, and the vowel points of these words to it, which is a false and superstitious notion: this name was known among the Heathens; it is the same with

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Exo 6:3 There are a number of important issues that need clarification in the interpretation of this section. First, it is important to note that “I am ...
Geneva Bible -> Exo 6:3
Geneva Bible: Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty, but by my name ( a ) JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
( a ) B...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Exo 6:1-30
TSK Synopsis: Exo 6:1-30 - --1 God renews his promise by his name JEHOVAH.9 Moses vainly attempts to encourage the Israelites.10 He and Aaron are again sent to Pharaoh.14 The gene...
MHCC -> Exo 6:1-9
MHCC: Exo 6:1-9 - --We are most likely to prosper in attempts to glorify God, and to be useful to men, when we learn by experience that we can do nothing of ourselves; wh...
Matthew Henry -> Exo 6:1-9
Matthew Henry: Exo 6:1-9 - -- Here, I. God silences Moses's complaints with the assurance of success in this negotiation, repeating the promise made him in Exo 3:20, After that,...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Exo 6:1-6
Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 6:1-6 - --
Equipment of Moses and Aaron as Messengers of Jehovah. - Exo 6:1. In reply to the complaining inquiry of Moses, Jehovah promised him the deliveranc...
Constable: Exo 1:1--15:22 - --I. THE LIBERATION OF ISRAEL 1:1--15:21
"The story of the first half of Exodus, in broad summary, is Rescue. The ...

Constable: Exo 5:1--11:10 - --B. God's demonstrations of His sovereignty chs. 5-11
God permitted the conflict between Moses and Pharao...

Constable: Exo 6:2--7:8 - --2. Moses and Aaron's equipment as God's messengers 6:2-7:7
The writer gave the credentials of God and His representatives, Moses and Aaron, in these v...
Guzik -> Exo 6:1-30
Guzik: Exo 6:1-30 - --Exodus 6 - God's Assurance to Moses
A. God comforts Moses.
1. (1) God's promise to Moses: Pharaoh will let you go.
Then the LORD said to Moses, &q...

expand allCommentary -- Other
Bible Query: Exo 6:3 Q: In Ex 6:3 and other passages, what are some of the problems with the JEPD theory?
A: The JEPD theory was first thought up in the nineteenth centu...

Bible Query: Exo 6:3 Q: Prior to Ex 6:3, why do 197 passages use the name Yahweh, since Ex 6:3 says God did not reveal Himself by that name to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?...
