Genesis 48:16

48:16 the Angel ¹  who has protected me ² 

from all harm –

bless these boys.

May my name be named in them, ³ 

and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.

May they grow into a multitude on the earth.”

Numbers 6:27

6:27 So they will put my name ⁴  on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Isaiah 43:7

43:7 everyone who belongs to me, ⁵ 

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed – yes, whom I made!

Isaiah 65:1

The Lord Will Distinguish Between Sinners and the Godly

65:1 “I made myself available to those who did not ask for me; ⁶ 

I appeared to those who did not look for me. ⁷ 

I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

to a nation that did not invoke ⁸  my name.

[48:16]  ¹ sn The Samaritan Pentateuch reads “king” here, but the traditional reading (“angel”) may be maintained. Jacob closely associates God with an angelic protective presence. This does not mean that Jacob viewed his God as a mere angel, but it does suggest that he was aware of an angelic presence sent by God to protect him. Here he so closely associates the two that they become virtually indistinguishable. In this culture messengers typically carried the authority of the one who sent them and could even be addressed as such. Perhaps Jacob thought that the divine blessing would be mediated through this angelic messenger.

[48:16]  ² tn The verb גָּאַל (ga’al) has the basic idea of “protect” as a near relative might do. It is used for buying someone out of bondage, marrying a deceased brother’s widow, paying off debts, avenging the family, and the like. The meanings of “deliver, protect, avenge” are most fitting when God is the subject (see A. R. Johnson, “The Primary Meaning of √גאל,” Congress Volume: Copenhagen, 1953 [VTSup], 67-77).

[48:16]  ³ tn Or “be recalled through them.”

[6:27]  ⁴ tn The idea of their putting the name of Yahweh on the people is somewhat problematic. The pronouncing of the name of Yahweh in this context over the people was taken to be the effectual means of blessings. “Putting the name on them” is an expression that emphasizes the truth that he is their God and they are his people or that having his name is having his blessing.

[43:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “everyone who is called by my name” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[65:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “I allowed myself to be sought by those who did not ask.”

[65:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “I allowed myself to be found by those who did not seek.”

[65:1]  ⁸ tn Heb “call out in”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “call on.”