When asked: "What is His name?" what shall i say?

[Jayhawker Soule]

This comes from Ex. 3:13-15, where we are introduced to Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. It brings to mind Jacob and the ish. But here, if you'll forgive the pun, I'm wrestling with the question: Why (or what) is Moses asking?

Is it that he doesn't know which deity he's confronting, or is it simply that he doesn't know the name? Put differently, if Moses does not know who or what he is confronting, what does that say about his theology? If, on the other hand, Moses assumes that he is encountering the God of Israel, why does he not also assume that he would answer the anticipated question with a reference to YHVH?

 

[Jake1001]

This comes from Ex. 3:13-15, where we are introduced to Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. It brings to mind Jacob and the ish. But here, if you'll forgive the pun, I'm wrestling with the question: Why (or what) is Moses asking?

Is it that he doesn't know which deity he's confronting, or is it simply that he doesn't know the name? Put differently, if Moses does not know who or what he is confronting, what does that say about his theology? If, on the other hand, Moses assumes that he is encountering the God of Israel, why does he not also assume that he would answer the anticipated question with a reference to YHVH?

Good questions @ Jaybo. Obviously this is a metaphor for Yakov wrestling with Hashem. Any thoughts from the Rabbinics ? Btw, I could not respond earlier because of Shabbas, but it is now after sunset!

 

[rosends]

This comes from Ex. 3:13-15, where we are introduced to Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. It brings to mind Jacob and the ish. But here, if you'll forgive the pun, I'm wrestling with the question: Why (or what) is Moses asking?

Is it that he doesn't know which deity he's confronting, or is it simply that he doesn't know the name? Put differently, if Moses does not know who or what he is confronting, what does that say about his theology? If, on the other hand, Moses assumes that he is encountering the God of Israel, why does he not also assume that he would answer the anticipated question with a reference to YHVH?

The Midrash Lekach Tov, Exodus 3:13 mentions the connection you see with Jacob.


The general commentator-based understanding is that he wasn't asking the name, or even some clarifying fact, but for the kind of title that would prove to the Children of Israel that he was that God's messenger (possibly because he knew of a tradition that God had given a hidden name that only a designated redeemer/messenger would know).

The Ohr Hachaim has one presentation of it, but I would suggest looking at the other commentators who sum it up slightly differently

Exodus 3:13

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Thank you, @rosends. That was really quite good,

 

[Jake1001]

The Midrash Lekach Tov, Exodus 3:13 mentions the connection you see with Jacob.


The general commentator-based understanding is that he wasn't asking the name, or even some clarifying fact, but for the kind of title that would prove to the Children of Israel that he was that God's messenger (possibly because he knew of a tradition that God had given a hidden name that only a designated redeemer/messenger would know).

The Ohr Hachaim has one presentation of it, but I would suggest looking at the other commentators who sum it up slightly differently

Exodus 3:13

Wondeful RR, please give us some links to these supposed “other commentators “. @Jaybo did not provide them.

 

[rosends]

Wondeful RR, please give us some links to these supposed “other commentators “. @Jaybo did not provide them.

If you go to Sefaria and start working down the right side (beginning with the Ibn Ezra) you will see all sorts of discussion.

Exodus 3:13

I'm not sure why you consider them "supposed" but there they are.

 

[LAGoff]

No one knew Who they were dealing with. There were just conversations and promises and personal deliverances, but not the massive, incredible manifestation of God's power that will be taking place soon.

 

[Jake1001]

No one knew Who they were dealing with. There were just conversations and promises and personal deliverances, but not the massive, incredible manifestation of God's power that will be taking place soon.

And that is ... ??

 

[LAGoff]

And that is ... ??

The Exodus.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

No one knew Who they were dealing with. There were just conversations and promises and personal deliverances, but not the massive, incredible manifestation of God's power that will be taking place soon.

Perhaps, but the interchange is about a name:

Moses said to God, “When I come 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 shall I say to them?”​

The response may be interesting, but it hardly alerts the Israelites to "the massive, incredible manifestation of God's power."

 

[LAGoff]

Perhaps, but the interchange is about a name:

Moses said to God, “When I come 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 shall I say to them?”​

The response may be interesting, but it hardly alerts the Israelites to "the massive, incredible manifestation of God's power."

God's response, 'I will be' and 'I will be what I will be' seem to be commentaries on His name, 'YKVK'-- which seems to be in one name a conjugation of the verb 'to be' in past, present, and future.

His name is signalling the most powerful thing that can be signaled.
In one word, it sums up the existential encounter with the living God.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

God's response, 'I will be' and 'I will be what I will be' seem to be commentaries on His name, 'YKVK'-- which seems to be in one name a conjugation of the verb 'to be' in past, present, and future.

The Tetragrammaton is Yod - He - Vav - He, typically transliterated as YHVH.

His name is signalling the most powerful thing that can be signaled.
In one word, it sums up the existential encounter with the living God.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[RabbiO]

The Tetragrammaton is Yod - He - Vav - He, typically transliterated as YHVH.

I have seen YKVK used on Orthodox websites, similar to using Elokim and Elokeinu.

 

[Jake1001]

The Exodus.

The Exodus will be taking place soon ?

 

[LAGoff]

The Exodus will be taking place soon ? [/QUOT

The Exodus will be taking place soon ?

I can't help going along for the ride from the 'inside' as a participator or witness of Exodus chapter 3. It was an 'axial' moment where the depths of the oppression met the first movement towards freedom.
Were you thinking that I meant the imminent arrival of Messianic Days?
I suppose that could be called a DOUBLE "massive, incredible manifestation of God's power". Whether it's gonna take place soon, you'd have to ask Chabad.

 

[Jake1001]

This comes from Ex. 3:13-15, where we are introduced to Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. It brings to mind Jacob and the ish. But here, if you'll forgive the pun, I'm wrestling with the question: Why (or what) is Moses asking?

Is it that he doesn't know which deity he's confronting, or is it simply that he doesn't know the name? Put differently, if Moses does not know who or what he is confronting, what does that say about his theology? If, on the other hand, Moses assumes that he is encountering the God of Israel, why does he not also assume that he would answer the anticipated question with a reference to YHVH?

This question is too confusing and could be stated more succinctly. (I believe) the answer is “Call me anything, as long as its not late for dinner” !!

 

[Jake1001]

Perhaps, but the interchange is about a name:

Moses said to God, “When I come 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 shall I say to them?”​

The response may be interesting, but it hardly alerts the Israelites to "the massive, incredible manifestation of God's power."

G-d was invented by man, not vice versa.