Exodus 6:2–3
God says he appeared to the patriarchs as El Shaddai, and now makes himself known as YHWH
Study it word by word2Elohim spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am YHWH.
3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El Shaddai, but by my name, YHWH, I did not make myself known to them.
In its context
1YHWH said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
…
4I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their residence as aliens, in which they resided as aliens.
5And I have also heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.
Its words in the original
- יְדַבֵּרyedaber· speak
Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- מֹשֶׁהmoshe· Moses
Moses, the man God called to bring Israel out of Egypt and through whom he gave the Law. His name sounds like "draw out" (Exodus 2:10).
- יֹּאמֶרyomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אֵרָאera· see
See. Also look, observe, notice, consider; in some forms, "appear" or "show".
- אַבְרָהָםavraham· Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
- יִצְחָקyitschak· Isaac
Isaac, the son promised to Abraham and Sarah, father of Esau and Jacob. His name means "he laughs" (Genesis 17:17, 19; 21:6).
- יַעֲקֹבyaakov· Jacob
Jacob, the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother of Esau and father of the twelve tribes. In Hebrew "Yaakov" sounds like "heel" and "supplant" (Genesis 25:26; 27:36). God later gave him the name Israel; the name also stands for his descendants, the people of Israel.
- אֵלel· El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
- שַׁדָּיshaday· Shaddai, Almighty
"Shaddai": an ancient name of God, above all in Genesis and Job. It is usually translated "Almighty"; the exact origin of the word is not certain.
- שְׁמִshemi· name
Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.
- נוֹדַעְתִּיnodati· know
Know. Not only having a fact: it is knowing by experience and closely; also recognize, care for, make known. So Hebrew also uses it for the intimate union of a man and his wife ("he knew his wife").