The name of God is one of the most profound revelations in all of Scripture. His name reveals His nature, His eternal existence, and His self-sufficiency. When God revealed His name to Moses, it was not merely a title but a declaration of His very essence. This study will explore the name Jehovah, its meaning and significance, its basis in the Masoretic Text, and how Jesus’ “I AM” statements in the New Testament confirm His divinity as the same eternal God.
God’s Name Revealed: “I Am Who I Am”
The first revelation of God’s name occurs in Exodus 3:14 (NKJV):
“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”‘”
The Hebrew phrase here is אהיה אשר אהיה (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh), which means “I Am Who I Am” or “I Will Be What I Will Be.” This name signifies God’s eternal, self-existing nature. He is the uncaused cause, the eternal being who depends on nothing outside of Himself for existence. He is absolute in power, presence, and perfection.
When God later refers to Himself as Jehovah or YHWH (יהוה) in the same passage (Exodus 3:15), He is revealing His personal covenant name. The word YHWH derives from the root הוה (havah), meaning “to be” or “exist.”
Why Jehovah and Not Yahweh?
The rendering Jehovah (יהוה) is based on the Masoretic Text, which preserved the sacred consonants YHWH while inserting the vowel points from Adonai (אֲדֹנָי). This practice was done out of reverence to avoid pronouncing the divine name directly.
The name Jehovah emerges from this textual tradition, aligning with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:18, where He states:
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
The Masoretic Text meticulously preserved the jots and tittles, the smallest markings in the Hebrew script, ensuring precise transmission of God’s name and His Word.
The term Yahweh arises from speculative reconstructions based on critical scholarship, often disconnected from the received Hebrew tradition. Since Jehovah is preserved in the Masoretic text with its vowel points, it aligns with the inspired preservation of Scripture more faithfully.
The Nature of God’s Name: Jehovah
The name Jehovah reveals several key truths about God’s character:
Eternality – God exists outside of time. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psalm 90:2)
Self-Existence – God is uncreated and dependent on nothing. “For as the Father has life in Himself…” (John 5:26)
Faithfulness – Jehovah is a covenant-keeping God. “I am the Lord, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6)
Supremacy – His name declares complete authority over all creation. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 1:8)
Jesus’ “I AM” Statements: Declaring His Divinity
Jesus, as the Son of God, directly identified Himself with the divine name revealed to Moses by declaring multiple “I AM” statements in the New Testament. Each one reveals aspects of His divine nature and His unity with Jehovah.
“I AM the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)
Implication: Jesus is the source of spiritual nourishment and sustenance.
Connection to Jehovah: Jehovah provided manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4), and Jesus declares Himself the true bread from heaven.
“I AM the Light of the World” (John 8:12)
Implication: Jesus is the source of all truth, wisdom, and spiritual illumination.
Connection to Jehovah: God is described as light in Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
“I AM the Door” (John 10:7)
Implication: Jesus is the only way to enter the Kingdom of God.
Connection to Jehovah: God provided the instructions for the tabernacle, with one entrance to His presence (Exodus 26:36).
“I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11)
Implication: Jesus leads, protects, and sacrifices for His sheep.
Connection to Jehovah: Psalm 23:1 states: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
“I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
Implication: Jesus holds power over life and death.
Connection to Jehovah: Jehovah alone is the giver of life (Deuteronomy 32:39).
“I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6)
Implication: Jesus is the exclusive path to the Father.
Connection to Jehovah: Jehovah declares He alone is the God of truth in Isaiah 65:16.
“I AM the True Vine” (John 15:1)
Implication: Jesus is the source of all spiritual growth and life for His people.
Connection to Jehovah: God described Israel as a vineyard He planted (Isaiah 5:7).
Jesus Declaring “I AM” as Jehovah Himself
In the most direct and profound claim to divinity, Jesus declared:
John 8:58 (NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
The Pharisees immediately understood this as a claim to equality with Jehovah, as they attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59). This was not a metaphor—Jesus was directly identifying Himself with the eternal God who spoke to Moses.
My Final Thoughts
The name Jehovah reveals God’s eternal, self-sufficient, and unchanging nature. It is a declaration of His authority and holiness, preserved through the Masoretic Text with meticulous care. Jesus’ “I AM” statements further reveal that He is not merely a prophet or teacher but fully God, the embodiment of Jehovah in human flesh.
Understanding the name of God calls us to reverence, worship, and a deeper trust in His unchanging character. He is the same God who declared “I AM” to Moses, and the same Jesus who said, “I AM” to His disciples, still reigning eternally today.
