originally posted by: Specimen88
a reply to: Astrocyte
... I know Yahweh does mean "I am", but it never goes into detail about it though (from what I know anyways).
The name is a form* of a Hebrew verb
ha·wahʹ (הוה), meaning “to become,” and actually signifies “He Causes to Become.” Thus,
God’s name identifies him as the One who progressively fulfills his promises and unfailingly realizes his purposes. (*: the causative form, the
imperfect state)
At Exodus 3:13-16 God himself explained the meaning of his name to his faithful servant Moses. When Moses asked about God’s name, God’s reply in
Hebrew was:
ʼEh·yehʹ ʼAsherʹ ʼEh·yehʹ. Some translations render this as “I AM THAT I AM.” However, it is to be noted that the
Hebrew verb
ha·yahʹ, from which the word
ʼEh·yehʹ is drawn, does not mean simply “be” (or “being” as Astrocyte puts it).
Rather, it means “become,” or “prove to be.” The reference here is not to God’s self-existence but to what he has in mind to become toward
others. Therefore, the
New World Translation properly renders the above Hebrew expression as “I SHALL PROVE TO BE WHAT I SHALL PROVE TO
BE.” Or: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” (as its primary rendering in the
Study Edition) Rotherham’s translation renders those
words: “I Will Become whatsoever I please.” So Jehovah can become whatever is needed in order to fulfill his purposes, and he can cause to happen
whatever is required with regard to his creation and the accomplishment of his purpose. Jehovah thereafter added: “This is what you are to say to
the sons of Israel, ‘I SHALL PROVE TO BE has sent me to you.’”—Ex 3:14, ftn. Or: “I Will Become . . .” (primary rendering again).
That this meant no change in God’s name, but only an additional insight into God’s personality, is seen from his further words: “This is what
you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me
to you.’ This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation.” (Ex 3:15; compare Ps 135:13; Ho
12:5.)
Concerning the other subject of the meaning of the Hebrew words for “God” (as the subject is phrased in the title of this thread but not the OP
which focuses more on God's personal name, which is not to be confused with the word “God”):
Among the Hebrew words that are translated “God” is
ʼEl, probably meaning “Mighty One; Strong One.” (Ge 14:18) It is used with
reference to Jehovah, to other gods, and to men. It is also used extensively in the makeup of proper names, such as Elisha (meaning “God Is
Salvation”) and Michael (“Who Is Like God?”). In some places
ʼEl appears with the definite article (
ha·ʼElʹ, literally, “the
God”) with reference to Jehovah, thereby distinguishing him from other gods.—Ge 46:3; 2Sa 22:31; see
NW appendix, p. 1567.
At Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ is prophetically called
ʼEl Gib·bohrʹ, “Mighty God” (not
ʼEl Shad·daiʹ [God Almighty], which is
applied to Jehovah at Genesis 17:1).
The plural form,
ʼe·limʹ, is used when referring to other gods, such as at Exodus 15:11 (“gods”). It is also used as the plural of
majesty and excellence, as in Psalm 89:6: “Who can resemble Jehovah among the sons of God [
bi·venehʹ ʼE·limʹ]?” That the plural form
is used to denote a single individual here and in a number of other places is supported by the translation of
ʼE·limʹ by the singular form
The·osʹ in the Greek Septuagint; likewise by
Deus in the Latin
Vulgate.
The Hebrew word
ʼelo·himʹ (gods) appears to be from a root meaning “be strong.”
ʼElo·himʹ is the plural of
ʼelohʹah
(god). Sometimes this plural refers to a number of gods (Ge 31:30, 32; 35:2), but more often it is used as a plural of majesty, dignity, or
excellence.
ʼElo·himʹ is used in the Scriptures with reference to Jehovah himself, to angels, to idol gods (singular and plural), and to
men.
When applying to Jehovah,
ʼElo·himʹ is used as a plural of majesty, dignity, or excellence. (Ge 1:1)
At Psalm 8:5, the angels are also referred to as
ʼelo·himʹ, as is confirmed by Paul’s quotation of the passage at Hebrews 2:6-8. They are
called
benehʹ ha·ʼElo·himʹ, “sons of God” (
KJ); “sons of the true God” (
NW), at Genesis 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1.
Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, by Koehler and Baumgartner (1958), page 134, says: “(individual) divine beings, gods.” And page 51
says: “the (single) gods,” and it cites Genesis 6:2; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. Hence, at Psalm 8:5
ʼelo·himʹ is rendered “angels”
(
LXX); “godlike ones” (
NW).
Just some of the basics.
edit on 14-5-2020 by whereislogic because: (no reason given)