“I Am Who I Am” – Names And Languages Of God

Over 3,000 years ago, God told Moses His name was, 'ehyeh 'ăšer 'ehyeh or “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” which translates to “I am who I am.” Moses recorded this in Exodus 3:11.

The Name, “I am who I am” reveals God’s sovereignty, holiness and eternal nature. It suggests that God will be an active and evolving presence, that He will be whatever He needs to be for His people.

Jesus, the Son of God, used Aramaic to teach the crowds, converse with his disciples, and conduct business as a carpenter. It was the common, everyday language of the Jewish people in Nazareth, where Jesus was raised. The name “I am who I am” was understood by Aramaic speakers to be God’s self-given name. 

The Old Testament scriptures were written in Hebrew. Jesus would have read from these scrolls and discussed the Torah with religious leaders in the synagogue. Scholars thought Hebrew was a dead liturgical language by Jesus' time, but the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed it was still a living, written language and used in certain Jewish communities.

Koine Greek was the international language of trade, commerce, and administration throughout the eastern Roman Empire. Jesus likely had some knowledge of Greek to interact with merchants, non-Jewish people and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

YHWH (Yahweh) is the personal, covenant name for the God of the Israelites in the Old Testament, used by adherents to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, for the one true God, the Creator, and Sovereign.

Psalm 105:1 encourages calling on God’s name, “Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name.” 

However, Jewish tradition avoids pronouncing the word “Yahweh” out of reverence, instead substituting “Adonai” or “HaShem.” Early Christians in the Catholic Church avoided using it in worship, using “Kyrios” or “Dominus” instead.

The Book of John records Jesus using many names for Himself, preceded by the words, “I am.”

John 10:14 “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me.”

John 11:25-26 “I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

John 6:35 “I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

John 14:6 “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 8:12, 9:5 “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.”

John 15:1, 5 “I am the True Vine.” “I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”

John 10:7,9 “I am the Gate for the Sheep.” “I am the Gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved.”

I Believe! Celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!