The Hebrew, ~h,l' yTi[.d:An al{ hw"hy> ymiv.W…, literally reads as:…and my name (vush’mi), Yahweh, not (lo) I made known (noda’ti) to them (lahem). In Western thought, one’s name is a fairly simple concept restricted, by and large, to serving an identity function. In Biblical Hebrew (and probably proto-Hebrew as well), one’s name is also associated with character, virtue, etc. Identity was usually accomplished by saying something like XXX son of YYYY who dwelt in the land of ZZZZ. Thus, I’ve always understood this verse to mean something like… I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as a nameless, superficial entity with great power. But because I gave them not my name they could not know my true character. In other words, God represents himself in Ex 6:3 objectively. It’s not an accident, then, that two verses later (6), Yahweh reveals himself as the redeemer of Israel – a functional representation. Blessings, Michael I hope the Hebrew Text showed up. _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 10:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [ancient_hebrew] Exodus 6:3 There is a question in my mind about what this says. Does the Hebrew say "And by My Name (Tetragrammaton) was I not known to them." meaning Abraham DID NOT know(Tetragrammaton) as the name of God? OR Does the Hebrew say "And by My Name(Tetragrammaton) was I not known to them?" meaning Abraham DID know(Tetragrammaton)as the name of God? OR Can this sentence be read either way in the Hebrew?
