Berean Standard Bible
3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.
God Reveals His Name to Moses
Exodus 6:3
Licensed translations and the original language
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King James Version
3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Translation for Translators
T4T was designed as a tool for Bible translators, not as a devotional text. It makes implicit meaning explicit and flags figurative language with abbreviations. Gold [brackets] indicate translation notes. ◄Triangles► mark alternative renderings.Read more about how to read T4T →3I am the one who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and told them that I was God Almighty, but I did not tell them that my name was Yahweh.
Berean Standard Bible
King James Version
3
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Berean Standard Bible
King James Version
Translation for Translators
T4T was designed as a tool for Bible translators, not as a devotional text. It makes implicit meaning explicit and flags figurative language with abbreviations. Gold [brackets] indicate translation notes. ◄Triangles► mark alternative renderings.Read more about how to read T4T →3
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
I am the one who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and told them that I was God Almighty, but I did not tell them that my name was Yahweh.
WLC
Hebrew, word by word
3
וָאֵרָ֗א advise self רָאָה râʼâh a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative) advise self, appear, אֶל about אֵל ʼêl (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, ־ אַבְרָהָ֛ם Abraham אַבְרָהָם ʼAbrâhâm contracted from H1 (אָב) and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram Abraham. אֶל about אֵל ʼêl (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, ־ יִצְחָ֥ק יִצְחָק Yitschâq from H6711 (צָחַק); laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham Isaac. Compare H3446 (יִשְׂחָק). וְאֶֽל about אֵל ʼêl (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, ־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב Jacob יַעֲקֹב Yaʻăqôb from H6117 (עָקַב); heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch Jacob. בְּאֵ֣ל God אֵל ʼêl shortened from H352 (אַיִל); strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol שַׁדָּ֑י Almighty שַׁדַּי Shadday from H7703 (שָׁדַד); the Almighty Almighty. וּשְׁמִ֣י fame שֵׁם shêm a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064 (שָׁמַיִם)); an appellation, as amark or memorial of יְהוָ֔ה Jehovah יְהֹוָה Yᵉhôvâh from H1961 (הָיָה); (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). לֹ֥א ere לֹא lôʼ or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles [idiom] before נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי acknowledge יָדַע yâdaʻ a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (inc לָהֶֽם׃
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.
Functional Faith Reading
The Hebrew here sets two divine names side by side: El Shaddai, rendered "God Almighty," and YHWH, the personal name revealed in full to Moses at the burning bush. The verb yada — to know — carries covenantal weight; it means more than intellectual recognition, it means intimate, relational knowledge of who someone truly is.
Mainstream readings often treat this verse as a minor historical footnote about divine names, or they flatten it into a proof-text for source-critical theories. What gets lost is the staggering claim being made: that the patriarchs walked faithfully with the Father for generations without yet knowing him by his most personal name.
The Functional Faith reading hears something urgent in this. Jehovah is not introducing a new God — he is deepening the disclosure of the same God. The patriarchs trusted El Shaddai, the all-sufficient one, through promise and wandering. Now Moses receives the name that anchors the covenant to a person — YHWH — and with it comes the commission to act. The Pioneer himself would later say that knowing the Father, the only true God, is life itself. That knowing begins here.
For the person walking the Way today, this means that faith can be real before it is complete. The patriarchs followed without the full name, and that was enough for their moment.
Sit with this
What name for the Father are you still waiting to know more fully — and what faithfulness is being asked of you in the meantime?
Sources