Who is Jehovah for you guys? Why do you say this name means “I am.” What does “I am” mean? For me, that seems incomplete. Usually we say “I am something.” Can you help me understand this? Thanks.
2 Responses to “Who is Jehovah for you guys? Why do you say this name means …”
Lucas Bravo
2010-05-01 22:13:18
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Hi friend. Mormons believe that before Jesus Christ became a man 2000 years ago, he was known as Jehovah. So, whenever the Old Testament teaches about Jehovah, it's referring to the pre-mortal Christ.
In ancient Hebrew, the word "Jehovah" actually literally means "I am." This meaning is evident when reading scriptures from the Old Testament like Exodus 3:14.
According to my limited understanding, Jehovah is the great "I am" because his existence is independent of any other factor. He is the creator of both heaven and earth, so all things in the universe "are" (exist) because of the divine authority that He shares with God the Father. Christ, however, has been one with the Father since the beginning of creation, so His existence is independent of anything else in the universe. Hopefully others will also answer your question and provide you with their own viewpoints. Hope this answer helps! God bless you.
Pamela Dean
2010-05-02 14:43:39
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Jehovah is the Old Testament name for Jesus. When Moses asked for the name of the diety to which he was speaking so that he could clarify this for his people, the response was "ehyeh asher ehyeh", which was translated as "I am that I am" in the King James version of the Holy Bible, and is a derivative of Hebrew verb meaning "I will be", and indicates a connection between a name and a being. There is also an understanding of the transcendence of Jehovah indicated here - he is beyond the attributes of language, as he is the creator of all things and his powers go so far beyond what we can describe. There are several words that attempt to describe Christ/Jehovah's true nature, but even our understanding of these words pale in comparison to their actual meaning.
He is eternal, or exists outside of time. Micah 5:2 says, "... Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Other titles for him also indicate this, such as "the alpha and the omega", "the first and the last", "the beginning and the end."
He is omnipresent, or everywhere simultaneously. Matthew 18:20 says, "Where two or three have gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" and Matthew 28:20 says, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
He is omniscient, or all knowing. On the night Christ was betrayed, the disciples said to him, "Now are we sure that thou knowest all things", and Peter said later that night "Lord, thou knowest all things". Jehovah/Christ says of himself in Revelation 2:23 that "... I am he which searcheth the reins [greek: desires and thoughts] and hearts".
He is omnipotent, or all powerful. Philippians 3:21 says "... He is able even to subdue all things unto himself" And Hebrews 1:3 says he upholds "all things by the word of his power."
He is immutable, or unchanging. Hebrews 13:8 says he "is the same yesterday and today, and forever."
Dictionary definitions and scripture references cannot adequately explain what each of these terms mean. But one thing we do know is this: Jesus himself made at least nine definitive statements that he was the "I am"/Jehovah mentioned in the Old Testament.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25-26
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2
I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending. Revelation 1:8
In making these statements, Christ was directly refering to himself as the Jehovah who made the "I am" statements found seven times in Genesis, twenty-one times in Exodus, seven times in Psalms, thirty-five times in Isaiah, seventy times in Ezekial, and twenty-one other times in the smaller books at the end of the Old Testament. What is also interesting about these statements is that they appear as multiples of seven. The number seven in Old Testamant times had great siginificance - it was the reminder of the creator's perfection, authority and holiness, as indicated in genesis when the seventh day of the creation week was reserved for remembering his glory. Use of the number seven was also an indicator of truth. All of these things again testify of Jehovah/Christ.
In ancient Hebrew, the word "Jehovah" actually literally means "I am." This meaning is evident when reading scriptures from the Old Testament like Exodus 3:14.
According to my limited understanding, Jehovah is the great "I am" because his existence is independent of any other factor. He is the creator of both heaven and earth, so all things in the universe "are" (exist) because of the divine authority that He shares with God the Father. Christ, however, has been one with the Father since the beginning of creation, so His existence is independent of anything else in the universe. Hopefully others will also answer your question and provide you with their own viewpoints. Hope this answer helps! God bless you.
- He is eternal, or exists outside of time. Micah 5:2 says, "... Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Other titles for him also indicate this, such as "the alpha and the omega", "the first and the last", "the beginning and the end."
- He is omnipresent, or everywhere simultaneously. Matthew 18:20 says, "Where two or three have gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" and Matthew 28:20 says, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
- He is omniscient, or all knowing. On the night Christ was betrayed, the disciples said to him, "Now are we sure that thou knowest all things", and Peter said later that night "Lord, thou knowest all things". Jehovah/Christ says of himself in Revelation 2:23 that "... I am he which searcheth the reins [greek: desires and thoughts] and hearts".
- He is omnipotent, or all powerful. Philippians 3:21 says "... He is able even to subdue all things unto himself" And Hebrews 1:3 says he upholds "all things by the word of his power."
- He is immutable, or unchanging. Hebrews 13:8 says he "is the same yesterday and today, and forever."
Dictionary definitions and scripture references cannot adequately explain what each of these terms mean. But one thing we do know is this: Jesus himself made at least nine definitive statements that he was the "I am"/Jehovah mentioned in the Old Testament.- And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
- I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
- Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58
- I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9
- I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11
- I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25-26
- I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
- I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2
- I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending. Revelation 1:8
In making these statements, Christ was directly refering to himself as the Jehovah who made the "I am" statements found seven times in Genesis, twenty-one times in Exodus, seven times in Psalms, thirty-five times in Isaiah, seventy times in Ezekial, and twenty-one other times in the smaller books at the end of the Old Testament. What is also interesting about these statements is that they appear as multiples of seven. The number seven in Old Testamant times had great siginificance - it was the reminder of the creator's perfection, authority and holiness, as indicated in genesis when the seventh day of the creation week was reserved for remembering his glory. Use of the number seven was also an indicator of truth. All of these things again testify of Jehovah/Christ.