JAHWÈ
“and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them.”
Exodus 6:3 NASB
JEALUS
“—for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—”
Exodus 34:14 NASB
I AM
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 NASB
Names of God
The question “What is God’s Name?” may suggest that there is some obscurity related with this question. The critic has found for some reasons that there are problems with having three names: JAHWÈ (LORD), JEALUS and I AM. Let’s have a look.
JAHWÈ (THE LORD)
After his first encounter with Pharaoh Moses is disappointed, but God, encouraging Moses, reminds him that He is the God of his forefathers and that his name is JAHWÈ (The LORD). However in most Bibles we than read: “but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them …”. Of course this is really strange. In Genesis 2:4, 7, 8 etc. (second Creation story) we read that JAHWÈ is the first name of God revealed in the Scriptures. Moreover the Abraham story starts with "Now the LORD said to Abram …" (Genesis 12:1). So the question must be: “but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them …”, is this is a correct translation? And the answer must be loud and clear: No, this is very wrong. The translation should be: “… and by My name, LORD, I didn't make Myself known to them?” The clause is just interrogative now; the conjunction ‘but’ (see earlier) suggests an antithesis, however the Hebrew word 'wuh' (wauw) is usually translated: ‘and’ (also here). So it is absolutely correct to translate interrogatively where the context makes that plain. A few examples:
– Job: '“Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.' (Job 2:10)
One may translate affirmatively (and wrong): “We shall indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity!”
– Jonathan: “Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?” (1 Samuel 20:9) Literally one may translate (and wrong): “then I would not tell you about it!”
It's all because many punctuation marks (interrogation marks etc.) are lacking in the old Hebrew texts (as also in old Greek and Latin texts).
More examples are found in the famous Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of Koehler and Baumgartner (1953) s.v. Lo (not), 10.
Remark! There is no reason here to give the common but pretty obscure explanation that writers put the Holy Name afterwards into the book of Genesis in about 88 occasions where we read the name LORD (JAHWÈ).
JEALUS
This name was already revealed in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:5, also in Deuteronomy 5:9). It may seem at a first glance that this name is rather strange as jealousy is connected usually with childish feelings and immature attitudes. However related with God we see a positive jealousy. The name Jealous explains why the Lord was so often a helper for Israel and for all who called unto Him. 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’” (Zechariah 8:2). God’s jealousy is not childish nor immature, but it is an inalienable part of his being, as electric power is the natural feature of electricity. And electricity is very helpful to people as long as they use it with care.
I AM
With this name Moses had to introduce himself among the Israelites as God’s messenger to set them free from Egypt. This name was an inspiration for Moses as well as for all the people who had to put their trust in God to be liberated from slavery and to move out as free people: I, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, I am here and now for you. That was (and is) the message of this name.
Conclusion
These three names not only reveal God’s nature, but also his blessing character for man.
No Bible Contradictions