Exodus 3:6
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Study Note
Study Note
God's self-identification to Moses — 'I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' — establishes personal continuity between the patriarchal covenants and the Exodus mission, grounding the liberation of Israel in an already-made divine promise. The triple patriarchal naming (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) functions as a covenantal resume: God binds his identity to specific relationships and specific promises rather than presenting himself as an abstract divine being. Jesus cites this verse in the Sadducees' resurrection debate (Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37), arguing from the present-tense 'I am' that if God is currently the God of Abraham (not 'was'), the patriarchs must be alive — a sophisticated haggadic argument for resurrection. The verse became foundational for Christian theology of the unity of the two testaments: the God of Exodus is the same God revealed in Christ.
Other Translations
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
He saith also, `I <FI>am<Fi> the God of thy father, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob;' and Moses hideth his face, for he is afraid to look towards God.
And he said, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses kept his face covered for fear of looking on God.
Cross References
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy …
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he …
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an …
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all …
And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear …
And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the …
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely …
And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto …
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children …