What Does "I AM WHO I AM" Mean? Exodus 3:14 and HE IS

October 19, 2026

In Exodus 3:14, when Moses asks God for His name, God answers, "I AM WHO I AM." The Hebrew is ehyeh asher ehyeh. God's name is not a title but a verb: the One who is, always, in the present tense.

Pronunciation and origin

Ehyeh is pronounced eh-YEH. It is a form of the Hebrew verb "to be". Because Hebrew verbs work differently from English ones, ehyeh asher ehyeh can also be translated "I will be what I will be", which is noted in the margin of many Bibles. Both senses are there: God is, and God will be, faithfully Himself.

In the next verse God gives the name usually written in English as "the Lord" in small capitals (Exodus 3:15). It is closely related to the same verb.

Where it appears in the Bible

"God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:14

Moses was standing at the burning bush, being sent to Pharaoh, and asking a fair question: who shall I say sent me? The answer was not a description. It was presence.

Centuries later, Jesus said, "before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). John's Gospel also records his "I am" sayings: the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, the true vine.

What it means for us

We tend to live in the past tense (He was there then) or the future tense (He will sort it out). The name in Exodus 3:14 is present tense. Not He was. Not He will be. He is, in whatever today turns out to be.

Why HE IS is a SEALED design

Two words, set plainly. We removed the scripture reference from the design so it reads as a statement first and invites the question second. It comes as a tee, a crewneck, an embroidered hoodie and a women's fitted tee.

Shop the HE IS Tee · Crewneck · Hoodie · Women's Fitted Tee

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