Today, let us take a moment to reflect on the personal name of God—Yahweh—and why it holds deep significance for our faith. The Bible makes it clear that God is not some distant or anonymous entity; rather, He reveals Himself in a deeply personal way to His people.

God Reveals His Name to Moses

When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses asked an essential question: “What is Your name?” (Exodus 3:13). This is important to his understanding of God’s true essence because in ancient Hebrew thought, names weren’t just labels; they had deep meaning, reflecting a person’s true nature, character, and even their purpose in life.

God responded thus with this powerful phase: “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh”, a Hebrew phrase that translates to “I AM WHO I AM” or “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE” in English (Exodus 3:14). This is often shortened to Ehyeh or Yahweh (I AM). Shortly afterward, in Exodus 6:2-3, God further emphasizes this revelation by stating to Moses, “I am the LORD (Yahweh). I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by my name Yahweh I did not make myself fully known to them”.

In Jewish tradition, the name Yahweh is considered too sacred to say or write fully, so it’s often written as YHWH. Modern Jews use the term Hashem, meaning “the name.” During readings, they use the term Adonai (LORD) to refer to Him. This is why most English Bibles translate YHWH as LORD (in capital letters).

The Meaning of Yahweh

The name Yahweh is derived from the root of “Ehyeh” and comes from the third-person form, meaning “He is” or “He will be.” In this way, “Yahweh” highlights God’s eternal existence, emphasizing His nature as the one who was, is, and always will be. This reveals God as self-existent, eternal, and unchanging. Unlike humans or other supernatural beings who are dependent on external factors for life, God is completely independent and has no beginning or end. He is also immutable—His character does not change over time.

Furthermore, the name Yahweh conveys faithfulness. In revealing this name, God reassures Moses and the Israelites that He will remain true to His covenant. Even when His people are faithless, Yahweh remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). This name is not just a label but a reminder of God’s presence, sovereignty, and unchanging love for His people.

Jesus as Yahweh in the Flesh

Remarkably, Jesus identified Himself with this divine name during His earthly ministry. In John 8:58, Jesus declared, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” By using the same phrase God spoke to Moses, Jesus was unmistakably claiming divinity. This was not lost on His listeners, who sought to stone Him for what they saw as blasphemy.

Beyond this statement, Jesus used the “I AM” formula multiple times, revealing His divine nature:

• “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)
• “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12)
• “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11)
• “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6)
• “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)

Each of these declarations affirms that Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh, the eternal and unchanging God who came to dwell among us.

God vs. Yahweh: Understanding the Difference

The English word “God”  is a general term used to describe a divine being or deity. It can refer to any god in various religious traditions, which is why many languages differentiate between the generic “god” and the specific name of the one true God—Yahweh.

In contrast, Yahweh is God’s personal, covenantal name. It is not a title, but a revelation of His identity, character, and relationship with His people. Just as we call a close friend by their personal name rather than a generic title, knowing God as Yahweh invites us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.

Why It Matters Today

We are witnessing the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ways that many could never have imagined. AI is advancing so quickly that it’s being hailed as an almost god-like force. Some people now speak of AI in terms that mirror the reverence traditionally reserved for God. But we must be cautious, for there is a deeper spiritual deception at play.

We are warned of a time when a world ruler, often referred to as the Antichrist, will rise to power. This figure will claim to have the solutions to all of humanity’s problems. He will elevate himself above all that is called “God”. He will seek to establish himself as the ultimate authority and demand worship from the people, but his true nature will be far from the one true God—he will be the embodiment of deception and evil.

In these uncertain times, we must hold fast to the truth of who Yahweh is. Only He deserves our worship and allegiance, not the creations of our own making, whether those creations are human rulers or technological systems. They should never be confused with the self-existent, eternal, and unchanging One who was, and is, and always will be—the God of the universe, Yahweh.

The same God who revealed His name to Moses is the one who sustains the universe and life. In Jesus, Yahweh walked among us, demonstrating His unwavering love, and bringing salvation and eternal life. He alone holds the keys to life and death, and it is only to Him that we owe our allegiance. When we choose to follow Him, we align ourselves with truth, love, justice, and eternal life. In contrast, following the deceptions of a counterfeit God leads to destruction and separation from the true God. Let us draw nearer to Him, not just as “God” in a general sense, but as Yahweh—our personal, faithful, and unchanging LORD.