[B-Greek] John 8:58 as translation Greek
Michael
mabernathy at isot.com
Thu Feb 3 18:13:54 EST 2005
Lew,
You wrote
"A problem.. The Hebrew in Exodus 3 'Eyher' is first person common singular
Qal form verb 'to be' in the imperfect tense. (We would say 'perfect tense')
It should never be translated "I am" but "I will be"."
This is a common misconception. In Mishnaic Hebrew the imperfect describes an event that has not taken place and this is generally true in Modern Hebrew as well. However, U. Cassuto commented on Exodus 3:14 "The meaning assigned to it in our passage corresponds to the present. The form of the verb that is called in Hebrew today 'future' [i.e. the imperfect] could signify in Biblical language any tense-past, present or future- and approximated in some instances to the use of the 'present' in Modern Hebrew. See U. Cassuto, A commentary on the book of Exodus (Jerusalem: The Magnes Press, 1967), 37.
For some examples of the imperfect used for the past or present see
Dt. 1:44; Genesis 37:15; 1 Sam 1:8, 11:5; 2 Sam 16:9; Job 1:5 Gen 29:2, and 31:39.
You also commented, "To add to this Isaiah 2:8 clearly states as does Exodus 3:15 that YHWH is the name of God. It is a misrepresentation based on doctrinal bias to link John 8:58 with Exod 3:14."
Lew, finish reading Exodus 3:14. God tells Moses "you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM [EHYEH] has sent me to you."
For this reason, EHYEH has long been recogonized as a name for God. While you are at it read Anthony Phillips and Lucy Phillips, "The Origin of `I Am' in Exodus 3.14," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 78 (1998): 81-84. Phillips notes "There is only one other place in the Old Testament where 'eyeh appears as a reference to God, though in no mainstream English version of the Bible we know is it rendered `I am'. God commands Hosea to call his third child lo'-‛ammi ‛for you are not my people and I a no-'ehyeh to you'. Commentators are quick to point out that this name refers back to Exod. 3.14 and indicates that the covenant relationship at Sinai is now terminated."
Sincerely,
Michael Abernathy
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