Exodus 3:15 is God giving Moses his personal name, the name Israel is to use across the generations. He identifies himself as the LORD, the God who was faithful to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and declares that this name is his memorial to all generations. God speaks these words to Moses at the burning bush, as Moses is being commissioned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.
Exodus 3:15 (WEB)
What Exodus 3:15 Means
The verse begins with God telling Moses to give the Israelites a message to pass on. That message is not a new religion or an unfamiliar god. It is “the LORD, the God of your fathers,” which ties the present rescue to promises already made. The phrase “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” names three generations, reminding the people that the God who met their ancestors is the same God speaking now.
The phrase “This is my name forever” tells us that the LORD intends his name to be remembered and spoken throughout history. The word “memorial” carries the idea of something that brings a person to mind, much like a monument or a remembrance ritual. God is saying that his character, shown through his faithfulness to his people, is what the name will call to mind for every generation.
The verse does not promise that Israel will escape hardship, that Moses will find the task easy, or that every prayer will be answered in the way a person hopes. It establishes who God is and what he has committed himself to. The promise is about his unchanging identity and his covenant faithfulness, not a guarantee of any particular circumstance.
The Context of Exodus 3:15
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses, and it tells the story of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt, their deliverance, and their journey toward the promised land. Chapter 3 records the first encounter between Moses and God at Horeb, where a bush burns without being consumed. Moses has already fled Egypt and is tending sheep in Midian, and the call to return is the turning point of the whole book.
Just before verse 15, Moses asks God what his name is, since the Israelites may ask who has sent him (verse 13). God answers in verse 14 with “I AM WHO I AM,” and verse 15 then gives the name in a form the people can use, tied to the God of their fathers. Reading verse 15 in this setting shows that God is responding to a real question about identity, and that he grounds his answer in the history of his relationship with Israel.
Key Phrases in Exodus 3:15
Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
(WEB)
This verse comes just before the one under study and gives the self-revealing answer “I AM WHO I AM.” Reading it alongside verse 15 shows how God first describes his own being and then ties that identity to the covenant names used with Israel.
Exodus 6:3
And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them.
(WEB)
Here God speaks again about his name in relation to the patriarchs, saying that he appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob under another name. Reading it with Exodus 3:15 helps show how the revelation of the divine name deepens as the story of the Exodus unfolds.
A Short Prayer From Exodus 3:15
Lord, you are the God who was faithful to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and you are the same God who speaks to me today. Thank you that your name is not a passing title but a lasting memorial of your faithfulness. When I am unsure of what to do or who to trust, remind me that you have always kept your word. Help me to remember your character, to rest in your steady presence, and to walk forward in the confidence that you remain who you have always said you are. Amen.
