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THE MESSAGE

Exodus 15:2

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blessing;   Children;   Epic;   Faith;   Joy;   Poetry;   Praise;   Psalms;   Readings, Select;   Salvation;   Song;   Thankfulness;   Worship;   Thompson Chain Reference - Names;   Strength;   Titles and Names;   Weakness-Power;   The Topic Concordance - Exaltation;   God;   Salvation;   Strength;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Armies of Israel, the;   Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Praise;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Exodus;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Egypt;   Exodus;   Exodus, book of;   Moses;   Praise;   Victory;   War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - God, Names of;   Moses;   Vengeance;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - God;   Judgments of God;   Singing;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Exodus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Dance;   Jah;   Miriam;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exodus, Book of;   Hymn;   Omnipotence;   Poetry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Exodus;   God;   Joy;   Poetry;   Praise;   Salvation, Saviour;   Wars of the Lord, Book of the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Guilt (2);   Hymn;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Hymns;   1910 New Catholic Dictionary - canticle;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ouches;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mir'iam;   Mo'ses;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - War;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Sinai;   Time Given to Religion;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Exalt;   Moses, Song of;   Name;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Beautiful, the, in Jewish Literature;   Ethics;   Exodus, Book of;   Joshua, the Samaritan Book of;   Midrashim, Smaller;   Poetry;   Revelation;   Rime;   Saul, Abba;   Scribes;   Targum;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for March 3;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The LORD is my strength and song, He has become my yeshu`ah: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father's God, and I will exalt him.
King James Version
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Lexham English Bible
Yah is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him—the God of my father—and I will exalt him.
New Century Version
The Lord gives me strength and makes me sing; he has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him. He is the God of my ancestors, and I will honor him.
New English Translation
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Amplified Bible
"The LORD is my strength and my song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
New American Standard Bible
"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The Lord is my strength and praise, and he is become my saluation. He is my God, and I will prepare him a tabernacle. he is my fathers God, and I will exalt him.
Legacy Standard Bible
Yah is my strength and song,And He has become my salvation;This is my God, and I will praise Him;My father's God, and I will extol Him.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the Lord — he is my God and the God of my ancestors.
Complete Jewish Bible
Yah is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God: I will glorify him; my father's God: I will exalt him.
Darby Translation
My strength and song is Jah, and he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will glorify him; My father's God, and I will extol him.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord is my strength. He saves me, and I sing songs of praise to him. He is my God, and I praise him. He is the God of my ancestors, and I honor him.
English Standard Version
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
George Lamsa Translation
He is mighty and glorious, The LORD JEHOVAH has become our Saviour; he is our God, and we will praise him; our fathers God, and we will exalt him.
Good News Translation
The Lord is my strong defender; he is the one who has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will sing about his greatness.
Christian Standard Bible®
The Lord is my strength and my song;he has become my salvation.This is my God, and I will praise him,my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Literal Translation
My strength and song is Jehovah, and it happened, He was to me salvation; this is my God and I will glorify Him; the God of my father, and I will exalt Him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The LORDE is my strength, and my songe, and is become my saluacion. This is my God, I wil magnifie him: He is my fathers God, I wil exalte him.
American Standard Version
Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father's God, and I will exalt him.
Bible in Basic English
The Lord is my strength and my strong helper, he has become my salvation: he is my God and I will give him praise; my father's God and I will give him glory.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The Lorde is my strength and praise, and he is become my saluation: he is my God, and I wyll glorifie hym, my fathers God, and I wyll exalt hym.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; this is my God, and I will glorify Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
King James Version (1611)
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my saluation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation, my fathers God, and I wil exalt him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
He was to me a helper and protector for salvation: this is my God and I will glorify him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
English Revised Version
The LORD is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father's God, and I will exalt him.
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
My strengthe and my preisyng is the Lord; and he is maad to me in to heelthe. This is my God, and Y schal glorifie hym; the God of my fadir, and Y schal enhaunse hym.
Young's Literal Translation
My strength and song is JAH, And He is become my salvation: This [is] my God, and I glorify Him; God of my father, and I exalt Him.
Update Bible Version
Yah is my strength and song, And he has become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father's God, and I will exalt him.
Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD [is] my strength and song, and he [is] become my salvation: he [is] my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
World English Bible
Yah is my strength and song, He has become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father's God, and I will exalt him.
New King James Version
The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
New Living Translation
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father's God, and I will exalt him!
New Life Bible
The Lord is my strength and song. He is the One Who saves me. He is my God and I will praise Him. He is my father's God and I will honor Him.
New Revised Standard
The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
My might and melody, is Yah, And he became mine, by salvation, - This, is my GOD, and I will glorify him, The God of my father and I will set him on high.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and I will exalt him.
Revised Standard Version
The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him.

Contextual Overview

1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God , giving voice together, I'm singing my heart out to God —what a victory! He pitched horse and rider into the sea. God is my strength, God is my song, and, yes! God is my salvation. This is the kind of God I have and I'm telling the world! This is the God of my father— I'm spreading the news far and wide! God is a fighter, pure God , through and through. Pharaoh's chariots and army he dumped in the sea, The elite of his officers he drowned in the Red Sea. Wild ocean waters poured over them; they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea. Your strong right hand, God , shimmers with power; your strong right hand shatters the enemy. In your mighty majesty you smash your upstart enemies, You let loose your hot anger and burn them to a crisp. At a blast from your nostrils the waters piled up; Tumbling streams dammed up, wild oceans curdled into a swamp. 9 The enemy spoke, "I'll pursue, I'll hunt them down, I'll divide up the plunder, I'll glut myself on them; I'll pull out my sword, my fist will send them reeling." 10You blew with all your might and the sea covered them. They sank like a lead weight in the majestic waters. Who compares with you among gods, O God ? Who compares with you in power, in holy majesty, In awesome praises, wonder-working God? 12You stretched out your right hand and the Earth swallowed them up. But the people you redeemed, you led in merciful love; You guided them under your protection to your holy pasture. 14When people heard, they were scared; Philistines writhed and trembled; Yes, even the head men in Edom were shaken, and the big bosses in Moab. Everybody in Canaan panicked and fell faint. Dread and terror sent them reeling. Before your brandished right arm they were struck dumb like a stone, Until your people crossed over and entered, O God , until the people you made crossed over and entered. You brought them and planted them on the mountain of your heritage, The place where you live, the place you made, Your sanctuary, Master, that you established with your own hands. Let God rule forever, for eternity! 19 Yes, Pharaoh's horses and chariots and riders went into the sea and God turned the waters back on them; but the Israelites walked on dry land right through the middle of the sea. 20Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine, and all the women followed her with tambourines, dancing. Miriam led them in singing, Sing to God — what a victory! He pitched horse and rider into the sea!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

strength: Psalms 18:1, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 27:1, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 59:17, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 62:7, Psalms 118:14, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Philippians 4:13

song: Deuteronomy 10:21, Psalms 22:3, Psalms 109:1, Psalms 140:7, Revelation 15:3

my salvation: Exodus 14:13, 2 Samuel 22:51, Psalms 68:20, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 45:17, Isaiah 49:6, Jeremiah 3:23, Luke 1:77, Luke 2:30, John 4:22, Acts 4:12, Revelation 19:1

my God: Exodus 4:22, Genesis 17:7, Psalms 22:10, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:38, Zechariah 13:9

an habitation: Exodus 40:34, Genesis 28:21, Genesis 28:22, 2 Samuel 7:5, 1 Kings 8:13, 1 Kings 8:27, Psalms 132:5, Isaiah 66:1, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Ephesians 2:22, Colossians 2:9

my father's God: Exodus 3:15, Exodus 3:16

exalt him: 2 Samuel 22:47, Psalms 18:46, Psalms 30:1, Psalms 34:3, Psalms 99:5, Psalms 99:9, Psalms 118:28, Psalms 145:1, Isaiah 25:1, John 5:23, Philippians 2:11, Revelation 5:9-14

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:8 - a sanctuary Numbers 21:17 - sang Deuteronomy 12:5 - habitation Deuteronomy 26:17 - avouched Joshua 24:18 - will we also 2 Samuel 7:24 - art become 2 Samuel 22:33 - strength 1 Chronicles 16:14 - the Lord 1 Chronicles 28:9 - the God Job 13:16 - my salvation Psalms 43:2 - the God Psalms 63:1 - thou Psalms 74:12 - working Psalms 95:7 - For he Psalms 107:32 - exalt Psalms 118:21 - and art Isaiah 12:4 - his name Isaiah 26:1 - this song Habakkuk 3:13 - wentest Habakkuk 3:18 - the God Acts 22:14 - The God

Cross-References

Genesis 15:1
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!"
Genesis 15:2
Abram said, " God , Master, what use are your gifts as long as I'm childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?" Abram continued, "See, you've given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all."
Genesis 15:4
Then God 's Message came: "Don't worry, he won't be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir."
Genesis 15:6
And he believed! Believed God ! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."
Genesis 24:2
Abraham spoke to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh and swear by God —God of Heaven, God of Earth—that you will not get a wife for my son from among the young women of the Canaanites here, but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac."
Genesis 24:10
The servant took ten of his master's camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, "O God , God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well! As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, ‘Drink, and let me also water your camels'—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."
Genesis 25:21
Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, "If this is the way it's going to be, why go on living?" She went to God to find out what was going on. God told her, Two nations are in your womb, two peoples butting heads while still in your body. One people will overpower the other, and the older will serve the younger.
Genesis 43:19
So they went up to Joseph's house steward and talked to him in the doorway. They said, "Listen, master. We came down here one other time to buy food. On our way home, the first night out we opened our bags and found our money at the mouth of the bag—the exact amount we'd paid. We've brought it all back and have plenty more to buy more food with. We have no idea who put the money in our bags."
Genesis 44:1
Joseph ordered his house steward: "Fill the men's bags with food—all they can carry—and replace each one's money at the top of the bag. Then put my chalice, my silver chalice, in the top of the bag of the youngest, along with the money for his food." He did as Joseph ordered.
Psalms 127:3
Don't you see that children are God 's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The Lord is my strength and song,..... The strength of Moses and the children of Israel against the fears of the Egyptians, and of entrance into the Red sea; who inspired them with courage, and strengthened their faith, neither to fear being destroyed by the one, or drowned in the other; and so in the glory of his nature, and of his divine perfections, of his justice, holiness, faithfulness, truth, and goodness, he was the subject matter of their song. As Christ is the strength of his spiritual Israel, the author and giver of strength unto them, the strength of their lives, their hearts, and graces; and who strengthens them to do his will and work, to exercise every grace, withstand corruptions, resist temptations, bear afflictions, and overcome every enemy; and who on the account of the glory of his person, the beauty, fitness, and fulness of it, and because of his offices of Mediator, Saviour, prophet, priest, and King, as well as by reason of what he has done for them, the righteousness he has brought in, and the salvation he has wrought out, is the sum and substance of their song of praise:

and he is become my salvation; the salvation of Israel in a temporal sense, having saved them out of the hands of the Egyptians their enemies; and the salvation or Saviour of his spiritual Israel, who are saved by him with an everlasting salvation; he is not only their Saviour, but salvation itself; being not only the author of it, and that being in him for them, but made that itself unto them, even their all in all; their righteousness, atonement, peace, light, life, food, health, comfort, and joy; all their grace being in him, and from him, as well as their eternal glory and happiness: and this he is to them now, he is their salvation by impetration having obtained it by his obedience, sufferings, and death; and by application, they being convinced of their need of salvation by him, and the suitableness of it to them, seek to him for it, desire that and no other, which is brought nigh unto them by the Spirit of God, and witnessed to by him as theirs; so that they are already saved by grace, through faith and hope in Christ; and of their particular interest in it, they have knowledge by the same Spirit, which fills them with joy unspeakable and full of glory. This and the preceding clause are words so very expressive, and contain such fulness of matter, and such interesting things, that both the psalmist David, and the church, in the times of the evangelic prophet Isaiah, have borrowed them to express their sense of the great things the Lord was to them, and had done for them, Psalms 118:14

he [is] my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; Christ is God, truly God, as appears from the names given him, particularly Jehovah; from the perfections ascribed to him, from the works done by him, and from the worship of him both by angels and men; and he is his people's God, their Immanuel, God in their nature, the God in whom they believe, and in whom they have an interest; he is the God of their salvation, the Lord their righteousness; their Lord, head, and King; their husband, beloved, Father, brother, friend; their God and guide, even unto death; their portion and exceeding great reward, now and hereafter: wherefore Moses, or the people of Israel, or both, determine to "prepare" him an "habitation", being concerned that he had no better dwelling place among them than he had; and seem to have some respect unto, and knowledge of an habitation hereafter to be built, the tabernacle and temple; which were typical of the human nature of Christ, and of his church; but then they were both of God's preparing, and not men's; wherefore an habitation in the hearts of, his people may be chiefly designed; the preparation of which, though it is principally and efficaciously of the Spirit of God, yet in some sense may be said to be prepared by the saints, when they show a concern for grace to be in exercise; to have duty regularly and constantly performed in a manner acceptable to him, and that no disturbance be given to occasion his departure from them. The Septuagint version is, "I will glorify him"; with soul and body, which are both his; and so much to the same purpose other versions, "I will decorate or beautify" t him; declare his beauty and glory, and speak in praise of it: "my father's God, and I will exalt him"; Christ was not only the God of Amram, the father of Moses, who was a good man; but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as he declared himself to be, Exodus 3:6, the ancestors not only of Moses, but of all the children of Israel. This shows the antiquity of Christ, that he was their fathers' God, and that he is to be trusted and depended on, as he was by their fathers, and to be regarded, and highly valued and esteemed, having been their fathers' friend, and is a reason why he should be exalted by them; for though he cannot be raised higher than he is, being the Son of the Highest, God over all, blessed for ever, whose kingdom ruleth over all, and is now as man ascended on high, and is highly exalted by his Father, and at his right hand, and glorified by him with himself; yet he may be said to be exalted and lifted up by us, when we celebrate and set forth the height of his glory and excellency, by asserting his proper deity, ascribing the same perfections, worlds, and worship to him, as to his Father, by attributing distinct divine personality to him, confessing his eternal sonship, owning him in all his offices, and giving him the glory due unto him on account of them, and for salvation wrought out by him; the whole honour and praise of it belong to him: he may and should be exalted in the hearts of his people, in their thoughts and affections, and with their lips in songs of praise; and in the house of God, and the ordinances of it, where everyone should speak of his glory; the reasons are, because he is above all in his person and perfections, is the only Mediator, Saviour, and Redeemer, and to exalt him is the way to be exalted, Proverbs 4:8.

t ואנוהו δοξαζω αυτον Sept. "glorificabo eum", V. L. "laudabo eume", Syr. Samar. "hunc decorabo", Tigurine version; "condecorabo eum", Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

With the deliverance of Israel is associated the development of the national poetry, which finds its first and perfect expression in this magnificent hymn. It was sung by Moses and the people, an expression which evidently points to him as the author. That it was written at the time is an assertion expressly made in the text, and it is supported by the strongest internal evidence. In every age this song gave the tone to the poetry of Israel; especially at great critical epochs of deliverance: and in the book of Revelation Exodus 15:3 it is associated with the final triumph of the Church.

The division of the song into three parts is distinctly marked: Exodus 15:1-5; Exodus 15:6-10; Exodus 15:11-18 : each begins with an ascription of praise to God; each increases in length and varied imagery unto the triumphant close.

Exodus 15:1

He hath triumphed gloriously - Literally, He is gloriously glorious.

The horse and his rider - The word “rider” may include horseman, but applies properly to the charioteer.

Exodus 15:2

The Lord is my strength and song - My strength and song is Jah. See Psalms 68:4. The name was chosen here by Moses to draw attention to the promise ratified by the name “I am.”

I will prepare Him an habitation - I will glorify Him. Our Authorized Version is open to serious objection, as suggesting a thought (namely, of erecting a temple) which could hardly have been in the mind of Moses at that time, and unsuited to the occasion.

Exodus 15:3

A man of war - Compare Psalms 24:8. The name has on this occasion a special fitness: man had no part in the victory; the battle was the Lord’s.

The Lord is his name - “Jah is His name.” See Exodus 15:2.

Exodus 15:4

Hath He cast - “Hurled,” as from a sling. See Exodus 14:27.

His chosen captains - See Exodus 14:7 note.

Exodus 15:5

As a stone - The warriors in chariots are always represented on the monuments with heavy coats of mail; the corslets of “chosen captains” consisted of plates of highly tempered bronze, with sleeves reaching nearly to the elbow, covering the whole body and the thighs nearly to the knee. The wearers must have sunk at once like a stone, or as we read in Exodus 5:10, like lumps of lead.

Exodus 15:7

Thy wrath - Literally, Thy burning, i. e. the fire of Thy wrath, a word chosen expressly with reference to the effect.

Exodus 15:8

The blast of God’s nostrils corresponds to the natural agency, the east wind Exodus 14:21, which drove the waters back: on the north the waters rose high, overhanging the sands, but kept back by the strongwind: on the south they laid in massive rollers, kept down by the same agency in the deep bed of the Red Sea.

Exodus 15:9

The enemy said - The abrupt, gasping utterances; the haste, cupidity and ferocity of the Egyptians; the confusion and disorder of their thoughts, belong to the highest order of poetry. They enable us to realize the feelings which induced Pharaoh and his host to pursue the Israelites over the treacherous sandbanks.

Exodus 15:10

Thou didst blow with thy wind - Notice the solemn majesty of these few words, in immediate contrast with the tumult and confusion of the preceding verse. In Exodus 14:28, we read only, “the waters returned,” here we are told that it was because the wind blew. A sudden change in the direction of the wind would bring back at once the masses of water heaped up on the north.

They sank as lead - See the note at Exodus 15:5.

Exodus 15:11

Among the gods - Compare Psalms 86:8; Deuteronomy 32:16-17. A Hebrew just leaving the land in which polytheism attained its highest development, with gigantic statues and temples of incomparable grandeur, might well on such an occasion dwell upon this consummation of the long series of triumphs by which the “greatness beyond compare” of Yahweh was once for all established.

Exodus 15:13

Thy holy habitation - Either Palestine, regarded as the land of promise, sanctified by manifestations of God to the Patriarchs, and destined to be both the home of God’s people, and the place where His glory and purposes were to be perfectly revealed: or Mount Moriah.

Exodus 15:14

The inhabitants of Palestina - i. e. the country of the Philistines. They were the first who would expect an invasion, and the first whose district would have been invaded but for the faintheartedness of the Israelites.

Exodus 15:15

The dukes of Edom - See Genesis 36:15. It denotes the chieftains, not the kings of Edom.

The mighty men of Moab - The physical strength and great stature of the Moabites are noted in other passages: see Jeremiah 48:29, Jeremiah 48:41.

Canaan - The name in this, as in many passages of Genesis, designates the whole of Palestine: and is used of course with reference to the promise to Abraham. It was known to the Egyptians, and occurs frequently on the monuments as Pa-kanana, which applies, if not to the whole of Palestine, yet to the northern district under Lebanon, which the Phoenicians occupied and called “Canaan.”

Exodus 15:17

In the mountain of thine inheritance - See Exodus 15:13.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 15:2. The Lord is my strength and song — How judiciously are the members of this sentence arranged! He who has God for his strength, will have him for his song; and he to whom Jehovah is become salvation, will exalt his name. Miserably and untunably, in the ears of God, does that man sing praises, who is not saved by the grace of Christ, nor strengthened by the power of his might.

It is worthy of observation that the word which we translate LORD here, is not יהוה JEHOVAH in the original, but יה JAH; "as if by abbreviation," says Mr. Parkhurst, "for יהיה yeheieh or יהי yehi. It signifies the Essence οων, He who IS, simply, absolutely, and independently. The relation between יה Jah and the verb היה to subsist, exist, be, is intimated to us the first time יה Jah is used in Scripture, (Exodus 15:2:) 'My strength and my song is יה JAH, and he is become ( vajehi) to me salvation.'" See Psalms 68:5; Psalms 89:6; Psalms 94:7; Psalms 115:17-18; Psalms 118:17.

JAH יה is several times joined with the name Jehovah יהוה so that we may be sure that it is not, as some have supposed, a mere abbreviation of that word. See Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:4. Our blessed Lord solemnly claims to himself what is intended in this Divine name יה JAH, John 8:58: "Before Abraham was, (γενεσθαι, was born,) εγω ειμι, I AM," not I was, but I am, plainly intimating his Divine eternal existence. Compare Isaiah 43:13. And the Jews appear to have well understood him, for then took they up stones to cast at him as a blasphemer. Compare Colossians 1:16-17, where the Apostle Paul, after asserting that all things that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, were created, εκτισται, by and for Christ, adds And HE IS (αυτος εστι, not ην, was) before all things, and by him all things συνεστηκε, have subsisted, and still subsist. See Parkhurst.

From this Divine name יה Jah the ancient Greeks had their Ιη, Ιη, in their invocations of the gods, particularly of Apollo (the uncompounded ONE) the light; and hence EI, written after the oriental manner from right to left, afterwards IE, was inscribed over the great door of the temple at Delphi! Exodus 3:14, and the concluding observations there.

I will prepare him a habitation — ואנוהו veanvehu. It has been supposed that Moses, by this expression, intended the building of the tabernacle; but it seems to come in very strangely in this place. Most of the ancient versions understood the original in a very different sense.

The Vulgate has et glorificabo eum; the Septuagint δοξασω αυτον, I will GLORIFY him; with which the Syriac, Coptic, the Targum of Jonathan, and the Jerusalem Targum, agree. From the Targum of Onkelos the present translation seems to have been originally derived; he has translated the place ואבני לה מקדש veebnei leh makdash, "And I will build him a sanctuary," which not one of the other versions, the Persian excepted, acknowledges. Our own old translations are generally different from the present: Coverdale, "This my God, I will magnify him;" Matthew's, Cranmer's, and the Bishops' Bible, render it glorify, and the sense of the place seems to require it. Calmet, Houbigant, Kennicott, and other critics, contend for this translation.

My father's God — I believe Houbigant to be right, who translates the original, אלהי אבי Elohey abi, Deus meus, pater meus est, "My God is my Father." Every man may call the Divine Being his GOD; but only those who are his children by adoption through grace can call him their FATHER. This is a privilege which God has given to none but his children. See Galatians 4:6.


 
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