אהיה אשר אהיה
ehyeh asher ehyeh
The phrase i am that i am in Hebrew is אהיה אשר אהיה (ehyeh asher ehyeh).
This phrase refers to the name God uses to describe himself to Moses in the Bible.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular imperfect verb אהיה (I will be) and the relative pronoun אשר (that/which).
How do you pronounce it?
ehyeh asher ehyeh
Did you know?
- Because this phrase contains a name of God, many Jewish people avoid writing or speaking it in casual conversation to maintain its sanctity.
- The word אשר in this phrase is related to the idea of a 'trace' or 'vestige', as seen in its cognates in Arabic and Aramaic.
- The phrase is often interpreted by theologians as a promise of eternal existence rather than a statement of identity because of its future tense structure.
Examples in context
- אני מכין אוכל. אני זה שאני, מתחשק לי פשוט לבשל.I am cooking. I am who I am, and I simply feel like cooking.
- הוא אמר: אהיה אשר אהיה.Hu amar: eheyeh asher eheyeh.He said: I am that I am.
- בסיפור, אהיה אשר אהיה הוא השם האלוהי.Basipur, eheyeh asher eheyeh hu hashem ha'elohi.In the story, eheyeh asher eheyeh is the divine name.
Example conversation
Daniel and Noa are studying the Bible in a library.
- דניאל Danielמה המשמעות של אהיה אשר אהיה?Ma hamashma'ut shel eheyeh asher eheyeh?What is the meaning of I am that I am?
- נועה Noaזה השם שאלוהים נתן למשה.Ze hashem she'Elohim natan leMoshe.It is the name that God gave to Moses.
- דניאל Danielזה נשמע מאוד עמוק, נועה.Ze nishma me'od amok, Noa.That sounds very profound, Noa.
- נועה Noaכן, דניאל, זהו ביטוי קדוש.Ken, Daniel, zehu bituy kadosh.Yes, Daniel, it is a holy expression.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אהיה אשר אהיה, אשר, CC BY-SA 4.0.
