And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but they did not know me by my personal name JEHOVAH.
God is explaining that while He revealed Himself to the patriarchs as the all-powerful God, He's now revealing His personal, covenant name JEHOVAH to Moses and the Israelites.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs when God is calling Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, and Moses has asked about God's name. God is distinguishing between how He revealed Himself to the founding fathers of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) versus this new, more intimate revelation of His personal name to Moses. The name JEHOVAH (or Yahweh) emphasizes God's eternal existence and His faithful covenant relationship with His people.
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