εγω ειμι

[Alan Patterson]

I have a question about the NT's use of the OT's εγω ειμι. Most commentators reference Exodus 3:14 as the origin of εγω ειμι, but in Exodus 3, εγω ειμι simply introduces God's name; it is not a part of it.

Exodus 3:14 και ειπεν ο θεος προς μωυσην εγω ειμι ο ων και ειπεν ουτως ερεις τοις υιοις ισραηλ ο ων απεσταλκεν με προς υμας

In this verse, the Lord's name is ο ων. εγω ειμι is an introductory phrase for the Lord's name, but it is not part of it, at least not in this verse. Exodus 3 is like saying εγω ειμι Mr. Smith. Why do people associate εγω ειμι as part of the Lord's name in this verse?

[Jonathan Robie]

I have a question about the NT's use of the OT's εγω ειμι.

Please cite the text or texts that you are referring to. I suspect I know, but let's please not discuss vague references.

Most commentators reference Exodus 3:14 as the origin of εγω ειμι...

Which commentators have you read? What do they say? Again, please let's not discuss vague references.

Most good commentaries I have used do not make that claim.

... but in Exodus 3, εγω ειμι simply introduces God's name; it is not a part of it.

Exodus 3:14 και ειπεν ο θεος προς μωυσην εγω ειμι ο ων και ειπεν ουτως ερεις τοις υιοις ισραηλ ο ων απεσταλκεν με προς υμας

In this verse, the Lord's name is ο ων. εγω ειμι is an introductory phrase for the Lord's name, but it is not part of it, at least not in this verse. Exodus 3 is like saying εγω ειμι Mr. Smith. Why do people associate εγω ειμι as part of the Lord's name in this verse?

I agree with your understanding of Exodus 3:14.

"Why do people" is a little too broad for useful discussion. Did you have a question about a Greek text that you would like an answer to?

[Bryant J. Williams III]

Dear Alan,

It is interesting that the first use of εγω ειμι is found in Genesis 4:9 LXX on the lips of Cain in response to God's question about the whereabouts of Abel: καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς Καιν Ποῦ ἐστιν Αβελ ὁ ἀδελφός σου; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Οὐ γινώσκω,
μὴ φύλαξ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μού εἰμι ἐγώ;

Now, Ex. 3:14 and Deut. 32:49 also have εγω ειμι, but the majority of the uses are found in the prophet Isaiah:

41:4 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה... אֲנִי־הֽוּא׃(ani YHWH...ani hu) = ἐγὼ θεὸς… ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW QEOS...EGW EIMI)
41:10 כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (ki ani eloheyka) = ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ θεός σου (EGW GAR EIMI hO QEOS SOU)
41:13 כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (ki ani eloheyka) = ὅτι ἐγὼ ὁ θεός σου (hOTI EGW hO QEOS SOU)
41:17 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
42:6 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
42:8 אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה ה֣וּא (ani YHWH hu) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
43:3 כִּ֗י אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (ki ani YHWH eloheyka) = ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός σου (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS SOU)
43:10 נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה…כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא (neum-YHWH...ki-ani hu) = κύριος ὁ θεός... ἐγώ εἰμι (KURIOS hO QEOS...EGW EIMI)
43:11 אָנֹכִ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י יְהוָ֑ה (anoki anoki YHWH) = ἐγὼ ὁ θεός (EGW hO QEOS)
43:12 י נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽאֲנִי־אֵֽל (neum-YHWH weani al-El) = ἐγὼ ὁ θεός (EGW hO QEOS)
43:15 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς (EGW hO QEOS)
43:25 אָנֹכִ֨י אָנֹכִ֥י ה֛וּא (anoki anoki hu) = ἐγώ εἰμι ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI EGW EIMI)
45:3 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
45:5 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
45:6 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
45:7 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
45:8 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός (EGW KURIOS hO QEOS)
45:19 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγώ εἰμι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος λαλῶν (EGW EIMI EGW EIMI KURIOS hO LALWN)
45:21 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ ὁ θεός (EGW hO QEOS)
45:22 אֲנִי־אֵ֖ל (ani el) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς (EGW EIMI hO QEOS)
46:4 אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא (ani hu) = ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI)
46:9 אָנֹכִ֥י אֵל֙ (anoki el) = ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ θεός (EGW EIMI Ho QEOS)
47:8 אֲנִי (ani) = ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI) (NOTE: NIV "I am, and there is none beside me.")
47:10 רֹאָ֔נִי i (roani) = ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI)
48:12 אֲנִי־הוּא֙ אֲנִ֣י רִאשֹׁ֔ון אַ֖ף אֲנִ֥י אַחֲרֹֽון (ani hu ani rishon ani acharon) =  ἐγώ εἰμι πρῶτος, καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (EGW EIMI PRWTOS, KAI EGW EIMI EIS TON AIWNA)
48:15 אֲנִ֥י אֲנִ֛י (ani ani) = ἐγὼ, … ἐγὼ...( EGW...EGW...)
48:17 אֲנִ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (ani YHWH eloheyka) = Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ θεός σου (EGW KURIOS)
49:23 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος (EGW KURIOS)
49:26 אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ κύριος (EGW KURIOS)
51:12 אָנֹכִ֧י אָנֹכִ֛י ה֖וּא (anoki anoki hu) = ἐγώ εἰμι ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI EGW EIMI)
51:15 כִּ֗י אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (anoki YHWH eloheyka) = ἐγὼ ὁ θεός σου (EGW hO QEOS SOU)
60:16 כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ מֹֽושִׁיעֵ֔ךְ (ki-ani YHWH Moshiak) = ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ σῴζων σε (EGW KURIOS hO SWZWN SE)
61:8 כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ (ki-ani YHWH) = ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι κύριος (EGW GAR EIMI KURIOS)

1. ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI) is used 20x (17x in Isaiah) with several verses having double use for emphasis.

2. You will note that אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא (ani hu), אָנֹכִ֨י (anoki), אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (ani YHWH eloheyka), אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה (ani YHWH),אֲנִי־אֵ֖ל (ani-EL) are all used interchangeably along with אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהוִ֔ה (adonai YHWH) etc.

3. The LXX uses ἐγὼ ὁ θεός (EGW hO QEOS), ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ θεός (EGW EIMI hO QEOS), ἐγώ εἰμι ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI EGW EIMI), ἐγὼ ὁ κύριος (EGW hO KURIOS), etc. interchangeably, BUT ἐγώ εἰμι (EGW EIMI) is used here more than anywhere else with reference to God = יֱהוִ֔ה (YHWH),אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (eloheyka), אֲדֹנָ֣י (adonai), θεός (QEOS), κύριος (KURIOS), etc.

4. The Majority of the uses of εγω ειμι are found in the Gospel of John. Most of those instances require a complement.

John

1:20 καὶ ὡμολόγησεν καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσατο, καὶ ὡμολόγησεν ὅτι ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ὁ χριστός.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am not the Christ.”

3:28 αὐτοὶ ὑμεῖς μοι μαρτυρεῖτε ὅτι εἶπον [ὅτι] οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ὁ χριστός, ἀλλ’ ὅτι ἀπεσταλμένος εἰμὶ ἔμπροσθεν ἐκείνου.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am not the Christ.”

4:26 λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐγώ εἰμι, ὁ λαλῶν σοι.

NIV, NASB, ESV - Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
KJV - Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
ISV - Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

6:20 ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV - “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
ISV - But he said to them, “It is I. Stop being afraid!”

6:35 εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς· * ὁ ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ἐμὲ οὐ μὴ πεινάσῃ, καὶ ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ μὴ διψήσει πώποτε
NIV, KJV, NASB. ESV. ISV - “I am the bread of life.
6:41 Ἐγόγγυζον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι εἶπεν· ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος ὁ καταβὰς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ

NIV, KJV, NASB. ESV. ISV - “I am the bread of life.
6:48 Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς.

NIV, KJV, NASB. ESV. ISV - “I am the bread of life.

6:51 ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος ὁ ζῶν ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς· ἐάν τις φάγῃ ἐκ τούτου τοῦ ἄρτου ζήσει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

NIV, KJV, NASB. ESV. ISV - I am the living bread.

7:34 ζητήσετέ με καὶ οὐχ εὑρήσετέ [με], καὶ ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ὑμεῖς οὐ δύνασθε ἐλθεῖν. ***

NIV - and where I am, you cannot come.”
KJV - and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
NASB - and where I am, you cannot come.”
ESV - Where I am you cannot come.”
ISV - And where I am, you cannot come.”


8:12 Πάλιν οὖν αὐτοῖς ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου· ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am the light of the world

8:23 καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ὑμεῖς ἐκ τῶν κάτω ἐστέ, ἐγὼ ἐκ τῶν ἄνω εἰμί· ὑμεῖς ἐκ τούτου τοῦ κόσμου ἐστέ, ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
NIV, KJV, VASB, ESV, ISV - I am from above....I am not of this world.

8:24 εἶπον οὖν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν· ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ πιστεύσητε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν.

NIV - if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be,
KJV - for if ye believe not that I am he,
NASB, ESV, ISV - for unless you believe that I am He

8:28 εἶπεν οὖν [αὐτοῖς] ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ὅταν ὑψώσητε τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, τότε γνώσεσθε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ ἀπ’ἐμαυτοῦ ποιῶ οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ καθὼς ἐδίδαξέν με ὁ πατὴρ ταῦτα λαλῶ.

NIV - then you will know that I am the one I claim to be
KJV - then shall ye know that I am he
NASB, ESV, ISV - then you will know that I am He,

8:58 εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι ἐγὼ εἰμί.
(SEE ATTACHED ALSO)

NIV - I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
KJV - Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
NASB - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
ESV - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
ISV - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I tell you, before there was an Abraham, I am!”


9:9 ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν, ἄλλοι ἔλεγον· οὐχί, ἀλλὰ ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν. ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι.

NIV - “I am the man.”
KJV - I am he.
NASB - “I am the one.”
ESV - “I am the man.”
ISV - “It is I!

10:7 Εἶπεν οὖν πάλιν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα τῶν προβάτων

NIV, ISV - I am the gate for the sheep.
KJV, NASB, ESV - I am the door

10:9 ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα· δι’ ἐμοῦ ἐάν τις εἰσέλθῃ σωθήσεται καὶ εἰσελεύσεται καὶ ἐξελεύσεται καὶ νομὴν εὑρήσει.

NIV, ISV - I am the gate
KJV, NASB, ESV - I am the door:

10:11 Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός. ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τίθησιν ὑπὲρ τῶν προβάτων·

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am the good shepherd

10:14 Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς καὶ γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκουσί με τὰ ἐμά,

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am the good shepherd

11:25 εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή· ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ κἂν ἀποθάνῃ ζήσεται,

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am the resurrection and the life.



12:26 ἐὰν ἐμοί τις διακονῇ, ἐμοὶ ἀκολουθείτω, καὶ ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ἐκεῖ καὶ ὁ διάκονος ὁ ἐμὸς ἔσται· ἐάν τις ἐμοὶ διακονῇ τιμήσει αὐτὸν ὁ πατήρ

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - and where I am

13:19 ἀπ’ ἄρτι λέγω ὑμῖν πρὸ τοῦ γενέσθαι, ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅταν γένηται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - that I am He.

14:3 καὶ ἐὰν πορευθῶ καὶ ἑτοιμάσω τόπον ὑμῖν, πάλιν ἔρχομαι καὶ παραλήμψομαι ὑμᾶς πρὸς ἐμαυτόν, ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἦτε.

NIV - that you also may be where I am
KJV, NASB, ESV - that where I am,
ISV - so that you may be where I am.

14:6 λέγει αὐτῷ [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς· ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸν πατέρα εἰ μὴ δι’ἐμοῦ.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

15:1 Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινὴ καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ γεωργός ἐστιν.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - I am the true vine

15:5 ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα. ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - I am the vine;

17:24 Πάτερ, ὃ δέδωκάς μοι, θέλω ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ κἀκεῖνοι ὦσιν μετ’ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα θεωρῶσιν τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἐμήν, ἣν δέδωκάς μοι ὅτι ἠγάπησάς με πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου.

NIV. KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - where I am

18:5 ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ· Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον. λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἐγώ εἰμι. εἱστήκει δὲ καὶ Ἰούδας ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸν μετ’αὐτῶν.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am he.”

18:6 ὡς οὖν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἐγώ εἰμι, ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ ἔπεσαν χαμαί.

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am he.”

18:8 ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· εἶπον ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. εἰ οὖν ἐμὲ ζητεῖτε, ἄφετε τούτους ὑπάγειν·

NIV, KJV, NASB, ESV, ISV - “I am he.”

I should note that English is NOT like the Greek. Ὁ ὢν is also found in Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:5, ἐγώ εἰμι is 1:8, 21:5; 22:13. These last three references are, of course, a direct reference to Isaiah 41:4.

The theological and Christological implications of these uses of ἐγώ εἰμι are clear, BUT are not to be discussed on this list except in private communication.

En Xristwi,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III

[Alan Patterson]

Bryant J. Williams, III

Thank you for the time-consuming answer you put together. It is appreciated very much. It also confirmed my suspicion that εγω ειμι is derived (in the NT), not from the Ex 3.14 passage, but the ones in Isaiah. Thanks again for such an elaborate answer.

In the future, just make your answers a little more thorough .

[Barry Hofstetter]

Bryant J. Williams, III

Thank you for the time-consuming answer you put together. It is appreciated very much. It also confirmed my suspicion that εγω ειμι is derived (in the NT), not from the Ex 3.14 passage, but the ones in Isaiah. Thanks again for such an elaborate answer.

In the future, just make your answers a little more thorough .

I'm reminded of a story that one of my grad school professors (a Cambridge man, England, that is) used to tell. Upon meeting his Latin tutor for the first time at university, he was asked how much Latin he had read. "All of Caesar's De Bello Gallico, all of Vergil's Aeneid, All of Ovid's Metamorphoses, large portions of Livy, Propertius, Tibullus, and so forth." The tutor's response was "A bit thin, don't you think?" Okay, well the story sort of relates...

But what I really wanted to say was, although I largely agree with the conclusion you two are presenting, that normally people who derive the ἐγὼ εἰμί of John 8:58 from Ex 3:14 do not do so based on the LXX Greek of Ex 3:14, but see Jesus (or John) translating, as it were, directly and literally from the Hebrew, אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה. The LXX translation of the participle ὁ ὤν is used, I think intentionally, at John 1:18, but that is largely speculation on my part, and can be explained on other grounds.

[Bryant J. Williams III]

Dear Barry,

Thanks for the comments.

Now regarding ὁ ὢν.

Besides Exodus 3:14 whereit is found 2x, it is also found in I Kings 16:22 (regarding the followers of Omri).

Matt 12:30 ὁ μὴ ὢν μετ’ ἐμοῦ κατ’ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν, καὶ ὁ μὴ συνάγων μετ’ ἐμοῦ σκορπίζει.
Luke 11:23 Ὁ μὴ ὢν μετ’ ἐμοῦ κατ’ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν, καὶ ὁ μὴ συνάγων μετ’ ἐμοῦ σκορπίζει.
John 1:18 Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.
John 3:31 Ὁ ἄνωθεν ἐρχόμενος ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν· ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐστιν καὶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαλεῖ. ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐρχόμενος [ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν]·
John 6:46 οὐχ ὅτι τὸν πατέρα ἑώρακέν τις εἰ μὴ ὁ ὢν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗτος ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα.
John 8:47 ὁ ὢν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ ἀκούει· διὰ τοῦτο ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἀκούετε, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ.
John 12:17 ἐμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ’ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν.
John 18:37 εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· οὐκοῦν βασιλεὺς εἶ σύ; ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς· σὺ λέγεις ὅτι βασιλεύς εἰμι. ἐγὼ εἰς τοῦτο γεγέννημαι καὶ εἰς τοῦτο ἐλήλυθα εἰς τὸν κόσμον, ἵνα μαρτυρήσω τῇ ἀληθείᾳ· πᾶς ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας ἀκούει μου τῆς φωνῆς.
Rom 9:5 ὧν οἱ πατέρες καὶ ἐξ ὧν ὁ Χριστὸς τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν.
2 Cor 11:31 ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ οἶδεν, ὁ ὢν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι.
Rev 1:4 Ἰωάννης ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις ταῖς ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἑπτὰ πνευμάτων ἃ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ
Rev 1:8 Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ ἄλφα καὶ τὸ ὦ, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ὁ παντοκράτωρ.
Rev 4:8 καὶ τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα, ἓν καθ’ ἓν αὐτῶν ἔχων ἀνὰ πτέρυγας ἕξ, κυκλόθεν καὶ ἔσωθεν γέμουσιν ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς λέγοντες· ἅγιος ἅγιος ἅγιος κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος.
Rev 11:17 λέγοντες· εὐχαριστοῦμέν σοι, κύριε ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ,ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν, ὅτι εἴληφας τὴν δύναμίν σου τὴν μεγάλην καὶ ἐβασίλευσας.
Rev 16:5 Καὶ ἤκουσα τοῦ ἀγγέλου τῶν ὑδάτων λέγοντος· δίκαιος εἶ, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν, ὁ ὅσιος, ὅτι ταῦτα ἔκρινας,

Now, I find it interesting that of the above verses, 11 of 15 verses have ὁ ὢν are found in John and Revelation. I think it is quite clear that John is clearly linking ὁ ὢν and Ἐγώ εἰμι. I do think that grammar is ambiguous with regard to John 1:18; although due to John's use of ὁ ὢν in the rest of John I would go with the link to Exodus 3:14. Its use in Revelation with the confession ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος links Exodus 3:14 to Isaiah 41:4 also.

En Xristwi,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III

[Barry Hofstetter]

Thanks, Bryant, I've always looked at John 1:18 strictly in the context of the prologue and it's obvious allusions to the OT text. His use of the phrase elsewhere is certainly intriguing, and I also never made the connection to Rev 1:4, which I have usually discussed as part of the author's often unusual to the point of solecism Greek. It bears further study and reflection, at least on my part!

[Bryant J. Williams III]

Dear Barry,

Your welcome.

BTW, I wonder how this would fit in the discussion regarding the authorship of John and Revelation since the same phrases are being used in both books?

The above question is just for thought since it could be construed to be against Forum Guidelines, but if some one wishes to comment then do so privately.

En Xristwi,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III

[Joelstein]

Barry Hofstetter said: But what I really wanted to say was, although I largely agree with the conclusion you two are presenting, that normally people who derive the ἐγὼ εἰμί of John 8:58 from Ex 3:14 do not do so based on the LXX Greek of Ex 3:14, but see Jesus (or John) translating, as it were, directly and literally from the Hebrew, אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה. The LXX translation of the participle ὁ ὤν is used, I think intentionally, at John 1:18, but that is largely speculation on my part, and can be explained on other grounds.


The Hebrew אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה is in the imperfect rendering it as I will be, not I am.