Table of Contents:
The Authorized (King James) Version:
“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
(A French Reformed Lausannian Genevan Protestant Reformer)
THE FIRST TABLE. The Preface Upon the Ten Commandments.
“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
Who is the LORD, or the Eternal, or the Self-Existent One. Touching this Name of God, some do discourse many things, whereof they have no foundation in the holy Scripture, and such are of none, or of very little, profit; but it behoveth us to rest contented with such handling as is grounded upon the Scripture, and may bring some light to this present passage.
First, it behoveth to note that the Hebrews give not unto Him proper vowels, but rather bestow upon Him for the most part the vowels of one other Name of God, which doth properly signify Lord, or Sire, or Master. For this cause, the Greeks, and after them, the Latins, render it as ‘Lord:’ which we have also followed, because it hath been of long standing received in the Church. Now, this is the proper Name of the true God (which seemeth to be the cause why some retain the Hebrew word, as men do with proper names, and read Jehovah, according to such vowels as the Jews have assigned unto it), by which He is distinguished from idols and from all creatures: by this Name He made Himself known to Moses. Wherefore, He showeth that even as obedience is due unto the commandments of the true God, so contrariwise ought no man forge unto himself gods, to whose commandments he yieldeth obedience, neither should any yield himself to human traditions which do lack foundation in the word of God.
Forasmuch as this Name is derived from a verb which signifieth To Be: this showeth that it is the Name of the Divine essence, signifying He that hath Being from Himself, abiding and unchangeable in the same, and manifesting His eternity: even as it seemeth to be expounded in the Revelation, where the Lord is called He which is, and which was, and which is to come. This also is denoted by the Prophet Isaiah, who bringeth in God speaking thus, I am He (to wit, He who is present), calleth Himself the First, and also saith He will be the Last. For it is very like that this Name was thus declared of God, in reply unto Moses, when Moses enquired after His Name, saying, I AM THAT I AM. For among the Hebrews the Future tense oft denoteth endurance of time, comprising what is past, present, and to come. Wherefore, some render this Name, “the Eternal.”
It signifieth also, that all things have their being by His power: as Saint Paul said unto the Athenians, that in Him we live, and move, and have our being: albeit this is properly expressed by another Name of God, namely JAH, by which Name He is called to show that He is the Creator and Preserver of all things. Therefore, besides that this Name here giveth great authority unto the Law, by expressing the eternal essence of the Author thereof, it showeth also that our duty is to glorify Him by our obedience, seeing it is by Him that we subsist: as Saint Paul saith, that all things ought to be for His glory, since they are of Him, and by Him, and in Him.
This Name also signifieth the certainty of the word of God: for even as He abideth and is unchangeable in His Divine essence, so likewise He performeth His words, bringing them to pass without fault or change. This seemeth to be denoted by that saying of God unto Moses, that He had not manifested Himself to the Patriarchs by this Name. For He seemeth to mean, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had often proved the power of God, albeit they had not seen the fulfilment of the promise made to them, namely, to give the land of Canaan to their seed; but that when the time was come, wherein the Israelites should discern the accomplishment of God's promises, they should know that He it is Who infallibly bringeth to pass what He hath promised. And therefore, forthwith He commandeth Moses to say unto the Israelites, that they should then know that He was the LORD their God, when He should have delivered them from the bondage of Egypt, and that He would be their God, and they His people.
For this cause the Prophets, purposing to confirm the truth of their saying, did always have these words in their mouths, “Saith the LORD.” The same may be inferred from the Greek word which they use to render the Hebrew Name: for although it signifieth Lord, it properly denoteth Him that hath power and authority to command, and to ratify and uphold His ordinance. Therefore, this Name assured the Israelites that God would perform those promises which He made unto their fathers.
“Thy God.” The Hebrew word here used for God is in the plural number, albeit it is rendered in the singular. Not only is it attributed unto the true God, but also unto false gods, unto Angels, and to men of high esteem and dignity. When it denoteth the true God, though in plural, yet its verbs, adjectives, and relatives are commonly singular: which, I believe, doth set forth the mystery of the Trinity. For in that this Name is plural, it signifieth plurality of persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: and in that the verbs, adjectives, and relatives are singular, it denoteth that notwithstanding this, there is but one only God, and one only Divine Substance.