The second name we will be looking at this week is “Jehovah-jireh” (as the KJV translates the name). This name is only used once and arises from the story of the Sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. As Abraham and Isaac are ascending Mt. Moriah, Isaac asks “Where is the sacrifice” to which Abraham replies “God will provide.” Later as Abraham is ready to slit Isaac’s throat, the angel of God stays the knife, and Abraham looks up and sees the ram caught in the thicket – and thus God provided the sacrifice. Abraham names the place “Jehovah-jirah” or “Yahweh-yirah.” Genesis 22:14. Most of our English versions, translate this term as “God will provide.” Elsewhere in the English Bible, however, the word yirah is translated as “to see” or “to look” and therefore a more literal translation is “God will see to it” or “God will see it through.” This is how the King James and the Message translate the term. Although “provide” and “see it through” are similar in meaning, the latter has a stronger sense of promise and fulfillment.
As we continue with our study, another great online resource is biblehub.com. This site will transliterate the Hebrew (or the Greek in the NT) into English and provide a link to Strong’s Concordance for each Hebrew word used. This allows you to perform your own translation of a verse and have a better sense of the meaning of the Hebrew being used. For example, the transliteration of Genesis 22:14 is HERE.
(I’m preaching this Sunday at Messiah on Peter’s Confession that Jesus is the Messiah.)
Dinner is at 6. The menu is meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Discussion about 6:45. Hope to see you here.
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
Genesis 22:14 (KJV)