Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 5
In Exodus 6 the speaker highlights a covenant connection to the name—God says He didn’t reveal Himself to the patriarchs “by my name Yahweh”; how might early covenant believers have heard “name” as relational access and obligation, and what does that suggest about the difference between knowing about God and belonging to Him?
Another way to ask: How might Abraham’s family have understood God’s “name” as a real relationship with duties, not just information? What does that teach us about knowing facts about God versus truly belonging to Him?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, the “name” in Exodus 6 signals a special covenant relationship: to know Yahweh’s name is to be brought into relational access—and also into covenant obligation—beyond merely knowing facts about God.
- He reads Exodus 6 and comments: “I don’t know exactly why God says he didn’t reveal himself as Yahweh to the patriarchs,” but it “appears… in some way” it’s unique.
- He concludes, “In a unique covenant relationship, this is the name that I use,” and connects the name to “a covenant relationship and a covenant use of his name.”
- He states, “He is known by his own people in his own covenant,” implying the name marks belonging.
- He repeatedly calls it “covenant language,” especially when God speaks of hearing Israel’s groaning and remembering His covenant.
- He invites further insight: “We’ll definitely have time… as to how God speaks there in Exodus 6,” showing the transcript doesn’t fully settle the historical question but stresses the covenant connection.