Hebrew Word Study – I Am – Anoki אנכי Aleph Nun Kap Yod
Why Does God Begin the Ten Commandments With An Egyptian Word?
Exodus 20:2: “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
In our study verse, God has brought His people out of slavery from Egypt and is now leading them to the Promised Land. However, before they can enter the Promised Land God must give them laws or instructions on how they are to live. In Exodus 20:2 God is now ready to deliver the Ten Commandments to Moses and he starts off by saying: “I am the Lord thy God.”
On the surface there seems to be nothing strange about this introduction except when you look at it in the Hebrew, you discover the first words “I am” are not in Hebrew. It is a Middle Egyptian word Anoki and means “I am.”
Why would the first word of the Ten Commandments, the most important message for God to deliver to His people, the most basic statement of our special relationship with the infinite God of the Universe be not a Hebrew word but a Middle Egyptian word?
The Midrash has much to say about this and has some intriguing ideas. Some rabbis suggest that God wanted to speak with His people in the language they had learned while in Egypt. This is interesting because it shows that God not only wants to relate to us on a sacred level or even just a spiritual level but on an earthly level as well, an Egyptian dimension so to speak. God is there for us in every aspect of our lives, including the most basic and the commandments that connect us to God not only on a spiritual or sacred level but on a physical level as well.
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What is the meaning of this particular “I am.” This is not yahi in Hebrew which is the word for “I am” but this is a different “I am.” This is an “I am” that means “I truly am.” I existed before creation and I am separate and independent of Creation. This “I am” is an existence that is infinite, it cannot be swept away. Our physical realm will soon cease to exist but the realm of the Anoki “I am” will continue.
It is almost as if God is saying: “I am the stars, the sun, the moon, the planets, the animals, vegetation, and all humanity. It all exists because of me, remove me and it will no longer exist. It exists because I exist.”
God begins sharing His laws with “Anoki” a word that the people who came out of Egypt knew very well. There is not a word in Hebrew that quite expresses the same thing, although YHWH is very close. Anoki has a dimension to it that suggests we can be joined in this Anoki, I am. But it also means to put aside our own “I am” for the other Anoki, “I am. I am not sure there is an English expression for this but it literally is suggesting, “we am.” That is pretty bad grammar in English but fits in this context.
God’s Anoki is genuine and has enabled us to be, to exist. He is not created and thus we humans exist because He has called us into existence, our existence is only at the granting of the Anoki and is granted only when we connect not compete with the Anoki. If we follow the commandments we will connect with the Anoki or the “I am.”
God is telling His people and us at the start of the impartation of the Ten Commandments that He wants us to be joined with His Anoki and the Ten Commandments are our instructions in how to achieve this. It starts with the recognition of God’s Anoki and the denial of our personal anoki.
Just between you and me that is a little too philosophical to fit my comfort zone so I will break it down this way, God wanted to show that the following commandments were not just for the Hebrews alone, but were intended for all of humankind. Egypt was the world-ruling power of that day, it was the symbol of the entire earth. God began his delivery of the Ten Commandments by starting off with a word that spoke to the entire world, not just the Hebrew nation. – Anoki, “I am.” In other words, we all exist, everything on this planet and beyond, exist because of the Anoki, He is the source and the control of all existence. Follow his instructions and you will have a joyful and peaceful existence.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
I’ve come across the word often. One of the translating sites I use is doitinhebrew, and I think that is where I found, vertical as a meaning. I liked it!
I AM the vertical one!
He is!
It may not be accurate, but it speaks to me.
The posts on padah, and laimor helped solidify my view of ancient slavery, and to see; from speak, and not to speak. Hebrew is strange stuff, especially since. I don’t think about language at.all when I speak and write. I just do it! I have no idea about word categories, and all the tenses and other things that there are. Even in elementary school I could never do sentence structures.
But Greek is even worse! Those guys thought about things way too mich.
Thanks
Cannot resist this: (*_*) “Just between you and me”…. and the gatepost!!!
And thanks, in the English vernacular…lol – Father is everything and in Him is everything and everything comes out of relationship with Him; He is all we need. Access to the Father for most of us comes through Jesus, Yeshua, Messiah. We are blessed but also I understand [please feel free to correct me] that there are some that have access to Father through the Abraham covenant?
Thank you for unlocking the amazing Father heart of God in so many waya
WAOW THIS IS INSIGHTFUL, IT GIVES A WHOLE NEW LIGHT TO THE PERSONALITY OF GOD AND HIS ETERNAL PLAN..
THANKS ALOT..
What is your source of information that “anoki” is the word used by God or that God spoke in Egyptian?
Join us at the All-Access Learning Channel to understand the Etymology of words, about Semitic roots, loan words, and much more. He doesn’t like to call himself Dr. Chaim Bentorah, but he does have his Ph.D. in the field, so I assume you’re asking out of curiosity and not fact-checking him. He also answers all questions within 24hrs there. I think you’d find it very interesting and informative. Here’s the link in case you’d like to check it out:https://www.hebrewwordstudy.com
Yes, I:m new to this & had never heard that God spoke in Egyptian to the Hebrew people & have never heard anyone else say this. I was interested in finding out more about this. I will check out your link, but would still be interested in additional sources, not as criticism, just for further study.
God did NOT speak Egyptian to the Hebrews. That is not the meaning of using a loan word. We’re glad you may be joining us to learn more. Blessings, Laura