According to in the Bible, Jehovah-nissi (Hebrew: ''Yahweh nissî'') is the name given by Moses to the
altar
An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paganism ...
which he built to celebrate the defeat of the
Amalek
Amalek (; he, עֲמָלֵק, , ar, عماليق ) was a nation described in the Hebrew Bible as a staunch enemy of the Israelites. The name "Amalek" can refer to the nation's founder, a grandson of Esau; his descendants, the Amalekites; or the ...
ites at
Rephidim.
Translations
The first word of the phrase is the
Tetragrammaton , one of the
names of God in Judaism. It is generally translated in
English Bibles as "the ",
Jehovah, or
Yahweh.
The
Septuagint translators believed ''nis·si′'' to be derived from ''nus'' (flee for refuge) and rendered it "the Lord My Refuge", while in the
Vulgate
The Vulgate (; also called (Bible in common tongue), ) is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible.
The Vulgate is largely the work of Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Gospels us ...
it was thought to be derived from ''na·sas′'' (hoist; lift up) and was rendered "Jehovah Is My Exaltation".
In many modern Christian translations, such as the
New International Version, the name is translated “the is my banner."
[ (NIV)]
Interpretation
The chapter recounts that Israel had the advantage over Amalek as long as
Moses, watching the battle from a vantage point, held
his staff aloft.
Matthew Henry considered that ''Jehovah-nissi'' (The Lord is my banner) "probably refers to the lifting up of the rod of God as a banner in this action. The presence and power of Jehovah were the banner under which they enlisted, by which they were animated and kept together, and therefore which they erected in the day of their triumph."
[ Matthew Henry]
Commentary on Exodus 17:8-16
(online at CCEL
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) is a digital library that provides free electronic copies of Christian scripture and literature texts.
Description
CCEL is a volunteer-based project founded and directed by Harry Plantinga, a pro ...
)
See also
*
Jehovah-jireh
In the Book of Genesis, Jehovah-jireh or Yahweh Yireh was the location of the binding of Isaac, where Yahweh told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham named the place after God provided a ram to sacrifice in place of Isaac. ...
*
Jehovah-shammah
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jehovah-Nissi
Hebrew words and phrases in the Hebrew Bible