Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Steve Miller" <smille10 AT sbcglobal.net>]

Gary,

You may have seen this google book on the subject:
http://books.google.com/books?id=nh6viSB9FScC&printsec=frontcover&dq=i+am+he&source=bl&ots=45er0-wEzD&sig=Zjv8BUsS5LWYoS57ieulNvme3bQ&hl=en&ei=9FmNTNH_CZTqnQeOw4ySCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Every use of the phrase אני הוא or אנכי הוא or  אתא הוא always refers to God 
(Deu 32:39; Ps 102:28; Isa 41:4; 43:10,13, 25; 46:4; 48:12; 51:12; 52:6). The 
LXX generally translates the "I am He" phrases, as just "I am", which seems 
to treat it as a Divine name. 

Ps 102:28(27) אתא הוא is translated in LXX, and Heb 1:12 as "You are the 
same".

In synagogue, we closed most services that with the ein Keloheinu hymn, the 
last 5 stanzas of which are five אתא הוא 's in praise of God.

Sincerely,
-Steve Miller
Detroit
www.voiceInWilderness.info
Judge me, O my Lord, for I have walked,
    walked in my integrity,
and I have put my trust in the Lord.
    I'll not slide away from Thee. (Ps 26:1)


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hedrick Gary
> Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 1:48 AM
> To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [b-hebrew] Ani Hu
> 
> I'm looking at Isaiah 48:12 in the Tanakh:
> 
> שמע אלי יעקב וישראל מקראי אני־הוא אני ראשון אף אני אחרון׃
> 
> In English: “Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He
> (Heb., ani hu), I am the First, I am also the Last."
> 
> My understanding is that ani hu is two pronouns with the verb
> understood: "I (am) He."
> Was this construction any sort of special designation for God in
> ancient Judaism? I've scanned the WWW and there seems to be
> contradictory information on this topic. So I need a little expert help
> to sort out fact from fiction.
> 
> Thanks a bunch,
> 
> Gary Hedrick
> San Antonio, TX USA