“Know my name”
The phrase “know my name” (or variants thereof) occurs in several passages of the Bible, usually in the sense that God knows a person by name (i.e. personally), or that people will know God’s name (i.e. understand or recognise God). Here are some key references and ideas:
Key Biblical References
• Exodus 33:17 — “I will indeed do what you have asked, for you look favourably on me, and I know you by name.” OpenBible
• Isaiah 43:1 — “I have called you by name, you are mine.” OpenBible
• Psalm 91:14–16 — “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.” Fighter Verses
• Isaiah 52:6 — “Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who speak.” Bible Hub
• Psalm 139 — Speaks broadly of God’s intimate knowledge of us (“You have searched me and known me…”) which strengthens the idea of being known personally. Wikipedia
Themes & Interpretation
• Personal relationship / intimacy
When God says He “knows you by name,” it signals a personal and intimate relationship, not just distant or generic knowledge.
• Assurance and identity
The promise that God calls someone “by name” affirms identity and belonging (“you are mine”). Isaiah 43:1 is often used in that way.
• Revelation of God’s character
When people “know God’s name,” it often means they come to understand who God is — His character, power, and presence, not just His label.
• Faith & recognition
Knowing God’s name can be tied to faith: when people recognise “It is I who speak,” as in Isaiah 52:6, they acknowledge God’s voice and authority.
Here’s a look at how the phrase “know my name” (or close variants) is used in different Bible translations, in both the Old and New Testaments — and some of the theological meaning that emerges.
Key Examples in Bible Translations
In the Old Testament / Hebrew Scriptures
• Isaiah 52:6
◦ KJV: “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.” Bible Gateway+1
◦ NKJV: “Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’ ” YouVersion | The Bible App | Bible.com
◦ NLT: “But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.” Bible Hub
In these versions, the nuance shifts slightly: the NLT emphasizes revealing the name and the power of the name, whereas the more literal versions stress the future recognition that “I am He who speaks.”
• Psalm 91:14–16
Some translations (e.g., ESV) render it:
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” Fighter Verses+1
Here the phrase indicates an existing relationship: the one who knows God’s name is someone for whom God promises deliverance and protection.
• Exodus 33:17
In many translations, God says to Moses, “for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.” OpenBible
That shows a more personal aspect: God’s intimate knowledge of Moses as an individual, not simply as a generic human.
• Isaiah 43:1
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (many translations) — again emphasizing calling by name and ownership.
OpenBible
In the New Testament
While the exact phrase “know my name” is less frequent in the New Testament, there are related concepts and usages:
• Revelation 2:17
“To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on it, which no one knows except the one who receives it.” Bible Gateway
Here the “new name” is mysterious — “no one knows except the one who receives it” — indicating a personal and intimate identity given by God.
• Revelation 19:12
“He has a name written on him, that no one knows except himself.” Bible Gateway
This is more cryptic, and is often interpreted symbolically (the name of Christ, or divine identity known fully only by God himself).
• John 10:14–15
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”
Though it does not explicitly say “know my name,” the mutual knowing here is in the same relational domain. OpenBible
• Philippians / Revelation – Book of Life references
Some Christian writers point out that believers’ names are written in the Book of Life (e.g. in Revelation) and that God “knows our names” through that registry, though the phrase “know my name” is indirect in these contexts. The Servants’ Dining Room
Theological & Interpretive Reflections
From comparing the usages in different translations and contexts, a few themes emerge:
1. Personal relationship & intimacy
“Knowing the name” often signals more than just recognizing a label — it points to a relational bond. God knowing someone by name suggests intimate knowledge, care, and individuality (Exodus 33:17; Psalm 91).
2. Revelation and recognition
Sometimes “know my name” is tied to a future revealing, when people will come to understand God’s character and identity (e.g. Isaiah 52:6).
3. Mystery & identity in Christ
In Revelation, the idea of a “new name” or “a name no one knows but himself” introduces mystery: parts of God’s identity (or Christ’s identity) are beyond human comprehension, yet promise deeper personal knowledge in some sense.
4. Divine sovereignty & calling
When God calls someone by name (e.g. Isaiah 43:1), it asserts sovereignty and purpose — the one called belongs to God.
5. Faith implications
In Psalm 91, the promise tied to “knowing God’s name” comes in the form of deliverance and reassurance. The idea is that faith and relational trust are connected to God’s knowledge of us.