Buber-Rosenzweig: Bridging Faith and Philosophy

Who Were Buber and Rosenzweig in Biblical Thought?

Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig, Jewish philosophers and theologians, significantly shaped modern interpretations of divine revelation through their engagement with Exodus 3:14.

Buber and Rosenzweig analyzed the divine name ‘I AM WHO I AM’ (Exodus 3:14) as a cornerstone of God’s self-disclosure, emphasizing its dynamic, relational nature. They argued that this name reveals God not as a static being but as a living presence actively engaged with humanity. Their work connected this biblical passage to themes of covenant, presence, and the immediacy of divine-human interaction.

Their insights bridged philosophical inquiry and scriptural analysis, offering frameworks that remain influential in theological discussions of identity, encounter, and the nature of divine revelation.

Buber and Rosenzweig on God’s Self-Revelation

Building on their shared focus on Exodus 3:14, Buber and Rosenzweig reimagined divine-human encounter as dynamic and relational.

Martin Buber’s concept of the ‘I and Thou’ relationship positioned God not as an object of knowledge but as a living subject with whom humans engage in authentic dialogue. For Buber, this mirrors the divine name ‘I AM WHO I AM’ (Exodus 3:14), which resists fixed definition and demands a personal, immediate response. Franz Rosenzweig, meanwhile, emphasized God’s active presence in history, interpreting the same verse as a declaration of divine agency - where God’s self-disclosure unfolds through events like the Exodus. Both thinkers saw the divine name as a paradox: it is both intimately accessible and eternally beyond human grasp.

Buber’s ‘I and Thou’ framework rejects abstract theology, insisting that true knowledge of God arises from lived, reciprocal relationship. This aligns with Exodus 3:14’s emphasis on God’s presence as a ‘being-with’ rather than a ‘being-for-us.’

Rosenzweig reinterpreted divine transcendence as God’s ‘acting in the world,’ particularly in moments of liberation and covenant. For him, the name ‘I AM’ (Exodus 3:14) is not a static identity but a verb - a continuous unfolding of God’s will in creation and history. This dynamic understanding bridges the infinite and the finite, allowing for a theology grounded in both mystery and engagement.

How Their Ideas Influence Modern Faith

Buber and Rosenzweig’s reinterpretation of Exodus 3:14 reshapes how modern believers engage with God’s presence in daily life.

Their teachings emphasize that God’s declaration, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), is not a fixed identity but an invitation to ongoing relationship. This dynamic understanding encourages individuals to see divine action in ordinary moments - whether in ethical choices, communal responsibility, or personal encounters. By framing faith as a lived dialogue rather than abstract doctrine, they challenge believers to seek God’s will in the immediacy of their own contexts.

Exodus 3:14, as interpreted through their lens, reminds contemporary Jews and Christians that God’s presence is both intimate and mysterious, unfolding through history and covenant. This perspective fosters a faith that balances reverence for divine transcendence with active participation in the world’s moral and spiritual renewal.

What We Can Learn From Buber and Rosenzweig

Buber and Rosenzweig’s reinterpretation of Exodus 3:14 invites us to embrace a living faith rooted in dynamic encounter rather than fixed formulas.

Their analysis of God’s declaration, ‘I AM WHO I AM’ (Exodus 3:14), reveals a God who transcends static definitions, instead meeting humanity in ongoing, reciprocal relationship. Buber’s ‘I and Thou’ framework teaches that faith is not about abstract doctrine but about authentic dialogue, where God is not an object to be studied but a subject to be encountered. Rosenzweig’s emphasis on divine action in history - seen in Exodus - shows that God’s ‘I AM’ is a verb, not a noun: a continuous unfolding of presence through creation, covenant, and liberation. Applying this to personal spiritual growth, we are called to see our own lives as part of this dynamic reality, responding to God’s presence in the immediacy of each moment, as both mystery and promise.