Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 3:11/אבן עזרא על שמות ג׳:י״א
אויאמר מי אנכי. אין הפרש בין אני ובין אנכי, כמו עמי עמדי ככה מצאנו דרך הלשון גם אני, גם אתה, ואתם, בהתבלע הנו"ן, מגזרת "אָן הלכתם" (ש"א י יד) כי המקום יכיר המדבר, אולי אנכי על זה הדרך מגזרת אנך (עמוס ז ז) על דרך נחושתך (יהו' טז לו), ובעבור שאמר לו "ועתה לכה ואשלחך אל פרעה" השיב הנה אני רועה, והוא מלך גדול, ובעבור שאמר והוציא השיב מי אנכי שאוכל להוציא גוי גדול שהם בני ישראל:
1AND MOSES SAID…WHO AM I. There is no difference between the words ani (I) and anokhi (I).85 The latter are similar to immi (with me) and immadi (with me). We have found that it is the way of the Hebrew tongue to derive the word ani (I) and the words attah (you in the singular) and attem (you in the plural), whose nuns have been swallowed,86 is short for antah and attem for antem. The omitted nuns are compensated for by a dagesh in the tavs. from the root of an (whither) in Whither went ye (I Sam. 10:14), as the place indicates the speaker.87) are you standing? Where am I standing? Hence the pronouns ani, attah (antah), attem (antem). It is possible that the word anokhi is derived from the root of anakh (plumbline) (Amos 7:7)88, like a plumbline (anakh), indicates the exact place of the person who is speaking. According to I.E. the personal pronoun anokhi means: I who stand here. It is thus similar to a plumbline. in a manner similar to the derivation of the word nechushtekh (thy bottom)89 is derived from nechoshet (copper). Nechoshet is a strong metal. It serves as a base. Hence by extension it refers to the base (bottom) of a person. For the meaning of nechushtekh as bottom, see I.E. on Ezek. 16:36. Similarly, anokhi (I) is derived from anakh (plumbline). (Ezek. 16:36).Because the Lord told Moses, come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh (v. 10), Moses responded, I am a shepherd and Pharaoh is a great king.90.Because God told Moses, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt (v. 10), Moses answered the Lord, Who am I that I am able to bring forth a great nation such as the children of Israel out of Egypt.91.