Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Exodus 3:15/רמב"ן על שמות ג׳:ט״ו

אוְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר יַחְזֹר אֶל אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, כִּי לֹא לְעוֹלָם יִשְׁכַּח בְּרִית אָבוֹת, וְכָל הַדּוֹרוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר יַזְכִּירוּ "אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב" יִשְׁמַע אֵל וְיַעֲנֵם (תהלים נ"ה כ'). וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת, זֶה שְּׁמִי לְעוֹלָם, אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, וְזֶה זִכְרִי וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, וּלְכָךְ הוֹסִיף בּוֹ ו', וְזֶה טַעַם זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר חָסֵר וְהַמַּשְׂכִּיל יָבִין:

1AND THIS IS MY MEMORIAL UNTO ALL GENERATIONS. This refers back to the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, and the G-d of Jacob, for the covenant [of G-d] with the patriarchs will never be forgotten, and throughout all generations whenever the children of Israel will mention [in prayer], “the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” G-d shall hear and answer them.²³¹. Whenever you mention Me in prayer say thus: ‘G-d of Abraham, G-d of Isaac…’ This is My memorial unto all generations.”By way of the Truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], this is My name forever refers to the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac. And this is My memorial refers to the expression, and the G-d of Jacob. This is the reason He added here the letter vav — [v’zeh zichri (‘And’ this is My memorial)].²³² This is the sense of the expression, zichri l’dor dor, [with the words l’dor dor written] defectively, [i.e., without a vav between the dalet and the resh]. The person learned in the mysteries of the Torah will understand.