A child of God
In Egyptian, “Moses” means “child of” and formed pharaonic names like Thutmose (Thot + moses), a child “born of” the Egyptian god Thoth. When Pharaoh’s daughter names the Hebrew baby “child of,” it leaves the reader asking, “A child of whom?” Along with being the child of his earthly parents, Moses is a child of God whose clash with Pharaoh highlights his relationship with his heavenly Father.
Battle between God and Ra
On the other hand, the name “Rameses” (Ra + moses) means “child of Ra,” the Egyptian sun god. Thus, when Moses confronts Pharaoh, we have a showdown between Rameses the “child of Ra” and Moses the “child of Israel’s God”: the Moses of Ra vs. the Moses of the Lord. As the leader of Israel, Moses represents the people whom God calls “my firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). The God of Israel uses Moses as a “son” who defeats the son of Ra.
Truly connect with the Bible
Learning Biblical Hebrew will open up new horizons of meaning every time you study the Bible. By mastering the language that Abraham, Moses and David actually spoke, you will enter the mindset of a biblical person in a way that you have never done before. You will be amazed at the unexpected connections and the manner in which familiar biblical passages are suddenly brimming with new life.