Exodus 23:21
Exodus 23:2121Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.
The Watchtower reads "do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; because my name is in him" as language about a delegated angel carrying Jehovah's authority by proxy. The "name is in him" expression is understood as the angel acting under Jehovah's authorisation — a stewardship, not shared identity.
The angel of cannot forgive transgression. This alone distinguishes him from every ordinary angel. Forgiveness of covenant sin is Jehovah's exclusive prerogative throughout the Torah — priests mediate sacrifices, but only God himself forgives. And the reason given — "my name is in him" — uses the Hebrew idiom for authoritative identity, not mere authorisation. The divine name is not transferable to creatures the way a policeman's badge is transferable. Combine this with Jesus's own claim at , where he forgives a paralytic's sins and the scribes correctly infer blasphemy ("who can forgive sins except one, God?") — and Jesus proves the authority by healing. He forgives on his own authority, not as a representative. Pair with Jude 5 (earliest manuscripts: "Jesus" saved the people out of Egypt) and ("the angel of his presence saved them") and the OT's "angel in whom God's name dwells" lines up with the NT's Jesus who forgives, creates, and receives worship. The "bears-God's-name" figure of Exodus 23 is not a representative of God; he is identified with God.