I am starting a study on
the names of God. I realize this is complicated and detailed. Part 1 is
comprehensive to cover all of God’s names in The Bible. Please study it over
the next four days. I hope this is a blessing to you as it is a blessing to me.
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And
He said, “Thus you shall say
to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 NKJV
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be
Your name.”
Matthew 6:9
“…Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both
glorified it and will glorify it again.”
John 12:28
The names which
God chose for Himself and which are ascribed to Him in the Word of God are
additional revelations of who God is and how should we relate to Him. The Old
Testament’s original form was written in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic,
and the New Testament in Greek.
Names of God in
Scripture:
(1)
Elohim: God “Creator,
Mighty and Strong”, the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine
of the Trinity. From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of God’s
power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence.
In
the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
I am the Lord, and there is no other Isaiah 45:18
Compounds of El:
• El Shaddai: “God Almighty.” Is a
name that speaks of God as the Covenant God. El-Shaddai is the active God
fulfilling His covenant.
• El Elyon: “The Most High God.”
Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:2
• El Olam: “The Everlasting God.”
Emphasizes God’s unchangeableness
(2)
Yahweh: a form of the
Hebrew name of God used in the Bible and is built on the word for "I
am." The name came to be regarded by Jews as too sacred to be spoken. Comes
from a verb which means “to exist, be.” God’s name is almost always translated
LORD (all caps) in the English Bible. In the middle ages, in English, Yahweh became
Jehovah. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for
deliverance, forgiveness and guidance.
So every time we
hear the word Yahweh, or every time you see LORD in the English Bible, you
should think: this is a proper name built out of the word for “I am” and
reminding us each time that God absolutely is.
Compounds of
Yahweh (or Jehovah in English): Strictly speaking, these compounds are
designations or titles which reveal additional facts about God’s character.
• Jehovah Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord
will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people. The name memorialized
by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.
And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide;
as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall
be provided.” Genesis
22:14
• Jehovah Nissi: “The Lord is my
Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the
one who fights for His people. This name commemorates the desert victory over
the Amalekites in Exodus 17.
And
Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner
• Jehovah Shalom: “The Lord is Peace.”
Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest. The name given by Gideon
to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die
as he thought he would after seeing Him.
So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace. Judges 6:24
• Jehovah Rapha: "The Lord Who
Heals" both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from and curing
diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities.
…For I am the Lord who heals you. Exodus 15:26
• Jehovah Sabbaoth: “The Lord of
Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of
heaven
• Jehovah Maccaddeshcem: “The Lord
your Sanctifier.” Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the
one who sets believers apart for His purposes. God makes it clear that He
alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy.
‘…that you may know
that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.’ Exodus 31:13
• Jehovah Rohi: “The Lord my
Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a
shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture. After David pondered his relationship
as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God
had with him, and so he declares:
The
(Jehova Rohi) Lord
is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1
• Jehovah Tsidkenu: “The Lord our
Righteousness.” It is God alone who provides righteousness to man, in the
person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become
the Righteousness of God in Him”.
Now
this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Jeremiah 23:6
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
• Jehovah Shammah: “The Lord is
there.” The name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that
the once-departed glory of the Lord had returned.
“..and the name of
the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48:35
• Jehovah Elohim Israel: “The Lord,
the God of Israel.” Identifies Jehovah as the God of Israel in contrast to the
false gods of the nations
I
will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. Judges 5:3
• Jehovah Sabaoth: "The Lord of
Hosts" Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the
host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of
rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power,
and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines
to do.
The
Lord of hosts is
with us. Psalm 46:7
• Jehovah Elyon: “Most High" derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or
“ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon
denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship.
“
…and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise,
in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as
He has spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:19
• Jehovah Elroi: "God of
Seeing" The name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the
wilderness after being driven out by Sarah. When Hagar met the Angel of the
Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized
that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives
and sees all.
Then
she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she
said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Genesis 16:13
• Jehovah Elolam: "Everlasting
God" God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints
of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From
everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
Even
from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:1-3
• Jehovah Elgibhor: “Mighty God” The
name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, as a powerful and mighty warrior,
the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies
and rule with a rod of iron.
Now
out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.
And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Revelation 19:15
(3) Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a
plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s
relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider. In the Old
Testament, YHWH is more often used in God’s dealings with His people, while
Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.
(4) Theos: Greek word
translated “God.” Primary name for God used in the New Testament. Its use
teaches:
A. He is the
only true God
B. He is unique
C. He is transcendent
D. He is the
Savior. This name is used of Christ as
God
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
(5)
Kurios: Greek word
translated “Lord.” Stresses authority and supremacy. It is used mostly as the
equivalent of Yahweh of the Old Testament. It too is used of Jesus Christ
meaning God or Deity
(6)
Despotes: Greek word
translated “Master.” Carries the idea of ownership.
(7) Father: A distinctive
New Testament revelation is that through faith in Christ, God becomes our
personal Father. Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while
it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament. As a name of God, it stresses
God’s loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in
prayer
I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:
Abba
Father, Adonai, thank You for Your
inseparable, unfailing, deep and everlasting love for me and Your abundant
blessings in my life. God I put my life in Your hands Elohim. I pray that
Your covenant will be fulfilled in my life El-Shaddai. You are my everlasting
God El Olam. I submit to your supremacy El Elyon. I thank You for providing for
me all my life and I know I can depend on You to continue providing for You
are Jehovah Jireh. My LORD Jehovah Elgibhor, fight
all my battles for me and give me peace Jehovah Shalom. Heal my body and my
spirit my Jehovah Rapha. In the name of Theos, The King of kings and Lord of
lords, in the Holy Name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour, I pray. To Him be
the glory, the power, the dominion, the majesty and the blessings forever and
ever and unto ages of all ages.
Jesus loves you,
In Him,
Wagdi Henein
