THE NAMES OF GOD

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

We all have names and they are very important to us. But God has several names that have significant meaning because they are directly related to His character, identity, abilities, purpose, will, emotions and authority. His names are intricate and complex because He is intricate and complex in nature. There are mysteries about the names of God as there are mysteries about God. Part of the mystery is, while we know much about our Heavenly Father, He really is beyond our understanding and comprehension. The Bible is the best source for finding out about Him and discovering who He is, but even in scripture there are mysteries that boggle our mind concerning His name. Hopefully as we investigate the different names of God we will learn more about Him so that we can continue to grow in our relationship with Him.

 

The most important name of God is the four-letter name represented by the Hebrew letters YHWH. This is known as the Tetragrammaton (Greek: having four letters). The Tetragrammaton appears 6,828 times in the Old Testament. These four letters are usually transliterated from Hebrew as JHWH in German, French and Dutch and JHVH/YHWH in English. This has been rendered as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” based on the Latin form of the name. But we must remember that these names are transliterations or conversions of the original Hebrew name for God that possessed no vowels.

 

There is great respect on the part of Jews for the name of God. His name is not casually written nor spoken. Much of this tradition came from the Talmud, which is a collection of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law.

 

Various names of God were used often, but the YHWH name was to remain unspoken with reverence and was in a sense regarded as too holy to be spoken by mortal man. Originally there was a correct pronunciation of this YHWH name of God but this was lost down through the centuries and we have no certainty of its proper pronunciation. We do not know the vowels that were used so theologians and scholars have attempted to offer possibilities so that we might pronounce God’s name. One suggestion for the four-letter YHWH was “Jehovah” but this pronunciation is probably unlikely. The word “Jehovah” was suggested because Jewish texts used to put the vowels of the name “Adonai” (the usual substitute for YHWH) under the consonants of YHWH to remind people not to pronounce YHWH as written. It was once thought that “Jehovah” was unknown until 1520 A.D., when it was introduced as a possible pronunciation by Galantinus. He combined the consonants of YHWH with “Adonai.” But now it has been discovered that “Jehovah” was used as early as 1270 A.D.

 

When you see the numerous names of God in the Bible (over 170), including “Jehovah,” we must remember it is an attempt by translators to communicate a name of God that relates to the doctrines of the Bible, how God manifests Himself at the moment, or how God wishes to be addressed in a particular situation.

But what we should remember is that amidst all the confusion over what the true and proper name of God is, the main point is that God should be honored and revered. We may not know for sure what His real name is nor how it should be pronounced, but we should call out to Him by whatever name is easy and comfortable for us. He is aware of our ignorance of what His name is and desires a relationship with us whether we know His proper name or not. He knows our heart and whether it is to praise Him or call out to Him in a time of need, He will respond. The various names used in scripture help us understand something of the multi-faceted nature of our God. Remember He is “triune.” Within the nature of the ONE God there are THREE Persons, each are divine and equally God but each manifests and works in different ways.

 

Following is a list of various names of God as presented in scripture and translated by theologians and Bible scholars. This comes from a document by Lambert Dolphin entitled, “The Names of God.”

 

EL: God (“mighty, strong, prominent”) used 250 times in the OT See Gen. 7:1, 28:3, 35:11; Nu. 23:22; Josh. 3:10; 2 Sam. 22:31, 32; Neh. 1:5, 9:32; Isa. 9:6; Ezek. 10:5. El is linguistically equivalent to the Moslem “Allah,” but the attributes of Allah in Islam are entirely different from those of the God of the Hebrews. ELAH is Aramaic, “god.” Elah appears in the Hebrew Bible in Jer. 10:11 (which is in Aramaic, and is plural, “gods”). In Daniel (the Aramaic sections) Elah is used both of pagan gods, and of the true God, also plural. Elah is equivalent to the Hebrew Eloah which some think is dual; Elohim is three or more. The gods of the nations are called “elohim.” The origin of Eloah is obscure. Elohim is the more common plural form of El. Eloah is used 41 times in Job between 3:4 and 40:2, but fewer than 15 times elsewhere in the OT.

 

ELOHIM: God (a plural noun, more than two, used with singular verbs); Elohim occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Gen. 1. God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. Eccl., Dan. Jonah used Elohim almost exclusively. See Gen. 17:7, 6:18, 9:15, 50:24; I Kings 8:23; Jer. 31:33; Isa. 40:1.

 

EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or “God All Sufficient.” 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. First used in Gen. 17:1, 2. (Gen. 31:29, 49:24, 25; Prov. 3:27; Micah 2:1; Isa. 60:15, 16, 66:10-13; Ruth 1:20, 21) In Rev. 16:7, “Lord God the Almighty.” The Septuagint uses Greek “ikanos” meaning “all-sufficient” or “self-sufficient.”

 

ADONAI: Lord in our English Bibles (Capital letter ‘L ‘, lower case, ‘ord’) (Adonai is plural, the sing. is “adon”). “Master” or “Lord” 300 times in the OT always plural when referring to God, when sing. the reference is to a human lord. Used 215 times to refer to men. First use of Adonai, Gen. 15:2. (Ex. 4:10; Judges 6:15; 2 Sam. 7:18-20; Ps. 8, 114:7, 135:5, 141:8, 109:21-28). Heavy use in Isaiah (Adonai Jehovah). 200 times by Ezekiel. Ten times in Dan. 9.

 

JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6823 times in the OT First use Gen. 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim). From the verb “to be”, havah, similar to chavah (to live), “The Self-Existent One,” “I AM WHO I AM” or ‘I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE” as revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Ex.3. The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . . ) or written “YHWH” without vowel points. The tetragrammaton. Josh., Judges, Sam., and Kings use Jehovah almost exclusively. The love of God is conditioned upon His moral and spiritual attributes. (Dan. 9:14; Ps. 11:7; Lev. 19:2; Hab. 1:12). Note Deut. 6:4, 5 known to Jews as the Sh’ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons.

 

JEHOVAH-JIREH: “The Lord will Provide.” Gen. 22:14. From “jireh” (“to see” or “to provide,” or to “foresee” as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.

 

JEHOVAH-ROPHE: “The Lord Who Heals” Ex. 15:22-26. From “rophe” (“to heal”); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man’s being.

 

JEHOVAH-NISSI: “The Lord Our Banner.” Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means “to glisten,” “to lift up,” See Psalm 4:6.

 

JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH: “The Lord Who Sanctifies” “To make whole, set apart for holiness.” The Lord says: “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” (Leviticus 20:7-8)

 

JEHOVAH-SHALOM: “The Lord Our Peace” Judges 6:24. “Shalom” translated “peace” 170 times means “whole,” “finished,” “fulfilled,” “perfected.” Related to “well,” welfare.” Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21. Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one’s fellow man.

 

SHEPHERD: Psa. 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11.

 

JUDGE: Psa. 7:8, 96:13.

 

JEHOVAH ELOHIM: “LORD God” Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc.

 

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU “The Lord Our Righteousness” Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From “tsidek” (straight, stiff, balanced – as on scales – full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.

 

JEHOVAH-ROHI: “The Lord Our Shepherd” Psa. 23, from “ro’eh” (to pasture).

 

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: “The Lord is There” (Ezek. 48:35).

 

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: “The Lord of Hosts” The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. Isa. 1:24; Psa. 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jer. 11:20 (NT: Rom. 9:29; James 5:4, Rev. 19: 11-16).

 

EL ELYON: ‘Most High” (from “to go up”) Deut. 26:19, 32:8; Psa. 18:13; Gen. 14:18; Nu. 24:16; Psa. 78:35, 7:17, 18:13, 97:9, 56:2, 78:56, 18:13; Dan. 7:25, 27; Isa. 14:14.

 

ABIR: ‘Mighty One’, (“to be strong”) Gen. 49:24; Deut. 10:17; Psa. 132:2, 5; Isa. 1:24, 49:26, 60:1.

 

BRANCH: (tsemach), The Branch: Zech. 3:8, 6:12; Isa. 4:2; Jer. 23:5, 33:15.

 

KADOSH: “Holy One” Psa. 71:22; Isa. 40:25, 43:3, 48:17. Isaiah uses the expression “the Holy One of Israel” 29 times.

 

SHAPHAT: “Judge” Gen. 18:25

 

EL ROI: “God of Seeing” Hagar in Gen. 16:13. The God Who opens our eyes.

 

KANNA: “Jealous” (zealous). Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 5:9; Isa. 9:7; Zech. 1:14, 8:2.

 

PALET: “Deliverer” Psa. 18:2.

 

YESHUA: (Yeshua) “Savior” (“he will save”). Isa. 43:3. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Joshua.” The latter is a contraction of Je-Hoshua. (“Christ”, the anointed one is equivalent to the Hebrew Maschiah, or Messiah).

 

GAOL: “Redeemer” (to buy back by paying a price). Job 19:25; For example, the antitype corresponding to Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer in the Book of Ruth.

 

MAGEN: “Shield” Psa. 3:3, 18:30.

 

EYALUTH: “Strength” Psa. 22:19.

 

TSADDIQ: “Righteous One” Psa. 7:9.

 

EL-OLAM: “Everlasting God” (God of everlasting time) Gen. 21:33; Psa. 90:1-3, 93:2; Isa. 26:4.

 

EL-BERITH: “God of the Covenant” Used of Baal in Judges 9:46. Probably used originally to refer to the God of israel.

 

EL-GIBHOR: Mighty God (Isa. 9:6).

 

TSUR: “God our Rock” Deut. 32:18; Isa. 30:29.

 

MELEKH: “King” Psa. 5:2, 29:10, 44:4, 47:6-8, 48:2, 68:24, 74:12, 95:3, 97:1, 99:4, 146:10; Isa. 5:1, 5, 41:21, 43:15, 44:6; 52:7, 52:10.

 

FATHER: 2 Sam. 7:14-15; Psa. 68:5; Isa. 63:16, 64:8; Mal. 1:6.

 

May we humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father and with reverence call out to Him using any one of His holy names.