STUDIES//THE NAMES OF GOD


The Names Of God
To an extent beyond the appreciation of modern and western minds, the people of Biblical times and lands valued the name of the person. They always gave to it symbolical or character meaning. While our modern names are almost exclusively intended merely for identification, the Biblical names were also descriptive, and often prophetic. Consequently, the names or titles given to God in the Bible reveal much about His characteristics - who He is, what He is like, and what He does. One of the richest fields of revelation which God has given concerning His own being is that which pertains to the names of God. Kevin Conner divides the names of God into two groups; Creatorship (or Elohistic), and Redemptive (or Jehovahistic) names. I. Creatorship or “Elohistic” names of God – These names of God are those which have to do with the relationship of God with His creation or creatures. The name “El” signifies “to be strong, powerful or mighty.” “Elohim” is the plural of “El” and speaks of the Godhead. El signifies the object of worship rather than a divine name. When the name “El” is used as a compound name, it is generally associated or used to show some power or attribute of God in relation to His creatures. a. El – to be strong, powerful, mighty i. It is the singular form ii. It is used of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 1. The Father is El (Gen 14:18,19,20,22) 2. The Son is El (Isaiah 7:14 – Immanu – El; Isaiah 9:6 Mighty God) 3. The Holy Spirit is El (Job 33:4, 37:10) b. Elohim – the plural of El; i. Used about 2500 times referring to God; ii. This is the word for God used in the creation (Gen 1:1 etc) iii. Gen 1:26 Then God (elohim) said “Let US make man in our own image. 1. Elohim speaks of God as triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) iv. See also Numbers 23:19; Psalm 19:1 v. It is occasionally used also referring to other gods besides the Supreme God as in these instances: 1. Gen 23:6 the word mighty referring to Abraham 2. Gen 31:30 Laban said you have stolen my gods 3. Ex 18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 4. Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 5. One version mistranslates the word for “angels” in Psalms 8:5 that says God made man a little lower than the “angels” – this word is also Elohim, God c. Elah – Everlasting God; comes from a root meaning an oak tree; like a tree; i. Indicates the living and true God who identifies with His people in captivity (used primarily in the books of Ezra and Daniel) ii. Ezra 5:1; Dan 2:28 d. Eloah – the adorable or worshipful one; the only living and true God; the object of all worship i. Root – to fear, to worship, to adore ii. Speaks of the totality of His being; the finality of His decisions iii. Deut 32:15; Job 4:9 iv. Used 40 times in the book of Job e. Elohim-Elyon – God, The Most High i. Psalm 91:1-2; 78:56 f. Elohim-Sabaoth – God of Hosts i. Speaks of omnipotence ii. Psalm 80:7,14 g. El Bethel – God of the house of God i. Gen 31:13; 35:7 h. El Elohe Israel – the mighty God of Israel i. Gen 33:20 i. El-Elyon – God Most High – He is above all gods; nothing in life is more sacred i. Genesis 14:18, Num 24:16; Psalm 7:17; Isaiah 14;13-14 j. El Gibbor – The mighty or great God i. Isaiah 9:6; Jer 32:18-19 k. El Olam – everlasting God; God of eternity i. The God without a beginning and the God who will never cease to be. ii. Gen 21:33 l. El-Roi – The God that sees – speaks of omniscience; God oversees all of creation and the affairs of people i. Gen 16:13-14 m. El-Shaddai – God Almighty, all sufficient God i. Shaddai the pourer forth of blessings; comes from the root, “shad” which means a breast – 1. Gen 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 2. blessings of the breast – presents God as the One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies ii. Equivalent to “Almighty God” in Rev 19:15 iii. Gen 17:1; Psalm 91:1 n. Adon or Adonai – to rule; sovereign controller; master; lord; owner; ruler of all i. Psalm 145:5; 86:12 o. Immanu-El – God with us; God made flesh; i. Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:21-23 II. Redemptive or “Jehovahistic” Names of God – These names of God revealed as Jehovah (or Yahweh) are God’s own personal and distinct names. The name Jehovah appears in the Bible about 6823 times and is generally translated as Lord. The Hebrews referred to this name as the unpronounceable or incommunicable name of God. They considered it too holy to pronounce, and instead just said “Adonai” which means Lord when they encountered it in the Biblical texts. The Hebrew letters for this name are four, the English letters are JHVH or YHWH. These are spoken as being the four-letter tetragrammaton or four-lettered name. These letters being all consonants were later mixed with the vowels from “Adonai” to form Jehovah, and later Yahweh, which was the more original pronunciation. a. Jehovah – (Yahweh, Lord) – I AM THAT I AM; I will be what I will be. The self-existent One revealing Himself to man in redemptive purpose i. Ex 3:14-15; Malachi 3:6 b. Jehovah-Elohim – the Lord God; redeemer creator i. Genesis 2:4; Zech 13:9 c. Jehovah-Gibbor – The Lord is Mighty i. Psalm 24:8; Isaiah 42:13 d. Jehovah-Heleyon – The Lord Most High; revealas God as the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity i. Psalm 97:9, 7:17, 47:2 e. Jehovah-Hoseenu – The Lord our Maker; refers to God’s ability to fashion something out of what already exists – not His ability to speak and create out of nothing i. Psalm 95:6; See also Eph 2:22 f. Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord will provide; the Lord is provision i. Gen 22:14 g. Jehovah-Qanna – The Lord who is jealous i. Ex 20:5, 34:14; Deut 5:9 h. Jehovah-Makkeh – The Lord who smites, beats, or punishes i. Ez 7:9 i. Jehovah-Mekaddeskum – the Lord who sanctifies i. Root – Mekaddeskum – sanctify, holy, consecrate, dedicate, sanctuary, Holy One ii. God who sets us apart unto Himself iii. Ex 31:13; Lev 20:8 j. Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord my banner, in other words in Him we have VICTORY! i. Ex 17:15 k. Jehovah-Roi – the Lord my shepherd i. Root – shepherd; feed; to lead to pasture; tend a flock ii. Psalm 23:1 l. Jehovah-Rophe – The Lord that heals; the Lord is healing (both physical and spiritual); the Lord the physician i. Ex 15:26 m. Jehovah-Sabaoth – the Lord of hosts; referring to warfare or service i. Used about 260 times in the Old Testament ii. New Testament references – Rom 9:29; James 5:4 iii. 1 Sam 1:3; Psalm 24:10, 84:1,3 n. Jehovah-Shalom – the Lord is peace; the Lord who sends peace i. Root – shalom – peace, welfare, good health, whole, favor, perfect, full, prosperity, rest, make good, pay or perform in the sense of fulfilling or completing an obligation ii. Judges 6:24 o. Jehovah-Shammah – the Lord is there; the Lord is present i. Root – Shammah – presence ii. Ez 48:35 p. Jehovah-Shaphat – The Lord is judge i. Judges 11:27 q. Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord our righteousness – represents God’s dealing with men under the ideas of righteousness and acquittal i. Jer 23:5,6; 33:16 r. Jah – abbreviated form of Jehovah i. Ex 15:2, 17:16; Psalm 68:4 s. Jehovah-Jehoshua-Christos – The Lord Jesus Christ i. The Godhead has a name. We needn’t worry about if we are speaking to the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, because they are one! And His name is JESUS! ii. All the Old Testament names of God point to and find fulfillment in the redemptive name of Jesus! Jesus is the name of the Godhead bodily. iii. Jehovah-Jehoshua-Christos (the Lord Jesus Christ) is a triune name for the triune God iv. As in the plan of redemption, it has pleased the Father that all fullness dwell in the Son, so it also has pleased the Father that the fullness of the divine or Godhead name, dwell in the Son. v. Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; vi. Matt 1:21; Eph 1:20-21; Prov 30:4 Ex 3:13-14; John 8:58 vii. His name was kept secret until His appearing 1. 2 Old Testament appearings of Jesus a. Gen 32:29 b. Judges 13:17-18;22 viii. Zech 14:9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be--"The LORD is one," and His name one. LORD JESUS CHRIST FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT

To an extent beyond the appreciation of modern and western minds, the people of Biblical times and lands valued the name of the person. They always gave to it symbolical or character meaning. While our modern names are almost exclusively intended merely for identification, the Biblical names were also descriptive, and often prophetic.

Consequently, the names or titles given to God in the Bible reveal much about His characteristics - who He is, what He is like, and what He does. One of the richest fields of revelation which God has given concerning His own being is that which pertains to the names of God.

Kevin Conner divides the names of God into two groups; Creatorship (or Elohistic), and Redemptive (or Jehovahistic) names.

I. Creatorship or “Elohistic” names of God – These names of God are those which have to do with the relationship of God with His creation or creatures. The name “El” signifies “to be strong, powerful or mighty.” “Elohim” is the plural of “El” and speaks of the Godhead. El signifies the object of worship rather than a divine name.

When the name “El” is used as a compound name, it is generally associated or used to show some power or attribute of God in relation to His creatures.

a. El – to be strong, powerful, mighty
i. It is the singular form
ii. It is used of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
1. The Father is El (Gen 14:18,19,20,22)
2. The Son is El (Isaiah 7:14 – Immanu – El; Isaiah 9:6 Mighty God)
3. The Holy Spirit is El (Job 33:4, 37:10)

b. Elohim – the plural of El;
i. Used about 2500 times referring to God;
ii. This is the word for God used in the creation (Gen 1:1 etc)
iii. Gen 1:26 Then God (elohim) said “Let US make man in our own image.
1. Elohim speaks of God as triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
iv. See also Numbers 23:19; Psalm 19:1
v. It is occasionally used also referring to other gods besides the Supreme God as in these instances:
1. Gen 23:6 the word mighty referring to Abraham
2. Gen 31:30 Laban said you have stolen my gods
3. Ex 18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
4. Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
5. One version mistranslates the word for “angels” in Psalms 8:5 that says God made man a little lower than the “angels” – this word is also Elohim, God
c. Elah – Everlasting God; comes from a root meaning an oak tree; like a tree;
i. Indicates the living and true God who identifies with His people in captivity (used primarily in the books of Ezra and Daniel)
ii. Ezra 5:1; Dan 2:28
d. Eloah – the adorable or worshipful one; the only living and true God; the object of all worship
i. Root – to fear, to worship, to adore
ii. Speaks of the totality of His being; the finality of His decisions
iii. Deut 32:15; Job 4:9
iv. Used 40 times in the book of Job
e. Elohim-Elyon – God, The Most High
i. Psalm 91:1-2; 78:56
f. Elohim-Sabaoth – God of Hosts
i. Speaks of omnipotence
ii. Psalm 80:7,14
g. El Bethel – God of the house of God
i. Gen 31:13; 35:7
h. El Elohe Israel – the mighty God of Israel
i. Gen 33:20
i. El-Elyon – God Most High – He is above all gods; nothing in life is more sacred
i. Genesis 14:18, Num 24:16; Psalm 7:17; Isaiah 14;13-14
j. El Gibbor – The mighty or great God
i. Isaiah 9:6; Jer 32:18-19
k. El Olam – everlasting God; God of eternity
i. The God without a beginning and the God who will never cease to be.
ii. Gen 21:33
l. El-Roi – The God that sees – speaks of omniscience; God oversees all of creation and the affairs of people
i. Gen 16:13-14
m. El-Shaddai – God Almighty, all sufficient God
i. Shaddai the pourer forth of blessings; comes from the root, “shad” which means a breast –
1. Gen 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
2. blessings of the breast – presents God as the One who nourishes, supplies, and satisfies
ii. Equivalent to “Almighty God” in Rev 19:15
iii. Gen 17:1; Psalm 91:1
n. Adon or Adonai – to rule; sovereign controller; master; lord; owner; ruler of all
i. Psalm 145:5; 86:12
o. Immanu-El – God with us; God made flesh;
i. Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:21-23

II. Redemptive or “Jehovahistic” Names of God – These names of God revealed as Jehovah (or Yahweh) are God’s own personal and distinct names. The name Jehovah appears in the Bible about 6823 times and is generally translated as Lord.

The Hebrews referred to this name as the unpronounceable or incommunicable name of God. They considered it too holy to pronounce, and instead just said “Adonai” which means Lord when they encountered it in the Biblical texts. The Hebrew letters for this name are four, the English letters are JHVH or YHWH. These are spoken as being the four-letter tetragrammaton or four-lettered name. These letters being all consonants were later mixed with the vowels from “Adonai” to form Jehovah, and later Yahweh, which was the more original pronunciation.

a. Jehovah – (Yahweh, Lord) – I AM THAT I AM; I will be what I will be. The self-existent One revealing Himself to man in redemptive purpose
i. Ex 3:14-15; Malachi 3:6
b. Jehovah-Elohim – the Lord God; redeemer creator
i. Genesis 2:4; Zech 13:9
c. Jehovah-Gibbor – The Lord is Mighty
i. Psalm 24:8; Isaiah 42:13
d. Jehovah-Heleyon – The Lord Most High; revealas God as the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity
i. Psalm 97:9, 7:17, 47:2
e. Jehovah-Hoseenu – The Lord our Maker; refers to God’s ability to fashion something out of what already exists – not His ability to speak and create out of nothing
i. Psalm 95:6; See also Eph 2:22
f. Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord will provide; the Lord is provision
i. Gen 22:14
g. Jehovah-Qanna – The Lord who is jealous
i. Ex 20:5, 34:14; Deut 5:9
h. Jehovah-Makkeh – The Lord who smites, beats, or punishes
i. Ez 7:9
i. Jehovah-Mekaddeskum – the Lord who sanctifies
i. Root – Mekaddeskum – sanctify, holy, consecrate, dedicate, sanctuary, Holy One
ii. God who sets us apart unto Himself
iii. Ex 31:13; Lev 20:8
j. Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord my banner, in other words in Him we have VICTORY!
i. Ex 17:15
k. Jehovah-Roi – the Lord my shepherd
i. Root – shepherd; feed; to lead to pasture; tend a flock
ii. Psalm 23:1
l. Jehovah-Rophe – The Lord that heals; the Lord is healing (both physical and spiritual); the Lord the physician
i. Ex 15:26
m. Jehovah-Sabaoth – the Lord of hosts; referring to warfare or service
i. Used about 260 times in the Old Testament
ii. New Testament references – Rom 9:29; James 5:4
iii. 1 Sam 1:3; Psalm 24:10, 84:1,3
n. Jehovah-Shalom – the Lord is peace; the Lord who sends peace
i. Root – shalom – peace, welfare, good health, whole, favor, perfect, full, prosperity, rest, make good, pay or perform in the sense of fulfilling or completing an obligation
ii. Judges 6:24
o. Jehovah-Shammah – the Lord is there; the Lord is present
i. Root – Shammah – presence
ii. Ez 48:35
p. Jehovah-Shaphat – The Lord is judge
i. Judges 11:27
q. Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord our righteousness – represents God’s dealing with men under the ideas of righteousness and acquittal
i. Jer 23:5,6; 33:16
r. Jah – abbreviated form of Jehovah
i. Ex 15:2, 17:16; Psalm 68:4
s. Jehovah-Jehoshua-Christos – The Lord Jesus Christ
i. The Godhead has a name. We needn’t worry about if we are speaking to the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, because they are one! And His name is JESUS!
ii. All the Old Testament names of God point to and find fulfillment in the redemptive name of Jesus! Jesus is the name of the Godhead bodily.
iii. Jehovah-Jehoshua-Christos (the Lord Jesus Christ) is a triune name for the triune God
iv. As in the plan of redemption, it has pleased the Father that all fullness dwell in the Son, so it also has pleased the Father that the fullness of the divine or Godhead name, dwell in the Son.
v. Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
vi. Matt 1:21; Eph 1:20-21; Prov 30:4 Ex 3:13-14; John 8:58
vii. His name was kept secret until His appearing
1. 2 Old Testament appearings of Jesus
a. Gen 32:29
b. Judges 13:17-18;22
viii. Zech 14:9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be--"The LORD is one," and His name one.

LORD JESUS CHRIST
FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT