What different names of God mean?
ANSWER
Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many attributes. Here are some of the most well-known names of God in the Bible:
EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Genesis 7:1; Isaiah 9:6) — etymologically, El appears to mean "power," as in "I have the power to harm you" (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as faithfulness (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and mercy (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of power remains.
ELOHIM: God "Creator, Mighty and Strong" (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) — the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the very first sentence of the Bible, the superlative nature of God's power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).
EL SHADDAI: "God Almighty," "The Mighty One of Jacob" (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) — speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.
ADONAI: "Lord" (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) — used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is often used in the act of God’s covenant with His people, while Adonai is more used when dealing with the nations.
YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: "LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) — the only proper name of God. Translated in English Bibles "LORD" (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, "Lord." The revelation of the name came first to Moses "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11), and guidance (Psalm 31:3).
YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) — the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.
YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) — "I am Yahweh who heals you" both in body and soul. In body, by preserving and restoring health, and in soul, by forgiving sin.
YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17.
AHWEH-M'KADDESHY: "The Lord Who Sanctifies You" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) — God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can purify His people and make them holy.
YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Is Peace" (Judges 6:24) — the name Gideon gave to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would.
YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) — a combination of God's unique name YHWH and the usual word for "Lord," signifying that He is the Lord of Lords.
YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 33:16) — As with YHWH-M'Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness for man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us "that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) — After David thoughtfully considers his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that it was a true relationship with God, and thus says, "Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1).
YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There" (Ezekiel 48:35) — a name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the glory of the Lord, once departed (Ezekiel 8-11), had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).
YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) — Hosts meaning "armies," both of angels and of men. He is the Hosts of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, master and slave. The name bespeaks authority, power, and an ability to accomplish what He determines to do.
EL ELYON: "Most High" (Deuteronomy 26:19) — derived from the Hebrew root for "go up" or "ascend," so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exalted or towering height and speaks of the absolute rightness of God’s sovereignty.
EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) — a name for God memorialized by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar encountered the Angel of the Lord, she realized that 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.
EL-OLAM: "God of Eternity" (Psalm 90:1-3) — God’s existence is without beginning or end, without constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the cause of time itself. "From everlasting to everlasting, You are God."
EL-GIBBOR: "Mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6) — a name applied to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in this portion of Isaiah's prophecy. As a mighty and victorious warrior, the Messiah, God the Mighty One, is able to accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies and to lead and protect His own with a “rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15).
Shalom
Dr. Max Shimba for Max Shimba Ministries
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