The Names of God

The Names of God

In the culture of the Old Testament, and still in some cultures today, a name was much more than just a “handle” or tag that differentiates you from other people.
A name described who you are or what you do so to speak. When the patriarch, Abram, displayed his great faith and obedience, God gave him a new name, “Abraham”.
And when Jacob (which means “supplanter” because he was holding his twin brother’s heel while they were being born) wrestled with an angel all night, the angel told him he had earned a new name, “Israel”

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul’s name he was born with was “Saul”.

The names of God are like this. God’s names describe who He is. Since God is so awesomely awesome, he has more than one name. Many more!

If you are looking for a word that I do not have listed, please email me.

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Note: Many of the transliterations of these names are from the world acclaimed Strong’s Concordance. I have heard the Name of the LORD spelled, “Jehovah” and “Yahweh”. Strong’s spells it Yehovah. (Yeh·ho·vä’) Since Strongs is the resource I am going to use to arbitrate, when the differences are significant, I will use that without the diacritical marks for readability. I trust that everyone understands, and will make allowance in their hearts for the difficulty of translating from Hebrew and Greek to English. God bless.

• Adonai — Lord (Genesis 15:2) Or LORD (Spoken by the Jewish instead of saying Yahweh out of reverence. Lest they mispronounce His name, or feel presumptuous to be on a first-name basis so to speak. For example, most of us would be reluctant to call a president or king by his first name.)
• ‘El — God, god-like one, mighty one (Genesis 46:3)
• El Elyon — The most high God
• ‘El Shadday (El Shaddai) — Lord God Almighty (Genesis 35:11) All-Sufficient One.
• Elohim (‘elohiym or el·o·hem’)(plural intensive – singular meaning) — God. (Genesis 1:1)
• I AM THAT I AM (hä·yä hä·yä) — to exist, be in existence (Exodus 3:14)
• Yehovah (or Jehovah, or Yahweh) — The EXISTING ONE. The proper name of the one true God (Exodus 6:3)
• Yehovah Jireh — Jehovah sees (Genesis 22:14) That is the name that Abraham gave to Mount Moriah when God provided the ram for the sacrifice.
• Yehovah Nissi — The LORD Is My Banner (In Exodus 17:15 after The Lord gave them victory as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms.)
• Yehovah shem Qanna’ — The LORD, whose name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14)
• Yehovah Rapha’ — The LORD Who Heals (Exodus 15:26)