Overview of The Names of God in Scripture

Overview of the Names of God in Scripture
(1) Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning strong one. When used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of Gods sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty. Defined: 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. Ecclesiastes, Daniel & Jonah use Elohim almost exclusively. 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. Compounds of El:
El Shaddai: God Almighty. The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses Gods loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens El Elyon: The Most High God. Stresses Gods strength, sovereignty, and supremacy El Olam: The Everlasting God. Emphasizes Gods unchangeableness and is connected with His inexhaustibleness
(2) Yahweh (YHWH) or modernly translated Jehovah: Comes from a verb which means to exist, be. This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and selfexistent God of revelation and redemption Compounds of Yahweh: Strictly speaking, these compounds are designations or titles which reveal additional facts about Gods character.

Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): The Lord will provide. Stresses Gods provision for His people Yahweh 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 (Ex. 17:15). Yahweh Shalom: The Lord is Peace. Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24). Yahweh Sabbaoth: The Lord of Hosts. A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
Yahweh Maccaddeshcem: The Lord your Sanctifier. Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for His purposes (Ex. 31:13). Yahweh Roi: 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 (Ps. 23:1). Yahweh Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness. Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6). Yahweh Shammah: The Lord is there. Portrays the Lords personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35). Yahweh Elohim Israel: The Lord, the God of Israel. Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6). 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. Shepherd: Psa. 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11. Judge: Psa. 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. Abhir: 'Mighty One', ("to be strong") Gen. 49:24; Deut. 10:17; Psa. 132:2, 5; Isa. 1:24, 49:26, 60:1. 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. Yesha: (Y'shua) "Savior" 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) Zur: "God our Rock" Deut. 32:18; Isa. 30:29. 'Attiq Yomin (Aramaic): "Ancient of Days," Dan. 7:9, 13, 22. 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: Num. 1:9; I Sam. 16:6; Ex. 4:22-23; 2 Sam. 7:14-15; Psa. 2:7; Isa. 63:16, 64:8; Mal. 1:6.
The First and Last: Isa. 44:6, 48:12. Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means master, owner. Stresses mans relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).Lord in our English Bibles (Capitol 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. 10 times in Dan. 9.
New Testament Names for God

Theos: Greek word translated God. Primary name for God used in the New Testament. Its use teaches: (1) He is the only true God (Matt. 23:9; Rom. 3:30); (2) He is unique (1 Tim. 1:17; John 17:3; Rev. 15:4); (3) He is transcendent (Acts 17:24; Heb. 3:4; Rev. 10:6); (4) He is the Savior (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10). This name is used of Christ as God in John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1. Kurios: Greek word translated Lord. Stresses authority and supremacy. While it can mean sir (John 4:11), owner (Luke 19:33), master (Col. 3:22), or even refer to idols (1 Cor. 8:5) or husbands (1 Pet. 3:6), it is used mostly as the equivalent of Yahweh of the Old Testament. It too is used of Jesus Christ meaning (1) Rabbi or Sir (Matt. 8:6); (2) God or Deity (John 20:28; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11). Despotes: Greek word translated Master. Carries the idea of ownership while kurios stressed supreme authority (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4). 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 Gods loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer (Matt. 7:11; Jam. 1:17; Heb. 12:5-11; John 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18; 3:15; 1 Thess. 3:11). Kurios: "Lord" Found some 600 times in the NT. Despotes: "Lord" 5 times: Lu. 2:29; Acts 4:24; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10. Theos: "God" (equivalent to the Hebrew Elohim), 1,000 times in the NT. In the NT all the persons of the trinity are called "God" at one time or another. Theotes: "Godhead" Col. 2:9; Rom. 1:20. I AM: Jesus upset his generation especially when He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM," John 8:58. Note also his claim to be Jehovah in such phrases as "I AM the Light of the world," "the bread of life," living water," "the Resurrection and the Life," "the Way, Truth and the Life" in
John's Gospel. From the Hebrew OT verb "to be" signifying a Living, Intelligent, Personal Being. Hupsistos: "Highest" Mt. 21:9. Soter: "Savior" Luke 1:47.
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[1]
Robert Lightner, The God of the Bible, An Introduction to the Doctrine of God (Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1973) page 107.
[2]
Ibid., p. 108. Ibid., p. 109.
[3]

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New Testament Names for God

Ibid., p. 108. Ibid., p. 109.

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