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What's in a Name?

• Elohim (God):
  
  

  Elohim is the plural form of EL, meaning "strong one." It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and hints of the Trinity. It is especially used of God's sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and sovereignty. It is used of the Creator of all (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1).

• El Shaddai:
  
  

  El Shaddai, meaning "God Almighty." El Shaddai points to God's role as the sustainer of all and possessing all power. It depicts God as subjecting all to His power. It represents His greatness in love and comfort rather than terror (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Exodus 6:3; Psalm 91:1, 2).

• El Elyon:
  
  

  "Most High God," which stresses God's strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Genesis 14:19; 31:13; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 9:2; Daniel 7:18, 11:36).

• El Olam:
  
  

  Meaning "Everlasting God" emphasizes God's unchangeableness and eternality (Genesis 16:13).

• Yahweh (LORD):
  
  

  Yahweh (or YHWH) comes from a verb that means ńto exist, to be." This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Genesis 4:3; Exodus 6:3; 3:12). This is God's most sacred name and particularly depicts God's faithfulness to His covenant promises to His people. It therefore is used only of the God of Israel. To blaspheme this name required death (Leviticus 24:16). Yahweh is used more than any other name for God in the Old Testament.

• Yahweh Jireh (Yireh):
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord will provide" and stresses God's provision for His people (Genesis 22:14).

• Yahweh Nissi:
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord is my banner" and stresses that God is our means of victory who fights for His people (Exodus 17:15).

• Yahweh Shalom:
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord is peace" and shows the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Judges 6:24).

• Yahweh Sabbaoth:
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord of host" which depicts the Lord as a military commander of the armies of heaven (1 Samuel 1:3; 17:45).

• Yahweh Maccaddeshcem:
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord your sanctifier" which shows the Lord as the One who sets His people apart for His purposes (Exodus 31:13).

• Yahweh Ro'i
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord my shepherd," showing the Lord's care for His people (Psalm 23:1).

• Yahweh Tsidkenu:
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord our righteousness" and portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).

• Yahweh Shammah:
  
  

  Meaning, "the Lord is there" and shows the Lord's personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 48:35).

• Yahweh Elohim Israel:
  
  

  Meaning "the Lord, the God of Israel" and depicts the Lord as the true God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Judges 5:3; Isaiah 17:6).

• Adonai (Lord):
  
  

  Like Elohim, Adonai is a plural of majesty. This word points to God as the almighty ruler in charge of all. Man is the servant and subject to Him. In earlier times it was the usual name that the people of Israel used to address God. Later on the name Yahweh largely replaced it.

  By the time of Israel's return from exile from Babylon, the name Adonai was substituted due to superstitious fear that Yahweh was a name too holy to pronounce. Around the seventh century A.D. the vowels of Adonai were substitued with the consonants YHWH, producing the artificial name Jehovah.

• Theos (God):
  
  

  Is the primary name for God used in the New Testament. This is the name that is used of Christ as God (John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Titus 2:13; Romans 9:5; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1). An intensification of this is Hupsistos Theos (Most High God) occurs nine times in the New Testament, mostly in a way that clearly refers to God the Father.

• Kurios (Lord):
  
  

  Is used to stress God's authority. While it can mean sir (John 4:11), owner (Luke 19:33), master (Colossians 3:22) and it can refer to idols (1 Corinthians 8:5) or husbands (1 Peter 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 (Matthew 8:6); (2) God or Deity (John 20:28; Acts 2:36; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11). When the New Testament quotes the Old Testament where either Yahweh or Adonai was used, Kurios is the Greek word selected for the biblical translation.

• Pantokrator (Almighty):
  
  

  Is used ten times in the New Testament, once in 1 Corinthians 6:18 and the other nine occurrences in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 1:8 it refers to Jesus Christ, as can be observed when 1:8 is compared with Revelation 22:13-16.

• Despotes (Master):
  
  

  Is used on occasion to refer to God. It carries the idea of ownership: Greek word translated "Master." (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; 2 Timothy 2:21; Revelation 6:10) In some places it clearly is a term referring to Christ (2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4).

• Pater (Father):
  
  

  expresses the special relationship of the Father to the Son and is also the relation that God holds over all believers as His spiritual children. Father is a concept used infrequently of God in the Old Testament but is used over 240 times in the New Testament. As a name of God, it stresses God's loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer (Matthew 6:9; John 15:16; 16:23; Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18; 3:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:11; Hebrews 12:5-11; James 1:17). It is uniquely a term used to address God th Father in the New Testament.

  
  
  

  Content from Valley Bible Church, Lancaster, California.