The Names of God

The Names of God

Sep 16, 2024

 “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”

Here are the names of God as found in the Bible using the Amplified Classic Version (AMPC) as a reference, including the scriptures, meanings, and relevance to believers today. In my study I was surprised to realize that I found 19 names for God! I am so happy that they represent a distinct part of His character that is available to and for the believers today

Now let's eat some meat!

  1. EL, ELOAH

  • Deuteronomy 32:15 (AMPC) -  “But Jeshurun (Israel) grew fat and kicked. You became fat, you grew thick, you were gorged andsleek! Then he forsook God Who made him and forsook and despised the Rock of his salvation.” , Nehemiah 9:17 (AMPC) -  “They refused to obey, nor were they mindful of Your wonders and miracles which You did among them; but they stiffened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a captain, that they might return to their bondage [in Egypt]. But You are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great steadfast love; and You did not forsake them.”

  • Meaning: "God", "Mighty One"

  • Relevance to Believers Today: This name is often used to convey God’s might and power. Believers can take comfort in knowing that God is almighty and able to help them in times of need.

  1. ELOHIM

  • Genesis 1:1 (AMPC) - “IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.” 

  • Meaning: "God", used in the context of God as the Creator.

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It is a reminder that God is the Creator of all things, including mankind, and has a purpose for His creation.

  1. EL SHADDAI

  • Genesis 17:1(AMPC) -WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).”

  • Meaning: "God Almighty" or "God the All-Sufficient One".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It reminds believers of God's sufficiency and ability to empower them and meet all their needs.

  1. ADONAI

  • Genesis 15:2 (AMPC) -  “And Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am going on [from this world] childless and he who shall be the owner and heir of my house is this [steward] Eliezer of Damascus?”

  • Meaning: "Lord" or "Master".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It implies God’s authority as the master and ruler. Believers are to submit to His authority and guidance.

  1. YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH

  • Exodus 3:14 (AMPC) - “And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!”

  • Meaning: "I AM WHO I AM", the self-existent One.

  • Relevance to Believers Today: This name reflects God's eternal nature, reminding believers of His constant presence and unchanging character.

  1. JEHOVAH-JIREH

  • Genesis 22:14 (AMPC) -  “So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Will Provide".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: Believers can trust that God will provide for their needs as He did for Abraham by providing a ram for sacrifice.

  1. JEHOVAH-RAPHA

  • Exodus 15:26 (AMPC) - “Saying, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Who Heals".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It brings comfort and hope to those in need of physical or spiritual healing.

  1. JEHOVAH-NISSI

  • Exodus 17:15 (AMPC) - “And the Lord said to Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you smote the river [Nile], and go.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Is My Banner".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It signifies God’s protection and that He fights for them, just as He fought for the Israelites.

  1. JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH

  • Leviticus 20:8 (AMPC) -  “And you shall keep My statutes and do them. I am the Lord Who sanctifies you.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Who Sanctifies".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: This name reminds believers that it is God who sanctifies and sets them apart for His purposes.

  1. JEHOVAH-SHALOM

  • Judges 6:24 (AMPC) - “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord is Peace. To this day it still stands in Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Is Peace".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It reminds believers that God can give them peace that surpasses understanding in any circumstance.

  1. JEHOVAH-ELOHIM

  • Genesis 2:4-5 (AMPC) - “This is the history of the heavens and of the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens–When no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not [yet] caused it to rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the ground,”

  • Meaning: "The Lord God", a combination of God’s creative power and His lordship.

  • Relevance to Believers Today: Believers are reminded that God who created them is also their Lord who guides and sustains them.

  1. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU

  • Jeremiah 23:6 (AMPC) -  “In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name by which He shall be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Our Righteousness".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It means that God is the one who justifies and makes us righteous through faith.

      13. JEHOVAH-ROHI

  • Psalm 23:1 (AMPC) - “THE Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord My Shepherd".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: This portrays God as a shepherd who guides, protects, and nurtures His flock. Believers are assured of His constant care and guidance.

  1. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH

  • Ezekiel 48:35 (AMPC) - “The distance around the city shall be 18,000 [4 x 4,500] measures; and the name of the city from that day and ever after shall be, the lord is there.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord Is There".

  • Relevance to Believers Today:: It reflects God's omnipresence and the promise of His continual presence among His people. This brings comfort to believers in knowing they are never alone.

  1. JEHOVAH-SABAOTH

  • 1 Samuel 1:3 (AMPC) - “This man went from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were the Lord's priests.”

  • Meaning: "The Lord of Hosts".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: It signifies God’s sovereignty over every army, both earthly and heavenly. Believers can take refuge in the fact that the most powerful forces are under His control.

  1. EL ELYON

  • Genesis 14:18-20 (AMPC) -  “Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High,  And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor andMaker of heaven and earth, And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [he had taken].”

  • Meaning: "The Most High God".

  • Relevance to Believers Today:: It conveys God’s supreme power and authority. Believers can have confidence that there is no power greater than God.

  1. EL ROI

  • Genesis 16:13 (AMPC) - “So she called the name of the Lord Who spoke to her, You are a God of seeing, for she said, Have I [not] even here [in the wilderness] looked upon Him Who sees me [and lived]? Or have I here also seen [the future purposes or designs of] Him Who sees me?”

  • Meaning: "The God Who Sees".

  • Relevance to Believers Today:: It assures believers that God is aware of their sufferings and circumstances. Knowing that God sees them provides comfort and encouragement.

  1. EL-OLAM

  • Isaiah 40:28-31(AMPC) -  “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

  • Meaning: "The Everlasting God".

  • Relevance to Believers Today: This name signifies God's eternal nature. It reminds believers that God’s purposes are everlasting and His love endures forever.

  1. EL-GIBHOR

  • Isaiah 9:6 (AMPC) -  “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.”

  • Meaning: "Mighty God", “Everlasting Father”, Prince of Peace.”

  • Relevance to Believers Today: This title is often associated with God’s strength in battle. It assures believers that God is mighty to save and deliver them in times of distress.

In conclusion, the various names of God found in the Bible offer a multifaceted portrait of His character, nature, and attributes. These names, replete with profound meanings, are more than mere designations; they serve as assurances and revelations of who God is and how He operates.

For instance, names like El Shaddai and El-Gibhor emphasize God's immeasurable power and might. These names bolster the faith of believers, giving them the confidence to face daunting challenges, knowing that an omnipotent God is on their side.

Similarly, names like Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Rapha showcase God's provision and healing properties. These names remind believers of God’s boundless generosity and His desire to restore. They can be particularly poignant for those in need, experiencing financial strain or physical ailment, as they remember that their sustenance and health are in God's capable hands.

Furthermore, names like El Roi and Jehovah-Shammah offer solace in loneliness or despair, as they affirm God's omnipresence and attentive nature. Knowing that God is ever-present and cognizant of our struggles fosters a sense of companionship and belonging, crucial for mental and spiritual well-being.

Moreover, names such as Jehovah-Tsidkenu highlight God’s righteousness and the sanctification He offers. It reminds believers of their spiritual transformation through faith, encouraging them to pursue holiness and integrity.

Lastly, names like El-Olam help believers to understand God’s eternal nature and His purposes that are beyond time. This puts into perspective the temporal nature of human life and encourages believers to set their hearts on eternal values.

In a modern context, these names also play a pivotal role in prayer and worship, as they help believers connect with different aspects of God’s character. By invoking these names, believers can express their faith, thankfulness, dependence, and adoration for God.

As such, these names of God are not simply ancient terms; they are living testimonies to the everlasting God whose character is unchanging. They serve as bridges, connecting the finite to the Infinite, and providing a deeper understanding of the One God  worshiped by believers. Through these names, we find strength, peace, guidance, and above all, a relational God who desires to be intimately involved in their lives.

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