God is not revealed to us in the Bible as being called just God. He is referred to by other names, each which reveal a certain aspect of His character.
In the Old Testament, names held significance as they did not only fulfill the purpose of identity, they explained characteristics and even occupations.
Therefore, God reveals not only who He is by His many names, but also who He is to us as we learn more about the different aspects of His nature.
Though most of these names may have been revealed to God’s people in the Old Testament, the meaning behind them denotes God’s power, love, and mercy that is just as relevant for us today as it was for believers of the ancient world.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”
Here are 9 of the most well-known names of God and what they mean.
1.Yahweh
Meaning: “The Lord”, “God”
“These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.”
Yahweh is found in the Hebrew Bible and holds particular significance in Jewish tradition as a covenant name of God, the holiest of names, and it is held in the highest esteem. In fact, it is considered to be too holy to be even spoken aloud (Exodus 20:7 NRSV). It is derived from the Hebrew word “I am”.
With that in mind, Yahweh first appears in Genesis 2:4. However, God first revealed His covenant name to humans, Moses specifically, in Exodus 3:14-15, when Moses was commanded to tell the Israelites the name of the One who had sent him to lead God’s people out of Egypt. On recognizing the ultimate power and authority behind the name Yahweh, the Israelites would know immediately that Moses had the blessings and strength of God behind him.
The spelling of Yahweh is modern, as it includes vowels to aid with its pronunciation. Yahweh is actually the transliteration of the Hebrew word YHWH, which is known as the Tetragrammaton, meaning 4 letters.
The word Adonai (Lord) is sometimes used as a substitute for YHWH. As a consequence, early English translations of the Bible have amalgamated the two words into Jehovah, which is in common usage even today.
2. Adonai
Meaning: “Lord God”, “Master”
“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel.”
Adonai comes from the plural form of adon (Lord). Hence, Adonai is a reference to the Trinity, as well as a reference to God. When the singular form adon is used, it is usually referring to humans in a position of power, such as King David (2 Samuel 3:21) or the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 2:19).
As a remnant of their tradition of esteemed reverence for the covenant name Yahweh, modern Jewish believers will substitute the word Adonai when reading the scriptures aloud. For that reason, most English versions of the Bible might translate YHWH as “Lord”.
3.Elohim
Meaning: Father God / God the Creator
“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,”
Elohim reflects the sovereignty and absolute power of God. He is the God who created heaven and earth, He is the Almighty and ruler of all. His omnipotent decree is declared in the first verse of the Bible and occurs a total of 2000 times in the scriptures.
The name Elohim is a glorification of the awesome power of God that is displayed through nature. He is mightier than any other gods or false idols that govern the world today, such as consumerism and self-advancement. He is the one true God under which every star, animal, rock, and human must bow to.
So, the next time you watch a sunset or even see a beautiful flower in full bloom, remember the One who created all things.
4. Abba
Meaning: “Father”
“He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”’
The name Abba was vocalized by both Jesus and Paul in Aramaic in the New Testament, which reflected their deep and personal relationships with God. It is actually mentioned only three times in the Bible – by Paul in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 as well as by Jesus in Mark 14:36 in the garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion.
However, despite its minimal representation in the scriptures, the name Abba is widely acknowledged as being one of the most intimate names for God.
Through this name, we can see how God cares for us as a father cares for a small child. It is a name that we can call upon when we are in need of assurance, comfort, and protection, knowing in childlike faith that our Father will hear us and look after us.
5. Jehovah Jireh
Meaning: “The Lord will provide”
‘“So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”’
The name Jehovah Jireh is only found once in the Bible – in the Book of Genesis. It is used by Abraham to name the place on Mount Moriah where God provided him with a ram to sacrifice as a replacement for his son, Isaac.
This is a beautiful name for God because it reflects His faithfulness and how He keeps His promise that all things will work out for His good (Romans 8:28).
God knows exactly what is going on in our lives – the good and the bad. As in Abraham’s case, He will never fail us nor forsake us when we are in need (Hebrews 13:5-6). His help comes with perfect timing.
6. Jehovah Rapha
Meaning: “The God who heals”
“He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.”
The name Jehovah Rapha is a particular favorite of mine and one which l call upon when l need God’s hand of healing over my life.
It is a name that not only reveals the power of God to heal, repair, and rejuvenate the areas of our lives that are not working in His perfect timing, calling upon the name Jehovah Rapha gives incredible comfort in the knowledge that it is God’s intent to make us whole.
Therefore, if you are waiting on healing, call upon the name of Jehovah Rapha “The God who heals” in your quiet time with the Lord, today.
7. Jehovah Nissi
Meaning: “The Lord is my banner”
“And Moses built an altar and called it, The Lord is my banner.”
There are numerous instances where God spread His hand of protection over His people and kept them safe from their enemies:
- In Exodus 14:26-29 when God caused the parted waters of the Red Sea to return and drown the armies of Pharoah, however, the Israelites crossed over safely on a dry river bed.
- In Judges 7:16-23 God kept Gideon and his 300 men safe, who were armed only with trumpets and torches inside empty pitchers, as they attacked the Midianite camp numbering 135,000 men.
- In 1 Samuel 17:37 God protects David, a shepherd boy, from the prowess of the giant Goliath of Gath, who is a seasoned warrior and the fear of the entire Israelite army.
Jehovah Nissi is a name that proclaims God’s declaration and promise to always protect His children and to deliver them from their foes.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, it states that our adversities do not come in the form of flesh and blood but are spiritual.
That means, the issues that rise against us today, such as financial lack, health, and relationship issues all have spiritual roots that can be addressed by calling out to God in prayer and declaring Him as our protector and deliverer – Jehovah Nissi.
8.Jehovah Shalom
Meaning: “The Lord is peace”
“Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it, The Lord is peace. ”
Gideon, a Judge from the Old Testament, learned a lot about being in the peace of God as he led a military campaign of 300 hundred faith-filled Israelites against a Midianite army of 135,000 soldiers with no military experience.
The name Jehovah Shalom appears only once in the Bible in Judges 6:24. And yet, this characteristic of God is both powerful and essential to our daily existence.
Where the world is urging us to hurry, as we set our routine to the rhythm of alarm clocks, deadlines, and 40+ hour work weeks, it is important to know that God is not only peace, He has already given us this peace through Jesus Christ.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
9. Quanna
“For you shall worship no other god, because the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
It’s incomprehensible for us to think that God could get jealous, right? But He does! He is the One who breathed life into us and who promises to never fail us, nor forsake us, neither loosen His hold on us (Hebrews13:5-6).
Whereas we see jealousy as a negative characteristic, God’s jealousy for us is based purely on His encompassing love for us. He sees the broken world in which we live in and knows that there are forces at work to distract us and lead us away from His love and protection.
For that reason, God sent His only son to pay the bond price for our sins in order that we may be reunited with Him and be in eternal fellowship with Him.
Considering all that God has done for you in your life up until this point, isn’t it understandable that He gets jealous? Doesn’t He deserve our praise and adoration?
I have listed 9 names of God, however, there are many more. For example:
- El Roi “The God who sees me”
- El Shaddai “God Almighty”
- El Elyon “My Redeemer lives”
If you are interested in learning about more names that God is known by, l believe the links that l have provided at the end of this article will help you.
God’s propensity to love us is addressed by many names. He really is everything we need – His many names prove that.
Whatever you are going through in your life today, l recommend that you call upon the name of the Lord in supplication: Jehovah Rapha if you are waiting on healing, Jehovah Shalom if you are desperately needing peace over a situation.
Though the names that God is known by may be different, they all explain one thing: God is always powerful, always unchanging, and always good. His presence is an unwavering banner in a world that is constantly bowing down to ephemeral trends, transient movements, and shifting expectations. For greater is He that is in us, that He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
God and His name – all of His names – and what they stand for, are as relevant for us today than ever before. And thank goodness for that, for what would we be without Him?
The Sunday School Network has published this article on their website. Also, check out their vast array of biblical-based teaching resources designed to help children to get to know Jesus.
Sources:
1. Blue Letter Bible, “The Names of God in the Old Testament”
2. God TV, “Do you know these 14 Hebrew names of God?”
3. iBelieve.com, “10 powerful names of God (And what they mean for us today)
4. Bible Study Tools, “The Wonderful Implications of God being Our Abba Father”
5. Active Christianity, ”Why God has to be a jealous God”
119 Responses
I love the reference of the names of God amen thank’s
Thank you, I’m glad you found this article useful. Stay safe and blessed!
I’ve been searching for a study on God’s names. I found your article to be well written and informative. Thank you so much for helping me into a study of God.
Hi Tommy, l’m so glad that our article has helped you with your study of God! 🙂
I thank you so very much for your time to list down some of the names of God and it meaning, it really helpful. And the scripture to back it up, is just a blessing.. thank you ones more God bless you.
Thank you Hawa, that is so kind of you! God bless you too!
This article has helped me and my daughter to find the answer to her home work from her Sunday school very easy.God bless you.
Oh, we’re glad to help! I hope your daughter’s Sunday school teacher was pleased with her homework! 🙂
I love God He is the Great I AM…. Glory unto His Holy Name
Amen!
Tommy, you should also check out ” Praying the names of God ”
Author is LeAnne Blackmore. Shalom.
ALILALUA AMEN
Iam very glad
Thanks …. i have now know the names of God and meaning
Thank you for reading our post! Bless you!
Thank you very much. I will share this, blessed my heart. 🙌
Thank you, Chantell and yes, feel free to share this article with others! 🙂
thanks for the good work
Informative Site! absolutely wonderful.Madeline thank you so much ! can’t thank you enough.
Stay blessed our Sister In Christ.
Thank you so much Idred! God bless you too!
Thank you for this platform.
Thank you for visiting us!
Very informative thank you. Knowing the other names of God deepens my prayer
Same here! Glad you like our article!
PRAISE the LORD…!
JEHOVAH is my everything
Amen! 🙂
Am very humbled for the great teaching
Thank you, Noah. To God be given the glory! 🙂
I found it useful,I must thank you for publishing to us and more generation to come.god bless you.
Thank you so much, Eroni! I’m glad you found this article useful. God bless you too!
Wow. I am so impressed with u guys. Thanks for the research. My prayer life just increase because I realized that as Christians, we need to call God by any of his names in any particular need of concern. I am happy I came across this article. Thanks guys
Thank you, Henry, for the positive feedback! We’re so happy that this article has been so helpful for you! 🙂
Hi may the Lord God bless you for the job well done. I am so blessed by the way you have eraborated God’s names . Thank you so much.
Thank you Fridah, that is so encouraging! Glad the article resonated with you! 🙂
The article herein is very helpful, it gives the in-depth analysis that exceeds the reader’s expectations, I love reading it and may the Almighty God bless the author.
God bless you too!
I love this piece, it’s really helpful with the Bible references, thanks alot
I love God
Amen, Sampson! He is the Greatest! 🙂
Love this
Beautifully done!!! Praise God for information like this!!! God bless you ❤
Thank you, Krystal, so glad you found this article helpful. God bless you too!
Thank you…… May God bless you
Love the names of God and it’s meanings. Showed me a whole new direction of God’s unconditional love to mankind. Very helpful article. Would love to receive articles of this nature. Blessings
Thanks Shiranga, we aim to keep posting such content. 🙂
GOD Bless You so much for this article.. very needful..
I’m so glad that it was helpful! Stay blessed! 🙂
So glad that you enjoyed reading it!
This was a truly a blessing today. Thank you, I needed this!
God bless you.
I’m so glad that this edified and encouraged you! God bless you too!
Thanks so much….. May God bless you
I’m glad you like the article, Mukisa. God bless you too!
Our pleasure, Mukisa! God bless you, too!
I’m so blessed. I now know that praying using the names of God is fruitful.
Thanks.
Amen, l’m glad our post resonated with you! Stay blessed!
Yes and amen! Stay safe and blessed! 🙂
Thank you for this fruitful info.
Our pleasure, Beresi! God bless you!
Hi, there I am greatiful for the job well done in explaining the important of the names of Jehovah.
I would like to encourage you to keep that good work for I believe through it many will. e lifted especially to connect with thier Maker,
Thanks once again
Thank you Joseph for the encouragement! God bless you! 🙂
Thank you for this article on the names of GOD. I enojoyed the study and I am poised to seek to know God more intimately. Please remember me in your prayers
Thank you so much, I found this article helpful. God bless you
I’m so glad it resonated with you! God bless you too!
It was amazing thanks for publishing that💓💓💓🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, Lylian, l’m glad you liked the article!
I’m really impacted by this Article I’m Soo blessed thank you Soo much 🙏
That is so kind of you to say so, Victor. Thank you!
Very useful. Thanks for putting this together. Now I can use Gods name appropriately🙂. Beautifully done!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Thank you so much this article was useful to me, and I gained more knowledge
God bless you so much, let God give you more Revelation
I’m so glad that this article was so helpful!
Great lesson on the Hebrew names of God. It’s exciting and meets every situations. Such is the Power of the God we serve. Thank you
Amen Nana, blessed is the name of God!
Awesome, Aren’t there more names
Yes, l had to stop at nine names, otherwise, this blog post would have been too long! 🙂
Amen Nana! You said this so well! 🙂
To think I have just come across this beautiful blog site. Thank you and God bless the works of your hands. My best wishes. Steve
Oh, thank you, Steve! That means so much to us! God bless you. 🙂
I just want to Praise The Lord !
Amen!
May God bless you for letting us know more about him
Thank you, Ahimbisibwe, that is so kind of you!
Thank you so much…. God bless you
God bless you too!
I was really amazed at how GODS name was found in the Bible and the scriptures to back them up 🧎also how you spoke on what every name meant 🧎What a blessing 🧎
Thank you, Vicci! There are even more names for God, but l had to limit myself to 9, otherwise, the article would have been really long! 🙂
Thank you so Much, this is powerful
Amen! God bless you!
Thank you so much for this wonderful article. I was blessed by it and I I pray that you will be blessed for sharing it. Love in Christ ❤️.
Thank you so much Allen, that is so kind of you! God bless you too!
Hello. Thank you for this piece. It is very important to know God even by name as it helps us to draw closer to Him. God bless you ma’am
Thank you and yes l agree! God bless you too!
Amazing name’s of our great king Jesus, what a mighty God we serve
Amen!
May the Lord our God reveal more of his revelations in you!
I’m blessed to visit this site today 🥰
And I’m still willing to learn more 🙏
God bless you 🙏
Thank you, God bless you too!
I’m very grateful you have helped me understand the Names of God . God bless you so much Shalom
So glad that our post resonated with you! God bless you!
Thank you very much,, great work indeed. Very much blessed.
Glory to God. Thank you very much for article. It has blessed me.
Thank you so much and yes, all glory goes to God!
I am so grateful that this article has made me study the word of God deeply for the first time in my life, through the verses included included in this article.
I feel an inward peace that i didn’t have before, It just aroused a desire in me to read the word of GOD.
Thankyou
Be blessed.
Yes and amen Nancy! May you be blessed and continue to dwell in His peace, which is above all understanding.
May God bless you with more resources as you continue to share your knowledge of Him.
Thank you, Michael, God bless you too, and may you also grow in knowledge of Him.
Thank you all for this names of God,each time i go through it i feel peaceful and blessed.
Yes, so do l! What a wonderful God we have!
I praise Abba so much for the countless good gifts He gives His children and you, and this article can help us glorify Him which we are called to do! Thank you for your help in accomplishing this. I will gladly add you to my prayers.
Thank you, Donna, we will keep you in our prayers as well! 🙂
Jacob’s Ladder is a beautiful metaphor for our journey through life. The names of God are powerful reminders of our purpose and destiny.
Amen!
Thank you for this list of names for God. Some I recognize from sermons. Is it possible to go into more detail?
Hi Stephanie, at the bottom of the article are the sources l used to write the article – they can give you additional information. 🙂
May God Bless you. I am so happy to know thta The Name of God
God bless you too Amjad!
This blog post on the nine mighty names of God was insightful and informative. The author did an excellent job of explaining the meanings behind each name and how they are relevant to us today. I would highly recommend this post to anyone interested in spirituality and religion.
Thank you so much!
I love the way the names have been presented. God bless you.
Thank you, God bless you too!
Thank you.
Peace be with you.
And also with you Shola. Thank you for reading our article. 🙂