“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above all every name that at name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…”. The names of God used in the Bible act as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He chooses in scripture are meant to reveal His true nature to us. First, the Hebrew term Yahweh refers to the One, who is absolute in faithfulness. Next, the title Elohim indicates infinite power and sovereignty over the universe. Adonai means “ruler over all.” “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalms 8:1
ELOHIM: “Elohay” is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power", and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form. Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible. Throughout scripture, Elohim is combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God: Elohim: "Creator": “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, Elohay Elohim: “God of Gods” Deut. 10:17, Numbers 23:19, Psalms 19:1
Elohay Kedem: “God of the Beginning” Deuteronomy 33:27
Elohay Chaiyim: “Living God” Jeremiah 10:10
Elohay Kedoshim: “Holy God” Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19
Elohay Selichot: “God Of Forgiveness” Nehemiah 9:17
Elohay Tehilati: “God Of My Praise” Psalm 109:1
Elohay Mauzi: “God of My Strength” Psalm 43:2
Elohay Marom: “God of Heights” Micah 6:6
Elohay Mikarov: “God Who Is Near” Jeremiah 23:23
Elohay Mishpat: “God of Justice” Isaiah 30:18
Elohay Yishi: “God of My Salvation” Psalm 18:47, 25:5
"EL" is another name for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis: El Shaddai: "God Almighty" Genesis 17:1
El Echad: “The One God” Malachi 2:10
El Elyon: “The Most High God” or “God Most High” Genesis 14:17-20
El HaNe'eman: “The Faithful God” Deuteronomy 7:9
El HaGadol: “The Great God” Deuteronomy 10:17
El HaKadosh: “The Holy God” Isaiah 5:16
El HaShamayim: “The God of the Heavens” Psalm 136:26
El De'ot: “The God of Knowledge” 1 Samuel 2:3
El Emet: “The God of Truth” Psalm 31:6
El Yeshuati: “The God of My Salvation” Isaiah 12:2
El Yisrael: “The God of Israel” Psalm 68:35
El Olam: “The God of Eternity” Gen. 21:33 or "Everlasting God" Isaiah 40:28-31
El Roi: "Strong One Who Sees" Genesis 16:13
Immanu El: “God Is With Us” Isaiah 7:14
"ELAH" is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God:
Elah Yerush'lem: “God of Jerusalem” Ezra 7:19, Elah Yisrael: “God of Israel” Ezra 5:1, Isaiah 1:4, Elah Sh'maya: “God of Heaven” Ezra 7:23, Elah Sh'maya V'Arah: “God of Heaven and Earth” Ezra 5:11
YHVH is the Hebrew word that translates as “LORD” in our English Bibles (all capitals). Found more often in the Old Testament than any other name for God, approximately 7,000 times. The title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton," meaning the "The Four Letters". The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . .) or written "YHWH" without vowel points. YHVH is the covenant name of God. The Jews stopped pronouncing this name by about 200 A.D. out of fear of breaking the commandment "You shall not take the name of YHVH your God in vain" Exodus 20:7. Although some pronounce YHVH as "Yahweh", or “Jehovah” scholars really don't know the proper pronunciation. The LORD who revealed Himself as YHVH in the Old Testament is revealed as Yeshua (Jesus) in the New Testament.
YHVH comes from the Hebrew verb "to be" and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. "And God said to Moses, I AM who I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15). Therefore, YHVH declares God's absolute being - the source of everything, without beginning and without end. John 8:12-18 Jesus presents himself as the "I AM." When challenged by some Jewish leaders regarding His claim of seeing Abraham, Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." Philippians 2:9-11
Jehovah / YHWH: “When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens…” Gen. 2:4, Jehovah - Elohim: “LORD God” Genesis 2:4, Exodus 6:2-3
Jehovah - Rapha: "The Lord our Healer" Exodus 15:26
Jehovah - Rohi: "The Lord my Shepherd" Psalm 23:1
Jehovah - Sabbaoth: "The Lord of Hosts" Isaiah 6:1-3, I Samuel 1:3
Jehovah - Shalom: “The LORD of Peace” Judges 6:24
Jehovah - Tsidkenu: "The Lord our Righteousness" Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16
Jehovah - Yireh: “The LORD who Sees and Provides” Genesis 22:13-14.
Jehovah - Jireh: "The Lord will provide" Genesis 22:14:
Jehovah - Jireh: "The Lord will provide" Genesis 22:14:
Jehovah - Maccaddeshem: "The Lord your Sanctifier" Exodus 31:13, Jehovah - M'kadesh: “The LORD Who Makes Holy” Ezekiel 37:28, Jehovah - Nissi: "The Lord our Banner" Exodus 17:15, Jehovah - O'saynu: “The LORD our Maker” Psalm 95:6, Jehovah - Shammah: "The Lord who is Present" Ezekiel 48:35.
