Did you know the Bible uses several names for God? In the Hebrew text, God is called different names that are all translated “God” or “LORD.” I do not know Hebrew, but we will learn the different names of God and their meanings together. In the Hebrew culture, names were more than just a way to identify someone. Names described their character, their traits, who they are. So, as we study the names of God, we will learn who God is, and what His character is.
Note: I will include the specific name of God in parenthesis [] and colored blue within the scriptures as taken from the Hebrew text from https://biblehub.com/ and used Strong’s to get the meaning
The two most commonly used names of God in the Bible are Elohim and Yahweh (or Jehovah). Often times the authors used these two names together, as they seem to do with other names as well, perhaps to more fully describe who God is (or at least try to; He is indescribable because He is so great and awesome). Let us start at the beginning.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God [Elohim] said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God [Elohim] created man in His own image; in the image of God [Elohim] He created him; male and female He created them.
God’s name Elohim is a plural noun used with a singular verb, showing that God is 3 persons in one (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and often combined with a singular noun. Notice in verse 26, God says, “Let Us make man in Our image“ The New Testament makes this clear (although not written in Hebrew, but Greek or Aramaic). Gensis 1 says the Spirit of God hovered over the waters; John 1 says that in the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Colossians says that all things were created through Christ. Jesus says “I and the Father are one” and no one comes to the Father except through Him. For more on the concept of the Trinity, God in 3 persons, read the post, https://davesdailyscriptures.blog/2024/04/12/the-trinity-god-in-3-persons/
1 John 5:6-7
This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God [El], Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord [Yahweh] of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah, talks about Jesus (as do many others throughout the Old Testament) that He is God. He is the Son of God, He is the Messiah, the Savior of the World. He came to this earth to be God With Us, to save us, and to have a relationship with us.
The meaning of Elohim, or its root Eloah or El, means mighty and strong. It is God creator. He created the universe and everything within it. That is how powerful our God is.
Job 36:22-26
“Behold, God [El] is exalted by His power; who teaches like Him? Who has assigned Him His way, or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? “Remember to magnify His work, of which men have sung. Everyone has seen it; man looks on it from afar. “Behold, God [El] is great, and we do not know Him; nor can the number of His years be discovered.
God is powerful. He is all knowing, He is everywhere. Yet He wants a relationship with us. Ever since He made a covenant with Abraham, His desire was to bring salvation to the world and to have a relationship with us, Jes and Gentiles alike. It all started with Him choosing the tribes of Israel before they became a people. Then He lead them to their promised land and declared Himself to them. And He has declared Himself to us.
Deuteronomy 4:35-39
To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD [Yahweh] Himself is God [Elohim]; there is none other besides Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day. Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD [Yahweh] Himself is God [Elohim] in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
God is the only one. He is the LORD God Almighty. And He loves us. And there is no other. Any other god is false. There are many who believe in false gods today, but we all can believe in a holy, righteous God. There is only One.
Isaiah 45:5-8
I am the LORD [Yahweh], and there is no other; there is no God [Elohim] besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the LORD [Yahweh], and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD [Yahweh], do all these things.’ “Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I, the LORD [Yahweh], have created it.
Isaiah 45:18-21
For thus says the LORD [Yahweh], Who created the heavens, Who is God [Elohim], Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD [Yahweh], and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the LORD [Yahweh], speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a god [el] that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD [Yahweh]? And there is no other God [Elohim] besides Me, a just [El] God and a Savior; there is none besides Me.
As God spoke to His Chosen People in the wilderness, His first commandment is to worship Him alone for there are no other gods. Any other God besides Him are false. They are idols. But God is the all power ful who created all things.
Exodus 20:1-3
And God [Elohim] spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD [Yahweh] your God [Elohika], who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods [elohim] before Me.
God truly wanted a relationship with His people from the beginning. That includes you and me. As Jesus said, all who believe in Him are sons of Abraham. It is not by blood, but by faith that we are His. That is why Jesus Christ came to this earth, which was His plan all along. It all started with His covenant with Abraham. Through Him, all the world will be blessed (Genesis 12:3)
Genesis 17:1-7
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD [Yahweh] appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God [El Saday]; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God [Elohim] talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God [lelohim] to you and your descendants after you.
God’s Covenant with His Chosen People, Israel began with Abraham. He never breaks His promise. Not only did He promise Abraham that He would have many descendants, and His children would become a nation, He also promised that all nations would be blessed through Him. And that blessing came through His descendants, Judah and David and to Jesus Christ, who paid the price for each of our sins by giving His life and dying on the cross, and being raised from the dead; He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords , the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, He is our Savior, our Redeemer our Lord.
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