THE HEBREW NAMES OF GOD
Why Hebrew?
Why are there several names and not just one?
Why Hebrew? The desire of our gracious and merciful God has always been to have an intimate relationship with His own creation. For that reason he created man and woman in His own image – to be able to build a strong relationship together, as intimate friends. That is why God created us different to any other of His creation – for we have a mind and a will of our own to think, to reason and invent and also with feelings: to be able to love, hate, be sad or joyful.
God begins his relationship with mankind with Adam and Eve but through their disobedience they were not able to continue having a “face to face” and intimate friendship with their Creator.
However, God´s desire had not changed: he still desired to be known by mankind and until the Messiah came to earth to fulfil His destiny, God chose to reveal Himself to a people. (This story you will find in Genesis.) And God chose the Hebrew people to reveal Himself –and not because they were better than other peoples. He just chose them.
So we learn of the Hebrew names of God because God revealed Himself to the Hebrew people and they would be the line through which the Saviour of the world (Jesus) would come.
Why many names?
In the ancient word a name was not merely a label but the meaning of the name was virtually equivalent to whoever or whatever bore it. (I S.25:25)
Giving a name to anyone or anything was tantamount to owning or controlling it (Ge.1:5,8,10; 2:19,20; 2 S.12:28)
Changing a name could signify a promotion to a higher status (Ge. 17:5; 32:28) or a demotion (2 Ki. 23:34,35; 24:17) and blotting out or cutting off the name of a person or thing meant that that person or thing was destroyed (2Ki. 14:27; Is.14:22; Zeph. 1:4; cf. Ps.83:4)
The name and being of God are often used in parallelism with each other (Ps. 18:49; 68:4; 74:18; 86:12 92:1; Is.25:1; Mal.3:16) which stresses their essential identity.
Believing in Jesus’ name (Jn. 3:18) is therefore the same as believing in Jesus himself. Prayer in his name would be prayer in concert with his character, mind and purpose. The name Jesus is the Greek form for the Hebrew Joshua which means “salvation of Yahweh”. As Yahweh’s Saviour his name accurately describes his work and purpose. (Mt. 1:21)
Thus we know about a person through his name. We learn of the character of God through His name. And He has given us many names so that we can understand more of Him, who He is and what He is like and what He does.
God is so multifaceted that it would be impossible to describe Him in just one word – for His names are used to describe Him and His character in order for us to know Him and to draw close to Him …so that His desire for a relationship is fulfilled.
God is not far away…He wants to be so very close to us…and He is close – if that is your desire too.
The following is a list of 27 of the most prominent names of God.
Adonai - Lord, Master
Ab - Father
Elohim - God, Mighty Creator
El Shaddai - God Almighty
El Olam - The Everlasting God, The Eternal God
El Elyon - God Most High
El Chay - Living God
El Roi - The God Who Sees Me
Esh Oklah, El Kannah - Consuming Fire, Jealous God
Hashem - The Name
Ish - Husband
Melek - The King
Maon,Macheseh, - Dwelling Place, Refuge
Magen, Metsuda, - Shield, Fortress
Migdal-Oz - Strong Tower
Miqweh Yisrael - Hope of Israel
Qedosh Yisrael - Holy One of Israel
Shophet - Judge
Yahweh - Lord
Yahweh Jireh - The Lord will Provide
Yahweh Rophe - The Lord Who Heals
Yahweh Nissi - The Lord My Banner
Yahweh Shalom - The Lord is Peace
Yahweh Tsebaoth - The Lord of Hosts
Yahweh Tsuri - The Lord is My Rock
Yahweh Rohi - - The Lord is My Shepherd
Yahweh Tsidqenu - The Lord our Righteousness
Yahweh Shammah - The Lord is There
Yahweh M’Kaddesh - The Lord Who Sanctifies
