English language translations of the Bible fail to bring us the majestic characteristics of the Deity as contained in His various names and titles. It is our prayer this digest (which is not fully comprehensive) will help us to a better understanding of the Lord God Almighty and His Saving Name.
Hebrew words Connected with Elohim
El (Ail) — translated God 212 times, god (heathen god) 15, idol 1, mighty one 1, power 3, goodly 1, great 1, mighty 4, strong 1. El indicates the eternal one, the source of all power, the powerful God.
Elohim, plural of El — translated God frequently (c. 2400 times), angels 1, goddess 2, gods 240, judges 5, great 1, very great 1. Elohim signifies the Eternal enshrined in the angelic beings who carry out His work on earth.
Elyon — translated high 9 times, higher 4, highest 3, most high 27, on high 1, upper (most) 9. The Eternal One who is the epitome of highness.
El Shaddae (Ail Shaddai) — translated God Almighty 48 times. Used particularly for the “strength of the mighty ones” who are empowered to carry out the purpose of God.
Eloah — translated God 52 times, god 5. The Eternal One, a mighty one who is a member of the heavenly host.
Connected with Adonai
Adon — translated Lord 225 times, master 93 times, owner 1, sir 1. When applied to the Eternal One it means Sovereign Ruler of the universe; when applied to men, it indicates master, ruler, etc.
Adonai, plural of Adon — translated Lord c. 270 times, my Lord 1. This indicates many in one and one in many. In futurity, it speaks of the kingly multitude.
Adonai Yahweh — Translated Lord GOD. It speaks of “Him who shall be.” Therefore, he is “Lord of Lords.”
Connected with Yahweh
Eh’yeh Asher Eh’yeh —translated “I am that! am” in Exodus 3:14. It is correctly rendered “He will be whom He will be,” that is, God manifested in flesh.
Yahweh — translated LORD c. 6,000 times, GOD c. 400. The memorial name by which mankind is saved through manifestation.
Jehovah — As it appears in the KJV it is transliterated from the Hebrew. Early writers wrote in Latin. As the Latin has no letter “Y,” the letter “J” was substituted. The “V” replaced the “W” as a matter of discretion trying to reflect the Hebrew vowel sounds. In all cases, the Hebrew manuscripts are “Yahweh,” or, without the vowels, “YHWH.” This is known as the Tetragrammaton in Greek and “Shem She! Arba Othiyoth” in Hebrew.
Yah — an abbreviated form of Yahweh transliterated in Psalm 68:4.
Yahweh Elohim — translated LORDGod. This indicates “He who shall be mighty ones.”
Yahweh -Tz’ va’oth —translated LORD of Hosts. This title represents “He who shall be hosts of redeemed ones.”
Other Hebrew titles
Tsur — translated edge 1 time, mighty one 1, rock 62, stone 1, strength 5, God 1, mighty God 1, sharp 2, strong 1. This speaks of that which is firm and durable and provides refuge and eternal protection. It is the rock upon which the ecclesia is developed.
Abiyr — translated angel 1 time, bull 1, chiefest 1, mighty 3, mighty one 1, strong 2, strong one 1, valiant 2. It means “stout, strong or the Strong One.” No one has greater strength than the God of Israel.
Immanuel — transliterated three times. It means “God with us, God veiled.”
Greek words used of God
Kurios — translated lord 56 times, Lord 663, master 12, Master 2, owner 1, sir 13. The Greek for Yahweh, Adonai, Ail, Tzur.
Theos — translated God 1326 times, god 12, godly 3, exceeding 1. The Greek used for Elohim or occasionally Yahweh.
A non-Biblical word
Deity — This comes to us from the Greek Theos through the Latin Deus through the French to the English. The title is all-comprehensive for the Eternal One.
Herbert Styles (1908-1986)
My Name Is…
When God declares, “The name of the Lord is…,” we might expect that Yah or Yahweh would always be given. That is not the case, however, as illustrated in the following references:
- “He will be that He will be” is the name by which He would be identified to Israel, Ex. 3:14.
- This is His name and memorial to all generations, “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (indicating “He who will be mighty ones of the fathers”), Ex. 3:15.
- He is known by the name “God Almighty” (El Shaddae) in the patriarchal age, Ex. 6:3.
- His name is Yahweh, 6:3; 15:3; Psa. 83:4; Is. 42:8; Jer. 16:21; 33:2; Amos 5:8; 9:6.
- Yah is His name, Psa. 68:4.
- His name is “Jealous,” Ex. 34:14. (While “jealous” and “holy” are attributes, this verse and the next are phrased with these terms as names of God.)
- His name is “Holy,” Isa. 57:15.
- His name is “the LORD of Hosts,” Is. 47:4; 48:2; 51:15; 54:5; Jer. 10:16; 31:35; 32:18; 46:18; 48:15; 50:37; 51:19,57.
- “The God of Hosts” (Elohim Tz’va’oth indicating armies of mighty ones) is His name, Amos 4:13; 5:27.
His name, His person
Speaking of “the name of the LORD” is equivalent to speaking of God Himself. Following are two examples of the many that exist:
“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high” (Psa. 7:17).
“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee” (Psa. 20:1).
When reading “the name or’ God, it is evident we are to bring to mind the attributes of the Deity, not just one of the various appellations whereby He is called.
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