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Divine Names of God Bible Study

Hebrew names of God. This Bible study will hopefully give us a better understanding of them and the message our Father would like us to understand. The definitions are taken from the Strong's Concordance. The Bible verses provided is by know means a complete list. It is just a starting point for a deeper Bible study of the Divine names of God.

Elohim The first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator.

430 'elohiym (el-o-heem'); plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Yehovah More often spelled as Jehovah but the Hebrew alphabet does not have the letter "J" in it. The book of Esther has some acrostics in it and in them God Himself gives the proper spelling of this name with the four consonant letters, YHVH.

While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YHVH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created. YHVH is the God of Israel and the God of those who are redeemed and are thus now "in Christ".

3068 Yehovah (yeh-ho-vaw'); from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Yehovah, Jewish national name of God.

Genesis 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

YHVH is combined with other words which form what are known as the YHVH Titles.

1) YHVH Yireh = YHVH will see, provide. Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

2) YHVH Ropheka = YHVH that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD That healeth thee.

3) YHVH Nissi = YHVH my banner. Exodus 17:15-16 V15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: V16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

4) YHVH Mekaddishkem = YHVH that doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD That doth sanctify you. See also Leviticus 20:8; 21:8; 22:32 Ezekiel 20:12

5) YHVH Shalom = YHVH send peace. Judges 6:23-24 V23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. V24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

6) YHVH Zebaoth = YHVH of hosts. 1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

7) YHVH Zidkenu = YHVH our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:5-6 V5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. V6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. See also Jeremiah 33:16

8) YHVH Shammah = YHVH is there. Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

9) YHVH Elyon = YHVH Most High. Psalms 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD MOST HIGH. See also Psalms 47:2; 97:9

10) YHVH Roi = YHVH my shepherd. Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

YAH Is YHVH in a special sense and relation. YHVH as having become our salvation.

3050 Yahh (yaw); contraction for 3068, and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred name.

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.

El Is essentially the Almighty, though the word is never so rendered (see "Shaddai" below). El is Elohim in all His strength and power. It is rendered God as Elohim is, but El is God the Omnipotent. Elohim is God the Creator putting His omnipotence into operation. El is the God Who knows all (first occurrence Genesis 14:18-22) and sees all (Genesis 16:13) and that performeth all things for His people (Psalms 57:2) and in Whom all the Divine attributes are concentrated.

410 'el (ale); shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity).

Psalms 57:2 I will cry unto God Most High; unto God That performeth all things for me.

Eloah Is Elohim, Who is to be worshipped. Eloah is God in connection with His will rather than His power. The first occurrence associates this name with worship. Hence it is the title used whenever the contrast, latent or expressed, is with false gods or idols. Eloah is essentially "the living God" in contrast to inanimate idols.

433 'elowahh (el-o'-ah; rarely (shortened) 'eloahh (el-o'-ah); probably prolonged (emphat.) from 410; a deity or the Deity.

Deuteronomy 32:15-17 V15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
V16 They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger.
V17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Elyon First occurs in Genesis 14:18 with El, and is rendered the Most High God. It is El and Elohim, not as the powerful Creator, but as "the possessor of heaven and earth" and Who divides the nations their inheritance. The name is associated with Christ as the Son of "the Highest" (Luke 1:35).

5945 'elyown (el-yone'); from 5927; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme.

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the Most High God.

Shaddai Is always translated Almighty. It is God (El), not as the source of strength, but of grace; not as Creator, but as the Giver. Shaddai is the All-bountiful. This title does not refer to His creative power, but to His power to supply all the needs of His people. It is often used in connection with El (see above).

7706 Shadday (shad-dah'-ee); from 7703; the Almighty.

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.

Adon Is one of three titles (Adon, Adonai and Adonim) all generally rendered "Lord" but each has its own peculiar usage and association. They all denote headship in various aspects. They have to do with God as "over-lord."

1) Adon is the Lord as Ruler in the earth.

2) Adonai is the Lord in His relation to the earth; and as carrying out His purposes of blessing in the earth.

3) Adonim is the plural of Adon. Adonim carries with it all that Adon does, but in a greater and higher degree; and more especially as owner and proprietor. Adonim is the Lord Who rules His own.

Other Combinations:

Adonai YHVH = Lord God

YHVH Elohim = Lord God

Elyon El = Most High God

El Shaddai = God Almighty

updated 3-20-01
posted 9-30-98