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The Bible reveals God as the Creator of everything, visible and invisible, a living and personal Spirit Being, without beginning or end. The Bible portrays this Spirit Being as infinitely wise, holy and good.
In His dealings with creation, God reveals His names to, principally, those who by faith have entered into a personal relationship with Him. There is a category of these names signifying “strength”, “power” and “might”. They are called Elohistic names, from the words “El” and “Elohim”.
The word “El” applies to
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God the Father (Genesis 14:18-22),
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God the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ – as in Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6-9) and
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God the Holy Spirit (Job 33:4; 37:10)
The word “Elohim” is used about 2500 times in the Old Testament. In Genesis 1:1, it describes the plurality of persons in the Godhead. Similarly, in Exodus 3:1-6; 15. In Psalm 45:2, 6 “Elohim” is used to describe the fullness of the Godhead in the Son. |
The following “El”-based names are very common in the Bible:
El-Elyon – The Most High God
(Genesis 14:18)
El-Roi – The God that sees
(Genesis 16:13-14)
El-Shaddai – God Almighty, God All-sufficient (Genesis 17:1)
El-Olam – God, the Everlasting (Genesis 21:33)
El-Beth-El – God of the House of God (Genesis 31:13; 35:7)
El-Elohe-Israel – God, the God of the Prince of God (Genesis 33:20)
ELoah – the One God (Deuteronomy 32:15; Daniel 2:11)
El-Gibbor – The Mighty or Great God (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 32:18-19)
Elohim-Elyon - God, the Most High (Psalm 91:1-2; 78:56)
Elohim-Saboath – God of Hosts (Psalm 80:7, 14)
Adon or Adonai – Master, Owner or Masters, Owners, Ruler of All (Psalm 147:5; 86:12)
Immanu-El – God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) God made flesh. The Incarnate (John 1:1-3; 14-18) |
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The Bible also reveals that God is the Redeemer. The redemptive names of God are usually pre-fixed with Yahweh or Jehovah. The name Jehovah appears about 6823 times in the Bible and is generally translated as LORD. The Hebrews refer to this name as the unpronounceable or incommunicable name of God out of reverence for the LORD. The Hebrew letters for this name are four, represented in English as JHVH or YHWH. These letters are usually described as the four letter tetragrammation.
Jehovah is the I AM THAT I AM. It tells us that God is the Eternal, the Unchanged and Unchanging One, and He will be all that He is ever needed to be. God says: “The LORD is My name … this is My memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:14-15; 15:3; Isaiah 42:8; Jeremiah 16:21; 33:2; Amos 5:8; 9:6)
Some examples of the way in which God’s redemptive name is tied to specific needs of His people are as follows:
God is Jehovah-Elohim: The Lord God, the Redeemer-Creator (Genesis 2:4). Once Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, you can face every situation, knowing fully well that your Creator and Redeemer will see you through.
God is Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14). Your provision will not depend on seasonal changes. If you put your faith in God, He definitely will provide for you.
God is Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord that heals (Exodus 15:26). You do not have to be overly worried about illnesses. It is God who determines the length of life. May you know the healing touch of God as often as you need it.
God is Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my Banner (Exodus 17:15). There is divine protection for those who put their trust in God. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The LORD is our refuge and our fortress.
God is Jehovah-Kanna – The Lord who is jealous. (Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:9) God is a jealous God, He watches over you to protect you from sinning against Him, and to steer you away from actions that will lead to His wrath upon your life.
God is Jehovah-Mekaddeskum – The Lord who sanctifies. (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8) When you are called and chosen in Christ, God sets His seal upon you and marks you out for His divine purpose.
God is Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24). The Bible makes it clear that God will keep us in perfect peace, if we keep our mind on Him.
God is Jehovah-Roi: The Lord my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1). God is the best Shepherd possible; remain in His flock throughout the year. Do not stray away from His green pastures and quiet waters.
God is Jehovah-Hosenu: The Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6). You can rely on God’s knowledge of your life, you can trust His plans for your life at all times.
God is Jehovah-Shaphat: The Lord is judge (Judges 11:27). God will act in your behalf to bring you justice and to deliver you from oppression.
God is Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6). When your personal righteousness fails, as it will fail during the year, remember, your life is based on the righteousness of Christ. Let Jesus be your standard in everything that you do.
God is Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there, Ever-present (Ezekiel 48:35). Remember, as a man sows so he will reap. God sees all, knows all, and hears all and He will reward each person according to their work.
God is Jehovah-Jehoshua-Christos – The LORD JESUS CHRIST or Jehovah’s Saviour Anointed. (Matthew 1:21; Acts 2:34-36; Ephesians 1:20-21; Luke 2:11, 26-27) The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest redemptive name to be revealed because it combines in a triple format all the compound redemptive names of God. |
No wonder, the Bible teaches us that:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1-5)
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
(Colossians 2:6-10)
But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.”
(John 5:17-27)
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