Knowing God by His personal names is one of the greatest privileges for followers of Christ. Each of the manifold names of God describes a different aspect of His multifaceted character that tell us who our God is and about His attributes as the Lord reveals Himself more personally to us. These special names of God are an incredible blessing when we see them in the context of Scripture, which helps us to address Him with reverence when we pray.
EL, ELOAH [el, el-oh-ah]: God “mighty, strong, prominent” (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19) – etymologically, El appears to mean “power” and “might” (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of “might” remains.
ELOHIM [el-oh-heem]: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah. Being plural, Elohim accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of God’s power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence. (Genesis 1:1)
EL SHADDAI [el-shah-dahy]: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty God of Jacob”, “The Stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2, Psalm 132: 5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.
ADONAI [ˌædɒˈnaɪ; ah-daw-nahy]: “Lord” (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) – used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God’s dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.
YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH [yah-way / ji-hoh-veh]: “LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14; Isaiah 26:4, Isaiah 40:3) – strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, “Lord.” The revelation of the name is given to Moses “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11), and guidance (Psalm 31:3).
JEHOVAH-JIREH [ji-reh]: “The Lord Will Provide or See” (Genesis 22:13-14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.
JEHOVAH-RAPHA [rah-fah]: “The Lord Who Heals” (Exodus 15:26) – “I am the LORD that healeth thee” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from and curing diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities.
JEHOVAH-NISSI [nee-see]: “The Lord Is My Banner” (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17.
JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH [meh-kad-esh]: “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” (Leviticus 20:7-8; Ezekiel 37:28) – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy.
JEHOVAH-SHALOM [shah-lohm]: “The Lord Is Peace” (Judges 6:24) – the name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him.
JEHOVAH-ELOHIM [el-oh-him]: “LORD God” (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – a combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic word for “God” signifying that He is the Lord who is God.
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU [tzid-kay-noo]: “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6, Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness (from the Hebrew word tsidkenu) to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us, “that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
JEHOVAH-ROHI [roh-hee]: “The Lord Our Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, “The LORD is my shepherd [Yahweh-Rohi]; I shall not want”.
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH [sham-mahw]: “The Lord is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once-departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8-11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH [sah-bah-ohth]: “The Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) – Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do.
EL ELYON [el-el-yohn]: “Most High” (Deuteronomy 26:19) – derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or “ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship.
EL ROI [el-roh-ee]: “God of Seeing” (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all.
EL-OLAM [el-oh-lahm]: “Everlasting God” (Psalm 90:1-3) – God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2).
EL-GIBHOR [el-ghee-bohr]: “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) – the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).
As we continue to read through Scripture, we are introduced to many more names of God:
ABBA, FATHER
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mark 14:36)
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
A FAITHFUL WITNESS
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. (Psalm 89:36-37)
A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)
A RANSOM
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
A SACRIFICE
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)
A SANCTUARY
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 8:14)
A STRONG TOWER
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
A WITNESS TO THE PEOPLE
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. (Isaiah 55:4)
ADVOCATE
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)
ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE ALMIGHTY
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Revelation 22:13)
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
AUTHOR OF SALVATION
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9)
BELOVED SON
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)
BREAD OF LIFE
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35). I am that bread of life. (John 6:48)
CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)
GOD, MEDIATOR
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)
GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:6)
GOD’S FIRSTBORN
Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)
HEIR OF ALL THINGS
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4)
HIGH PRIEST
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)
I AM
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)
IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
INTERCESSOR
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
LORD OF GLORY
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)
MASTER, LORD
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (John 13:13)
MESSIAH, PRINCE
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Daniel 9:25)
SAVIOUR
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
SON OF GOD
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:34)
SURETY OF A BETTER TESTAMENT
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (Hebrews 7:22)
THE AMEN
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)
THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)
THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5)
THE FIRST AND THE LAST
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17)
THE HEAD
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)
THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10)
THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH, HE IS PREEMINENT
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)
THE LAMB
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:9)
THE LAMB OF GOD
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
THE LIGHT
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. (John 12:35)
THE LIGHT OF MEN
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
THE TRUE LIGHT
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)
THE TEMPLE
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22)
THE TREE OF LIFE
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
THE TRUE VINE
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (John 15:1)
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
THE CHIEF SHEPHERD
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20)
MY REDEEMER
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (Job 19:25)
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2).
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. (Psalm 31:3)
THE ROCK OF MY REFUGE
But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. (Psalm 94:22)
THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:47)
THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)
THE WISDOM OF GOD
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
THE WORD
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
CHIEF CORNER STONE
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter 2:6)
A LIVING STONE
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1 Peter 2:4)
A TRIED STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER STONE, A SURE FOUNDATION
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)
OUR FOUNDATION
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
THE BUILDER
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. (Hebrews 3:3)
THE LAST ADAM, A QUICKENING SPIRIT
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)
THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THEM THAT SLEPT
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
HE IS FAITHFUL
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. (Hebrews 3:2)
HE IS OUR GIFT
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)
TEACHER
“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2)
WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Great study on the names and titles of Jesus
Praise the Lord. ✝️🙌 Thank you for your faithfulness. ❤️