01 OT Names of God
01 OT Names of God The Names of God by Lambert Dolphin
Old Testament (The Hebrew Scriptures, or Tanach):
EL: God ("mighty, strong, prominent") used 250 times in the OT See Genesis 7:1; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 35:11; Numbers 23:22; Joshua 3:10; 2 Samuel 22:31; 2 Samuel 22:32; Nehemiah 1:5; Nehemiah 9:32; Isaiah 9:6; Ezekiel 10:5. El is linguistically equivalent to the Moslem "Allah," but the attributes of Allah in Islam are entirely different from those of the God of the Hebrews. ELAH is Aramaic, "god." Elah appears in the Hebrew Bible in Jeremiah 10:11 (which is in Aramaic, and is plural, "gods"). In Daniel (the Aramaic sections) Elah is used both of pagan gods, and of the true God, also plural. Elah is equivalent to the Hebrew Eloah which some think is dual; Elohim is three or more. The gods of the nations are called "elohim." The origin of Eloah is obscure. Elohim is the more common plural form of El. Eloah is used 41 times in Job between Job 3:4 and Job 40:2, but fewer than 15 times elsewhere in the OT. See the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Elohim.
ELOHIM: God (a plural noun, more than two, used with singular verbs); Elohim occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Gen. 1. God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. Eccl., Dan. Jonah use Elohim almost exclusively. See Genesis 17:7; Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:15; Genesis 50:24; 1 Kings 8:23; Jeremiah 31:33; Isaiah 40:1.
EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. First used in Genesis 17:1; Genesis 17:2. (Genesis 31:29; Genesis 49:24; Genesis 49:25; Proverbs 3:27; Micah 2:1; Isaiah 60:15; Isaiah 60:16; Isaiah 66:10-13; Ruth 1:20; Ruth 1:21) In Revelation 16:7, "Lord God the Almighty." The Septuagint uses Greek "ikanos" meaning "all-sufficient" or "self-sufficient." The idols of the heathen are called "sheddim."
ADONAI: Lord in our English Bibles (Capitol letter ’L ’, lower case, ’ord’) (Adonai is plural, the sing. is "adon"). "Master’’ or "Lord" 300 times in the OT always plural when referring to God, when sing. the reference is to a human lord. Used 215 times to refer to men. First use of Adonai, Genesis 15:2. (Exodus 4:10; Judges 6:15; 2 Samuel 7:18-20; Ps. 8, Psalms 114:7; Psalms 135:5; Psalms 141:8; Psalms 109:21-28). Heavy use in Isaiah (Adonai Jehovah). 200 times by Ezekiel. Ten times in Dan. 9.
JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6823 times in the OT First use Genesis 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim). From the verb "to be", havah, similar to chavah (to live), "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or ’I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" as revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Ex.3. The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . . ) or written "YHWH" without vowel points. The tetragrammaton. Josh., Judges, Sam., and Kings use Jehovah almost exclusively. The love of God is conditioned upon His moral and spiritual attributes. (Daniel 9:14; Psalms 11:7; Leviticus 19:2; Habakkuk 1:12). Note Deuteronomy 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:5 known to Jews as the Sh’ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons.
JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Genesis 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.
JEHOVAH-ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals" Exodus 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jeremiah 30:17; Jeremiah 3:22; Isaiah 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man’s being.
JEHOVAH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner." Exodus 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalms 4:6.
JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies" Leviticus 20:8. "To make whole, set apart for holiness."
JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. "Shalom" translated "peace" 170 times means "whole," "finished," "fulfilled," "perfected." Related to "well," welfare." Deuteronomy 27:6; Daniel 5:26; 1 Kings 9:258:61; Genesis 15:16; Exodus 21:34; Exodus 22:5; Exodus 22:6; Leviticus 7:11-21. Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one’s fellow man.
SHEPHERDPsa. 23, Psalms 79:13; Psalms 95:7; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 100:3; Genesis 49:24; Isaiah 40:11.
JUDGE:Psalms 7:18; Psalms 96:13.
JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God" Genesis 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isaiah 17:6; Zephaniah 2:9; Psalms 59:5, etc.
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness" Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16. From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.
JEHOVAH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro’eh" (to pasture).
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezekiel 48:35).
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. Isaiah 1:24; Psalms 46:7; Psalms 46:11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jeremiah 11:20 (NT: Romans 9:29; James 5:24, Revelation 19:11-16).
EL ELYON: ’Most High" (from "to go up") Deuteronomy 26:19; Deuteronomy 32:8; Psalms 18:13; Genesis 14:18; Numbers 24:16; Psalms 78:35; Psalms 7:17; Psalms 18:13; Psalms 97:9; Psalms 56:2; Psalms 78:56; Psalms 18:13; Daniel 7:25; Daniel 7:27; Isaiah 14:14.
ABHIR: ’Mighty One’, ("to be strong") Genesis 49:24; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalms 132:2; Psalms 132:5; Isaiah 1:24; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:1.
BRANCH: (tsemach), The Branch: Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12; Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15.
KADOSH: "Holy One" Psalms 71:22; Isaiah 40:25; Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 48:17. Isaiah uses the expression "the Holy One of Israel" 29 times.
SHAPHAT: "Judge" Genesis 18:25
EL ROI: "God of Seeing" Hagar in Genesis 16:13. The God Who opens our eyes.
KANNA: "Jealous" (zealous). Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:9; Isaiah 9:7; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 8:2.
PALET: "Deliverer" Psalms 18:2.
YESHA: (Y’shua) "Savior" Isaiah 43:3. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Joshua." The latter is a contraction of Je-Hoshua. ("Christ", the anointed one is equivalent to the Hebrew Maschiah, or Messiah).
GAOL: "Redeemer" (to buy back by paying a price). Job 19:25; For example, the antitype corresponding to Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer in the Book of Ruth.
MAGEN: "Shield" Psalms 3:3; Psalms 18:30.
EYALUTH: "Strength" Psalms 22:19.
TSADDIQ: "Righteous One" Psalms 7:9.
EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (God of everlasting time) Genesis 21:33; Psalms 90:1-3; Psalms 93:2; Isaiah 26:4.
EL-BERITH: "God of the Covenant" Used of Baal in Judges 9:46. Probably used originally to refer to the God of israel.
EL-GIBHOR: Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)
ZUR: "God our Rock" Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 30:29.
Malachi calls Messiah "The Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2).
Isaiah calls Messiah "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God (El Gibhor), Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
’Attiq Yomin (Aramaic): "Ancient of Days," Daniel 7:9; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:22.
MELEKH: "King" Psalms 5:2; Psalms 29:10; Psalms 44:4; Psalms 47:6-8; Psalms 48:2; Psalms 68:24; Psalms 74:12; Psalms 95:3; Psalms 97:1; Psalms 99:4; Psalms 146:10; Isaiah 5:1; Isaiah 5:5; Isaiah 41:21; Isaiah 43:15; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 52:10.
"The Angel of the Lord: " Genesis 16:7 ff; Genesis 21:17; Genesis 22:11; Genesis 22:15 ff; Genesis 18:1-33; Genesis 19:1; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 19:40; Genesis 31:11-13; Genesis 32:24-30; Exodus 3:6; Exodus 13:21, Ezekiel 1:10-13. Seen in the theophanies, or pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God in the OT (See 1 Corinthians 10:3 NT).
FATHER:Numbers 1:9; 1 Samuel 16:6; Exodus 4:22-23; 2 Samuel 7:14-15; Psalms 2:7; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Malachi 1:6.
THE FIRST AND LAST:Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12.