A
Study on
The
Names
Of God



Notes Compiled by:
Adrian Moore



This study is available in printed form from:
Lighthouse Baptist Bible Curriculum
P O Box 547
Blacksburg, SC 29702

Please observe our use policy for this document

3 MAIN NAMES:

Elohim....God
Adonai....Lord
Jehovah....LORD

ELOHIM...translated in the King James Bible as God

  • first mentioned in Genesis 1:1

  • This name declares His power and preeminence

    • ADONAI...translated in the King James Bible as Lord

  • first mentioned in Genesis 15:2

  • This name declares that He is the Sovereign ruler and Master

    • JEHOVAH...translated in the King James Bible as LORD

  • First mentioned in Genesis 2:4

  • This name declares the He is self-existent and eternal

    • COMPOUND NAMES FOR GOD

    EL-ELYON...The Most High God

  • This declares that He is the strongest of the strong and the one that is exalted above all others.

  • Bible references...Genesis 14:17-24; Isaiah 14:12-14
    • EL-ROI...The God Who Sees

  • This declares that nothing can escape the sight of God

  • Bible reference...Genesis 16:7-14

    • EL-SHADDAI...The Almighty God

  • This declares that He is the supreme power in the universe.

  • Bible references...Genesis 17:1; Psalm 91:1

  • This name also refers to the comforting security by being near to the Strong Breasted One

  • Bible references...Genesis 43:14; 49:25

    • EL-OLAM...The Everlasting God

  • This declares that He is the eternal God that transcends time.

  • Bible references...Genesis 21:33; Isaiah 40:28-31; Psalm 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10-13

    • The previous four names are compound names with reference to the El found in Elohim.

    The following nine names are compound names with reference to Jehovah.

    JEHOVAH-JIREH...The Lord will see to it and provide

  • This declares that He is able to provide that which is needed.

  • Bible reference...Genesis 22:13,14
    • JEHOVAH-NISSI...The Lord is my Banner
  • This declares the rallying point and the identification of God's children.

  • Bible reference...Exodus 17:15

    • JEHOVAH-SHALOM...The Lord is Peace

  • This declares that only He can bring true peace.

  • Bible references...Judges 6:24 also Psalm 4:8; 29:11; 85:8; 147:12-14

    • JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH...The Lord of Hosts

  • This declares His leadership and sovereignty over the host of heaven.

  • Bible references...Isaiah 6:1-3 also Psalm 68:17; 104:4; 148:2

    • JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHCEM...The Lord thy Sanctifier
    (The God who desires to set his people apart)

  • This declares the desire of God to set His people apart for special service.

  • Bible references...Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:7,8

    • JEHOVAH-ROHI (RAAH)...The Lord my Shepherd

  • This declares the guidance and provisional care of the Lord. It also declares the close relational fellowship between the Shepherd and His sheep.

  • Bible reference...Psalm 23:1

    • JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU...The Lord our Righteousness

  • This declares that true righteousness is of the Lord (and must be imputed)

  • Bible reference...Jeremiah 23:6

    • JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH...The Lord is Present

  • This declares the presence of God, especially in regards to His relationship with His own.

  • Bible references...Ezekiel 48:35; Psalm 46:1,2

    • JEHOVAH-RAPHA...The Lord our Healer

  • This declares that God is the Great Healer of all afflictions; both physical and spiritual.

  • Bible references...Exodus 15:26; II Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 41:4; 147:3; Deuteronomy 32:39; Malachi 4:1,2

    • ANOTHER NAME FOR GOD: JESUS

    Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

  • The name Jesus means "Jehovah is Salvation".

  • This helps to explain why this name was given for "he shall save his people from their sins".

  • The name Jesus is not mentioned in the Old Testament. He is, however, called by many names and referred to often. In fact, the Bible is the Divine Revelation from God about God.

  • Jesus Christ is God...Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-3,14; Philippians 2:5, 6

  • Remember the reference in Exodus 3:14... "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."

    • This I AM is the name Jehovah. Therefore, we see that the name Jesus means "I AM SALVATION". Only the Son of God could rightfully carry within himself the fullness of this name because He is God and He is salvation.

  • Bible references...Colossians 2:9; John 1:29; 3:17; 4:10; Acts 4:12

  • Let's compare Exodus 3:14 with passages from the book of John.

    • Let's compare the Old Testament names for God with the Lord Jesus Christ. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9

    ELOHIM...……………………………JESUS...John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16,17

    ADONAI...……………………………………………………..JESUS...John 3:31
    (118 times in 115 verses, He is called the Lord Jesus)

    JEHOVAH.......................................................……………….JESUS...John 8:58

    EL-ELYON
    The Most High God…………………..……JESUS...Mark 5:7;Revelation 5:2-14

    EL-ROI
    The God Who Sees …………………………………..JESUS...John 1:48; 4:17,18

    EL-SHADDAI
    The Almighty God……………………………JESUS...Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8

    EL-OLAM
    The Everlasting God……….JESUS...Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:18

    JEHOVAH-JIREH
    The Lord will see to it and Provide…………..JESUS...Mark 10:4; Hebrews 2:18

    JEHOVAH-NISSI
    The Lord is my Banner………………………….…..JESUS...John 3:14-15; 12:32

    JEHOVAH-SHALOM
    The Lord is Peace………………………………...JESUS...Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27

    JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH
    The Lord of Hosts……….JESUS...Matthew 13:41; 16:27; II Thessalonians 1:7; Hebrews 1:6; I Peter 3:22

    JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHCEM
    The Lord thy Sanctifier…………………………JESUS...John 17:19; Acts 26:18; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; Hebrews 2:11; 10:10

    JEHOVAH-ROHI
    The Lord my Shepherd....................JESUS...John 10:11,16; I Peter 2:24, 25; 5:4

    JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU
    The Lord our Righteousness …………JESUS...Romans3:22, 25, 26; 5:17, 18, 21 II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 1:8

    JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
    The Lord is Present……………………..JESUS...Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5

    JEHOVAH-RAPHA
    The Lord our Healer……………………………..JESUS...Isaiah 53:5; Luke 6:19

    (1) FALSE USE OF HIS NAME...Matthew 7:22, 23; 24:5; Acts 19:13-15

    Invoking the name of Jesus, without the relationship of grace through faith, is merely an act of religious hypocrisy.

    An example of the difference...Luke 10:17

    (2) SALVATION THROUGH HIS NAME...John 20:31; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 10:43; Romans 10:13

    (3) PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS...John 14:13, 14; 15:16; 16:23,24

    This is not a ritual "tag line" at the end of a prayer; something merely done out of habit. But, it is the reality that only through Jesus Christ, do we have access to God. It is not to be viewed as a magical phrase that makes all your wishes come true; but, it is an acknowledgment of one's spiritual relationship with their Lord and Savior.

    (4) I JOHN 5:11-15...DECLARES THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP IN SALVATION AND RIGHTEOUS LIVING.

    v.13... "that believe on the name of the Son of God"

    SALVATION

    "that ye may know that ye have eternal life"

    ASSURANCE

    "and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God"

    LIFE OF FAITH

    A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

    (1) THE NAME OF JESUS HAS BEEN PLACED ABOVE EVERY NAME

    Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11

    There will not be one that will not bow at the name of Jesus, There are no exceptions. (It would seem from this passage that even the devil must bow and must confess.) Everyone will be in agreement (some reluctantly and some willingly) that Jesus Christ is Lord. HALLELUJAH!!!

    (2) THE PRE-INCARNATE NAME OF JESUS IS ONCE AGAIN MANIFESTED…THE WORD (John 1:1)

    Revelation 19:11-13

    (3) THE NAME YET TO COME

    Revelation 3:12... In order for this to be a new name, it must be one that has not been used up until this time.

    Revelation 19:12... There is only one new name in the Bible that can be found in relation to the culminating last events of Revelation.

    Revelation 19:14-16...

    "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS"

    This means He is sovereign over all who have ever claimed to reign, the supreme authority over all who have dominion.

    Psalm 72… A Psalm for Solomon

    "Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

    The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended."

    "Hallowed Be Thy Name