From the beginning of creation God has endeavored to reveal his nature and character to man. He is not a hidden and inaccessible God. Quite the contrary! He has always shown himself to mankind through his words and through his deeds. From the first verse of the Bible (Genesis 1:1) we find indications, names or attributes of his that They help us understand what God is like and how He wants to work in our lives.
In biblical times the name was very important and special care was taken when choosing the name of the children. The name looked like a statement about the nature, character or function of the person. This is why when God called Moses to free the Hebrew people from slavery, Moses insisted that God tell him his name. He wanted to make sure that he could present his “credentials” to the people of Israel without question.
But Moses insisted: Suppose I stand before the Israelites and say, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you.” What do I answer if they ask me: “And what is his name?”?
“I AM THAT I AM,” God replied to Moses. And this is what you have to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.”
Furthermore, God told Moses: Tell the Israelites this: “The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my eternal name; this is my name for all generations.”
(Exodus 3:13-15)
In that story God uses YHWH as his name (LORD; I AM THAT I AM). Strictly speaking, it could be said that this is the name of God. «This is my eternal name; this is my name for all generations,” said God.
However, there were times when God – speaking about himself – emphasized one of his specific characteristics. I was looking for reveal something about your person that would bring confidence and peace. We see an example of this when God confirmed his promise to Moses (Exodus 6). God mentioned that when he appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he presented himself as Almighty God (The Shaddai).
On another occasion, God spoke to Moses and said, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob under the name of Almighty God, but I did not reveal my true name, which is the Lord.
(Exodus 6:2-3)
God is much more than we can imagine! There is no language in the world that can define the totality of what he is like. But we can get to know him better by studying some of his names and seeing the characteristics of him that they reveal to us. Let’s see some of the names of God that we find in the Bible, their meaning and the importance they have for us.
The 2 main names of God
It is possible that the names that are most used in the Bible to refer to God are two: Elohim Y YWWH.
1. ElohimThe = God: In the Bible we find many times the name ‘The and other names beginning with that root. This is so because that was the most common term used in the Middle East to refer to a divinity.
The root ‘the it was used in combination with other words to more effectively distinguish and identify the deity being spoken of. For example, in Genesis 33:20, when Jacob built an altar for God he called it El-‘Elohê-Israel. That phrase means “God, the God of Israel” or “mighty is the God of Israel.” Thus he specifically identified in honor of whom the altar was erected: in honor of the God of Israel, who is a mighty God.
The first time the term Elohim appears in the Bible is in Genesis 1:1 and refers to the Creator God. Elohim is the plural of ‘eloah. Its use gives us to understand both the meaning of the triune God (God in three Persons), as the variety of features that are found in the Creator and Almighty God.
two. YHWH = I AM WHO I AM, the LORD: This is another of the most used names in the Bible when speaking of God, and it is the one that appears most frequently (YHWH, Jehovah or the LORD). This word is used only in the Bible. This was the name that God chose to present himself to Moses.
We do not know its exact pronunciation since, out of respect, it has been kept without vowels. The Hebrews considered God’s name too sacred to say. But YHWH implies that God is a God present, attentive to what happens. The first time we find this name in the Bible is in the second chapter of Genesis:
This is the story of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens…
(Genesis 2:4)
in that verse YHWH appears right next to the word Elohim. It may be with the intention of emphasizing the indisputable reality of his presence during the creation and express that YHWH It is the name of the Creator God.
10 other names of God and their meaning
In the Bible we find other names that reveal special characteristics of God. Each name shows us something about his nature, something that helps us draw closer to him and trust him more. Let’s see some of them.
1. adonai : Sir, Master.
adonai began to be used as an alternative term to YHWH. adonai communicate the idea of God as Lord and Master, the owner of everything. Talk about the authority of God and the position he occupies with respect to his people. He is the one who can reward those who obey him and punish those who do not.
To meditate:
Then Moses bowed to the ground and prayed to the Lord as follows: Lord, if I really have your favor, come and stay among us. I recognize that this is a stubborn people, but forgive us our iniquity and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.
“Look at the covenant I make with you,” answered the LORD. In the sight of all your people I will do wonders that have not been done before any nation in the world. The people among whom you live will see the awesome works that I, the LORD, will do for you.
(Exodus 34:8-10)
two. abba : Father, Dad, Daddy.
The word abba affirms us the great paternal love that God feels for his people. He not only created the human being but want to have a close relationship with each one of us, just like a loving father and his children have.
God is love (1 John 4:8) and this is how he treats us: with love and with great compassion. He created us and is always with us, attentive to the needs of each one of his children. Let’s take time to feel fatherly love from him!
To meditate:
“Father of orphans and defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling” (Psalm 68:5).
See what great love the Father has given us, that we be called children of God! And we are!
(1 John 3:1a)
3. YHWH-Rapha : the LORD who heals, the LORD your healer.
God wants to bring well-being and healing to all areas of our lives, he is not limited only to the spiritual realm. He is a healing God and his power extends to our entire being: spirit, soul and body. He wants to heal the diseases that afflict our soul, our emotions and also our body. This is because healing is part of his nature.
To meditate:
“He said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God. If you listen to my voice and do what I think is right, and if you keep my laws and commandments, I will not bring any of the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians. I am the LORD, who restores them to health.”
(Exodus 15:26)
Surely he bore our sicknesses and bore our pains,
but we consider him wounded, beaten by God, and humiliated.
(Isaiah 53:4)
What the Bible says about healing and praying for the sick
Four. YHWH-Shalom : the LORD is peace.
The peace that God gives us is one that seems illogical in the eyes of others. It is not based on circumstances or the absence of war but is based on the total confidence that God is with us and that it will work in our favor in its time. The peace that comes from God is complete, it encompasses every corner of our being.
To meditate:
Don’t worry about anything; rather, on every occasion, with prayer and supplication, present your petitions to God and give him thanks. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Peace I leave you; I give you my peace. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not be distressed or cowered.
(John 14:27)
5. YHWH-Rohi : the LORD my Shepherd.
The Lord is the Good Shepherd who protects his sheep and guides them carefully down the path of life. He is very attentive, always prepared to defend ourselves from the enemy (the devil) who wants to attack us and rob us of his fold. As the Good Shepherd that he is, God also provides for our needs.
To meditate:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
(John 10:11)
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep, and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know him, and I give my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold, and I must bring them also. So they will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
(John 10:14-16)
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing; in green pastures he makes me rest. Beside still waters he leads me.
(Psalm 23:1-2)
What does Psalm 23 mean?
6. YHWH-Sabaoth : the LORD of hosts. Some translations use the LORD Almighty.
God is the LORD of hosts in its broadest sense. he has all the power and rules over all the armies of heaven, earth and the entire universe, the armies that we can see and those that we cannot. He is Lord over everything and everyone! The name expresses the immense majesty, authority and power of God and gives us the security that we are in the best hands.
To meditate:
The LORD Almighty is with us; our refuge is the God of Jacob.
(Psalm 46:7)
Who is this King of glory? The LORD, the strong and brave, the LORD, the valiant warrior.
Raise, doors, their lintels; Rise up, ancient gates, for the King of glory is about to enter.
Who is this King of glory? He is the LORD Almighty; he is the King of glory! selah
(Psalm 24:8-10
7. YHWH-Nisi the LORD is my flag or the LORD is my banner.
This phrase appears in Exodus, when the people of Israel won a battle against the Amalekites. Moses built an altar to recognize that they had overcome because they carried the flag or banner of the LORD God Almighty.
Moses built an altar and called it “The LORD is my banner.” And he exclaimed, “Lay hold on the banner of the LORD! The war of the LORD against Amalek will be from generation to generation!”
(Exodus 17:15-16)
It is in the name of the LORD and thanks to him that we get the victories in our life. We must always give him the glory.
To meditate:
May he grant you what your heart desires; that makes all your plans come true. We will celebrate your victory, and in the name of our God we will unfurl the flags. May the Lord fulfill all your requests!
(Psalm 20:4-5)
He took me to the banquet room, and over me he raised his banner of love.
(Song 2:4)
8. YHWH-Jireh : the LORD provides, the LORD will provide.
Here the sense is that God can see everything: the present, the past and the future. He is the best provider because he…