Names are powerful. They represent our identity and can profoundly impact our lives. In the Bible, names often revealed something about a person’s character or God’s plan for their life. When God changed someone’s name, it signified His transforming work in them. As we explore the meanings behind biblical names, we can uncover deeper truths about God’s nature and better understand His purpose for each of us.
The Significance of Names in the Bible
In ancient Near Eastern culture, names were believed to influence a person’s destiny. This explains why names play an important role throughout the Bible. God would sometimes change a person’s name to reflect a new identity and purpose. For example, He changed Abram (“exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of many nations”) when establishing his covenant (Genesis 17:5). God also changed Jacob (“deceiver”) to Israel (“he struggles with God”) after Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:28).
Likewise, when God called individuals to special missions, He often gave them meaningful names to remind them of His promises. Isaac means “laughter,” referring to the joyous laughter of Abraham and Sarah at the promise of a son in their old age (Genesis 17:17; Genesis 21:6). The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew Yeshua, meaning “Yahweh saves,” highlighting Christ’s role as Savior (Matthew 1:21).
In the ancient world, knowing someone’s name gave you power over them. This explains why God’s personal name, represented by the Tetragrammaton YHWH, was considered too sacred to pronounce. His name revealed His divine identity as the self-existent, eternal God. When Moses asked to know God’s name, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), revealing that He is the source of all being.
The Meaning Behind God’s Names
Though God’s proper name is YHWH, Scripture uses many titles and descriptions to reveal His attributes and character. Here are some key names of God in the Bible:
- Elohim – Translated “God,” this name emphasizes God’s strength and creative power. It appears over 2,500 times in Scripture.
- El Elyon – Meaning “God Most High,” this exalts God’s supreme sovereignty and authority (Genesis 14:18-20).
- El Roi – Meaning “God Who Sees,” this conveys God’s omniscience and constant watchcare (Genesis 16:13).
- Jehovah Jireh – Meaning “The Lord Will Provide,” this highlights God’s faithfulness to supply all our needs (Genesis 22:14).
- Jehovah Nissi – Meaning “The Lord Is My Banner,” this signifies God’s protection and deliverance for His people (Exodus 17:15).
- Jehovah Shalom – Meaning “The Lord Is Peace,” this points to the wholeness and tranquility that come from God (Judges 6:24).
- Jehovah Raah – Meaning “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” this conveys God’s loving guidance and provision (Psalm 23:1).
This list just scratches the surface of the many names and titles for God recorded in Scripture. Each one provides insight into His character and how He relates to us. Together, God’s names reveal the fullness of His divine nature and the many facets of His relationship with humanity.
The Significance of God’s Name YHWH
Of God’s many names in Scripture, His proper name YHWH (typically translated LORD in small caps) stands out as uniquely sacred. Whereas titles like Elohim emphasize God’s power and position, YHWH points to His eternal existence.
In Exodus 3, when Moses asks God whom he should say sent him, God replies, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you'” (Exodus 3:14). The name YHWH derives from the Hebrew verb “to be” and reveals God as the ultimate, self-sustaining reality. While everything else depends on something else for existence, God exists of Himself, without reference to anything external.
The name YHWH also signifies God’s covenant faithfulness. In Exodus 6:2-8, God reaffirms His covenant previously made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Verse 3 says, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them.” Connecting His name with the covenant, God reveals that YHWH reflects His absolutely trustworthy character.
No wonder the Third Commandment prohibits misusing God’s name (Exodus 20:7)! To protect its sanctity, later Jews used the substitute title Adonai (“Lord”). Rightly understanding God’s name leads us to worship Him in awe and trust.
The Significance of God’s Name in Christ
The New Testament proclaims that Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Philippians 2:9-11 explains that God gave Christ “the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” Through Jesus, God’s name is revealed most fully.
Jesus claimed Divine names for Himself, angering the religious leaders. He audaciously applied God’s “I AM” statements to Himself – “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Jesus even used the name “I AM” itself, leading the Jews to attempt stoning Him for blasphemy (John 8:58-59).
By calling Himself “I AM,” Jesus identified Himself with the God of the Old Testament. He claimed to embody YHWH – God’s name and nature – in human flesh. One theologian said, “In Christ, the name of God becomes the name of a person.” When we come to Christ in faith, we encounter the living God Himself.
The Power of God’s Name Working Through Us
Believers are called to represent God’s holy name. 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV) says, “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” As His ambassadors, we must accurately convey God’s character and words.
We also have authority through Christ to use God’s name in prayer. Jesus said, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Praying in Jesus’ name means relying on His merit and not our own. As we align our will with God’s purposes, our prayers are powerful and effective.
Most of all, we glorify God’s name through changed lives. Jesus taught that we should “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). As the Spirit transforms us into Christ’s image, God’s gracious love attracts people to Him.
Conclusion
God’s names in Scripture provide an invaluable glimpse into His character and ways. A few key insights include:
- Names in the Bible frequently signify deeper spiritual truths about a person’s identity and God’s promises.
- God’s many titles showcase different facets of His nature – sovereignty, love, holiness, etc.
- God’s personal name YHWH points to His eternal existence and covenant faithfulness.
- Jesus Christ is the complete embodiment of God’s name and nature.
- As God’s representatives, believers reveal His name through changed lives and Spirit-empowered works.
By exploring the meaning behind God’s names in Scripture, we can know Him more intimately and bring greater glory to His name. Our worship grows richer as we encounter more of who God is through the many names by which He has chosen to reveal Himself to us.
Name of God | Meaning | Key Scripture Verse |
---|---|---|
Elohim | God, Creator, Mighty Strong | “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) |
El Elyon | God Most High | “Blessed be Abram by God Most High (El Elyon), Creator of heaven and earth.” (Genesis 14:19) |
El Roi | God Who Sees | “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me’ (El Roi).” (Genesis 16:13) |
Jehovah Jireh | The Lord Will Provide | “Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide (Jehovah Jireh).” (Genesis 22:14) |
Jehovah Nissi | The Lord Is My Banner | “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord Is My Banner (Jehovah Nissi).” (Exodus 17:15) |
Jehovah Shalom | The Lord Is Peace | “So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace (Jehovah Shalom).” (Judges 6:24) |
Jehovah Raah | The Lord Is My Shepherd | “The Lord (Jehovah Raah) is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1) |
This table summarizes some of the key names of God in the Old Testament, their meanings, and example verses where they are used.
YHWH Reveals God’s Divine Nature
Of all God’s names in the Old Testament, the name YHWH stands out as most sacred. Whereas titles like Elohim or El Shaddai emphasize God’s power and position, the name YHWH points to God’s eternal existence and character. When Moses asks God whom he should say sent him, God replies, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you'” (Exodus 3:14). By calling Himself “I AM,” God reveals that He is the ultimate, self-existing reality – the source of all being. This contrasts powerfully with the finite pagan deities of other Ancient Near Eastern religions. The name YHWH expresses God’s transcendent nature and sets Him apart as the one true God.
The Name of Jesus Reveals God Most Fully
While God’s name YHWH provides crucial insight into His divine nature, the New Testament authors present Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s name and character. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Whereas no one could see YHWH’s face and live (Exodus 33:20), Jesus directly manifests God’s glory in visible, human form. Jesus even audaciously applies God’s “I AM” statements in the Old Testament to Himself, invoking sacred Divine names to underscore His oneness with God. The New Testament authors proclaim that God’s full name and nature are perfectly expressed through the person of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
In summary, names in Scripture provide invaluable glimpses into God’s character. God’s personal name YHWH reveals His transcendent, eternal existence as the one true God. Titles like Elohim and El Shaddai highlight God’s might and creative power. And Jesus Christ comes as the ultimate revelation of God’s name. By taking on human flesh, Jesus expresses the fullness of God’s glory and character. As we explore the meaning behind God’s names in the Bible, we discover deeper truths about who God is and how He wants to relate to us.