In the Bible, God is known by a variety of names, each reflecting different aspects of His character and attributes.
These names are not just titles; they carry profound meanings, providing insights into God’s nature and His relationship with humanity. The diverse names for God in the biblical texts serve several crucial purposes.
Names of God in the Bible:
- Elohim (God)
- Elohim Chayim (The Living God)
- Abba (Father)
- Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
- Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
- El Elyon (The Most High God)
- El Kanna (The Jealous God)
- El Roi (The God Who Sees)
- Jehovah Ro’i (God the Shepherd)
- Jehovah Nissi (The Lord, Our Banner)
“O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)
“And those who know Your name will put their trust in you.” (Psalm 9:10)
How well do you truly know God—His character and His heart?
It’s not enough to merely know about Him. You can become deeply acquainted with God through His biblical names. By understanding the meanings behind these names, you’ll gain insight into His character and heart. God desires for you to know Him intimately and to have a close, personal relationship with Him.
1. Elohim (God)
God is Elohim—He is your Creator.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Have you ever pondered the immense power God wielded to create the universe? Or marveled at His incredibly imaginative design of planet Earth?
“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
Consider the intricacies and beauty of the human body.
Do you ever feel worthless or unlovable? You are supremely valuable for one primary reason: you have been created in the image of God. He loves and cherishes you more than you can fathom because you bear His image.
“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14a)
2. Elohim Chayim (The Living God)
God is Elohim Chayim—He is the Living God.
“Today you will know that the living God is among you.” (Joshua 3:10)
“Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-7)
No other religion boasts of having a god who is alive and active in the lives of its followers. Every founder of other faiths who once walked the earth is dead and gone. Every stone or wooden god worshiped never took a breath. You can only have a personal relationship with the living God—Elohim Chayim.
“Then the angel spoke to the women, Don’t be afraid! He said. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.” (Matthew 28:5-6)
3. Abba (Father)
God is Abba—He is your Father.
“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
When you place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, God adopts you into His eternal family. You bear His name—Christian—and your behavior reflects that you are one of His children. It is a profound privilege to call God by such an intimate name—Abba.
4. Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
God is Jehovah-jireh—the Lord who provides.
“When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven…Don’t lay a hand on the boy! Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Jehovah-jireh (which means the LORD will provide). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: On the mountain of the lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:9-12; 13-14)
The significance of this event in Abraham’s life was a test of his faithfulness to God and God’s faithfulness to Abraham. God wanted to see if Abraham would trust Him with the promise fulfilled in his son, Isaac. Abraham passed the test, and the ram provided in place of Isaac demonstrated that God is Jehovah-jireh.
Not far from where God provided a ram for Isaac, He provided the ultimate sacrifice for us—the Lamb of God, Jesus—who takes away the sins of the world.
To read more stories like this, click religion.