In modern English, the names of people and places are important, but they don’t necessarily define the thing they refer to. In the Bible, however, names carry great significance. God is very intentional about words—after all, He used words to create the universe—and the words He uses to refer to Himself are a rich source of insight into His nature.

There are hundreds of names, titles, and descriptions given to God in the Bible, and in this article, we will look into ten key names that describe His innate qualities, His relationship to His people, and even hints of the Trinity.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”
Proverbs 18:10

YHWH | Yahweh | Yehovah = Lord (all caps), I AM יְהֹוָה

Yahweh is the divine name that God uses to describe Himself in the Bible, and it is the most frequently used name for God in the Old Testament. Because it is so sacred, the Jewish people do not write or speak the name YHWH. Similarly in English translations, the name Lord is written in all caps to show reverence.

Yahweh described Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM”, meaning He absolutely is. He has no beginning and no end. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is eternal and unchangeable. He is constant.

Throughout the Old Testament, the name Yahweh is used when a covenant is made between God and man. (See Genesis 12:1-7 and Exodus 6:7.)

Scripture using Yahweh:

    • “Declare and set forth your case; indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord [Yahweh]? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:21-22
    • “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord [Yahweh], our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. Save, O Lord [Yahweh]; may the King answer us in the day we call.” Psalm 20:7-9
    • “O Lord [Yahweh], You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord [Yahweh], You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:1-5

Adonai = Master, Lord God אֲדֹנָי

Adonai is a plural noun from the word “adon” which means lord or master and can also be used in reference to humans. When used as a name for God, we capitalize Lord. Its literal translation is “My Lords”, in reference to the Trinity.

Jesus told the people of Jerusalem that they would not see Him again until they declared that He is the true Messiah and their Adonai. We read in Luke 13:35 (TLV), “…for I tell you, you will never see Me until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai [Master, Lord God]. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'”

As the Creator of the universe, the Lord God is master and ruler over all people. We are His creation and His possession.

Scripture using Adonai:

    • “For the Lord your God  is the God of gods and the Lord of lords [Adonai], the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17
    • “O Lord, our Lord [Adonai], how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” Psalm 8:1
    • “Give thanks to the Lord of lords [Adonai], for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:3

El = God | Deity אֵל

El is a root word in Hebrew. It is used for deity and conveys the ideas of might, strength, and power. Let’s look at ways it is used in combination with other Hebrew words to create the names listed below.

Elohim = Father God, Mighty Creator אֱלֹהִים

Through this name God reveals His might, power, and sovereignty. Elohim is also used to describe God as creator of the universe, as seen in the very first verse of the Bible. All things are possible for Elohim!

Like Adonai, the word Elohim is plural, but it is used with singular verbs. Many scholars see this as an allusion to the Trinity. This name encompasses the three-in-one nature of God.

Scripture using Elohim:

    • “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
    • “Arise, O God [Elohim], judge the earth! For You possess all the nations.” Psalm 82:2, TLV
    • “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God [Elohim], the Lord is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4

El Shaddai = God Almighty אֵל שַׁדַּי

El Shaddai is used nine times in the Old Testament, describing our all-sufficient and all satisfying God. He is the One who sustains us and meets all our needs.

Scripture using El Shaddai:

    • “I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 17:1b-2
    • “So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him…’May God Almighty [El Shaddai] bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.’ ” Genesis 28:1-3
    • “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty [El Shaddai].” Psalm 91:1

El Elyon = God Most High אֵל עֶלְיוֹן

El Elyon is the sovereign ruler over all the universe. He is the most exalted God and the splendor of His majesty overshadows all of creation.

Scripture using El Elyon:

    • “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High [El Elyon]. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High [El Elyon], possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High [El Elyon], Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ He gave him a tenth of all.” Genesis 14:18-20
    • “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High [El Elyon] will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
    • “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High [El Elyon] and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:34
    • “I will cry to God Most High [El Elyon], to God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalm 57:2

Jehovah Jireh | Yahweh Yireh = God Provides, The Lord Will Provide יְהֹוָה רָאָה

This special name only occurs one time in Scripture, when Abraham is offering up his son Isaac and God provides a ram instead. Many centuries later, God Himself did what He spared Abraham from doing. Jehovah Jireh provided for our deepest spiritual need by offering His one and only Son as a sin offering for us so that we can have eternal life.

Scripture using Jehovah Jireh:

    • “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide [Jehovah Jireh], as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.'” Genesis 22:13-14

Jehovah Rapha | Yahweh Rapha = The Lord That Heals and Restores יְהֹוָה רָפָא

The Bible tells us that Jehovah Rapha can heal our physical sickness, give us emotional healing, and restore those who have not been faithful. We also read that Jesus (or Yeshua) gave us complete healing through His shed blood on the cross at Calvary.

Scripture using Jehovah Rapha:

    • “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer [Jehovah Rapha].” Exodus 15:26
    • “‘For I [Jehovah Rapha] will restore health to you and will heal you of your wounds.’ It is a declaration of Adonai. ‘For they called you an outcast: “Zion—no one cares about her.” ‘ ” Jeremiah 30:17, TLV
    • “He forgives all your iniquity. He [Jehovah Rapha] heals all your diseases.” Psalm 103:3

Jehovah Shalom = The Lord is Peace יְהֹוָה שָׁלוֹם

Jehovah Shalom technically only has one occurrence in the Bible (see Judges 6:23-24 below), though there are many more verses that teach us that Jesus is our source for true peace.

Only Jesus Christ can make us complete and whole, and this kind of shalom is not dependent on our outward circumstances. It says in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And only through Jesus Christ are we made right with God. We read in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Scripture using Jehovah Shalom:

    • “The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace [Jehovah Shalom]. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” Judges 6:23-24

Abba = Daddy, Dearest Father אַבָּא

The intimate name Abba comes from an Aramaic term for father. It occurs three times in the Bible, with all three verses listed below.

Scripture using Abba:

    • “And He was saying, ‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.'” Mark 14:36
    • “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!‘” Romans 8:15
    • “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!‘” Galatians 4:6

Yeshua | Jesus = Salvation, Safety יֵשׁוּעַ

In English we know the Son of God by the name Jesus, but His name in Hebrew is Yeshua which means safety and salvation. Since Jesus was raised Jewish in the land of Israel, it seems appropriate to call Him by His Hebraic name…Yeshua. Either way, we are assured in the Scriptures that anyone who calls on His name will be saved!

Scripture using Yeshua:

    • “This Yeshua [Jesus] is ‘the stone—rejected by you, the builders—that has become the chief cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved!” Acts 4:11-12, TLV
    • “…so that at the name of Jesus [Yeshua] every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ [Yeshua the Messiah] is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11, NASB
    • For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua [Jesus] is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart it is believed for righteousness, and with the mouth it is confessed for salvation.” Romans 10:9-10, TLV

Our Response

“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast
in the name of the Lord, our God.” Psalm 20:7

Isn’t it incredible that the God we serve uses names to reveal His character to us? He is a relational God and wants to grow deeper in relationship with His children. Studying His names is a great way to improve your prayer life and worship. Now you can cry out to your Creator using specific names for the situations that you face. And you can praise Him for distinct attributes and character qualities.

And, isn’t it fun to learn His names in Hebrew? Along with Aramaic and Greek, Hebrew is one of the original languages of the Bible from which our English translations are derived. How fitting to speak the names of God in their original language.