Seeing God’s Character Through His Names
The Jewish names of God give us insight into who God is by what each name tells us about His character. Learning and understanding these names will help us get to know our Heavenly Father more deeply.
Do you have a nickname? Not just a shortened version of your given name, but a name of endearment or description given to you by your family, friends, or maybe even a bully at school.
Names are very important and they often can tell us a lot about a person. Names like Big Jack or Princess or Buddy or Stinky can give us word pictures about a person.
The names of God in the Bible tell us, His family, a lot about Him too. Let’s look at some of the Names Of God.
The Bible is filled with the names of God. Elohim, Yahweh, El Shaddai, Adonai, Jehovah -Jireh, Jehovah-Shalom, Messiah, Christ, and many more. But in our English Bibles, we see God’s name written as God and Lord. It is hard to catch the true and deep flavor of the names of God and why they are so important in showing us who God is.
How The Ancients Used Names
To the ancients, a name was a window into the character and the abilities of a person, and even God Himself.
An angel told Mary and Joseph to name their firstborn baby Jesus. Jesus means “God saves”.
So when we are hearing Jesus, the Jews were hearing “God saves”. What a perfect describer for this baby who would grow up to save the whole world!
I feel bad for Jabez and Mahlon and Achan whose names mean “sorrow”, “sickness” and “trouble”. Do you think we get the phrase “here comes trouble” from Achan?
f we just dig in the bible a little we can learn God’s names and from that learn about His wonderful and awesome character. We can literally see who God is. That’s amazing!
The Names Of God In The Bible
One of my favorite names for God is found in Genesis 17. God appears to Abram and says…
“I am God the Almighty”
“A ni El Shaddai” (el-shadd-i)”.
Everyone in the ancient world believed in god. Most believed in many gods. We call them idols (literally means “block of wood”. I love that!)
How did the ancients know which god was the real or best god?
They had a very easy test. The strongest or mightiest god was the real god!
So, God appears to Abram and says Abram I am the true God because I am the ALL Mighty God. Literally, El means god and Shaddai means mighty.
Why God used that “nickname” to show who He was to Abram is so interesting!
Abram was a ninety-nine-year-old man at that time. He had a pretty good and successful life but the one thing that was most important to a man of his day, he did not have, a child. It was a great cultural shame not to have children. And to make things worse, Abram means “exulted or great father”! Every time his name was spoken it reminded him of the biggest shame of his life!
But God, El Shaddai was about to show Abram just how mighty God He was! God changed Abram’s name to Abraham meaning “father of a multitude of nations”!
God would have to be the mightiest of all and the true God if he could take a ninety-nine-year-old man and his old wife and make them the patriarchs of a multitude of nations. And God Almighty, El Shaddai did just that! Abraham’s descendants are as numerous as the stars!
The Mighty God
God showed this ancient man that he was the mightiest God, the only true God, and the story of Abraham shows us that too!
What are you facing that needs a mighty God? Are you carrying something heavy? Do you need to see God’s mighty power in your life?
Don’t turn to other things. blocks of wood, to help you. You have El Shaddai, the Almighty God, who loves you more than you could ever imagine. He is your help. Just ask, and keep on asking Him!
Gode is also known as Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis 22), the God Who Provides! Our Almighty God will provide what you need, what you really need!
Other Names Of God In The Bible
Throughout the Bible, God shows us his character, who He is, by His name. Here are just some of the names that show us who our Father God is…
God is El Sabaoth~ the God of the Armies of Heaven
God is El Elyon~ the Most High God
God is Adonai~ Master
God is Jehovah~ The Lord, The Self-Existent God, God’s Covenant Name
God is Jehovah Raah~ The Lord My Shepherd
God is Jehovah Rapha~ The Lord Who Heals
God is Jehovah Mekoddishkem~ The Lord Who Sanctifies You
God is El Olam~ The Everlasting God
God is Jehovah Shalom~ The Lord Of Peace
God is Elohim~ The Creator, The Triune God
There are more names of God that show His wonderful character and His ability! No wonder the Bible says that He is our ALL IN ALL. God is everything we would ever need or want!
Here’s the verse I’m memorizing this week. You might want to memorize it too.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
Thanks, Yvonne, you are always a blessing to wake up to Sunday mornings. I love the way you honor that God. I know He lives.
I love this message. I’m doing a summer study on Praying the Names of God, and it’s given me a new perspective on different aspects of God’s character.
Thank you so much for sharing. I look forward to this as I always learn so much.
Thank you for this Sunday morning study. I love all these names. I love saying them out loud. Earlier this morning, I read it’s children’s day. I’ve been hoping to be a mother my entire life. I dreamed of marrying young and adopting into our family. I married much older and married someone who did not want children. I was convinced and am that he is the one I was meant for. Long story short, he wants to have a child. That change of heart alone gives me joy. Now, we ask for a child. I’m encouraged by stories where God gives a child to people who have longed for one. Abraham, and Elizabeth also. I’d appreciate a prayer for that today. No matter the outcome, the character of God remains. xoxo
I prayed for you Cassandra. Thank you so much for sharing! I pray God gives you the desired of your heart!
Yvonne, there are not words to express how I love you sharing the word of God with us. I enjoy all your blogs, and then you come along with something that is so special, the word of God. It is so great to share with each other the love that he gives us each day. I just shared your blog with one of my dear friends that are like us, she is also a Interior Decorator and a Christian. It was my pleasure to share your blogs with another person. Thanks and look forward to receiving every one of them.
Betty Whatley
Yvonne, God gave this world a true blessing when he gave us you, your Sunday lesson was most educational and spirtuitually rewarding. Have a Blessed Sunday in Gods Holy Name.
Gods’s name “Jehovah” is in the bible approximately 7,000 times! Jehovah wants us to know his name. Many bible translations have removed the divine name and substituted “Lord” in its place, due to superstitious belief that the name of Jehovah would be in vain. If God didn’t want us to know his name it wouldn’t be recorded over 7,000 times in the holy scriptures. There are many Scriptures where Jehovah God refers to himself as “Jehovah”.
Wonderful point K!
Jehovah is such a wonderful name for such a wonderful God. Thank you for sharing this my dear sister.
Lord comes from the Greek name Kurios. It is that name that was first translated to God or a derivative of it earlier than the 16th century in Germany and then carried to England. It it orthodox Jews that think God’s covenant name for His people is so sacred they can’t utter it or write it out of devotion.
You are such an inspiration! You are so good at blogging, decorating, cooking & most important sharing Christ with all of us! I know God is using you in so many lives? This lesson on God’s names is awesome. I knew a lot of them but learned so many more & the meanings. Thank you for your inspiration in so many areas!!!
Oh what a God we serve and love. I’m so glad we can’t hang Him on a wall or hold Him in the palm of my hand or sit on a shelf. I’m so thankful He is bigger than that Oh wow
Love your post today Yvonne … Thankyou!
It meant so much to me as I lie in my hospital bed after a radical hysterectomy and all associated bits and bobs die to recent finding on uterine cancer…… Who’d be a female!! Think we need to get rid of all those bits after the childbearing years !!!
Love all your newsy posts but especially your Sunday ones …. Thankyou for your kindness and wisdom and sharing your life. I am in Australia and in the midst of winter so it’s lovely to get a glimpse of summer from you too!
Take care and God Bless
Susie xox
Praying for healing Susie. That is some difficult news. Cancer has hit my mother twice and she has beat it both times with prayer, diet, and with the help of her doctor’s. Keep the eye on the lord during this difficult time. May God bless you.
Praying for Suzie’s mother that God would give her peace and heal her.
That was a very interesting study. Thank you for sharing.
I love and look forward to your Sunday Scripture stories. They are very informative.Thank You for sharing them.
You are so welcome. I hope these help you have a deeper relationship with the Lord.