Hey Church!

When God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and called him to go before Pharaoh, He told him to say that “I AM” had sent him. In the Hebrew, יהוה is a fascinating word. The equivalent in English is YHWH. If there were originally vowel sounds in the name God first uttered to Moses, we do not know. If so, then the vowels A and E seem most likely, resulting in the name Yahweh, or in an alternate pronunciation, Jehovah. 

The four consonants together, YHWH, is known as the Tetragrammaton and is most often translated as “LORD” in capital letters in our Bibles. In Exodus 3:14-15, God says that this is His “memorial name” for all generations and connects it with a frequently repeated Old Testament phrase, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” In Scripture, the name Jehovah is often followed by some work or attribute of God, such as Jehovah Sabaot, “the LORD, the God of hosts” (Hosea 12:5, וַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַצְּבָא֑וֹת). But on its own, the root יהוה indicates “existence,” otherwise translated as “to be” or, in the first person, “I am.” 

Since God’s attributes and being are incomprehensible to us, we are given many names by which we may apprehend Him to a finite degree. Below are just a few that appear in the Bible, along with their translations. Prepare your heart to worship Him by meditating on His goodness, as each name reveals a unique aspect of His nature.

Elohim – Plural form of “gods,” which may be indicative of His triune nature and/or His superlative nature. (Gen. 1:1)

El Shaddai (el-shah-dahy) – “God Almighty.” (Gen. 49:24)

Adonai – “Lord.” Used in substitution for Yahweh, since the latter was considered too holy to speak. (Gen. 15:2)

Jehovah Jireh (jahy-rah) – “The LORD will provide.” (Gen. 22:14)

Jehovah Rapha – “The LORD who heals.” (Ex. 15:26)

Jehovah Nissi (nee-see) – “The LORD our banner.” (Ex. 17:15)

Jehovah Shalom – “The LORD our peace.” (Judges 6:24)

Jehovah Rohi (roh-hee) – “The LORD our shepherd.” (Ps. 23:1)

El Elyon (el-yohn) – “Most high.” (Deut. 26:19)

El Roi – “God who sees.” (Gen. 16:13)

El Olam – “Everlasting God.” (Ps. 90:1-3)

Finally, in Isaiah 9:5, He is: 

Pele Ya’ots – “Wonderful Counselor.”
El Gibor – “Mighty God.” 
Abba Olam – “Eternal Father.” 
Sar Shalom – “Prince of Peace.”