What's in a Name? The Names of God and Their Meaning

Ever wondered what the difference is between LORD, Lord and lord? God and god? And what about Lord God? Why God has so many names in the Old Testament? In our latest episode of the Bible Basics Podcast, we're decoding what each of these names reveals about God's character and nature. We're focusing on three principal names: Elohim, Adonai, and Yahweh. We unveil how each name embodies a unique aspect of God and how contemplating them can inspire awe and wonder, shining a light on the fact that we're never alone.

But that's not all. As your host, Jacqui Adewole, I guide you on how you can incorporate these sacred names in your prayers, a beautiful way to honor and worship Him while reminding ourselves of His holy attributes. Delving into His many names makes God more accessible to us, paving the way for a richer prayer life and a deeper relationship with Him.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
List of the Old Testament Names of God

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Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

Transcript

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Jacqui 0:12

Have you ever noticed in the Bible , the word Lord is sometimes in all capital letters , and sometimes it's in all lowercase letters , and then sometimes it's capital L and lowercase o-r-d . And then have you noticed that sometimes God is referred to as God and sometimes as Lord , and sometimes Lord God ? If so , you're not alone . Many people find it confusing and even a bit daunting to try to understand all the different names for God . So you're in the right place . Stay tuned to this episode of the Bible Basics Podcast . Well , we address these issues and more . As we talk about the names of God in the Old Testament , we'll explore names , their meanings and how they can help us grow in understanding God and to connect with Him on a deeper level . Well , welcome everyone . I'm your host , Jacqui Adewole , and this is the Bible Basics Podcast , where , weekly , we break down the Bible into understandable , bite-sized chunks .

Jacqui 1:31

You've heard the saying all we have is our good name . What's so important about a name ? Well , proverbs 22.1 says that a good name is more desirable than great riches . Names are not just our reputation , but our identity . In the Yoruba culture of Nigeria , as with many other African cultures , a person's name is viewed as sacred and something that reflects a person's identity , value and soul . Naming a child is given much consideration . In fact , the child is not even named until they are 8 days old . The child's name may reflect the circumstances or stories surrounding their birth , such as being the first born twin , Taiwo , or for being a child whose birth brought happiness to their parents Oluwaf unmilayo , that means "God has given me joy . Then there are other names that reflect the parent's hope for the child's future , such as Titi Lio , meaning eternal happiness , or Boluwa Tifei , which means one who follows the will of God . In fact , there is a Nuremberg proverb that is translated, "A child's name determines what he becomes or does .

Jacqui 2:58

Similarly , in Scripture , we see God using names to reveal his plans when he renamed his chosen servants . Think about Abram , renamed Abraham , which means father of a multitude . Or his wife , Sarai , renamed Sarah , which means "mother of nations . Jacob was renamed Israel , the name for God's chosen people , which means having power with God . And in the New Testament , god changed Simon's name to Peter or Rock , upon which he would build his church . Their new God-given names had special meanings associated with their new God-given identity and destiny . Proverbs 1810 proclaims the name of the Lord is a strong tower . The righteous run to it and are safe . That's the name we need to know . What is that name and who is that God ? Let's get some answers today .

Jacqui 4:03

The Bible uses many different names for God , each with its own unique meaning . These names reveal something about God's character and nature . Learning about the names of God can help us grow in our understanding of God and connect with Him on a deeper level . In today's episode , we're going to focus first on the three principal names described to God . They are Elohim , Adonai and Yahweh .

Elohim

Jacqui 4:37

Let's begin at the beginning with Elohim , the Creator , mighty and strong . It was the first name of God revealed in the Bible . Turn to the book of Genesis , right at the first verse . It reads In the beginning , God created the heavens and the earth . In Hebrew it would say In the beginning , Elohim created the heavens and earth .

Jacqui 5:05

Elohim , my friends , is the Hebrew word for God that reveals the deep and wonderful character of God as Creator . You might have noticed that in English Bibles , Elohim is translated as God , with a capital G , lowercase o-d . The literal translation of Elohim is Strong One . This name appears over 2,000 times in the Old Testament , making it the most common name translated God in the Scriptures . It's interesting to note that this name , Elohim , is quite general and less specific compared to other names .

Jacqui 5:45

Elohim is a name that could even be used for pagan gods in certain contexts . However , in our Bibles , when it refers to the one true God , it is capitalized . When it's referring to pagan gods , it's lowercase g-o-d , so there's a clear distinction . Now , why is Elohim such an important name ? Well , it signifies God's role as the Creator of the universe . Just think about it for a moment . In the beginning , Elohim created the vastness of the cosmos , the intricate details of every living being . All of that is the handy work of Elohim . The Bible presents breathtaking examples of God's creative power , from the formation of the world to the birth of new life . Contemplating the name Elohim can truly inspire awe and wonder in our own lives

Adonai

Jacqui 6:51

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Jacqui 6:53

Now let's delve into the name Adonai , a Hebrew word that means Lord or Master . Adonai appears more than 300 times in the Old Testament , making it a significant title when referring to God . You'll notice it's written with a capital L , lowercase o-r-d . Now what does Adonai really signify ? It's a title of authority and honor which tells us that God is the ultimate Master , the one in charge . But here's something interesting Adonai isn't solely reserved for God as our Master . It's also used to refer to humans in positions of power . For instance , in 2 Samuel 3:21 , it's used for King David , and in 2 Kings 2:19 , the prophet Elisha is also called Adonai . In Genesis 18:12 , Sarah refers to her husband Abraham as lord, Adonai . It highlights the respect and authority granted to these individuals in their roles . Of course , in these cases , lord is always spelled with all lowercase letters .

Jacqui 8:14

Now you might be wondering why is this name relevant to us today ? Well , it's a name that draws us closer to Him and helps us realize that we aren't alone in this journey , but have a God who guides and watches over us in our daily lives .

Yahweh

Jacqui 8:32

We've shared that Elohim is the most general name of God . We'll now focus on the most specific and personal name Yahweh . The name only applied to the one true God .

Jacqui 8:48

In Exodus 3: 13-15 , God revealed His name and its profound meaning to Moses . When Moses asked God the name of the one who's sending him to free the Israelites , he declared" I am who . I am emphasizing he was the self-existent , eternal God . He's not bound by anyone or anything . His plans are not influenced by circumstances . God is eternally constant , always standing as the ever-present and unchangeable force in our lives . In Hebrew this name is spelled Y-H-W-H and you might notice there aren't any vowels .

Jacqui 9:34

Vowels from the name Adonai were inserted to give us the word Yahweh , or Jehovah in English . This name , Yahweh , was and is viewed with such sacredness by some in the Jewish faith community that they don't even write it or speak it . In our Bibles , Yahweh is written as LORD , with capital letters capital L , capital O , capital R , capital D to distinguish it from Adonai . Jehovah is used over 6500 times in the Old Testament , appearing in almost every book except Esther , Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon .

Jacqui 10:20

In the Old Testament we frequently see Lord and God together , which is a combination of these three primary names of God . In addition to those combinations of the three primary names of God , there are many other compounds found in the Old Testament , such as Jehovah Jireh , which means God , our Provider . There's Jehovah Shalom , this means the Lord is peace , and Jehovah Rapha , which means the Lord who heals you . So together we've covered the three primary names of God Elohim , mighty Creator , God; Adonai , Lord , master; Y ahweh , LORD , the Self-existent

Praying God's Names

Jacqui 11:09

One . We also talked about combinations of His name , so before closing , I'd like to share how these names of God can also be a powerful tool in our prayer life .

Jacqui 11:24

Praying the names of God is a beautiful way to honor and worship God , while also reminding us of His holy attributes . Simply mentioning His name brings comfort and reassurance in our daily lives . Through His names , God made Himself accessible to us , allowing us to deepen our relationship with Him and enrich our prayer life . He really is everything we need . His many names prove that the truth of God's character is in His many names . I encourage you to dig deeper into the Bible and discover more names that resonate with you personally . To get you started , I placed a list of God's names in the show notes . Use these names in your prayer life . May these names of God guide your journey to growing in your understanding of God and in your relationship with Him . Thank you for tuning in . If this has been beneficial to you , please share it with others , subscribe or follow , and all you Apple Podcast listeners , drop us a review .