Doctrine of Names and Titles of God

August 25, 2011

The Names and Titles of God

1. I.Primary Names and Titles of God
   1. El, Elah, Elohim
      1. El – the strong one
      2. Elah – to bind with an oath
      3. Elohim – plural used with a singular verb
   2. Jehovah – Self existent one
   3. Adonai – He is in authority
2. II.About the Names and Titles of God
   1. El, Elah, Elohim
      1. Translated “God” in the KJV
      2. Elohim is found more than 2300 times in Scripture
      3. God’s official title
      4. Means “the strong one that binds with an oath”
      5. El, the singular form is found 250 times in Scripture
      6. Elohim refers to all three persons of the Godhead
   2. Jehovah
      1. Translated “LORD, GOD” in the KJV (Genesis 2:4)
      2. Personal name for God
      3. Means “Self existent one”
      4. Most often refers to the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ
      5. Always related in a redemptive way to His own people
      6. Was never pronounced by the Jews, only written without vowels (JHVH)
   3. Adonai
      1. Translated “Lord” in the KJV (Genesis 15:2)
      2. Means “He is in authority” or “Master”
      3. Also used of men in authority (even a husband)
      4. It is a title for God that recognizes His authority
3. III.Compound Names of God
   1. El
      1. El-Shaddai – Almighty God- Omnipotence (Genesis 17:1)
      2. El-Elyon – Most High God- Omniscience (Genesis 14:18)
      3. El- Olam – Everlasting God- Omnipresence (Genesis 21:33)
   2. Jehovah
      1. Jehovah – Jireh- the Lord our Provider (Genesis 22:14)
      2. Jehovah – Rapha- the Lord our Healer (Exodus 15:26)
      3. Jehovah – Nissi- the Lord our Banner (Exodus 17:15)
      4. Jehovah – Shalom- the Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24)
      5. Jehovah – Raah- the Lord our Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)
      6. Jehovah – Tsidkenu- the Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
      7. Jehovah – Shammah- the Lord is present (Ezekiel 48:35)
      8. Jehovah – Sabaoth- the Lord of Hosts (I Samuel 1:3)
      9. Jehovah – Qadash- the Lord who sanctifies (Leviticus 20:8)

The journey to the Promised Land began after God had destroyed the Israelites’ enemy.  It took forty years for Israel to make what some scholars say should have been an eleven- day journey into the land God had promised them.

During their journey the Israelites murmured and complained about everything.  God provided for their every need including food from Heaven and water to drink.  He provided protection from enemies that they met along their journey.  Also along the way, God gave Moses instructions to relate to the nation regarding His mandates to avoid the pagans and their gods.  These instructions were ignored and finally God sent Moses up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments written on tablets.  Upon his return Moses found the Israelites worshipping idols to other gods and engaging in all forms of debauchery.  In his anger, upon seeing this, Moses threw the tablets of the Ten Commandments to the ground and broke them.

Eventually, Moses was able to lead his people to the Promised Land, but was prevented from entering into it, along with anyone above the age of forty, because of his sin and their sin of disobeying God.  Moses’ sin happened when the nation of Israel was once again complaining that they had no water.  God commanded Moses to speak to a rock and water would flow from it.  Instead, Moses in his anger hit the rock with his staff.  This simply act of disobedience was grave enough in the sight of God to keep Moses from entering the Promised Land.  Moses died on a mountain overlooking the Promised Land, but God did show him the land before he died.  Moses died and was buried by God in a place that no one knew. (Deuteronomy 34:1-8)