Names in Scripture are never throwaway labels; they carry meaning, memory, and mission. The Old Testament introduces God by many names and titles, each revealing something particular about who he is and how he relates to his people. From the opening words “In the beginning God”—where Elohim speaks worlds into existence—to the burning-bush disclosure of the covenant name YHWH, the text unfolds a pattern: God names himself in moments that advance his promises and deepen his people’s trust (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14–15). Later scenes fill out the portrait. Abraham learns that the Lord will provide; Moses learns that the Lord heals; Gideon learns that the Lord gives peace; Jeremiah hears that the Lord is our righteousness (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 15:26; Judges 6:24; Jeremiah 23:6). Across the books, the names work like facets of one diamond—distinct angles, one light.
Understanding these names helps readers follow the story the Old Testament is telling about God’s character and plan. Words like El Shaddai and El Elyon reflect common Semitic ways of speaking about the divine, while the unique covenant name YHWH marks Israel’s God as the One who is, who acts, and who keeps promises with precision (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 14:18–20; Exodus 3:14–15). Even the compound forms—“the Lord who heals,” “the Lord my banner,” “the Lord is peace”—arise inside concrete crises and rescues, tying theology to lived experience (Exodus 15:26; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24). Read this way, the names are not a codebook; they are a map that leads through creation, covenant, exodus, kingdom, exile, and return, into hope for a future fullness still to come (Psalm 105:8–11; Isaiah 2:2–4).
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Historical and Cultural Background
Ancient Near Eastern peoples used short divine names and descriptive titles to identify and honor their gods, so Israel’s language intersects that wider world even as it sets Israel’s God apart. Words like El (a common term for deity) and Elyon (Most High) appear beyond Israel, but Scripture puts them to covenant use, yoking them to the God who called Abraham, brought Israel out of Egypt, and pledged land and blessing to a particular family line (Genesis 14:18–20; Genesis 17:7–8). When Genesis calls God El Shaddai to Abraham and Jacob, it emphasizes sufficiency and might in the context of offspring and promise; when Psalms sing to Elyon, they exalt God’s rule over nations and nature (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 35:11; Psalm 47:2; Psalm 97:9). This reuse of shared terms shows both cultural fluency and theological clarity.
The personal covenant name YHWH is different in kind, not simply degree. Disclosed in Exodus 3 as “I AM WHO I AM,” and linked immediately to the rescue and commissioning of Moses, YHWH is the name by which God wants to be remembered from generation to generation (Exodus 3:14–15). The name signals self-existence and faithful presence: the One who is and who will be with his people to keep his word (Exodus 3:12; Exodus 6:2–8). Israel’s practice of reverent avoidance—saying “Adonai” (Lord) when reading YHWH aloud—helped preserve awe, and English Bibles often reflect this by printing “LORD” in small caps. This covenant name then anchors other titles: “LORD God” (YHWH Elohim), “Lord GOD” (Adonai YHWH), and compound forms that tie God’s character to specific moments (Genesis 2:4; Genesis 15:2; Exodus 17:15).
Language within Scripture is not static. Job uses El, Eloah, and Shaddai frequently, reflecting an older poetic register, while Ecclesiastes almost exclusively says Elohim and never YHWH, fitting its wisdom frame that surveys life “under the sun” (Job 5:17; Job 8:3; Ecclesiastes 1:13). Isaiah’s signature title “the Holy One of Israel” appears again and again to press God’s moral purity and covenant loyalty upon a wavering nation, and prophets from Samuel to Malachi love “LORD of hosts,” a title underscoring God’s command over heavenly armies and earthly events (Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Samuel 1:3; Malachi 1:4). These choices show how names and titles are not mere synonyms; they are fitted tools for particular books, genres, and moments.
Even when a title is relational rather than a formal name, Scripture treats it as revealing. Gideon’s altar memorializes “the LORD is peace” after fear yields to trust; Hagar calls God “the God who sees me” when she is met in her distress; Jeremiah proclaims “the LORD our righteousness” when he looks ahead to a righteous king from David’s line (Judges 6:24; Genesis 16:13; Jeremiah 23:5–6). Such moments highlight how Israel’s God is not only transcendent Creator and covenant Lord; he is also the nearby Shepherd and Healer who meets people in deserts and threshing floors (Genesis 21:33; Psalm 23:1–4; Exodus 15:26). The names carry history inside them.
Biblical Narrative
From the first page, Elohim creates by speaking, and goodness fills the world, setting a baseline: God is powerful, personal, and purposeful (Genesis 1:1–31). In the garden narrative, the text uses YHWH Elohim to describe intimate fellowship and moral accountability, capturing both transcendence and nearness as God forms Adam from dust and walks among the trees (Genesis 2:4–25; Genesis 3:8–9). As the story widens, Abraham meets Melchizedek, priest of El Elyon, and learns that the Most High who owns heaven and earth is the same Lord who promised him descendants and land (Genesis 14:18–22; Genesis 15:1–7). Hagar’s desert cry gives rise to El Roi, the God who sees, and on Moriah Abraham names the place YHWH Yireh, because the Lord provided a substitute (Genesis 16:13; Genesis 22:14).
Patriarchal chapters highlight El Shaddai—the Almighty who pledges fruitfulness and nations—so that the family learns to link God’s might to covenant reliability (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 35:11). When Moses asks for God’s name, the Lord answers with “I AM WHO I AM,” then ties YHWH to rescue, presence, and promise: he has come down to deliver and will bring them up to the land he swore to give (Exodus 3:14–17; Exodus 6:2–8). After the sea, the people meet YHWH Rapha, “the Lord your healer,” and during Amalek’s attack, Moses builds an altar named YHWH Nissi, “the Lord my banner,” confessing that victory belongs to the Lord (Exodus 15:26; Exodus 17:15–16). At Sinai and beyond, Israel learns that God is El Qanna’, a jealous God who claims exclusive love and will sanctify his people as YHWH Mekaddishkem (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8).
In the land, Joshua calls God “the living God” as the ark crosses the Jordan, and Gideon learns that “the Lord is peace” after fear of death yields to assurance (Joshua 3:10; Judges 6:24). Hannah’s song blesses the Rock, and Samuel’s narrative foregrounds “LORD of hosts,” a title that will echo for centuries when prophets address kings and nations (1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Samuel 1:3). Ruth introduces Shaddai in Naomi’s sorrow, Job’s poetry dwells on Shaddai and Eloah, and Psalms sing to YHWH, Adonai, Elyon, and YHWH of hosts, adorning prayer with names fitting each need (Ruth 1:20–21; Job 5:17; Psalm 8:1; Psalm 24:10). Wisdom books echo this cadence, calling on the Lord as the beginning of knowledge and addressing God as Elohim in life’s enigmas (Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 3:14).
Prophets sharpen and expand the naming. Isaiah’s “Holy One of Israel” sets God’s blazing purity beside his steadfast love, and “LORD of hosts” thunders a sovereign claim over nations (Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 6:3; Isaiah 8:13). Jeremiah looks forward to “the LORD our righteousness,” answering Judah’s failure with a promise of a king who embodies the right standing the people lack (Jeremiah 23:5–6). Ezekiel closes with “the LORD is there,” naming a city whose defining feature will be God’s abiding presence (Ezekiel 48:35). Daniel’s Aramaic chapters speak of the Most High (ʿIllaya’) and the Ancient of Days, titles that emphasize God’s supremacy and eternal judgment even when empires rise and fall (Daniel 4:2–3; Daniel 7:9–10). Postexilic books frequently say “God of heaven,” a phrase that fits life under foreign powers without surrendering covenant identity (Ezra 1:2; Nehemiah 1:5).
Along the way, compound forms emerge when experience meets revelation. The Lord heals, provides, sanctifies, gives peace, stands as banner, and promises presence; the names record both doctrine and deliverance (Exodus 15:26; Genesis 22:14; Leviticus 20:8; Judges 6:24; Exodus 17:15; Ezekiel 48:35). Even when a book uses a single term—Ecclesiastes saying Elohim, for example—it contributes to the canon’s chorus by matching vocabulary to theme (Ecclesiastes 1:13; Ecclesiastes 3:14). Taken together, the names trace a living God who binds himself to a people and announces his character in words that fit history and hope.
Theological Significance
Names are revelation, not decorations. When God names himself, he is not adding ornament; he is opening understanding. Exodus 3 makes this explicit: YHWH is the name by which he wants to be remembered, and it is disclosed in the very moment he promises presence and rescue (Exodus 3:14–15). Later, when he passes before Moses, he declares his name again and fills it with content—compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness—so that Israel cannot separate the sound of the name from the character it signals (Exodus 34:5–7). Scripture thus treats names as compressed theology, portable enough to be carried into prayer and sturdy enough to build trust upon.
Names unfold across stages in God’s plan. Genesis uses widely known titles like El and Elyon, then narrows into the covenant center with YHWH, then displays El Shaddai in the context of multiplied offspring, teaching that God reveals himself in ways fitted to the needs and promises of the moment (Genesis 14:18–20; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 28:13–15). The exodus era adds healing, banner, and sanctifying language because the people require those mercies in wilderness formation (Exodus 15:26; Exodus 17:15; Leviticus 20:8). Prophets under kings and in exile lean into the Lord of hosts and the Holy One of Israel because both protection and purity stand at stake (Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Samuel 1:3). This is progressive revelation in pastoral clothes: God gives enough light for the stage his people are on, while preparing them for later fullness.
Names tie covenant particularity to global scope. “LORD, God of Israel” appears beside “God of heaven”; “Holy One of Israel” stands next to “Most High,” and “LORD of hosts” claims armies seen and unseen (1 Kings 8:23; Ezra 1:2; Isaiah 1:4; Psalm 47:2; Malachi 1:4). The story never loosens its literal commitments—land, people, promises pledged to Abraham’s line—yet it steadily widens the horizon so the nations will come to the light of the God whose name is great among the nations (Genesis 17:7–8; Isaiah 2:2–4; Malachi 1:11). In this way the names tutor hope: a people formed in covenant will be a blessing to many, and the King from Judah will draw the obedience of the nations with righteous rule and generous provision (Genesis 49:10; Psalm 72:1–7).
Names ground worship and ethics together. To call God “the Holy One of Israel” is to confess his otherness and to receive a summons to be holy; to pray to “the LORD our righteousness” is to trust a righteousness given and to live in keeping with it (Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 23:5–6). When the psalmist sings to YHWH of hosts, he is not reciting a title; he is taking refuge in a Commander who can defend Zion and humble proud rulers (Psalm 46:7; Psalm 24:10). The names thus resist a split between devotion and life. They also resist a drift into abstraction by staying anchored in places, people, and promises: “the God of Bethel,” “the God of heaven,” “the LORD is there” (Genesis 35:7; Nehemiah 1:5; Ezekiel 48:35).
Compound names are memories turned into theology. Altars that bear names—“the LORD will provide,” “the LORD my banner,” “the LORD is peace”—are not attempts at novelty; they are ways of refusing to forget what God has done and who he has shown himself to be (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24). When later readers inherit these names, they inherit the testimonies that stand behind them. This becomes a pattern for prayer: call God what he has called himself, and remind your heart of the story those names tell (Psalm 105:1–5; Psalm 9:10).
Spiritual Lessons and Application
Pray God’s names to steady your heart. Scripture itself models this habit. Moses appeals to the name when pleading for mercy; psalmists call on YHWH, Adonai, Elyon, and the Lord of hosts depending on the day’s need (Exodus 33:18–19; Psalm 8:1; Psalm 91:1–2; Psalm 46:7). Taking these names on your lips is not a technique; it is trust in the One who has revealed himself this way. When you are sick, pray to the Lord who heals; when you are afraid, confess the Lord is peace; when you are tempted to self-reliance, say aloud that the Lord will provide (Exodus 15:26; Judges 6:24; Genesis 22:14). Let prayer lace biography and theology together.
Let God’s name shape your identity and conduct. Israel was called to honor the name, not misuse it, and to live as a people who bore it among the nations (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 22:31–33). That logic remains: those who trust the Holy One are to pursue holiness; those who look to the Lord our righteousness are to practice righteousness (Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 23:5–6). Daily choices become acts of reverence when they align with the God whose name rests on his people.
Learn the names in their contexts. Each title lands in a story. Reading Exodus 17 helps you grasp why “the LORD my banner” matters; reading Jeremiah 23 sets “the LORD our righteousness” against failed shepherds (Exodus 17:8–16; Jeremiah 23:1–6). A wise practice is to pair a name with its passage and to let the text—not hearsay—shape your understanding. That way the names function as Scripture intends: not as charms, but as calls to remember and to follow.
Carry hope for future fullness while tasting present mercy. Many names capture what God is doing in the moment; others hint at what he will yet do. “The LORD is there” names a city whose glory is future; “Most High” asserts a supremacy that will one day be fully acknowledged by all (Ezekiel 48:35; Daniel 4:34–35). Holding both now and later keeps you grateful without becoming complacent and longing without becoming grim (Psalm 27:13–14; Romans 8:23). Speak the names to keep that balance alive.
Conclusion
The Old Testament’s names for God are a grammar for faith. Elohim grounds us in God’s power to create and sustain; YHWH roots us in his faithful presence and promise-keeping; El Shaddai and El Elyon stretch our imagination to his sufficiency and supremacy, while the compound names stitch doctrine to daily life so that provision, healing, peace, and sanctification are not ideas but testimonies (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14–15; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 14:18–20; Genesis 22:14; Exodus 15:26; Judges 6:24; Leviticus 20:8). Prophets layer on the majesty—Holy One of Israel, LORD of hosts, God of heaven—and they carve titles that meet exile and empire with a larger view of the One whose name is great among the nations (Isaiah 1:4; 1 Samuel 1:3; Ezra 1:2; Malachi 1:11). In this way the names coordinate worship, ethics, and hope across the centuries.
To help you find and study these names, a reference index organized by Bible book—listing the major names and titles in order of first appearance, with translations and first references—is included as a companion resource to this article. Use it to read the names in context, to trace how each book speaks about God, and to enrich prayer with Scripture’s vocabulary. As you do, let your heart take on the shape of these words: rejoice in the God who is and who will be with his people, who sees, heals, provides, sanctifies, and keeps his covenant to the letter. That is the significance of the names: they announce the God who can be trusted at every stage of his plan and in every place his people walk (Psalm 105:8–11; Exodus 34:6–7).
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ … ‘Say to the Israelites: “The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 3:14–15)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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Reference Chart: Names of God in the Old Testament
Genesis
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | God (אֱלֹהִים) Elohim | Gen 1:1 | Creator; God |
| 2 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Gen 2:4 | Covenant name |
| 3 | LORD God (יהוה אֱלֹהִים) YHWH Elohim | Gen 2:4 | Covenant name joined with “God” |
| 4 | God Most High (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן) El Elyon | Gen 14:18–20 | Supreme God |
| 5 | Possessor/Maker of heaven and earth (קֹנֵה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ) Qoneh shamayim va’aretz | Gen 14:22 | Owner/Creator of all |
| 6 | Shield (מָגֵן) Magen | Gen 15:1 | Protector |
| 7 | Lord GOD / Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יהוה) Adonai YHWH | Gen 15:2 | Sovereign Master |
| 8 | God Who Sees Me (אֵל רֳאִי) El Roi | Gen 16:13 | God who sees and cares |
| 9 | God Almighty (אֵל שַׁדַּי) El Shaddai | Gen 17:1 | All-sufficient/Almighty |
| 10 | Judge of all the earth (שֹׁפֵט כָּל־הָאָרֶץ) Shofet kol ha’aretz | Gen 18:25 | Universal Judge |
| 11 | Everlasting God (אֵל עוֹלָם) El Olam | Gen 21:33 | God eternal |
| 12 | The LORD Will Provide (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה) YHWH yir’eh (Jehovah Jireh) | Gen 22:14 | Provider |
| 13 | God of heaven and earth (אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶרֶץ) Elohei hashamayim ve’eretz | Gen 24:3,7 | Transcendent Creator |
| 14 | God of your father Abraham (אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ) Elohei avikha | Gen 26:24 | Ancestral covenant God |
| 15 | God of Bethel (אֵל בֵּית־אֵל) El Bethel | Gen 31:13 | God who appeared at Bethel |
| 16 | Fear of Isaac (פַּחַד יִצְחָק) Pachad Yitzchak | Gen 31:42,53 | The One Isaac revered |
| 17 | God who answered me in distress (הָאֱלֹהִים הָעֹנֶה) Ha-Elohim ha’oneh | Gen 35:3 | Rescuer in trouble |
| 18 | Shepherd (הָרֹעֶה) Ha-ro’eh | Gen 48:15 | Lifelong Shepherd |
| 19 | Mighty One of Jacob (אֲבִיר יַעֲקֹב) Avir Ya’akov | Gen 49:24 | Champion of Jacob |
| 20 | Rock/Stone of Israel (צוּר / אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל) Tzur / Even Yisrael | Gen 49:24 | Stable refuge |
Exodus
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב) Elohei Avraham, Yitzchak, ve-Ya’akov | Exod 3:6 | Covenant continuity |
| 2 | I AM WHO I AM (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה) Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh | Exod 3:14 | Self-existent, living presence |
| 3 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Exod 3:15 | Covenant name |
| 4 | God of the Hebrews (אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים) Elohei ha-Ivrim | Exod 3:18 | Israel’s God before Pharaoh |
| 5 | Warrior (אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה) Ish Milchamah | Exod 15:3 | “The LORD is a warrior” |
| 6 | Healer (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ) YHWH Rofecha | Exod 15:26 | “I am the LORD who heals you” |
| 7 | The LORD is my Banner (יְהוָה נִסִּי) YHWH Nissi | Exod 17:15 | Victor; rally point |
| 8 | Jealous (name is Jealous) (קַנָּא) Qanna’ | Exod 34:14 | Exclusive covenant loyalty |
| 9 | The LORD who sanctifies you (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) YHWH Mekaddishkem | Exod 31:13 | Sanctifier |
Leviticus
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Lev 1:1 | Covenant name (pervasive) |
| 2 | The LORD who sanctifies you (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) YHWH Mekaddishkem | Lev 20:8; 21:8; 22:32 | Holiness giver |
| 3 | I am the LORD your God (אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם) Ani YHWH Eloheichem | Lev 11:44–45 (passim) | Belonging/authority formula |
Numbers
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Num 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | God of the spirits of all flesh (אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל־בָּשָׂר) Elohei haruchot lechol basar | Num 16:22; 27:16 | Sovereign over all life |
Deuteronomy
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Deut 1:6 | Covenant name |
| 2 | The Rock (הַצּוּר) Ha-Tzur | Deut 32:4 | Steadfast refuge, just Judge |
| 3 | Father (אָב) Av | Deut 32:6 | Paternal source/guide |
| 4 | Most High (עֶלְיוֹן) Elyon | Deut 32:8 | Supreme ruler |
| 5 | Savior (מוֹשִׁיעַ) Moshia | Deut 32:15 | Rescuer/Deliverer |
| 6 | God of Jeshurun (אֱלֹהֵי יְשֻׁרוּן) Elohei Yeshurun | Deut 33:26 | God of upright Israel |
Joshua
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Josh 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Living God (אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים) Elohim Chayyim | Josh 3:10 | God who lives and acts |
| 3 | Lord of all the earth (אֲדוֹן כָּל־הָאָרֶץ) Adon kol ha’aretz | Josh 3:11,13 | Universal Lord |
| 4 | Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) Adonai YHWH | Josh 7:7 | Master over all |
Judges
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Judg 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | The LORD is Peace (יְהוָה שָׁלוֹם) YHWH Shalom | Judg 6:24 | Peace-giver |
Ruth
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Ruth 1:6 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Almighty (שַׁדַּי) Shaddai | Ruth 1:20–21 | Almighty |
1 Samuel
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD of Hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | 1 Sam 1:3 | Commander of heaven’s armies |
| 2 | Rock (צוּר) Tzur | 1 Sam 2:2 | Unshakeable refuge |
| 3 | Glory of Israel (נֵצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל) Netsach Yisrael | 1 Sam 15:29 | Majestic, undeceiving One |
2 Samuel
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) Adonai YHWH | 2 Sam 7:18 | Master King |
| 2 | Rock; Fortress; Deliverer (צוּר; מְצוּדָה; מְפַלֵּט) Tzur; Metsudah; Mepallet | 2 Sam 22:2 | Strong, saving refuge |
| 3 | Shield; Horn of my salvation (מָגֵן; קֶרֶן יִשְׁעִי) Magen; Qeren yish’i | 2 Sam 22:3 | Protector; saving strength |
| 4 | Stronghold; Refuge; Savior (מִשְׂגָּב; מָנוֹס; מוֹשִׁיעַ) Misgav; Manos; Moshia | 2 Sam 22:3 | Secure defense; rescuer |
| 5 | God who avenges me (הָאֵל הַנֹּתֵן נְקָמוֹת) Ha-El hanoten neqamot | 2 Sam 22:48 | Just avenger |
1 Kings
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD God of Israel (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) YHWH Elohei Yisrael | 1 Kgs 8:23 | Covenant God |
| 2 | God in heaven above and on earth below (בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל… בָּאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת) Bashamayim… ba’aretz mitachat | 1 Kgs 8:23 | Universal sovereignty |
| 3 | Keeper of covenant and love (שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד) Shomer ha-brit veha-chesed | 1 Kgs 8:23 | Faithful to promises |
2 Kings
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | 2 Kgs 1:3 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Enthroned between the cherubim (יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים)<br:Yoshev ha-keruvim | 2 Kgs 19:15 | Royal presence |
| 3 | God over all kingdoms of the earth (הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים לְבַדּוֹ) Hu ha-Elohim levaddo | 2 Kgs 19:15 | Universal King |
1 Chronicles
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | 1 Chr 11:9 | Covenant name |
| 2 | LORD God of Israel (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) YHWH Elohei Yisrael | 1 Chr 16:36 | Covenant God |
2 Chronicles
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | 2 Chr 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | LORD, God of our fathers (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ) YHWH Elohei avotenu | 2 Chr 20:6 | Ancestral covenant God |
Ezra
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD, the God of heaven (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם) YHWH Elohei hashamayim | Ezra 1:2 | Sovereign over heaven |
Nehemiah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | God of heaven (אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם) Elohei hashamayim | Neh 1:4–5 | Sovereign over heaven |
| 2 | Great and awesome God (הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא) Ha-El ha-gadol veha-nora | Neh 1:5 | Majestic, to be feared |
Esther
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (No explicit divine name) | — | God’s providence implicit |
Job
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Job 1:6 | Covenant name (frame) |
| 2 | Almighty (שַׁדַּי) Shaddai | Job (passim) | Very frequent in Job |
| 3 | Redeemer (גֹּאֲלִי) Go’ali | Job 19:25 | Vindicator; living Redeemer |
| 4 | Maker (עֹשֶׂה) Oseh | Job 4:17; 9:9 | Creator/Maker |
| 5 | Watcher/Preserver of men (נֹצֵר אָדָם) Notzer adam | Job 7:20 | Watches over humans |
Psalms
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shield (מָגֵן) Magen | Ps 3:3 | Protector |
| 2 | My Glory; Lifter of my head (כְּבוֹדִי; מֵרִים רֹאשִׁי) Kvodi; Merim roshi | Ps 3:3 | Honor-giver; encourager |
| 3 | My King and my God (מַלְכִּי וֵאלֹהַי) Malki ve-Elohai | Ps 5:2 | Reigning Deity |
| 4 | Most High (עֶלְיוֹן) Elyon | Ps 7:17; 9:2 | Supreme ruler |
| 5 | Righteous Judge (שֹׁפֵט צַדִּיק) Shofet tzaddik | Ps 7:11 | Just Judge |
| 6 | LORD of Hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | Ps 24:10 | Commander of heavenly armies |
| 7 | King of Glory (מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד) Melekh ha-kavod | Ps 24:7–10 | Majestic King |
| 8 | Rock; Fortress; Deliverer (צוּר; מְצוּדָה; מְפַלֵּט) Tzur; Metsudah; Mepallet | Ps 18:2 | Strong saving refuge |
| 9 | Horn of my salvation (קֶרֶן יִשְׁעִי) Qeren yish’i | Ps 18:2 | Saving strength |
| 10 | Light; Salvation; Stronghold (אוֹר; יְשׁוּעָה; מָעוֹז) Or; Yeshuah; Ma’oz | Ps 27:1 | Illumination; rescue; defense |
| 11 | Shepherd (רֹעִי) Ro’i | Ps 23:1 | Caring guide |
| 12 | Refuge and Strength (מַחֲסֶה וָעֹז) Machaseh va’oz | Ps 46:1 | Help in trouble |
| 13 | God of Jacob (אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב) Elohei Ya’akov | Ps 46:7 | Covenant faithfulness |
| 14 | Holy One of Israel (קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל) Kedosh Yisrael | Ps 71:22; 78:41 | Unique holiness |
| 15 | Rock and Redeemer (צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי) Tzuri ve-Go’ali | Ps 19:14 | Firm Savior |
| 16 | Sun and Shield (שֶׁמֶשׁ וּמָגֵן) Shemesh u-Magen | Ps 84:11 | Favor/protection |
| 17 | Maker (עֹשֵׂנוּ) Osenu | Ps 95:6 | Creator |
| 18 | Most High over all the earth (עֶלְיוֹן עַל־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ) Elyon al kol ha’aretz | Ps 97:9 | Universal supremacy |
Proverbs
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Prov 1:7 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Name of the LORD is a strong tower (שֵׁם יְהוָה מִגְדַּל־עֹז) Shem YHWH migdal-oz | Prov 18:10 | Secure refuge by His Name |
| 3 | Maker of all (עֹשֵׂה כֻּלָּם) Oseh kullam | Prov 22:2 | Creator of all people |
Ecclesiastes
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | God (אֱלֹהִים) Elohim | Eccl 1:13 | God |
| 2 | Creator (בּוֹרְאֶךָ) Bore’kha | Eccl 12:1 | Remember your Creator |
Song of Songs
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flame of the LORD (embedded) (שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה) Shalhebetyah | Song 8:6 | Divine intensity of love |
Isaiah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Isa 1:2 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Holy One of Israel (קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל) Kedosh Yisrael | Isa 1:4 | Signature Isaian title |
| 3 | Mighty One of Israel (אֲבִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל) Avir Yisrael | Isa 1:24 | Powerful champion |
| 4 | LORD of Hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | Isa 1:9 | Commander of heaven’s armies |
| 5 | King (מֶלֶךְ) Melekh | Isa 6:5 | Reigning Lord |
| 6 | Immanuel — God with us (עִמָּנוּאֵל) Immanu-el | Isa 7:14 | With-us presence |
| 7 | Wonderful Counselor (פֶּלֶא יוֹעֵץ) Pele yo’etz | Isa 9:6 | Wise ruler |
| 8 | Mighty God (אֵל גִּבּוֹר) El Gibbor | Isa 9:6; 10:21 | Divine warrior |
| 9 | Everlasting Father (אֲבִי־עַד) Avi-ad | Isa 9:6 | Eternal care/rule |
| 10 | Prince of Peace (שַׂר־שָׁלוֹם) Sar Shalom | Isa 9:6 | Peace-bringing ruler |
| 11 | Savior (מוֹשִׁיעַ) Moshia | Isa 43:3; 45:21 | Rescuer of Israel |
| 12 | Redeemer (גֹּאֵל) Go’el | Isa 41:14; 43:14 | Covenant Vindicator |
| 13 | First and Last (רִאשׁוֹן וְאַחֲרוֹן) Rishon ve-Acharon | Isa 44:6 | Eternal uniqueness |
| 14 | Maker/Creator (בּוֹרֵא / יוֹצֵר) Bore / Yotzer | Isa 40:28; 43:15 | Creator of ends of earth/Israel |
| 15 | Rock of Israel (צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל) Tzur Yisrael | Isa 30:29 | Firm refuge |
| 16 | Potter (יוֹצֵר) Yotzer | Isa 64:8 | Sovereign shaper |
| 17 | God of the whole earth (אֱלֹהֵי כָל־הָאָרֶץ) Elohei kol ha’aretz | Isa 54:5 | Universal husband-King |
| 18 | Everlasting Light (אוֹר עוֹלָם) Or olam | Isa 60:19 | Enduring glory/light |
Jeremiah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD of Hosts (Almighty) (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | Jer 2:19 (passim) | Commander of armies |
| 2 | Fountain of living water (מְקוֹר מַיִם חַיִּים) Mekor mayim chayyim | Jer 2:13 | Life-giving source |
| 3 | Hope of Israel (מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל) Mikveh Yisrael | Jer 14:8; 17:13 | National hope |
| 4 | Potter (יוֹצֵר) Yotzer | Jer 18:6 | Sovereign former |
| 5 | Mighty/Dread Warrior (גִּבּוֹר נוֹרָא) Gibbor nora | Jer 20:11 | Powerful defender |
| 6 | The LORD Our Righteousness (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ) YHWH Tzidkenu | Jer 23:6; 33:16 | Covenant righteousness |
Lamentations
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Lam 1:11 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Lord (Master) (אֲדֹנָי) Adonai | Lam 1:14 | Sovereign master |
| 3 | My Portion (חֶלְקִי) Chelqi | Lam 3:24 | Satisfying inheritance |
Ezekiel
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) Adonai YHWH | Ezek 2:4 (passim) | Absolute ruler |
| 2 | Sanctuary (מִקְדָּשׁ) Mikdash | Ezek 11:16 | Protective presence |
| 3 | Shepherd (רֹעֶה) Ro’eh | Ezek 34:11–12,31 | Caring ruler of flock |
| 4 | The LORD Is There (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) YHWH Shammah | Ezek 48:35 | Abiding presence |
Daniel
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew/Aramaic • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | God of heaven (אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם / אֱלָהּ) Elohei hashamayim / Elah | Dan 2:18–23 | Sovereign over heaven |
| 2 | Most High (עִלָּיָא) Illaya (Aram.) | Dan 3:26; 4:2 | Supreme ruler |
| 3 | Living God (אֱלָהּ חַי) Elah ḥay (Aram.) | Dan 6:26 | Ever-living deity |
| 4 | Ancient of Days (עַתִּיק יוֹמִין) Attiq Yomin (Aram.) | Dan 7:9 | Eternal Judge |
| 5 | Great and awesome God (הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא) Ha-El ha-gadol veha-nora | Dan 9:4 | Majestic and faithful |
Hosea
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Hos 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Living God (אֵל חָי) El Chai | Hos 1:10 | Ever-living |
| 3 | My Husband (אִישִׁי) Ishi | Hos 2:16 | Covenant intimacy |
| 4 | Holy One (קְדוֹשׁ) Kedosh | Hos 11:9 | Set-apart God |
Joel
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Joel 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Refuge; Stronghold (מַחֲסֶה; מָעוֹז) Machaseh; Ma’oz | Joel 3:16 | Protective fortress |
Amos
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) Adonai YHWH | Amos 3:7 (passim) | Absolute ruler |
| 2 | LORD/God of hosts (יְהוָה/אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת) YHWH/Elohei Tzvaot | Amos 4:13; 5:27 | Commander; creator |
Obadiah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) Adonai YHWH | Obad 1:1 | Absolute ruler |
Jonah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Jonah 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | God (אֱלֹהִים) Elohim | Jonah 1:5 | God |
| 3 | LORD God (יהוה אֱלֹהִים) YHWH Elohim | Jonah 4:6 | Covenant name with Elohim |
| 4 | Gracious and compassionate God (אֵל חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם) El channun ve-rachum | Jonah 4:2 | Abounding in love; relents from calamity |
Micah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Mic 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | Sovereign LORD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה) Adonai YHWH | Mic 1:2–3 | Absolute ruler |
| 3 | Judge among many peoples (שֹׁפֵט) Shofet | Mic 4:3 | Just arbiter |
| 4 | Shepherd (רֹעֶה) Ro’eh | Mic 7:14 | Caring ruler |
Nahum
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jealous and avenging God (אֵל קַנּוֹא וְנֹקֵם) El qanno’ ve-noqem | Nah 1:2 | Holy jealousy and justice |
| 2 | Refuge (מָעוֹז) Ma’oz | Nah 1:7 | Stronghold in trouble |
Habakkuk
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy One (קָדוֹשׁ) Qadosh | Hab 1:12 | Pure, set-apart God |
| 2 | Rock (צוּר) Tzur | Hab 1:12 | Firm foundation/judge |
| 3 | God my Savior (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי) Elohei yish’i | Hab 3:18 | Saving God |
Zephaniah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD (יהוה) YHWH (Yahweh) | Zeph 1:1 | Covenant name |
| 2 | King of Israel, the LORD (מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה) Melekh Yisrael YHWH | Zeph 3:15 | Reigning King |
| 3 | Mighty to save (in your midst) (גִּבּוֹר יוֹשִׁיעַ) Gibbor yoshia | Zeph 3:17 | Powerful, rejoicing Savior |
Haggai
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD of Hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | Hag 1:2 (passim) | Commander of heaven’s armies |
Zechariah
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD of Hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | Zech 1:3 (passim) | Commander of heaven’s armies |
| 2 | King over all the earth (מֶלֶךְ עַל־כָּל הָאָרֶץ) Melekh al kol ha’aretz | Zech 14:9 | Universal King |
Malachi
| # | English Name/Title (Hebrew • Transliteration) | First Reference | Meaning / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LORD of Hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) YHWH Tzvaot | Mal 1:4 (passim) | Commander of heaven’s armies |
| 2 | Great King (מֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל) Melekh gadol | Mal 1:14 | Universal kingship |
| 3 | Sun of righteousness (שֶׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה) Shemesh tzedakah | Mal 4:2 | Righteous, healing light |