About Bible Teacher & Evangelist Gil

• Almighty One – “…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:8
• Alpha and Omega – “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:13
•  Advocate – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1
• Author and Perfecter of Our Faith – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2
• Authority – “Jesus said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matt. 28:18
• Bread of Life – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35
• Beloved Son of God – “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:17
• Bridegroom – “And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matt. 9:15
• Chief Cornerstone – “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.” Ps. 118:22
• Deliverer – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess.1:10
• Faithful and True – “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Rev.19:11
• Good Shepherd - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
• Great High Priest – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Heb. 4:14
• Head of the Church – “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” Eph. 1:22
• Holy Servant – “…and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-30
• I Am – “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58
• Immanuel – “…She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.’” Is. 7:14
• Indescribable Gift – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15
• Judge – “…he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42
• King of Kings – “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Rev. 17:14
• Lamb of God – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
• Light of the World – "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
• Lion of the Tribe of Judah – “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Rev. 5:5
• Lord of All – “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11
• Mediator – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5
• Messiah – “We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).” John 1:41
• Mighty One – “Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Is. 60:16
• One Who Sets Free – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8:36
• Our Hope – “…Christ Jesus our hope.” 1 Tim. 1:1
• Peace – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Eph. 2:14
• Prophet – “And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” Mark 6:4
• Redeemer – “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” Job 19:25
• Risen Lord – “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4
• Rock – “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4
• Sacrifice for Our Sins – “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
• Savior – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
• Son of Man – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10
• Son of the Most High – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” Luke 1:32
• Supreme Creator Over All – “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.…” Col. 1:16-17
• Resurrection and the Life – “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25
• The Door – “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9
• The Way – “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
• The Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
• True Vine - "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1
• Truth – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
• Victorious One – “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Rev. 3:21
• Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6

MORE NAMES  & TITLES

• AMEN: (Revelation 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
• APOSTLE OF OUR PROFESSION: (Hebrews 3:1) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
• ARM OF THE LORD: (Isaiah 51:9) Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
• (Isaiah 53:1) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
• AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH: (Hebrews 12:2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION: (Hebrews 5:9) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
• BEGINNING OF CREATION OF GOD: (Revelation 3:14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
• BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE: (1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
• BRANCH: (Isaiah 4:2) In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
• CAPTAIN OF SALVATION: (Hebrews 2:10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
• CHIEF SHEPHERD: (1 Peter 5:4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
• CHRIST OF GOD: (Luke 9:20) He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
• CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL: (Luke 2:25) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
• COUNSELLOR: (Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• CREATOR: (John 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• DAYSPRING: (Luke 1:78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
• DESIRE OF THE NATIONS: (Haggai 2:7) And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
• DOOR: (John 10:7) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
• ELECT OF GOD: (Isaiah 42:1) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
• EVERLASTING FATHER: (Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• FIRST AND LAST: (Revelation 1:17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
• FIRST BEGOTTEN: (Revelation 1:5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
• FORERUNNER: (Hebrews 6:20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
• GLORY OF THE LORD: (Isaiah 40:5) And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
• GOD: (Isaiah 40:3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
• GOD BLESSED: (Romans 9:5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
• GOVERNOR: (Matthew 2:6) And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
• HEIR OF ALL THINGS: (Hebrews 1:2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
• HOLY CHILD: (Acts 4:27) For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
• HOLY ONE: (Acts 3:14) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
• HOLY ONE OF GOD: (Mark 1:24) Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
• HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL: (Isaiah 41:14) Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
• HORN OF SALVATION: (Luke 1:69) And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
• IMAGE OF GOD: (2 Corinthians 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
• JESUS: (Matthew 1:21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
• JESUS OF NAZARETH: (Matthew 21:11) And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
• JUDGE OF ISRAEL: (Micah 5:1) Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
• THE JUST ONE: (Acts 7:52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
• KING: (Zechariah 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
• KING OF THE AGES: (1 Timothy 1:17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• KING OF THE JEWS: (Matthew 2:2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
• KING OF KINGS: (1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
• KING OF SAINTS: (Revelation 15:3) And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
• LAWGIVER: (Isaiah 33:22) For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.
• LAMB: (Revelation 13:8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• LEADER AND COMMANDER: (Isaiah 55:4) Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
• THE LIFE: (John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• LORD OF GLORY: (1 Corinthians 2:8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• LORD OF LORDS: (1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
• LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: (Jeremiah 23:6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• MAN OF SORROWS: (Isaiah 53:3) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
• MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT: (Malachi 3:1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
• MESSIAH: (John 1:41) He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
• MIGHTY GOD: (Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• BRIGHT MORNING STAR: (Revelation 22:16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
• ONLY BEGOTTEN SON: (John 1:18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
• OUR PASSOVER: (1 Corinthians 5:7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
• PRINCE OF LIFE: (Acts 3:15) And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
• PRINCE OF KINGS: (Revelation 1:5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
• PRINCE OF PEACE: (Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• RESURRECTION AND LIFE: (John 11:25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
• ROSE OF SHARON: (Song of Songs 2:1) I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
• SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF SOULS: (1 Peter 2:25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
• SHILOH: (Genesis 49:10) The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
• SON OF THE BLESSED: (Mark 14:61) But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
• SON OF DAVID: (Matthew 1:1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
• SON OF GOD: (Matthew 2:15) And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
• SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: (Malachi 4:2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
• TRUE LIGHT: (John 1:9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
• WITNESS: (Isaiah 55:4) Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
• WORD: (John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Interestingly, Adonai is a plural use of the word adon which means lord. When adon is used, it usually refers to a human master—but not always. Sometimes Psalms uses adon in reference to God:

“Give thanks to the Lord (adon) of lords: His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:3, New International Version).

The name Adonai conveys a sense of God’s rulership, dominion, and sovereignty. It appears over 400 times in the Old Testament, and 200 of those are in Ezekiel. The first time we discover this title is in Genesis:

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’” (Genesis 15:2, NIV)

Here are a couple of other places God is addressed as Adonai:

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
‘Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?’” (2 Samuel 7:18, NIV)

“So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 22:31, NIV)

The fact that God isn’t bound by time sets Him apart from the rest of creation. The Hebrew phrase for Ancient of Days literally means “before days were,” and speaks to His timeless nature.

“Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:13, NIV)

In a prophecy about Jesus, Daniel uses this name to differentiate Jesus from the Father:

“As I looked,
thrones were set in place,
               and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
               the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
               and its wheels were all ablaze.
A river of fire was flowing,
               coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
                ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
               and the books were opened.

Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:9–14, NIV).

The name most commonly associated with God in the Old Testament is Elohim. Although the word is plural, Elohim is always used as a singular designation for God. It’s a uniquely Hebrew word that occurs over 2,000 times. We discover it in the Bible’s very first verse:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NIV).

It’s sometimes used to reference false gods:

“Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold” (Exodus 20:23, NIV).

Elohim is also used to talk about angelic beings (Psalm 86), but most of the time it is used as a name for God.

When the word elyon is used in Hebrew, it’s talking about the peak or uppermost part of a structure or hill:

“The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord” (2 Kings 15:35).

Elyon can also be used to reference prominence as well:

"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1, NIV).

When it’s attached to the Hebrew word El (God), you get the name God Most High. It stresses God’s strength and supremacy, particularly against the gods worshipped throughout Mesopotamia.

“The Lord thundered from heaven;
               the voice of the Most High resounded” (2 Samuel 22:14, NIV).

“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’” (Daniel 3:26, NIV)

We can trust God’s promises because they’re rooted in His unchanging, eternal nature. This is the basis of the name El Olam. The root of the word Olam is 'lm which means eternity. When combined with the Hebrew word El, we get the name Everlasting or Eternal God.

You run into El Olam the first time in Genesis 21:

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God” (Genesis 21:33, NIV).

In the sixteenth chapter of Genesis, we read that Abram and Sarai had still not had the child that God had promised them in their old age. In an attempt to “solve” this problem on God’s behalf, Abram agrees to have a child with Hagar, Sarai’s servant.

When Hagar gets pregnant, Sarai begins to resent and abuse her. Hagar flees, and the angel of the Lord finds her hiding by a spring in the desert. The angel encourages Hagar to go back to Sarai and makes her a promise regarding her future descendants.

In a moment when Hagar felt abandoned, cast off, and alone, God came and ministered to her. She calls Him El Roi, the “God of seeing.” Because in our loneliest moments, God is aware of our needs.

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me’” (Genesis 16:13, NIV).

There are a couple of different thoughts regarding the origin of the name El Shaddai. Translators of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) understood the root word of Shaddai to be shadad, meaning “to overpower.” To them, El Shaddai pointed toward God’s omnipotence and might: God Almighty.

Other translators believe that the root of Shaddai is shad meaning “breast” and dai meaning “enough.” This would imply that El Shaddai highlights God’s nourishment and sufficiency.

Ultimately, both are true of our Father.

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God    Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless’” (Genesis 17:1, NIV).

Throughout the Old Testament, we see God identified as a father:

“Is this the way you repay the Lord,
               you foolish and unwise people?
Is he not your Father, your Creator,
               who made you and formed you?” (Deuteronomy 32:6, NIV)

“But you are our Father,
               though Abraham does not know us
            or Israel acknowledge us;
 you, Lord, are our Father,
            our Redeemer from of old is your name” (Isaiah 63:16, NIV).

“Have you not just called to me:
               ‘My Father, my friend from my youth’” (Jeremiah, 3:4 NIV).

Jesus continues this tradition of describing God as a father, but he takes it to another level. It’s often thought that the word Abba is an intimate word for God like the English word “daddy.” There isn’t a lot of proof to support that, but it does seem to be an intensely personal and reverent term for father.

“‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet: not what I will, but what you will’” (Mark 14:36).

Abraham walked Isaac up Moriah after being instructed by God to sacrifice his son. When Isaac asked Abraham where the sacrificial lamb was, Abraham told him that God would provide the lamb. Just before he sacrificed Isaac, God stopped him. And in the thicket was a ram to sacrifice in Isaac’s stead.

In his pleasure, Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh which means “God Will Provide.” By naming these places where they had a divine encounter with God, Old Testament figures could remember something important that they learned about God’s character. By naming the place, they were effectively naming God.

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided’” (Genesis 22:14, NIV).

In Exodus, Moses builds an altar to commemorate the defeat over the Amalekites at Rephidim. He calls this altar Jehovah Nissi, which means “The Lord Is My Banner.” This name communicates how God provides hope and inspiration to His people.

“Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, ‘Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation’” (Exodus 17:15–16).

The word Raah is derived from the Hebrew word for shepherd. Like a caring shepherd, God leads and guides his people. It denotes the special care that God shows for His creatures.

“Then he blessed Joseph and said,
‘May the God before whom my fathers
               Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,
the God who has been my shepherd
              all my life to this day’” (Genesis 48:15, NIV).

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1).

“Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
              you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
             shine forth” (Psalm 80:1).

The name Jehovah Rapha literally means “The God That Heals.” He is the Great Physician who holds all things together.

“He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you’” (Exodus 15:26, NIV).

The Hebrew word tsabaoth is translated “hosts” or “armies.” In its most literal sense, it means “horde.” The name Jehovah Sabaoth designates God as the commander of the armies of the earth, the stars in the heaven, and invisible heavenly angels. Ultimately, all things, both seen and unseen, are under His command.

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied’” (1 Samuel 17:45, NIV)

“Elisha said, ‘As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you’” (2 Kings 3:14, NIV)

“Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
             the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
‘Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
             and avenge myself on my enemies’” (Isaiah 1:24, NIV).

Shalom is a word used for greeting and parting in Israel. It comes from shalam which means to be “safe in mind, body, and estate.” It’s a picture of completeness, peace, and tranquility. Jehovah Shalom tells us that “God is our peace.”

“But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’

So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:23–24, NIV).

When Israel was at the height of idolatry, God withdrew His presence from Jerusalem. This removal of God’s presence also signaled a removal of His protective hand, and the Israelites were taken captive by surrounding nations and scattered.

But God promised to restore His beloved nation and re-establish His presence in Jerusalem. God makes this promise through the prophet Ezekiel who predicts a new city where God dwells:

“The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.
And the name of the city from that time on will be:
the LORD IS THERE” (Ezekiel 48:35, NIV).

The name Jehovah Tsidekenu draws its meaning from the word tsedek. It’s a word that means rigid and straight. To the ancient Hebrew, the word communicated a sense of justice and righteousness. They were called to walk in integrity, and it was a straight, rigid road.

Jehovah Tsidekenu gives us a picture of God as one who only walks in righteousness. He is the actual source of all that is upright and true.

“In those days Judah will be saved
               and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
               The Lord Our Righteous Savior” (Jeremiah 33:16, NIV).

Throughout the Old Testament, the words “sanctify,” “holy” and “set apart” all come from the Hebrew word qâdash. This is the same root word where Mekoddishkem originates. The name Jehovah Mekoddishkem means “the God Who Sets You Apart” or the “God Who Makes You Holy.”

“Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy” (Leviticus 20:8, NIV).

“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy’” (Exodus 31:13, NIV).

It’s incredibly appropriate that we end with YHWH. Where all the other names were descriptions of God, this is God’s actual name given to Moses from within the burning bush:

“Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” Then what shall I tell them?’

“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13–14, NIV).

The name YHWH is known as the “Tetragrammaton,” which means “consisting of four letters.” The four Hebrew letters that make up this name are yud, hay, vav, hay. Jewish traditions consider this name too sacred to speak aloud. Some translators translate this four-lettered name Yahweh, Jehovah, or LORD in all caps.

The name speaks of God’s immediacy and attendance of God, alluding to His omnipresence. It appears in the Old Testament over 6,500 times.

“And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant” (Exodus 14:31, NIV).

“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed” (Joshua 23:14, NIV)

Learning about the names of God isn’t an empty exercise in biblical trivia. Getting to know His names helps us glorify and love God by helping us understand His character and nature. Through His names, God is revealed to us more clearly and we can experience Him more deeply.

In the Gospels, we get to see God even more clearly as He is revealed in Jesus. Jesus adds a new intimacy to the names of God as He encourages us to pray in His name. Our familiarity with God’s name ultimately brings us closer to Him.