Divine Names and Titles

7/31/2019 Divine Names and Titles

1/7

Divine Names and Titles

Note: Taken primarily from Appendix 4 of The Companion Bible. The Companion Bibles use of Jehovah has been replaced with YHVH. Its use of

Jah has been replaced with Yah. Tables 2 and 3 pertain specifically to The Companion Bible. This study is not intended to exactly duplicate

Appendix 4, and some slight modifications in punctuation, etc. have been made. The table format also differs from the straight text in the appendix. The

student is human and welcomes any error corrections.

Table 1: The Divine Names and Titles

Name/Title Meaning/Significance/Use

I. ELOHIM Occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the

Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on 2 Chron. 18.31, where it

stands in contrast with YHVH as indicating a covenantrelationship. Elohim is God the Son, the living

WORD with creature form to create (John 1:1, Col. 1.15-17, Rev. 3.14); and later, withhuman form

to redeem (John 1.14). Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world. In

this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.

Elohim is indicated (as in A.V.) by ordinary small type, God. See table below.

Scriptures Bullinger references:

2 Chronicles 18:31: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they

said, Itis the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and

the LORD helped him; and God moved them to departfrom him.

John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Colossians 1:15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature:

Colossians 1:16: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and

invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by

Him, and for Him:

Colossians 1:17: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

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;

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of

the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.


2/7

II. YHVH While Elohim is God as the Creatorof all things, YHVH is the same God in covenant relation to those

whom He has created (Cp. 2 Chron. 18.31). YHVH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who

WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21.33. He is especially,

therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now in Christ. We

can say, My God, but not My YHVH, for YHVH is My God.


2 Chronicles 18:31: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they

said, Itis the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and

the LORD helped him; and God moved them to departfrom him.

Genesis 21:33: AndAbraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD ,

the everlasting GOD.

YHVHis indicated (as in A.V.) by small capital letters, LORD; and by GOD when it occurs in

combination with Adonai, in which case Lord GOD=Adonai YHVH.

The name YHVH is combined with ten other words, which form what are known as the YHVH Titles.

They are as follows in the order in which they occur in the Hebrew Canon (Ap. 1). All are noted in the

margin, in all their occurrences:

1. YHVH-JIREH = YHVH will see, or provide.

Genesis 22:14: And Abraham called the name of that place YHVH-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the

mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

2. YHVH-ROPHEKA= YHVH that healeth thee.

Exodus 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do

that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put

none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for Iamthe LORD Thathealeth thee.

3. YHVH-NISS = YHVH my banner.

Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it YHVH-nissi:

4. YHVH-M ADD SHKEM = YHVH that doth sanctify youE

.

Exodus 31:13: Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for

itis a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; thatye may know that Iamthe LORD That

doth sanctify you.

Leviticus 20:8: And ye shall keep My statutes, and do them: Iamthe LORD Which sanctify you.

Leviticus 21:8: Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy

unto thee: for I the LORD , Which sanctify you,am holy.

Leviticus 22:32: Neither shall ye profane My holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of

Israel: I am the LORD Which hallow you,


3/7


4/7

A Psalm of David

Psalm 23:1 The LORDis my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thouart

with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my headwith oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the

house of the LORD for ever.

III. YAH YAH is YHVH in a special sense and relation. YHVH as having BECOME our Salvation (first occ. Ex.

15:2), He Who IS, and WAS, and IS TO COME. It occurs 49 times (7x7. See Ap. 10). Yah is indicated

by type thus: LORD .


Exodus 15:2: The LORDis my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my GOD, and I

will prepare Him an habitation; my fathers God, and I will exalt Him.

IV. EL EL is essentially the Almighty, though the word is never so rendered (see below, Shaddai.), EL is Elohim

in all His strength and power. It is rendered God as Elohim is, but Elis God the Omnipotent.Elohim is

God the Creatorputting His omnipotence into operation. Eloah (see below) is God Who wills and orders

all, and Who is to be the one object of the worship of His people. Elis the God Whoknows all (first occ.

Gen. 14.18-22) and sees all (Gen. 16.13) and thatperformeth all things for His people (Ps. 57.2);

and in Whom all the Divine attributes are concentrated.

Elis indicated in this edition by type in large capital letters, thus: GOD. It is sometimes transliterated in

proper names Immanu-el, Beth-el, &c., where it is translated, as explained in the margin.


(Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of

the MOST HIGH GOD.

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the MOS T HIGH GOD, possessor of

heaven and earth:

Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the MOS T HIGH GOD, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.)

And he gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to

thyself.

Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LOR D, MOS T

HIGH GOD, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Genesis 16:13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou GOD seest me: for she

said, Have I also here looked after Him That seeth me?

Psa 57:2 I will cry unto God MOST HIGH ; unto GOD That performethall things for me.


5/7

V. ELOAH ELOAH is Elohim., Who is to be worshipped. Eloah is God in connection with His Willrather than His

power. The first occurrence associates this name with worship (Deut. 32. 15, 17, in the Song of Moses).

Hence, it is the title used whenever the contrast (latent or expressed) is with false gods or idols. Eloah is

essentially the living God in contrast to inanimate idols.

Eloah is rendered God, but as we have indicated it is by type thus:GOD


Deuteronomy 32:15: But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou

art covered with fatness; then he forsook GODWhich made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his

salvation.

Deuteronomy 32:16: They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they

Him to anger.

Deuteronomy 32:17: They sacrificed unto devils, not to GOD; to gods whom they knew not, to new

gods thatcame newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

VI. ELYN ELYN first occurs in Gen. 14.18 withEl, and is rendered the most high (God). It is El and Elohim,not as the powerful Creator, but as the possessor of heaven and earth. Hence the name is associated

with Christ as the Son of the Highest (Luke 1.35).

It isElyn, as possessor of the earth, Who divides the nations their inheritance. In Psalm 83.18, He is

over all the earth. The title occurs 36 times (6x6, or 6 . See Ap. 10.)2

Elyn is the Dispenser of Gods blessings in the earth; the blessings proceeding from a Priest Who is a

King upon His throne (cp. Gen. 14.18-22 with Zech. 6.13; 14.9).


Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the

power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy Thing Which shall be born of thee

shall be called the Son of God.

Psalm 83:18 Thatmen may know that Thou, Whose name aloneis YHVH,artthe MOST HIGH over all

the earth.

(Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of

the MOST HIGH GOD.

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the MOST HIGH GOD, possessor of

heaven and earth:

Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the MOST HIGH GOD, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy

hand.) And he gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to

thyself.

Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LOR D, MOST

HIGH GOD, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Zec 6:13 Even He shall build the temple of the LORD ; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule

upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between

them both.

Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD , and His

name one.


6/7

VII. SHADDAI SHADDAI is in every instance translated Almighty, and is indicated by small capital letters

(ALMIGHTY). It is God (El), not as the source of strength, but ofgrace; not as Creator, but as

the Giver. Shaddai is the All-bountiful. This title does not refer to His creative power, but to His

power tosupplyall the needs of His people. Its f irst occurrence is in Gen. 17.1 and is used to

show Abraham that He Who called him out to walk alone before Him could supply all his need.

Even so it is the title used in 2 Cor. 6.18, where we are called to come out in separation from

the world. It is always used in connection withEl(see above).

Genesis 17:1: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said

unto him, Iam the Almighty GOD; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.

2 Corinthians 6:18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the

LORD Almighty.

VIII. ADON ADON is one of three titles (ADON, ADONAI, and ADONIM), all generally rendered Lord; but each has

its own peculiar usage and association. They all denoteheadship in various aspects. They have to do with

God as over-lord.

(1) ADON is the Lord as Rulerin the earth. We have indicated this in type by printing the preceding

article or pronouns in small capitals, not because either are to be emphasized, but to distinguish the word

Lord fromAdonai, which is always so printed in the A.V.

(2) ADONAI is the Lord in His relation to the earth; and as carrying out His purposes of blessing in the

earth. With this limitation it is almost equivalent to YHVH. Indeed, it was from early date so used,

associating the vowel points of the word YHVHwithAdon, thus convertingAdon intoAdonai. A list of

134 passages where this was deliberately done is preserved and given in the Massorah (107-115).

(See Ap. 32.) We have indicated these by printing the word like YHVH, putting an asterisk, thus: L ORD*.

(3) ADONIM is the plural ofAdon, never used of man.Adonim carries with it all thatAdon does, but in a

greater and higher degree; and more especially as ownerandproprietor. AnAdon may rule other who do

not belong to him. Hence (without the article) it is often used of men. But Adonim is the Lord Whorules

His own. We have indicated it by type, thus: LORD.

The three may be thus briefly distinguished:

Adon is the Lord as overlord orruler

Adonim is the Lord as owner

Adonai is the Lord as blesser


7/7

Table 2: Renderings of the Divine Names and Titles in The Companion Bible

Rendering Source

God Elohim

GOD YHVH(in combination withAdonai, Lord)

GOD* YHVHin the Primitive Texts, altered by the Spherim toElohim as in

the Printed Text. (See Ap. 32.)

GOD El

GOD Eloah

LOR D YHVH

THE LORD Yah

LOR D* YHVHin the Primitive Text, altered by the Spherim toAdonai as in

the Printed Text. (See Ap. 32.)

Lord Adonai

LORD Adonim

ALMIGHTY Shaddai

MOST HIGH Elyn

Table 3. Renderings of Combined Divine Names and Titles in The Companion Bible

Combined Name Rendering

Adonai YHVH Lord GOD

YHVH Elohim Lord God

Elyn El MOST HIGH GOD

El Shaddai GOD ALMIGHTY

Documents

Divine Names and Titles