Nine Mighty Names of God 

God is not revealed to us in the Bible as being called just God. He is referred to by other names, each which reveal a certain aspect of His character. In the Old Testament, names held significance as they did not only fulfill the purpose of identity, they explained characteristics and even occupations. Therefore, God reveals not only who He is by His many names, but also who He is to us as we learn more about the different aspects of His nature. 

Though most of these names may have been revealed to God's people in the Old Testament, the meaning behind them denotes God's power, love, and mercy that is just as relevant for us today as it was for believers of the ancient world. 

Here are nine of the most well-known names of God and what they mean. 

1.Yahweh
Meaning: The Lord, God

"These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens" Genesis 2:4.

Yahweh is found in the Hebrew Bible and holds particular significance in Jewish tradition as a covenant name of God, the holiest of names, and it is held in the highest esteem. In fact, it is considered to be too holy to be even spoken aloud (Exodus 20:7 NRSV). It is derived from the Hebrew word "I am." 

With that in mind, Yahweh first appears in Genesis 2:4. However, God first revealed His covenant name to humans, Moses specifically, in Exodus 3:14-15, when Moses was commanded to tell the Israelites the name of the One who had sent him to lead God's people out of Egypt. On recognizing the ultimate power and authority behind the name Yahweh, the Israelites would know immediately that Moses had the blessings and strength of God behind him. 

The spelling of Yahweh is modern, as it includes vowels to aid with its pronunciation. Yahweh is actually the transliteration of the Hebrew word YHWH, which is known as the Tetragrammaton, meaning 4 letters. 

The word Adonai (Lord) is sometimes used as a substitute for YHWH. As a consequence, early English translations of the Bible have amalgamated the two words into Jehovah, which is in common usage even today. 

Continue reading about the Mighty Names of God.

Teach the Names of God to the children in your ministry.

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