CEDD 112: THEOLOGY

MODULE 5 - The Names of God

Introduction:
What are the four key names for God?

One of the most well known passages in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet can be found in the second
scene of the second act. As the story opens, Juliet is lamenting the facts that the parents (the
Capulets) intensely dislike the parents of her lover, Romeo (the Montague’s).

In an attempt to play down the situation, she sighs: What’s Montague’s? It is not hand? Nor foot, nor
arms, nor face, nor any other parts belonging to man, O, be some other name! What’s in a name?
That’s which we call rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Thus, to Juliet, a person’s name meant little or nothing. This is, however, decidedly not the case as
one approaches the Bible. In fact to the contrary, one may learn a great deal about a person simply
examining the names ascribed to him or her. This is specially true concerning the names of God.

These four main names of God are: Elohim, Eli, Adonai, and Jehovah.

COMPETENCY NO. 1: ELOHIM THE NAME OF GOD

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Identify the four main names of God; and
2. Define God.
Definition of Key Terms:

TERM: DEFINITION:
Theology a. theo means God;
b. logos means study
c. study about God
Elohim refers to God’s power and might
Adonai Master, Lord
Jehovah self-existent one, the God of Covenant

Discussion:

What does the name Elohim mean?

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Used 2,570 times, it refers to God’s power and might. It is also Scripture’s first name for God
(Gen. 1:1)

What are the four compounds for the name El?

A. El-Roi, “The strong one who sees.” In Genesis 16, an angered and barren Sarai has cast
into the wilderness her pregnant and arrogant handmaiden, Hagar. When all hope for survival had
fled, this pagan Egyptian girl was visited and ministered to by El-Roi himself-the strong God who sees
Genesis (16:13)

B. El-Elyon, “The strongest strong one.” There are two significant places where this name
was used in the Old Testament. One came from the lips of Jerusalem’s first sovereign, and the other
from history’s first sinner.

1. Jerusalem’s first sovereign, Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20)

2. History’s first sinner, Satan (Isa 14:13-14).

C. El Shaddai, “the breasted one.” Used 48 times in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word
shad is used often to designate the bosom of a nursing mother.

The revelation of God as El Shaddai (Genesis17:1) came to Abraham at a much

needed time in his life. His sin in Marrying Hagar (Genesis 16) had doubtless prevented that full and
unhindered fellowship that had previously flowed between him and God. In addition, his wife, Sarah,
was now an old woman, nearly 90, humanly unable to give birth to abraham’s long-anticipated heir.
El-Shaddai is also found in Psalms 91:1

D. El-Olam, “the everlasting God.” Isaiah 40 is usually regarded as one of the greatest Old
Testament Chapters, the Prophet begins by predicting both the first and second advent of Christ. He
then contrast the awesome power of the true God with the miserable impotence of all idols. But
carnal Israel had trouble accepting all this, wondering just how these wonderful event couldtranspire.
Isaiah’s response is well-known (Isaiah 40:28-31).

SAQ # 1 : Explain briefly the El Shaddai in your own word.

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SAQ # 2 : Explain briefly the El Olam in your own word.

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COMPETENCY NO. 2: ADONAI - THE NAME OF GOD

Discussion:

What does the name “Adonai” Mean?

It means, “Master, Lord.” The Hebrew Old Testament name Adonai and its Greek New
Testament Counterpart Kurios Describe the relationship between Master and Slave. God
owns al his Children. Thus, Adonai Carries with it a twofold Implication:

A. The Master has a right to expect obedience.

Robert Lightner describes the nature of the Master-Slave Relationship:

In Old Testament time the slave was the absolute possession of his master, having no rights of his
own.

His Chief Business was to carry out the Wishes of his Master. The slave had a Relationship and
Responsibility different from that of the hired servant. The hired servant could quit if he did not like
the orders of his master, but not so with the slave. He could do nothing but obey (cf Genesis 24:1-12).
(The God of the Bible, p. 116)

B. The slave may Expect Provision.

Lighter Continues:

The Slave had no worry of his own. It was the master’s Business to provide food, shelter, and the
necessities of life. Since the slave is the possession of the master, his needs become the master’s.
Obedience is the only provision. This truth is marvelously displayed in Paul, who was Himself a bound
slave, when he assured the Philippians that God would supply all their needs (Philippians 4:19). Only
the Obedient slave can expect this from his master. (Ibid, p. 117) The response of both Samuel in the
Old Testament (1 Samuel 3:10) and Mary in the New Testament (Luke 1:18) serve as a Beautiful
example of this Master-Servant relationship. The nation Israel, however, had utterly failed in their
relationship as observed by the prophet Malachi (Malachi1:6).

SAQ # 3 : Did you consider yourself a slave for Christ? Why or Why not?
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SAQ # 4 : In what part of your life you find hard to submit to the Lordship of Christ?
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COMPETENCY NO. 3: JEHOVAH - THE NAME OF GOD

What does Jehovah mean?

It means the “self-existent one, the God of Covenant” (e.g, Exodus 3:13-14; 6:2-4). This is the
most common for God, occurring 6,823 times. The name Jehovah in Exodus 6:3 is the Hebrew
Tetragrammatons’ (a four-letter expression). YHWH. Because of the sacredness of the name,
Jewish reader would not even pronounce it, substituting the word Adonai in its place when
read aloud.

What are the 9 compound names for Jehovah mean?

A. Jehovah-Jireh, meaning “the Lord will provide”

In genesis 22, God instructed his faithful servant Abraham to do the unthinkable:

“And he said, take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get into
thee land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the
mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2). Thus, both father and son began
the climb up Mt. Moriah. Isaac, who was aware that they would be offering up
sacrifice on the summit, but did not know that he was he was to be that Sacrifice,
asked his father concerning: “ Behold the fire and wood: but where is the Lamb for
the burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7). With great anguished of soul, Abraham answered:
“my son, God will provide with himself a lamb for the world (John 1:29)

B. Jehovah-Nissi, meaning “The Lord is my banner.”

En route to Mt. Sinai, Israel was attacked by some fierce desert warriors known as
the Amalekites. We then are told: “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people
with the edge or the sword. And Lord said unto moses, write this for a memorial in a
book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the resemblance
of Amalek from under the heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it
Jehovah-nissi” (Exod 17:13-15). This battle is significant, for it marks the first victory
of Israel on its march after leaving egypt. The prayer of Moses assured the victory
(Exod 17:11).

SAQ # 5 : Explain briefly the Jehovah-Nissi “The Lord is my baaner in your own word.

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C. Jehovah-shalom, meaning, “ The Lord is Peace.

During the Turbulent Days of the Judges, the angel of the Lord appeared to a
Discouraged man named Gideon (Judges 6:12,16,24). Jehovah-Shalom did indeed
bring peace to Israel over the Midianites through this warrior and his 300 trumpet-
blowing soldiers. Our Lord Jesus Would, of course becomes both the bringer and
giver of peace. Note: the Word Shiloh

(Meaning Peace) in Genesis 49:10 is no doubt in reference to the Messiah (cf. Isaiah
96; Luke 2:14; Eph 2:14).

D. Jehova-Sabaoth meaning “The Lord of Hosts.”

This is a reference to the captain of Heaven’s armies. These armies are said to be
composed to the angels (Pss 68:17; 104:4; 148:2). The Great Prophet Isaiah Described
his vision in which he was allowed to see Jehovah-Sabaoth The Lord of Host (Isaiah
6:1-3).

In revelation 5, we read that john saw angels, “Ten Thousand, and Thousands of
Thousands” an uncountable number. In the new Testament, Christ himself is Pictured
as the Leader of these Angels. When Jesus was arrested, our Lord himself (The Lord
Sabaoth)

Made an interesting comment when Simon Peter pulled out his Sword and cut off the
ear of one of the servants of the High Priest. “Put up again thy sword into his place:
for all that they take the sword shall the Perish with the Sword> thinkest thou that I
cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall Presently give me more than twelve
legions of angels? (Matt 26:52-53).

E. Jehovah-Maccaddeschem, meaning “The Lord thy Sanctifier,” “The God who Desires to
set his People Apart.” (cf. Exodus 31:12-13).

This great name of God, first mentioned in Exodus, appears many times in Leviticus.
To be sanctified is to be set apart, and that is what God Desired to do for his People
to set them apart for the special service. In the New Testament we read how the
great Sanctifier set himself apart that he might set apart the Sanctified (John 17:19; 1
Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23).

SAQ # 6 : Explain briefly the Jehovah-Maccaddeschem “The Lord thy Sanctifier” in your
own word.
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F. Jehovah-Raah, Meaning “The Lord, my Shepherd “.

Of all the compound names of Jehovah, this is probably the most easily understood
title, for it refers to our ultimate shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ!

1. Jesus Said he is the Good Shepherd, a Reference to his Death (John 10:11)

2. Hebrews said he is the Great Shepherd, a reference to his resurrection (Hebrews

13:20).

3. Peter said he is the Chief Shepherd, a reference to his Second Coming (1 Peter 5:4).

4. Perhaps, though, David said it best when he wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I
Shall not want” (Psalms 23:1)

SAQ # 7 : Why Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd to your life and to your family?
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G. Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Meaning “The lord our righteousness.”

During the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah reassured those discourage Jews in Exile
that God would someday both re-gather and restore his people to the Promised Land

(Jeremiah 23:3-6). Here we are told the Official name for the Messiah during the
future Millennium will be Jehovah-Tsidkenu

H. Jehovah-Shammah, Meaning “The Lord who is Present”

In the Final Chapters of His book (Ezek 40-48), Ezekiel describes for us the glorious
features of the millennial temple and concludes by giving us the new name for the
Earthly city of Jerusalem in that Day: “The Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35). Of course
the obvious meaning is that God himself will be in that city. The Psalmist had this idea
when he wrote Psalms 46: “ God is our Refuge and Strength, a very Pleasant help in
trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the
Mountains be carried into the Midst of the Sea” (Psalms 46:1-2). The greatest thing
about heaven is probably connected to the worst thing in hell. The worst thing about
hell is not the Terrible pain and the eternality, but rather that hell will be a place
where Jesus Christ will be Conspicuously absent throughout all eternity. On the other
hand, the greatet thing about heaven is not the Pearly gates, the ivory palaces, the
jasper walls, or the streets of gold but that heaven will be where Jesus Christ is
consciously present throughout all eternity. Jehovah-Shammah

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The Lord who is present (cf John 11:28). If rightly understood, Shammah may well be
the most comforting of all the titles forjehovah. In essence it says, he is here, and he
des care!

I. Jehovah-Rapha, Meaning “The Lord our Healer”

By this new name God introduced to Israel the Terms of his heavenly “Mediacare”
Health Plan while they were on their way to Canaan. If only they had accepted this
gracious policy. The Israelites were challenge to obey God, and God Would instruct
them in every Area of Life, Including health and Nutrition, in order to keep them from
Disease and illness (Exodus 15:26).

God desires to heal many things:

1. He desires to heal many things (2 Chronicles 7:14; Revelations 22:2).

2. He desires to heal Nation (Jeremiah 3:22).

3. He desires to heal broken Hearts (Psalms 147:3)

4. He desires to heal sinful souls (Psalms 41:4).

5. Sometimes, but not all of the time, Jehovah-Rapha Heals Human Bodies, it is not always
God’s will to heal Broken Bodies Belonging to Believers, if this be the case, then our reaction
should be that of the apostle Paul When God Chose not to heal Him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
truly God, Jehovah-Rapha, is our Healer (Deuteronomy 32:39; Mal 4:1-2)

SAQ # 8 : Explain breifly the implication of Jehovah-Rapha, Meaning “The Lord our Healer” in our
life.

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SAQ # 9 : Explain briefly the Jehovah name of God in your own word.
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SAQ # 10 : Write a short testimony about your experience to God based from his revealed
name.
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Summary:
God in His absolute attributes cannot be understood by a mere man, but on a certain degree
man can understand God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

References:

 Willmington’s Guide to the Bible by Dr. H.L. Willmington

 Shepherd’s Staff by Ralph Mahoney
 Foundations of Pentecostal Theology by Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van
Cleave
 https://www.crossway.org/articles/how-god-is-both-incomprehensible-and-knowable-
at-the-same-time

Evaluation:
1. Write the four compounds for the name El.
2. Give two implications of the name Adonai and be able to give example.
3. Write are the 9 compound names for Jehovah and be able to give supporting verses.

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