What are the different names of God and what do they mean?

Answer: Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better known names of God in the Bible:

EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Genesis 7:1; Isaiah 9:6)朎tymologically, El appears to mean power, as in 揑 have the power to harm you" (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of might remains.

ELOHIM: God 揅reator, Mighty and Strong" (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33)朤he plural form of Eloah, which is accommodating of the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible抯 first sentence, the superlative nature of God抯 power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).

EL SHADDAI: 揋od Almighty," 揟he Mighty One of Jacob" (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5)朣peaks to God抯 ultimate power over all.

ADONAI: 揕ord" (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15)朥sed in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God抯 dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.

YHWH/YAHWEH/JEHOVAH: 揕ORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14)朣trictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles 揕ORD" (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai 揕ord." The revelation of the name is first given to Moses 揑 Am who I Am" (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3).

YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide" (Genesis 22:14)朤he name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26)枔I am Jehovah who heals you" both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from diseases, and by curing them when afflicted with them and in soul, by pardoning their iniquities.

YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17.

YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28)朑od makes it clear that He alone, not the law, could cleanse His people and make them holy.

YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24)朤he name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him.

YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5)朇ombination of God抯 unique name YHWH and the generic 揕ord," signifying that He is the Lord of Lords.

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 33:16)朅s with YHWH-M扠addesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us 搕hat we might become the Righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1)朅fter David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares 揧ahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1).

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezekiel 48:35)朤he name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8-11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).

YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7)枔Hosts" means hordes, both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven, and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that he is able to accomplish what he determines to do.

EL ELYON: 揗ost High" (Deuteronomy 26:19)朌erived from the Hebrew root for 揼o up" or 揳scend," so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship.

EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13)朤he name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14), when she met the Angel of the Lord and realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all.

EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3)朑od抯 nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time and contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. 揊rom everlasting to everlasting, You are God."

EL-GIBHOR: 揗ighty God" (Isaiah 9:6)朤he name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God抯 enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).

Recommended Resource: The Names of God by Ken Hemphill.