Question

I know that there are several names for God; El-shaddi being one.  But I also know there are several more that start with Jehovah, like Jehovah jireh.  Could you send me a list of those Jehovah names and what they mean?


Answer

The word Jehovah is the actual name of "the God of Israel" as revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex: 3:14).  The name literally means, "I AM WHO I AM", or simply "I AM" (as in Ex 6:2)

In early times, a person's name was significant or descriptive of whom that person was in either personality or purpose or heritage.  Consequently, the name of a person was not taken lightly in those days.  Also, a person's name could change if there was a major change in the direction / purpose / commitment of their life.  For instance, Jacob ('Heel Catcher' or 'Supplanter') was renamed to Israel ('governed by God' or 'Prince with God'); Gen 32:28.  In other examples, Abram (the father is exalted) became Abraham (the father of a multitude) and Sarai became Sarah (princess).

Jehovah (I AM) is also descriptive of God.  It reveals the fact that He is unchanging, eternal, and self-existent.  It also reveals that He is omnipresent, omniscient, and all-powerful (or un-needy).  In fact the name "I AM" says so much, you really can't "put your arms around it" or fully understand it, much less describe it.  The name "I AM" is the ultimate simplicity with an eternal depth.

That is why the Pharisees wanted to stone Jesus in John 8:58 for saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am".  Jesus was saying I am the "I AM", or in other words, Jesus said his name is "I AM".  If Jesus were not God, then the Pharisees would have been correct in their judgment.  However, Jesus is God and the Pharisees did not understand.

The word Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew consonants YHWH (or JHWH), which is how the name was recorded in Hebrew.  These four letters are called the Tetragrammaton (Greek, meaning 'four letters'), or the Sacred Tetragrammaton.  This name is represented in the KJV as "LORD" (using small caps for the letters O,R,D).  The Hebrews considered the name too holy to utter, so when they read the text aloud, they would substitute the Hebrew word Adonai (translated Lord).  In fact, the Jews held the name YHWH to be so sacred, that the high priest only spoke it once a year when he entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.  The hybrid word 'Jehovah' was created by the KJV translators and is a combination of the vowels of 'Adonai' with the consonants of the Tetragrammaton.  Even though the word Jehovah is the most common translation of YHWH, it is probably the most incorrect.  The most likely translation of YHWH is "Yahweh" (pronounced yaw-way).

As you mentioned, the name Jehovah is used in conjunction with other names in the Bible.  These "extended" names gives us important and additional insight into who He is.  Here are some examples that I know of:


Jehovah-jireh  --  "Jehovah will see" or "Jehovah will provide"

This is the name given by Abraham when he offered up the ram on Mount Moriah, which was a substitute sacrifice for his own son, Isaac (Gen 22:12).  The expression used, "in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen," is considered Abraham's acknowledgement that he was acting out prophecy.  And 2000 years later, God's Son, Jesus, was crucified on Mount Moriah.


Jehovah-nissi  --  "Jehovah my banner"

This is the title given by Moses to the altar which he erected on the hill in which he stood with uplifted hands while Israel prevailed over their enemies the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15).  Thus the altar was a witness to all who saw it that Yahweh was responsible for the Israelites' victory over the Amalekites, and the Banner was frequently used to rally an army for battle.


Jehovah-shalom  --  "Jehovah is peace"

This is the name that Gideon gave to the altar he erected at Ophrah where the angel appeared to him (Judg. 6:24).  It is most likely in response to the word spoken to Gideon by the Lord, "Peace be to you" (Judg. 6:23).


Jehovah-shammah  --  "Jehovah is there"

This is the symbolical title given by Ezekiel to Jerusalem, which he saw in vision (Ezek. 48:35).  It is considered a model of the gospel Church.


Jehovah-tsidkenu  --  "Jehovah our righteousness"

This title is rendered in the KJV as, "The LORD our righteousness," which is a title by which the Messiah shall be known (Jer 23:6).  It is also a name given to Jerusalem (Jer 33:16).


Yahweh-sabaoth  --  "Lord of Hosts"

This compound name occurs 279 times in the OT and depicts God as the commander of armies.  The name was eventually understood as a plural of intensity, 'Lord Almighty,' and the Septuagint translates this name 'Lord Almighty.'


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