The famous 18th century German philosopher Kerkagard once stated “If you label me you negate me”; I think our God agrees with this and intentionally inspired the writers of the Bible with many names of Himself to communicate to mankind His nature and character. It is impossible to capture the essence of an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient “infinite in all things” God with a one word name label. There are 21 Hebrew words, 14 compound Hebrew words, 16 Jehovah titles and 18 other names for God, just in the Old Testament. Much discussion has been given to the tetragrammaton, YHWH, which is translated over 6,000 times in the Old Testament as Lord, and appears in the original texts without vowels – we really don’t know how to spell or pronounce God’s most common name – He literally has no common name. The ancient Hebrew rabbis thought the tetragmmaton was so sacred they would not attempt to utter a sound for it, and the scribes copying the Bible would stop to fast and pray every time they came to it in the text. The Jehovah Titles used for God are:
Jehovah-Elohim : The Eternal Creator
Adonai-Jehovah : The Lord Our Sovereign
Jehovah-Jireh : The Lord Will See Or Provide
Jehovah-Nissi : The Lord Our Banner
Jehovah-Rapha : The Lord Our Healer
Jehovah-Shalom : The Lord Our Peace
Jehovah-Tsidqenuw : The Lord Our Righteousness
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem : The Lord Our Sanctifier
Jehovah-Sabaoth : The Lord Of Hosts
Jehovah-Shammah : The Lord Is Present
Jehovah-Elyown : The Lord Most High
Jehovah-Rohi : The Lord My Shepherd
Jehovah-Hoseenu : The Lord Our Maker
Jehovah-Eloheenu : The Lord Our God
Jehovah-Eloheka : The Lord Thy God
Jehovah-Elohay : The Lord My God
Notice the last three, The Lord is our God, your God, and my God – no one is excluded. God called Himself “I Am” to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.” I Am the cloud by day, the fire by night, the rock flowing forth water, I Am whatever I need to be whenever and wherever I need to be it... I Am. There’s much comfort in that, much comfort!
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