VIDEO: Elohim, Jehovah, Yahweh, El Shaddai, Yahweh-Sabaoth

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

Reading the Bible is the best way to learn about God. The word “testament” means covenant or agreement. The Old Testament is centered around God's original agreement with the Israelites. Under our New Covenant, we no longer have to receive circumcision or hold ceremonies on certain days, but God is always the same: What He expected from His people in the Old Testament is still what He wants His children to do who come to Him through Jesus. For this reason, the Old Testament is a good place to learn about God.

There are names the Hebrews use in connection with God which describe each of His attributes. When God did something miraculous, His people would associate it with His name. We can apply these names to each of the members of the Trinity. Because God is triune, but all three are one, if we address prayers to any one of the three, God gives us grace and He will receive them. However, it is great to get to know the various aspects of God so we can be more specific.

The Hebrew words associated with God and His names are below. In my opinion, it isn’t necessary to say them in Hebrew because God speaks all languages. If you want to honor Him by speaking the same language as His Son, you can research the different ways to pronounce the Hebrew words, however, that isn’t what is important. Our heart knowing that God IS all of these things is what matters.

And he said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15 AKJV)

But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7 AJV)

It is not how we look on the outside and it is not the language we speak that matters to God, it is what is in our hearts. Feel free to address God in His names in your own language!

ELOHIM

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. (Genesis 1:1 AKJV)

The first verse of the Bible gives the name of God: Elohim. When God created the world, it involved all three aspects of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Elohim is the plural form of 'ĕlôha. The Hebrew word refers to a ruler and judge with majestic and divine power. Occasionally, in other scriptures, it will refer to other heavenly beings; gods or angels. This word is used 2600 times in the Word of God.

Since all three members of the Trinity are addressed, we can address all three at once with this name.

God can be addressed as:

Creator - He organized the creation and spoke it into being (Genesis 1:1)
Justice - He is Judge

God is a righteous Judge, and a God Who feels indignation every day. (Psalm 7:11 ESV)

Judgment - As Judge, He pronounces Judgement

For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14 ESV)

Jesus can be addressed as:

Creator - He created all things on the Earth

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 ESV)

Advocate (lawyer) - for what is against us

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous… (1 John 2:1 NASB)

Holy Spirit can be addressed as:

Creator - His power is what holds creation together

The Earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2 AKJV)

Counselor - He reveals what is happening in the Courts of Heaven

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever… (John 14:16 AMPC)

JEHOVAH

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man Whom He had formed. (Genesis 2:8 AKJV)

As God formed the area where He places man, His actual name is revealed. Israel was commanded to keep God’s name holy, so in their writings, they removed the vowels leaving only four consonants: יְהֹוָה. Because of this, there are various pronunciations. The two most popular are:

Yᵊhōvâ (yeh-ho-vaw’) - There is no J sound in Hebrew. The proper way to pronounce this is with a “Y.” The word means “the existing One” and is where we get the “I AM” from. The four Hebrew letters making up God’s name are translated as Jehovah four times.
Yahweh -This is the way we believe the actual name of God should be pronounced. God’s people speak with a breath drawn in for the first half and the breath exhaling for the second part of the word. This symbolizes the breath of God entering man, then man breathing out for the first time.

Since God’s people honor His name it is translated as LORD most often: over 6500 times in the Old Testament.

This name of God is often paired with the name Elohim, emphasizing that it is God who is in Heaven. We should only use Yahweh in the most reverent honoring prayers. When we use it, we are addressing all that God is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

EL SHADDAI

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I Am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be you perfect. (Genesis 17:1 AKJV)

El is the abbreviated form of Elohim which means God. Shaddai is often accompanied by Elohim, but not always. The Hebrew word translated Shaddai means most powerful or almighty. It is only used 48 times in the Bible. When we look at the context of where this first occurs we see why God refers to Himself this way.

Sarai had encouraged Abram to use her maid to “help” God fulfill His promise to Abram which resulted in Ishmael. When Ishmael was 13 years old and over the age of accountability, God appeared to Abram, declaring that He is El Shaddai: God is almighty and powerful.

Not only did God change Abram and Sarai’s names to Abraham and Sarah, He also named the son Sarah would give birth to. Though Sarah’s womb had dried up, God Almighty would give her a son. Nothing is too hard for God Almighty!

When we need a miracle, it is El Shaddai we cry out to. He is mighty and powerful beyond our knowledge!

YAHWEH-SABAOTH

And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole Earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3 AKJV)

Six times in the Bible, the name of God (translated as LORD), is paired with heavenly hosts. Our God is the one who rules the hosts of Heaven. If we are in need and there is no other way of receiving aid, we can ask God to send His angels to help us.

Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. (Psalm 103:20 KJV)

The word angel actually means “messenger.” Dāḇār is translated as word and means the words God speaks, not the written word or scripture. These are mighty beings who listen to what God says and heeds His voice. We cannot and should not command them.

“Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels?” (Matthew 26:53 AMPC)

The Son of God could ask His Father to send angels to aid Him when He was acting in the role of a man upon the Earth. We can do the same! When the need is urgent and there is no way we can accomplish something, we can entreat God to send us help.

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