“What did you call me?!”, have you ever thought about what your name means? If so does it reflect you?
Why do you think your parents gave you your name? Perhaps it was after a family member and they had not put much thought into what the name really means and how it actually reflects you.
Well not so in the Old Testament! Names meant an awful lot.
For example, the founder of the nation Israel was originally named Jacob by his parents. Jacob is from the Hebrew verb which means “to follow.” This is true as Jacob was born grabbing onto his twin brother Esau’s heel as they came out of the womb.
Now if you read this man’s life story you will discover one day he had a wrestling match with God. True I promise you.
After the encounter God gives the name Israel to Jacob because Israel is the Hebrew name Yisra’el, meaning God contends, or one who struggles with God. From then on Jacob was no longer called Jacob but Israel and from his twelve sons, we have the twelve tribes of Israel.
So what does all this have to do with our blog this morning? Well, I want us to look at God’s names to encourage you what they mean and hopefully, you can take great comfort for whatever situation you are facing as we look at some of these names.
I leave you with a chart so you can look at these for tomorrow.
Stay safe and blessed
| Hebrew | English | Bible Reference |
| Elohim | God of Power and Might | Genesis 1:1 |
| Yehovah | The I Am (The One Who is Life) | Exodus 3:14 |
| Adonai | Lord and Master | Psalm 110:1 |
| El Shaddai | The All Sufficient One | Genesis 17:1 |
| Yehovah Nissi | The Lord My Banner | Exodus 17:15 |
| Yehovah Yireh | The God Who Meets Our Needs | Genesis 22:1 |
| Yehovah Tsidkenu | The Lord Our Righteousness | Jeremiah 23:5-6 |
| Yehovah Shammah | The Lord Is There | Ezekiel 48:35 |
| Yehovah Rophe | The God Who Heals | Exodus 15:22 |
| Yehovah Makkeh | The Lord our Smiter | Ezekiel 7:9 |
| Yehovah Shalom | The Lord Our Peace | Judges 6:23 |
| Yehovah Elohay | The Lord My God | Joshua 7:7 |
| Yehovah Rohi | The Lord My Shepherd | Psalm 23 |
| Yehovah Eloheenu | The Lord Our God | Deuteronomy 1:6 |
| Yehovah Gmolah | The God of Recompenses | Jeremiah 51:56 |
| Yehovah Tsebaoth | The Lord of Hosts | Psalm 147:4 |
| Yehovah M’kaddesh | Our God Who Sanctifies | Leviticus 20:7-8 |
| El Elohe Israel | The [Personal] God of Israel | Genesis 33:18-20 |
| El Elyon | The God Most High | Isaiah 14:13-14 |