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The Hebrew name for God is Elohim. It literally translates as Gods. Hence in Genesis chapter 1 we read God said "Let US make man in OUR own image."
The name Elohim, implies that he is a God who makes covenants and has the power to fulfil them. |
Moses asked God his name:
Exodus 3:14-15 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." |
Here are a few of the many scriptures that highlight the names of God and how they function in man's relationship with Him.
Note the importance that God lays upon his name. Many things God did for his name' sake. His name would not allow him to do otherwise. Please read them carefully, greater explanations will follow |
In the first column we have the name Elohim. This is translated in the Bible as 'God' - "In the beginning God."
People generally use this word to cover every aspect of the 'being in the sky'. This name is the name for the 'universal God'. Even Christians who might benefit from a better bible education, refer in their testimonies to 'God', no matter what the situation. Hopefully as the whole picture is absorbed some will come into a more intimate relationship and understanding of God's many faceted character. There are many shades of light from His rainbow-circled throne. First of all we note that all names are plural names. The Name Elohim suggests both power and oaths, covenants or promises. EL - denotes power, this prefixes names of God such as: EL-Elyon - Most High God | God of Past | History | Over us EL-Shaddai - Almighty God | Present | Experience | Around us EL-Olam - Everlasting God | Future | Before us |
JEHOVAH
Exodus 6:3-4 "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, (EL Shaddai) but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers." This is a special name between God and His people. In our Bible we see it in Capitals as LORD or Lord God. In contrast to Elohim who is the God over all the world and his character is revealed to the whole world as the mighty creator God who provides abundantly for its sustenance and maintenance, the name Jehovah reveals a personal God who shares and empathises with mankind. He is, one might say, the human side of God. |
Elohim, the great Creator, the universal God, revealed to all mankind through the wonders of nature, is predominant in Genesis 1, where we read the story of Creation from God’s point of view, but significantly in chapter 2 when man comes on the scene and Elohim (God) communicates with Man in terms of a relationship we see that the name Lord God is used. It is the Lord God who provides salvation in terms of giving Adam the means whereby he could still relate to Him. In Leviticus 23 where Moses is instructed regarding the day of atonement, only Jehovah is mentioned.
If you scan the pages concerning Noah, you will see the name Elohim (God) predominant, but on the one occasion when Noah is instructed to take certain animals into the ark by sevens then we see the 'Lord God' mentioned. Check out these two verses which often confuse the unbelieving or critical eye, where it says that Noah obeyed all the commandments of God (Genesis 7:9) and in another it says he obeyed the commandments of the Lord God (Jehovah) (Genesis 7:5). |
ADONAI
The Third name is that of Adonai, which is distinguished in our bibles as Lord, expressed in lower case. In Genesis 23 Abraham is addressed as Lord by 'fellow humans' but it is the singular Adon that is used (Adonai is the plural of Adon). Sometimes God is addressed as Lord God, denoting a relationship in which man recognises that God is his Master, and that he is a purchased slave. |