Our Creator is referred to most times as just "God". Some refer to Him as Jesus. But that’s where it ends. The Lord is so much more than that. He is so complex that there is not one name that can adequately describe Him.
He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient, (knows all things), and omnipresent, (everywhere at all times). Everything we need, whether it be spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical is found in Him.
He is all we will ever need or desire….He is immortal, invisible, invincible, immutable, infallible, incomprehensible, and there is none like Him!
It is a wonderful experience to know God personally…..to know His many attributes and characteristics. There is so much more that encompasses the Name of God.
An example, (that doesn’t even touch the word "God") is the word "love". In the English language it can mean so many different things, namely, love of spouse, love of a child, love of a sibling, love of a parent, love of an animal, love of inanimate objects like cars, scenery, the sea etc.
Sadly, we only have one word that describes all of these different aspects of love. Not so with God. He has supplied us many descriptions of just who He is in His Word.
This study, although not exhaustive, will reward and bless all who delve into the names of God. It will mold both your faith and character and will open the eyes of your understanding ever so slightly, as to who God really is.
SINGULAR NAMES OF GOD
1. El - We will begin with the name "El". In the Old Testament, God was mostly known for His power and might more so than as a personal God. Therefore, when you see "El" before it is linked to other names, it denotes great power.
El – "The Strong One" – Great power, (Numbers 23:22); Mighty, Strong, Prominent. El brings forth the character of strength; the first cause of all things, i.e., "God most high, the possessor of heaven and earth." (Gen. 14:22).
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Names combined with "El". The title is often connected to such Divine attributes as:
El Shaddai – God Almighty; the many breasted one; more than enough; the All Sufficient God (Gen. 17:1, ((35:11,…I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply..")); Isa. 9:6,7). The name El Shaddai emphasizes God’s abundant provision for all our needs.
El Olam – "Everlasting God" (Gen. 21:33) Eternal God; no beginning; no end. Deut. 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…"
El Chay (khah’ee) – "The Living God" (Joshua 3:10; Deut. 5:26; Rev. 1:18, "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.")
El ‘aman – "Faithful God" (Deut. 7:9, "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God…"; 1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:13)
El Roi – "The God who Sees". (Gen 16:13) When Hagar was pregnant with Ishmael, she ran away from her mistress Sarai who was treating her badly. She heard the Lord, and He told her to return to her mistress as He knew exactly what was going on, and she responded, "You Are the God Who Sees".
This name of God reveals that He is the living, omnipresent God whose eyes are always on us, even when it seems He has forgotten us.
El Gibbor – (givvor) "The Mighty God" – God is the Warrior – Isa. 9:6, "And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God…". Isaiah 10:21,"The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the Mighty God."
El Elyon – "The Most High God", the High God, God is the High One. (Gen. 14:18, 19, 20, 22; Ps. 7:17; 78:35).
El Elyon, or God Most High, is the name of God which emphasizes His sovereignty over the total course of human events. When we recognize God as El Elyon, we acknowledge that He is absolutely sovereign.
If we are His children, we also know that sovereignty is tempered by His infinite wisdom and perfect love. He is working all things together for our good (Rom 8:28).
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h) El Kanna – "The Jealous God" (Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 4:24, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God"; John 2:13-17) Webster’s Dictionary’s explanation for "jealous": zelus; zeal – Intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; vigilant in guarding a possession.
In Ex. 20:5, used of the Lord’s sensitive regard for the true faith of His people. Essentially, the Lord is saying, "I am Jehovah thy God, a jealous God, who will not transfer to another the honor that is due to Himself nor tolerate the worship of any other god.
The One who directs the warmth of His anger against those who hate Him with the same energy with which the warmth of His love embraces those who love Him." (paraphrase of Isa. 42:8, 48:11)
That love, in the form of grace, reaches much farther than wrath. When speaking of the jealousy of God, this language is designed to illustrate rather than represent the emotions of the Lord’s divine mind.
El Salach – "The God Who Forgives" – Psalm 103:2, 3, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities……" Forgiveness is God’s prerogative, and that is why the hierarchy in Jerusalem were shocked when Jesus said, "your sins are forgiven." (Isa. 55:7, "And He will have mercy on him ….for He will abundantly pardon" ; Jer. 33:8, "I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me….". )
El Hannun – "The Merciful God" – Deut. 4:31, "(for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you…."; John 8:10, 11, "Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours?....She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
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2.Eloah – "The Mighty One" – Another singular title occurring some 50 times. The word derives from AHLAH, meaning to worship, to adore. This presents God as the One supreme object of worship. (Not to be confused with Allah the god of Islam.)
The term is found most frequently in the Book of Job, viz., Job 3:4, 23; 37:15, 22; 39:17; 40:2.
3. Elohim – "The Almighty" – Creative; governing power; omnipotence; sovereignty. Usually "him" or "im" at the end of a word signifies more than one.
Elohim is a plural form of Eloah occurring about 2,500 times. It is first used in Gen. 1:1, "…God created the heavens and the earth." The same form is used with the pronoun, "us," (plural)
In Gen. 1:26, "Let us make man in our image," giving an early indication of the mystery of the "Tri-unity" of the Godhead.
-To be continued in lesson two.
1. How many singular names of God are referred to in the text?
a. One b. Two c. Three d. Four
2. The singular name “El” denotes……
a. Great power b. Character c. All Sufficient God d. Everlasting God
3. How many names are linked to “El”?
a. Seven b. Eight c. Nine d. Ten
4. Which name means, “no beginning & no end”?
a. El Roi b. El Kanna c. El Olam d. El Gibbor
5. Under which name does it say, “this language is designed to illustrate, rather than represent, the emotions of the Lord’s divine mind”.
a. El Salach b. El Kanna c. El ‘aman d. El Gibbor
6. Which characteristic of God uses Romans 8:28 as an example?
a. El Kanna b. El Givvor c. El Elyon d. El Roi
7. The “God Who Sees” is…..
a. El Roi b. El Elyon c. El Salach d. El Chay
8. Revelation 1:18 says, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen”. Which name uses this Scripture as part of a description of God’s character?
a. El Roi b. El Elyon c. El Salach d. El Chay
9. What name is used for “The Merciful God”?
a. Eloah b. El Chay c. El Kanna d. El Hannun
10. Which name is described as “creative, governing power, omnipotent?
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