This study paper is comprised of four parts:
- Introduction (found below);
- The Name Elohim/God;
- LORD: The English As Translated From The Hebrew; and
- Identifying Jesus Christ
Identifying the One True God and His Son — Jesus The Christ
Who They Are, Their Relationship and Their Covenant Work Of Redemption and Salvation
John 17:3 is a part of Jesus’ final prayer offered shortly before He was taken by His enemies. His words are thus recorded – “This is eternal life, they may know you, the One true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
The writer’s purpose is to assist the reader in coming to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the LORD God and Jesus Christ. The vehicle for this undertaking will be an examination of God’s Hebrew names. This fascinating study will give clarity to the personage of God and Jesus that will make them known and familiar as one’s most intimate friend. This is the goal. It may fall short and will not be perfect. The reader will have to judge the degree of success.
Names Are Important
A name in the Old Testament is often an indication of a person’s character or some aspect of quality. What one name could be adequate to represent God’s greatness? As one man stated, “A name imposes some limitations. It means that an object or person is this or not that, is here and not there.” If the heavens cannot contain God, how can a name describe Him? What a request of Moses, that the infinite God should reveal Himself to finite man by any one name.
As it is, the Old Testament contains a number of names and compound names for God which reveal Him in some aspect of His character and dealings with mankind.
The word God or LORD as seen in our English Bibles conveys little more to us than the designation of the Supreme Being and Sovereign of the Universe. It tells us little about his character and ways. We will know little of what the words God and LORD mean until we go to the language from which these words are translated. The language in which He spoke to Moses and the prophets.
Prologue – God’s Two Primary Names
Isaiah 57:15 tells us the Great God inhabits eternity and that His name is holy. He is from everlasting to everlasting – He is the Eternal God. The two key personal names of God in the Hebrew scriptures are Elohim (also spelled Elohym) and Jehovah or Yahweh. In a broad definition, Elohim calls attention to the fullness of divine power. Jehovah means “He who is” and declares divine self-existence. These two names express different aspects of His being, His personage and the different relationships He sustains with His principle creation, mankind.
In the King James Version, also known a the Authorized Version, and more recent translations such as the NKJV, ESV (English Standard Version), NLT (New Living Translation) and others, God and LORD are the most common identifying names when referring to an all powerful and eternal spirit being. These titles tell us very little about his character, attributes and quality of being. To gain knowledge, understanding and appreciation for the name LORD and God as commonly used, we need reference and study their Hebrew origin and the context in which used.
The English word god is an old Anglo-Saxon word for good. It is believed the name God referred to divine goodness, as also used in this sense today.
Whenever we find God with a capital “G” and lower case “od”, as in Genesis chapters one and two and in numerous other passages, the original Hebrew is Elohim. In this word we find the idea conveyed of “The Mighty One” – None Like Him. Additionally, this name carries the image of author, originator or beginning power. These descriptive words expand into several important areas involving His most important act of creation – mankind. El is God the Omnipotent and all powerful. Elohim is God the Creator putting His unlimited power into operation. El knows all things, sees all and performs all things for those who recognize Him for what He is.
Our English word LORD is translated from the Hebrew word YHVH, also commonly written as Jehovah or Yahweh. Whenever the name “LORD” appears, it will be “LORD” – printed as shown in uppercase capitals. Also, when the word/name Lord (lowercase) occurs it is most often translated from the Hebrew Lord (lowercase) or God (lower case) – meaning master. This variation appears about 300 times. LORD, Jehovah or Yahweh and also Eternal are the variations of the proper name which identifies the LORD as the one true God, as used throughout scripture.
Understanding the proper identifying names for God and their comprehensive meanings is extremely important. The name LORD brings forth the riches of revelation and understanding and clarity to the character and attributes that constitute the one true creator and sustainer LORD God. To study and truly come to understand what this name means is staggering. The name LORD is the key to genuinely understanding God and building a confident trusting and enduring relationship.
The name God as translated from the Hebrew Elohim will be developed to its fullest sense of meaning. Assumptions, false notions and half truths will evaporate when the true meaning of the name “God” is exposed. For the name LORD as it appears in scripture, I will often also use Jehovah or Yahweh for variation. Also, the name Eternal is used for LORD. Many times Jehovah references the importance of His name and its meaning. Often, especially in the writings of the prophets, He says “They will know the LORD” or “I am the LORD.” To truly know the LORD God, one must have a penetrating depth of understanding and appreciation that buries all doubts, confusion and misleading opinions and ideas. All truth is in these names.