Guide
The Names of God in the Bible
A complete guide to the primary Hebrew names of God — their pronunciations, literal meanings, biblical context, and the promises each name unlocks for believers today.
In ancient Hebrew culture, a name was not merely a label — it revealed character. When God discloses His name in Scripture, He is revealing who He is, what He does, and how His people can trust Him. From Elohim in Genesis 1:1 to Jehovah Shammah at the close of Ezekiel, the names of God trace a portrait of His nature across the whole Old Testament.
This guide covers sixteen essential names — the foundational names (Elohim, Yahweh, Adonai), the compound El names (Shaddai, Elyon, Olam, Roi), the seven classical Jehovah compounds (Jireh, Rapha, Nissi, Shalom, Raah, Tsidkenu, Shammah), and two additional covenant names (Mekaddishkem, Sabaoth).
Elohim
Elohim is the first name for God introduced in Scripture, appearing in Genesis 1:1 as the Creator who spoke the universe into being.
Grammatically plural yet paired with singular verbs, Elohim points to God's fullness of power and majesty. The plural form is often called a 'plural of majesty' and, for Christian readers, foreshadows the triune nature of God revealed in the New Testament. Elohim emphasizes God's transcendence — sovereign, all-powerful, and utterly distinct from creation.
“In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1
“A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God (Elohim) in his holy habitation.”
— Psalm 68:5
Yahweh (YHWH / Jehovah)
Yahweh is God's personal, covenant name — revealed to Moses at the burning bush and used over 6,800 times in the Old Testament.
Derived from the Hebrew verb 'to be,' Yahweh declares God's eternal self-existence: He depends on no one, is bound by nothing, and always will be. Out of reverence, ancient Jewish scribes replaced the spoken name with 'Adonai' (Lord), which is why most English Bibles render YHWH as 'LORD' in small capitals. This is the covenant name — the God who remembers His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
“God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.'”
— Exodus 3:14
“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD (Yahweh) I did not make myself known to them.”
— Exodus 6:3
Adonai
Adonai emphasizes God's lordship and ownership over all things — every believer is His servant, and He is our Master.
Adonai is a plural of majesty meaning 'my Lords' and is used exclusively of God. It carries the weight of both authority and intimacy: a master who owns, protects, and provides for those under His care. When the covenant name Yahweh is read aloud in synagogue, 'Adonai' is spoken in its place.
“O LORD, our Lord (Adonai), how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
— Psalm 8:1
“I saw the Lord (Adonai) sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.”
— Isaiah 6:1
El Shaddai
El Shaddai is the name by which God revealed Himself to Abraham, promising to be his shield and exceedingly great reward.
The exact root of 'Shaddai' is debated — some connect it to a word for 'mountain' (the immovable One), others to a word suggesting nourishment and sufficiency. Together, El Shaddai portrays a God who is both unshakably powerful and lavishly generous — the One who supplies every need of His covenant people.
“I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before me, and be blameless.”
— Genesis 17:1
“I am God Almighty (El Shaddai): be fruitful and multiply.”
— Genesis 35:11
El Elyon
El Elyon exalts God as supreme over every earthly power, ruler, and rival deity — the highest of the high.
First spoken by Melchizedek, king of Salem, when blessing Abraham after a battlefield victory, El Elyon declares that no power outranks God. He rules over nations, kings, and history itself — nothing lies beyond His sovereignty.
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High (El Elyon), possessor of heaven and earth.”
— Genesis 14:19
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High (Elyon) will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
— Psalm 91:1
El Olam
El Olam anchors faith in the God who existed before time and remains faithful across every generation.
'Olam' means enduring, ancient, or eternal. Abraham invokes this name after making a covenant at Beersheba — a well he would never see run dry across generations. El Olam is the God whose plans span forever, whose promises never expire.
“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God (El Olam).”
— Genesis 21:33
“The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary.”
— Isaiah 40:28
El Roi
El Roi is the tender name spoken by Hagar, a rejected servant, when she discovered God had seen her in the wilderness.
Hagar is the only person in Scripture to give God a name. Fleeing abuse, alone and pregnant, she encountered the Angel of the LORD by a spring in the desert. Her testimony — 'You are a God of seeing' — comforts everyone who feels overlooked: God sees, God knows, God cares.
“She called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, 'You are a God of seeing' (El Roi).”
— Genesis 16:13
Jehovah Jireh (Yahweh Yireh)
On Mount Moriah, when a ram appeared in place of Isaac, Abraham named that place 'The LORD Will Provide.'
The Hebrew literally means 'The LORD Will See' — and in seeing, He provides. The name reminds believers that God sees the need before it arises and prepares the answer in advance. Christians see a foreshadowing of Calvary: on the same mountain range, centuries later, God provided the Lamb the world needed.
“Abraham called the name of that place, 'The LORD will provide' (Jehovah Jireh).”
— Genesis 22:14
“My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:19
Jehovah Rapha (Yahweh Rophe)
Jehovah Rapha is the name God revealed at the bitter waters of Marah, promising to be Israel's Healer.
The Hebrew verb 'rapha' means to mend, cure, or restore — used of physical healing, emotional restoration, and spiritual forgiveness alike. God heals bodies (Exodus 15), broken hearts (Psalm 147:3), backsliding nations (Hosea 14:4), and ultimately heals the soul through Christ, 'by whose wounds we are healed' (1 Peter 2:24).
“I am the LORD, your healer (Jehovah Rapha).”
— Exodus 15:26
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
— Psalm 147:3
Jehovah Nissi
After Israel defeated Amalek with Moses' hands raised toward heaven, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi.
A 'nes' (banner) in ancient warfare was the standard around which soldiers rallied — the sign of the king who led them into battle. Jehovah Nissi declares that God Himself is our rallying point, our victory, and our identity in every conflict.
“Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD is my banner (Jehovah Nissi).”
— Exodus 17:15
Jehovah Shalom
Gideon built an altar named 'The LORD Is Peace' after God assured him he would not die from encountering the Angel of the LORD.
'Shalom' is far richer than the absence of conflict — it means wholeness, completeness, and flourishing. Jehovah Shalom is the source of that all-sided peace. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills this name: 'He himself is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14).
“Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD is peace (Jehovah Shalom).”
— Judges 6:24
Jehovah Raah (Rohi)
David's most famous psalm opens with this name — the God who tenderly leads, feeds, and protects His flock.
A shepherd in ancient Israel lived with the flock day and night: guiding, defending, searching for the lost, and carrying the weak. Jesus took this name onto Himself in John 10:11, 'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'
“The LORD is my shepherd (Jehovah Raah); I shall not want.”
— Psalm 23:1
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
— John 10:11
Jehovah Tsidkenu
Jeremiah prophesied a coming King who would be called 'The LORD Our Righteousness' — a name fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Israel could never manufacture the righteousness God required. Jeremiah promised a Branch from David's line whose very name would be the answer: God Himself becoming our righteousness. Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 5:21 — Christ was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
“This is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness' (Jehovah Tsidkenu).”
— Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah Shammah
The final verse of Ezekiel names the restored city 'Jehovah Shammah' — the LORD is there — promising God's abiding presence forever.
After chapters describing exile and judgment, Ezekiel closes with an unshakable promise: God will dwell with His people. This name reaches its fullness in Revelation 21:3, where the tabernacle of God is with humanity and He dwells with them forever.
“The name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD is there (Jehovah Shammah).”
— Ezekiel 48:35
Jehovah Mekaddishkem
God alone sets His people apart. Sanctification is His work, not merely human effort.
In Leviticus and Exodus, God repeatedly reminds Israel that He is the One who makes them holy. This name shifts the weight of sanctification from human striving to divine grace — a truth Paul develops in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 'May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.'
“Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you (Jehovah Mekaddishkem).”
— Leviticus 20:8
Jehovah Sabaoth
Jehovah Sabaoth pictures God as commander of the heavenly armies — every angel, every star, every power under His command.
This name appears over 280 times, especially in the prophets, when God's people needed to remember that no earthly army outranks Him. David used it before Goliath: 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts.'
“I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth), the God of the armies of Israel.”
— 1 Samuel 17:45
“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
— Psalm 46:7
Frequently asked
- What is the most important name of God in the Bible?
- Yahweh (YHWH) is God's personal covenant name, revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 as 'I AM WHO I AM.' It appears over 6,800 times in the Old Testament — more than any other name — and expresses God's eternal, self-existent nature.
- What does Jehovah Rapha mean?
- Jehovah Rapha means 'The LORD Who Heals.' God revealed this name at the bitter waters of Marah in Exodus 15:26. The Hebrew 'rapha' encompasses physical healing, emotional restoration, and spiritual forgiveness.
- Are Yahweh and Jehovah the same name?
- Yes. 'Jehovah' is a Latinized rendering of the Hebrew four-letter name YHWH (the Tetragrammaton), formed by combining the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai. Most scholars believe 'Yahweh' is closer to the original pronunciation.
- Why is God called Elohim if the word is plural?
- Elohim is a plural of majesty — a Hebrew grammatical form used to express fullness, greatness, or intensity, similar to a royal 'we.' Paired with singular verbs, it emphasizes God's supreme majesty. Christian theology also sees it as an early hint at the triune nature of God.
- How many names of God are in the Bible?
- The Bible uses dozens of names and titles for God. This guide covers the sixteen most significant Hebrew names — including Elohim, Yahweh, Adonai, El Shaddai, and the seven compound Jehovah names (Jireh, Rapha, Nissi, Shalom, Raah, Tsidkenu, Shammah).
- What are the seven compound names of Jehovah?
- The seven most common compound names are Jehovah Jireh (Provider), Jehovah Rapha (Healer), Jehovah Nissi (Banner), Jehovah Shalom (Peace), Jehovah Raah (Shepherd), Jehovah Tsidkenu (Our Righteousness), and Jehovah Shammah (Is There). Some studies add Jehovah Sabaoth (Hosts) and Jehovah Mekaddishkem (Sanctifier).
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