The names of God in the Bible

Names of God and what they mean

• Elohim

  The ordinary Hebrew word for God, used in the very first verse of the Bible. When it refers to the true God the KJV translates it God (elsewhere it can be gods, or even judges); the word Elohim itself is never printed.

  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

  Genesis 1:1

• Yahweh (YHWH), or Jehovah

  God's personal name, revealed to Moses. The KJV prints it as LORD in capitals, and spells it out as JEHOVAH four times: here, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 and Isaiah 26:4. The form Jehovah came from combining the four Hebrew letters with the vowels of Adonai; many scholars think it was pronounced Yahweh.

  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

  Exodus 6:3

• Adonai

  Hebrew for Lord or my Lord, a title of honour from adon, master. The KJV prints it Lord in ordinary type. In Psalm 8:1 the second word, our Lord, is from the same root, set beside LORD for the personal name. Jewish readers have long said Adonai aloud in place of the personal name, out of reverence.

  O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

  Psalm 8:1

• El Shaddai

  Usually translated Almighty God or God Almighty. The words El Shaddai are not printed in the KJV; Genesis 17:1 reads "I am the Almighty God" and Genesis 35:11 "I am God Almighty".

  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

  Genesis 17:1

• El Elyon

  The most high God. Melchizedek, king of Salem, is called "the priest of the most high God" and blesses Abram in this name.

  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

  Genesis 14:18-20

• El Roi

  The God who sees. Hagar, alone in the wilderness, gave the LORD this name after the angel found her. The KJV renders it "Thou God seest me".

  And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

  Genesis 16:13

• Jehovah Jireh

  The LORD will provide, or the LORD will see to it. This one is printed in the KJV, as one word, Jehovahjireh. Abraham named the place after God provided a ram in place of Isaac, having told his son "God will provide himself a lamb" (Genesis 22:8).

  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

  Genesis 22:14

• Jehovah Rapha

  The LORD that heals. The phrase Jehovah Rapha is not printed in the KJV. It comes from the Hebrew behind "I am the LORD that healeth thee", spoken after God made the bitter waters of Marah sweet.

  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

  Exodus 15:26

• Jehovah Nissi

  The LORD is my banner. Printed in the KJV as one word, Jehovahnissi, the name Moses gave an altar after Israel defeated Amalek.

  And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

  Exodus 17:15

• Jehovah Shalom

  The LORD is peace. Printed as Jehovahshalom, the name Gideon gave his altar after the LORD told him "Peace be unto thee; fear not" (Judges 6:23).

  Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

  Judges 6:24

• Jehovah Raah

  The LORD my shepherd. Not printed as a name in the KJV; it comes from the Hebrew of the first line of Psalm 23.

  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

  Psalm 23:1

• Jehovah Tsidkenu

  The LORD our righteousness. The KJV prints the meaning in capitals: "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS", a name Jeremiah gives to a coming righteous Branch of David.

  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

  Jeremiah 23:6

• Jehovah Shammah

  The LORD is there. The last words of Ezekiel give this as the name of the city: "The LORD is there".

  It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

  Ezekiel 48:35

• Immanuel

  God with us. Isaiah gives the name as Immanuel, and Matthew 1:23 quotes it as Emmanuel, "which being interpreted is, God with us", of the birth of Jesus.

  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  Isaiah 7:14

• I AM

  When Moses asked God's name at the burning bush, God answered "I AM THAT I AM". Jesus later said "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58).

  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.

  Exodus 3:14

LORD, Lord and GOD in the King James Version

LORD in capitals stands for YHWH, God's personal name. Lord in ordinary type usually stands for Adonai or a related word meaning master. God usually stands for Elohim or El.

These conventions come from the translators, not from the Hebrew, and some digital editions lose the capitals. A printed KJV shows them clearly.

Why do the Jehovah names look different in the KJV?

Only three of the Jehovah compound names are actually printed in the KJV, and each is written as one word because each names a place or an altar: Jehovahjireh (Genesis 22:14), Jehovahnissi (Exodus 17:15) and Jehovahshalom (Judges 6:24).

Names like Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Raah, Jehovah Tsidkenu and Jehovah Shammah are built by later readers from the Hebrew of a verse. They are fair summaries of what those verses say about God, but you will not find them spelled that way in an English Bible.

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.

Exodus 3:14 · KJV