Have you ever prayed, calling God “Lord,” yet felt there was more to know about who He truly is?
Many Christians love God deeply but struggle to understand His nature, character, and how He personally relates to them. The Bible reveals that God does not just want to be known generally; He reveals Himself through His names.
In this faith-building guide on the Names of God and their meanings, you’ll discover how each name reveals a different side of God’s heart, power, and promises. Understanding these names will transform your Bible study, prayer life, and trust in God, especially in hard seasons.
There was a time in my life when I did not truly know God. I believed He existed, but I did not have a personal relationship with Him. Back then, hearing people pray and call God by different names sounded strange to me. It even felt funny at times. I could not understand why anyone would speak to God so personally or lovingly; it simply did not make sense to me.
Everything changed when I gave my life to God and began to desire a deeper relationship with Him. I longed to know Him, not just as a distant Creator, but as Someone real, present, and loving. I started studying the Bible with a genuine hunger, asking God to reveal Himself to me.
One day, while reading Scripture, I encountered a moment that changed me forever. Through His Word, I heard God speak to my heart, calling me His son. He reminded me that He had loved me long before I ever came to Him. He showed me that He formed me before I was born, knew me deeply, and destined me for greatness.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)
Those words felt alive. They were not just written on a page; they were real, personal, and deeply encouraging. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I knelt to pray and thank God, but as I began to speak, I realised something, I lacked names to call Him.
Calling Him simply “Father” suddenly felt incomplete. Not because it was wrong, but because a God who formed me, knew me, loved me, and cared for me so deeply deserved more than a single name. I wanted to honour Him fully.
That moment led me on a journey. I began searching the Scriptures, and with the help of the YouVersion Bible App, I studied the names people in the Bible used to call God. I wanted to understand their meanings, the moments they were revealed, and the reasons behind them.
What started as a simple study became a life-changing encounter. Each name revealed a new side of God, His power, His care, His faithfulness, His nearness, and His love. Through that search, God opened my heart to revelations and encounters I will never forget.
Learning the names of God did not just improve my Bible knowledge; it transformed my prayer life, deepened my worship, and strengthened my trust in Him. I no longer prayed to a God I barely knew. I began praying to Yahweh, El Roi, Jehovah Jireh, Abba Father, a God I now know personally.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE NAMES OF GOD?
The Bible teaches that the names of God reveal His character, actions, and relationship with The Bible teaches that God’s names reveal His character, His actions, and how He personally relates to people. In Scripture, names are not just labels; they carry meaning, authority, and revelation. When God reveals a name, He is revealing who He is in that moment and what He is doing in the lives of His people.
God often revealed His names during times of crisis, covenant, worship, or divine encounter. For example, He revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh when Abraham needed provision, and as El Roi when Hagar felt unseen and abandoned. This shows that God’s names are deeply personal and situational, meeting people exactly where they are.
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Knowing God’s name leads to trust, because it reveals His faithfulness. It builds faith, because His names remind us of what He has done before. And it gives confidence, because when we know who God is, fear loses its power.
The more you understand the names of God, the more your prayers become bold, your worship becomes deeper, and your relationship with God becomes more intimate. You stop praying to a distant God and begin relating to a known, faithful, and present Father.
In simple terms, to know God’s name is to know His heart, and when you know His heart, trusting Him becomes easier, even in difficult seasons.
PRIMARY HEBREW NAMES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
These Hebrew names of God reveal who God is by nature, His power, eternity, holiness, and faithfulness. Each name was revealed in Scripture during moments of divine encounter, helping us understand God’s character and how He relates to His people.
YHWH / Yahweh – “I AM WHO I AM”
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” Exodus 3:14 (NIV)
Meaning & Revelation:
Yahweh reveals God as eternal, unchanging, and self-existent. He depends on nothing and no one. When God says “I AM,” He is everything His people need, present in the past, present, and future. This name assures believers that God is faithful, constant, and always present.
God is not limited by time, failure, or circumstances. What He was, He still is.
Elohim – God the Creator
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (NLT)
Meaning & Revelation:
Elohim reveals God as the powerful Creator of all things. Everything begins with Him and exists by His command. When we call God Elohim, we are acknowledging His creative power, authority, and ability to bring order out of chaos.
If God created the universe, He can recreate broken areas of your life.
El – The Mighty One
“I will proclaim the name of the LORD; how glorious is our God!” Deuteronomy 32:3 (NIV)
Meaning & Revelation:
El reveals God as strong, powerful, and able. This name shows that God has the strength to protect, deliver, and sustain His people. When we call Him El, we acknowledge that our help comes from the Mighty One, whose power never fails.
God is strong where you are weak.
Adonai – Lord and Master
“LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:1 (NIV)
Meaning & Revelation:
Adonai reveals God as our sovereign Lord and rightful Master. This name reminds us that God is in authority over our lives and invites us to live in loving obedience. Calling Him Adonai is an act of surrender, trust, and reverence toward the One who leads and rules with wisdom and care.
Surrender brings peace when God is truly Lord.
El Shaddai – God Almighty
“I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully.” Genesis 17:1 (NIV)
Meaning & Revelation:
El Shaddai shows God as all-powerful and fully sufficient for every need. He can provide, protect, and accomplish what we cannot. Calling Him El Shaddai reminds us to trust in His strength and rely on His provision in every season.
God is more than enough, always.
El Elyon – God Most High
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High.” Genesis 14:19 (ESV)
God reigns above every authority.
El Elyon reveals God as supreme over all authority, power, and situations. Nothing is higher than Him, and nothing is beyond His control. Calling God El Elyon reminds us that our lives, battles, and victories are safely under the rule of the Most High God.
El Olam – The Everlasting God
“The LORD is the everlasting God.” Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)
El Olam reminds us that God is eternal, without beginning or end. He is unchanging, faithful, and always present. Calling on El Olam brings comfort and trust, knowing that the God who guides us today will be with us forever.
God has no expiration date.
El Roi – The God Who Sees Me
“You are the God who sees me.” Genesis 16:13 (NIV)
El Roi shows that God personally notices and cares for each of us. Even in loneliness, fear, or rejection, He sees our struggles, understands our hearts, and watches over us. This name reminds believers that we are never hidden from God’s love and attention.
God sees the unseen tears.
THE COMPOUND COVENANT NAMES: THE NAMES OF GOD (JEHOVAH NAMES)
These names of God, often starting with “Jehovah,” reveal His promises, actions, and personal care. Each name highlights how God provides, heals, leads, and protects His people in specific situations. Studying them helps believers understand His character and draws us into a closer relationship with Him.
Jehovah Jireh – The LORD Will Provide
“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide.” Genesis 22:14 (NIV)
In Genesis 22:1-14, God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah. As Abraham prepares to obey, God intervenes by providing a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute offering. Abraham then names the place “Jehovah Jireh” to commemorate God’s provision.
“Jehovah Jireh” translates from Hebrew as “The LORD Will Provide” (or “The LORD Sees/Will See to It”), emphasising God’s foresight and faithfulness in meeting needs, often in unexpected ways, pointing ultimately to His provision through Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice.
Provisions often appear at the last moment, but always on time.
Jehovah Rapha – The LORD Who Heals
“I am the LORD, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 (NIV)
Jehovah Rapha (or Yahweh-Rapha) translates from Hebrew as “The Lord Who Heals,” revealing God as the ultimate healer of physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments.
This name first appears in Exodus 15:26, where God promises the Israelites: “I am the LORD who heals you,” after making bitter waters sweet at Marah, symbolising His power to restore and protect from disease if they obey Him.
It points to Jesus as the fulfilment of this healing promise, offering wholeness beyond the physical, inviting believers to trust in God’s restorative grace amid brokenness. God heals bodies, hearts, and memories.
Jehovah Nissi – The LORD Is My Banner
“The LORD is my banner.” Exodus 17:15 (NIV)
Jehovah Nissi translates to “The LORD is my Banner” in Hebrew, signifying God as a rallying point, a symbol of victory, and a source of protection and presence in battles.
This name is revealed in Exodus 17:15, where Moses builds an altar after Israel’s victory over the Amalekites, declaring God’s triumph and ongoing protection against enemies, illustrating that when we lift the Lord (as Moses raised his hands), He fights for us and leads to spiritual and physical victory. God fights for His people.
Jehovah Shalom – The LORD Is Peace
“The LORD is Peace.” — Judges 6:24 (NIV)
Jehovah Shalom, translated as “The LORD Is Peace,” is a name of God revealed in the Bible, specifically in Judges 6:24. It combines “Jehovah” (the Lord) with “Shalom,” which means completeness, soundness, welfare, and absence from strife, not just the lack of conflict, but wholeness and harmony.
In the story of Gideon, God appears as Jehovah Shalom during a time of fear and oppression, assuring him of divine presence and turning terror into tranquillity (Judges 6:11-24). This reveals God as the ultimate source of true peace, offering reconciliation, inner wholeness, and rest amid chaos, foreshadowing the peace Christ brings (Philippians 4:7), reminding believers to seek Him for completeness beyond worldly circumstances.
Peace is found in God’s presence.
Jehovah Raah – The LORD My Shepherd
“The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
Jehovah Raah (also spelled Jehovah-Raah or Jehovah Rohi) translates from Hebrew as “The LORD My Shepherd,” where “Raah” means to pasture, tend, or shepherd, emphasizing God’s role as a personal guide, provider, and protector. This name highlights an intimate, covenant relationship, portraying God not just as a distant ruler but as a close companion who feeds, leads, and cares for His flock.
Biblically revealed in Psalm 23:1 (“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want”), it signifies God’s provision, restoration, and comfort, ensuring believers lack nothing under His watchful care, even through the valleys of shadow. God leads gently and faithfully.
Jehovah Tsidkenu – The LORD Our Righteousness
“This is the name by which He will be called.” Jeremiah 23:6 (NIV)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (or Yahweh Tsidkenu) combines God’s covenant name “Jehovah” (Yahweh, meaning “I AM”) with “Tsidkenu” (Hebrew for righteousness, implying justice, straightness, or moral purity). It translates to “The LORD Our Righteousness,” emphasizing God as the ultimate source of righteousness for His people.
This name appears in Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 33:16, amid prophecies of Israel’s restoration. God promises a “righteous Branch” from David’s line, a Messianic reference to Jesus, who will reign wisely and execute justice. In a time of corrupt kings, it reveals God’s plan to provide righteousness that humans can’t achieve on their own.
For believers, it points to Christ imputing His perfect righteousness to us through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21), offering hope and transformation beyond our flaws. Our righteousness comes from God, not effort.
Jehovah Shammah – The LORD Is There
“The name of the city will be The LORD Is There.” — Ezekiel 48:35 (NIV)
Jehovah Shammah, meaning “The LORD Is There,” is a name of God revealed in Ezekiel 48:35, describing the future city of Jerusalem in a prophetic vision. It signifies God’s constant, abiding presence among His people.
This name assures believers that God has not forsaken them, even in exile or trials, promising His faithful.
God never abandons His people.
THE NAMES OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Testament, God’s names and titles reveal His character and how He interacts with humanity through Jesus Christ. From Abba, Father, to Logos, the Word, these names show God’s intimacy, presence, and divine purpose in our lives, helping believers understand His love, guidance, and authority today.
Abba – Father
“You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15 (NIV)
“Abba” is an Aramaic term meaning “Father” or “Daddy,” used in the Bible (e.g., Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15) to express an intimate, affectionate relationship with God.
It reveals God’s approachable, loving nature, not distant or formal, but as a tender Father inviting childlike trust and closeness in prayer, transforming fear into a familial bond through the Holy Spirit.
God is not distant; He is Father.
Immanuel – God With Us
“They will call Him Immanuel.” Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
From Isaiah 7:14 (Old Testament prophecy): “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Fulfilled in Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1:23, New Testament).
Literally “God with us” in Hebrew. It reveals God’s intimate presence—He doesn’t remain distant but enters humanity through Christ to redeem, guide, and comfort us eternally (John 1:14; Revelation 21:3).
Amid trials (like Israel’s threats in Isaiah), God promises His nearness, embodying hope, salvation, and divine companionship for believers today.
God stepped into humanity through Jesus.
Logos – The Word
“The Word became flesh.” John 1:14 (NLT)
In Greek, “Logos” translates to “word,” “reason,” or “principle.” In the New Testament, particularly John 1:1-14, it refers to Jesus Christ as the eternal, divine Word of God, embodying God’s communication, creative power, and revelation to humanity.
Logos unveils Jesus as the ultimate bridge between God and creation: pre-existent, co-creator, and incarnate light that overcomes darkness, inviting believers into a transformative relationship through His life, death, and resurrection. This echoes God’s spoken word in Genesis (“Let there be light”) fulfilled in Christ, urging us to live by His truth daily.
God speaks through Jesus.
WHY THESE NAMES OF GOD MATTER
- They deepen prayer
- They strengthen faith
- They reveal God’s promises
- They bring comfort in suffering
- They build confidence in God
Each name tells a story of who God is and how He loves His people.
HOW THE NAMES OF GOD HELP BIBLE STUDY
Understanding the names of God changes Bible study from just reading words to encountering a living God. Each name reveals how God wants to be known and how He relates to His people. When you study Scripture through God’s names, the Bible becomes clearer, more personal, and spiritually alive.
The names of God help Bible study in three powerful ways: Character, Relationship, and Action.
1. God’s Character: Who God Is
Names: Yahweh, Elohim, El Shaddai
These names reveal God’s nature and identity. They answer the question: Who is God?
- Yahweh shows that God is eternal, self-existent, and unchanging. He is not affected by time, circumstances, or human failure.
- Elohim reveals God as Creator and Judge—powerful, wise, and sovereign over all creation.
- El Shaddai reveals God as Almighty and All-Sufficient—the One who is more than enough.
Why this matters for Bible study:
When you know God’s character, you read Scripture with confidence. You begin to trust His promises because you understand who is speaking. Bible study stops being confusing and becomes grounding, because you know God does not change His nature or His word.
“I the LORD do not change.” Malachi 3:6 (NIV)
2. God’s Relationship: How God Relates to Us
Names: Abba, Jehovah Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
These names reveal God’s heart toward His people. They answer the question: How does God see me?
- Abba shows intimacy. God is not a distant ruler—He is a loving Father who welcomes His children.
- Jehovah Raah reveals God as a Shepherd who leads, protects, and provides personal care.
Why this matters for Bible study:
When you understand God’s relational names, Scripture becomes deeply personal. You no longer read the Bible as a stranger; you read it as a child reading a letter from a loving Father. This helps you apply Scripture to your life with trust and openness.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
3. God’s Action: What God Does for Us
Names: Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha
These names reveal God’s works and promises. They answer the question: What does God do in my life?
- Jehovah Jireh reveals God as Provider, He sees needs before they arise.
- Jehovah Rapha reveals God as Healer, not only of the body, but also of the heart, mind, and soul.
Why this matters for Bible study:
Studying God’s action-based names helps you see Scripture as active and relevant, not just historical. You begin to read the Bible expecting God to move, heal, provide, and intervene—just as He did before.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
WHY THE NAMES OF GOD TRANSFORMS YOUR BIBLE STUDY
When you study the Bible through the names of God:
- You understand God’s nature (Character)
- You experience God’s closeness (Relationship)
- You trust God’s promises (Action)
Instead of asking, “What does this verse mean?” you begin asking,
“What is God revealing about Himself here?”
Studying God’s names opens your heart to deeper revelation, stronger faith, and a more intimate walk with Him.
FAQs About The Names of God
God’s names reflect different aspects of His character and how He reveals Himself to people in different situations.
Yes. Jehovah is an English rendering of the Hebrew name YHWH.
Absolutely. God’s character does not change.
Yes. Using God’s names deepens prayer and faith.
Choose the name that reflects your current need: Provider, Healer, Peace, or Shepherd.
Final Thoughts on The Names of God
Knowing the names of God changes everything.
You stop seeing God as distant and begin experiencing Him as present, powerful, and personal. Each name is an invitation to deeper trust, faith, and intimacy.
You may also love reading “How to Study the Bible Step-by-Step for Beginners” on Mercy to Faith for deeper spiritual growth.
And if you are looking for daily Scripture and real-life faith stories from people who have walked through pain, illness, and recovery, the YouVersion Bible App is a helpful free resource with devotionals and testimonies.
Leave a comment: Which name of God speaks to you most today?
