INTRODUCTION
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
God has many scriptural names, each of which represents a character of his being. His names reflect his nature, have reference to qualities, indicate the relation of certain actions to him, and convey to us some notion of his perfection.
Each passage of Scripture in this article, as well as every name and title of God, comes from the KJV.
In this article the capitalization of God’s names and titles follows the KJV. For example, eternal God instead of Eternal God. Likewise, God most high instead of God Most High. Likewise, JEHOVAH instead of Jehovah. The exception is if there is a quote from another writer who capitalizes a name differently.
NAMES OF GOD WITH COMMENTS
For an in-depth look at God’s names, get Evangelist Cory Trout’s book A Book of God’s Names, containing over 70 names & titles, with comments on each. Available here: Purchase on Amazon.
For a look at the name Holy Ghost through history, get Cory’s book Holy Ghost: The Forgotten Name. Available here: Purchase on Amazon.
God
Used throughout Genesis chapter one, the name God is first associated with the creation of the universe. For this reason the reader immediately understands that God is the creator and maker of all things.
God cannot be limited or measured. He is more ancient than all time, and later than all or any end. He is without beginning of life, and without end of life. As he never began at any time to live, so shall he not cease at any time to live. Because he had no beginning of duration, he can never have an end; and because of this, his life cannot have in it any interruptions.
Father
In the Scriptures, Jesus tells us of the Father’s holiness, magnificence, and unrivaled supremacy. The apostles likewise speak of his power, grandeur, and elevated status. As seen in the Scriptures, fellowship with the Father is something every child of God should pursue, and to know him is to experience spiritual bliss.
Jesus
The name Jesus means “Saviour” (compare, Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11).
Jesus is the second person of the Godhead, he is the Saviour, and he has always existed. Before the heavens were created, he was with the LORD. Before the mountains of the earth were settled, he was brought forth. Before the worlds were framed in deep space, he enjoyed the glory of the Father. (References: Proverbs 8:22–36; John 17.)
Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Godhead, and he is as worthy of worship as the LORD. What’s more, the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit are the same person.
As seen in the Scriptures, the Holy Ghost was active not only among the apostles but also in the lives of the ancient prophets (see: Mark 12:35,36; Acts 1:16; 7:51; 28:25; 2 Peter 1:21).
The name Holy Ghost occurs 90 times in the KJV. The name Holy Ghost occurs zero times in the NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV, RSV, NRSVUE, AMP, AMPC, NASB1995, NASB20, NET, WEB, DLNT, CSB, CEB, CEV, NOG, ERV, ESVUK, EHV, EXB, GW, EASY, GNB (GNT/TEV), HCSB, LSB, NIRV, NTE, ICB, ISV, VOICE, RSVCE, LEB, MSG, MEV, NTFE, and others. These bibles have Holy Spirit instead of Holy Ghost.
All pre-1700s English translations of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles have the name Holy Ghost. Even the 12th-century Wessex Gospels translation says “halgen gaste” i.e., Holy Ghost. Similarly, the 14th-century Wycliffe Bible says “Hooli Goost” i.e., Holy Ghost. Omission of the name Holy Ghost from English translations began in the mid-1700s and is prevalent from the 1800s onward.
Messiah / Messias / Christ
The word Messiah occurs in Daniel chapter nine. The word Messias appears in John 1:41; 4:25. The word Christ is written throughout Matthew to Revelation. Though spellings differ, all three words mean the same thing: Anointed.
The reason these words mean the same thing but have different spellings has to do with their etymology. The word Messiah is of Hebrew origin, from Mä-shēy-ăḥ. The word Messias is the Greek form of the aforementioned Hebrew word (this being its etymology). The word Christ is the Greek word for “anointed”.
Son of God / Son of man
The name Son of God denotes Jesus’ deity, while Son of man denotes Jesus’ earthly birth as Messiah.
The name Son of God appears over 40 times in the Scriptures, and Son of man over 75 times.
JEHOVAH
Psalm 83:18 “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”
The name JEHOVAH signifies and indicates God’s essence. Like the names JAH, I AM, and I AM THAT I AM, the name JEHOVAH does not include in its meaning any action or work. The name implies existence, which is the opposite of activity, exertion, force, movement.
The name JEHOVAH is applied exclusively to God, and is the distinct and exclusive designation of the divine being. It is the name of God, wherewith no creature is named, and it is as much to say as, One that is of himself and depends on nothing. The holy name may loosely, and with some caution, be understood as meaning He who is self-existing. Addressing God by the name JEHOVAH is like saying Thou that art or He that is.
Scriptural commentator and linguist Rabbi Moses Maimonides (AD 1135–1204) said that the name JEHOVAH likely conveys the meaning of “absolute existence”; and absolute existence, he says, includes the idea of eternity. Maimonides also said of the name, “it does not denote any attribute of God, nor does it imply anything except his existence”.
Maimonides also said of the name JEHOVAH, “In short, the majesty of the name and the great dread of uttering it are connected with the fact that it denotes God himself, without including in its meaning any names of the things created by him”.
16th-century preacher Henry Smith said this: “… neither would any, I say, add drunkenness to thirst, or heap sin upon sin, or suffer any evil thought to take place in him, if they consider that the just Jehovah beheld them in all their very thoughts.”
JAH
Found in Psalm 68:4, the name JAH is a contraction of JEHOVAH. Remove the letters E, O, V, and the first H from JEHOVAH and JAH is formed.
The name JAH implies eternal existence, while both JAH and JEHOVAH signify God’s essence and majesty incomprehensible. The names JAH and JEHOVAH also signify God’s perfect and absolute being of and by himself.
I AM THAT I AM
The name I AM THAT I AM occurs only in Exodus 3:14.
Scriptural commentator Rabbi Moses Maimonides (AD 1135–1204) wrote that the principle point in the phrase I AM THAT I AM is that the same word which denotes existence (“I AM”) is repeated as an attribute.
The name I AM THAT I AM expresses the idea that God exists: he is The existing being which is the existing being, that is to say, whose existence is absolute. The name demonstrates that there is a being of absolute existence that has never been and never will be without existence.
I AM THAT I AM signifies an eternality and a nature that cannot change. I AM THAT I AM, which is to say, I (ever) shall be (the same) that I am (today).
I AM
Exodus 3:14 “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.” Two similar yet separate names appear in this Scripture: I AM THAT I AM and I AM.
The name I AM distinguishes God from all creatures. What is the proof? The name is in the present tense, showing that his essence knows no past, nor future. If it were I WAS, it would suggest he were not now what he once was. If it were I WILL BE, it would suggest he were not yet what he will be.
The name I AM signifies God’s eternity, as well as his perfection and immutability. The eternity of God is opposed to the volubility of time, which is extended into past, present, and to come. If there were any beginning and end of God, any succession in him, he could not be I AM.
LORD of hosts
LORD of hosts = “LORD of armies”.
God is called the LORD of hosts as being the creator and conductor of the heavenly militia. The host consists of the angels of God. (See: Genesis 32:1,2; Exodus 15:3; Job 25:3; Matthew 26:53.)
Abba
The noun Abba signifies Father. In the Scriptures the word Abba always has the interpretation “Father” subjoined to it (see: Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).
Abba is a sacred proper name. It is also an invocation to God, expressive of a close personal or filial relation of the speaker to the first person in the Godhead, i.e., the Father.
Jealous
Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Not only is the LORD a jealous God, but Jealous is his name.
The name Jealous is the jealous aspect of God concentrated into a single part or attribute.
The meaning of the word jealous reveals much about the attributes or nature of this particular part of the LORD, as shown below.
The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (1971) defines jealous as, “1. Vehement in feeling, as in wrath, desire, or devotion: … 3. Zealous or solicitous for the preservation or well-being of something possessed or esteemed; vigilant or careful in guarding; suspiciously careful or watchful. … 4. Troubled by the belief, suspicion, or fear that the good which one desires to gain or keep for oneself has been or may be diverted to another; resentful towards another on account of known or suspected rivalry: …”
Majesty
Belonging to the Father, the title Majesty occurs twice in God’s Book. Hebrews 1:3 “… when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 8:1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”
The word majesty is used as an honorific title in speaking to or of a king. When addressing a king, May it please your majesty; Most royal majesty; Your majesty.
Saviour
In the books of the prophets, the name Saviour is connected with the names LORD, the LORD thy God, Holy One of Israel, God of Israel, mighty One of Jacob, and Redeemer. From the book of Luke to the epistle of Jude, the name Saviour is connected with the names God, Christ the Lord, Christ, Jesus, Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, living God, Lord, and Son.
Godhead
The word Godhead occurs three times in the Scriptures: Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9.
The word Godhead can mean deity; divinity; divine nature or essence. But more than that, the Godhead is the union or unity of the three persons of the one God: Father, Son, Holy Ghost. How three remaining three, may yet be one; and one, abiding one be three, and all this at once, is quite marvelous.
Linguist John Bois (who served as a member of the 1611 KJV Committee of Revisers) wrote this: “Cap. 6. 4. by the glory of the Father] i.e. through the kinship of the Godhead.” John Bois first cites Romans 6:4 and then explains its meaning as he had understood it, which is that Christ was raised up from the dead through the kinship of the Godhead.
most High
The name most High occurs in several Scriptures including Psalm 9:2, which reads, “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High”.
This word high means lofty, supreme.
Interestingly, it is the most High specifically whom Lucifer wanted to be like (see, Isaiah 14:12–14).
Potentate
Written in 1 Timothy 6:15, the name Potentate is associated with the names Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
The word potentate is defined as “a person who possesses great power or sway; a prince; a sovereign; an emperor, king or monarch”; “a great ruler”; “one powerful, or mighty”.
King of the Jews
The title King of the Jews occurs over 12 times in God’s Book. Jesus alone carries the title King of the Jews, while both Jesus and the LORD adorn the title King of Israel (see: Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 27:11; John 1:49).
Sceptre
Belonging to Messiah, the name/title Sceptre occurs in Numbers 24:17.
A sceptre is a staff, stick, or rod, so-called from supporting, and is used specifically for beating or striking, and chastening. A sceptre is also associated with authority and royal power.
Shiloh
Found in Genesis 49:10, the name Shiloh signifies tranquility, rest, as well as safe-maker or a prosperer. The name Shiloh may be rendered as The peaceable one, or Peace-maker.
Ancient of days
Found only in Daniel chapter seven, the Ancient of days is associated with fiery judgment. For more about this title/name and attribute of God, read the article “The Ancient of Days”.
Holy
The name Holy, and the word holy, is attributed to God as abhorring every kind of impurity (both physical and moral). (See, Isaiah 57:15.)
References:
Bullokar, John. “Potentate.” An English Expositor Teaching the Interpretation of the Hardest Words Vsed in Our Language. With Sundry Explications, Descriptions, and Discourses. By I.B. Doctor of Phisicke, Iohn Legatt, 1616.
Phillips, Edward. “Potentate.” The New World of English Words, E.P., 1658.
Cawdrey, Robert. “Iesus.” First English Dictionary 1604 - Robert Cawdrey’s A Table Alphabeticall, The Bodleian Library, 2015, p. 97.
“Shilo or Shiloh.” Glossographia, by Thomas Blount. 1661.
“Jealous.” The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: Complete Text Reproduced Micrographically, I A-O, Oxford University Press, 1971, p. 562.
Webster, Noah, and Rosalie J. Slater. “Abba, Godhead, Potentate.” Noah Webster’s First Edition of an American Dictionary of the English Language, Foundation for American Christian Education, 2009.
Moses Maimonides. Guide for the Perplexed. 1190.
Gesenius, Wilhelm, and Samuel Prideaux Tregelles. “יְהֹוָה.” Gesenius’s Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures, Samuel Bagster & Sons (Limited), 1893, p. CCCXXXVII.
Allen, Ward, translator. “In the Epistle to the Romans.” Translating for King James: Being a True Copy of the Only Notes Made by a Translator of King James’s Bible, the Authorized Version, as the Final Committee of Review Revised the Translation of Romans through Revelation at Stationers’ Hall in London in 1610-1611, by John Bois and Anthony Walker, Vanderbilt University Press, 1993, p. 39.
Smith, Henry. “The Rebellion of Jonah.” The Sermons of Mr. Henry Smith Gathered Into One Volume, edited by Thomas Fuller, 1657, p. 727.
Leigh, Edward. “What God Is.” A Systeme or Body of Divinity Consisting of Ten Books, 1654, p. 133.
Charnocke, Stephen. Several Discourses Upon the Existence and Attributes of God. 1682.
Erasmus. “The Paraphrase of Erasmus Upon the Gospel of Saint John.” The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus Upon the New Testament, 1536.