Divine Names and Titles

Note: Taken primarily from Appendix 4 of The Companion Bible. The Companion Bibles use of Jehovah has been replaced with YHVH. Its use of Jah has been replaced with Yah. Tables 2 and 3 pertain specifically to The Companion Bible. This study is not intended to exactly duplicate Appendix 4, and some slight modifications in punctuation, etc. have been made. The table format also differs from the straight text in the appendix. The student is human and welcomes any error corrections.

Table 1: The Divine Names and Titles Name/Title

I. ELOHIM

Meaning/Significance/Use
Occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on 2 Chron. 18.31, where it stands in contrast with YHVH as indicating a covenant relationship. Elohim is God the Son, the living WORD with creature form to create (John 1:1, Col. 1.15-17, Rev. 3.14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1.14). Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world. In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed. Elohim is indicated (as in A.V.) by ordinary small type, God. See table below. Scriptures Bullinger references: 2 Chronicles 18:31: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Colossians 1:15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: Colossians 1:16: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: Colossians 1:17: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God; John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

II. YHVH

While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YHVH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (Cp. 2 Chron. 18.31). YHVH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21.33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now in Christ. We can say, My God, but not My YHVH, for YHVH is My God. Scriptures Bullinger references: 2 Chronicles 18:31: And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. Genesis 21:33: And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD , the everlasting GOD. YHVH is indicated (as in A.V.) by small capital letters, LORD ; and by GOD when it occurs in combination with Adonai, in which case Lord GOD =Adonai YHVH. The name YHVH is combined with ten other words, which form what are known as the YHVH Titles. They are as follows in the order in which they occur in the Hebrew Canon (Ap. 1). All are noted in the margin, in all their occurrences: 1. YHVH-JIREH = YHVH will see, or provide. Genesis 22:14: And Abraham called the name of that place YHVH-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 2. YHVH-ROPHEKA = YHVH that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26: 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.

3. YHVH-NISS = YHVH my banner.

Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it YHVH-nissi: 4. YHVH-ME ADD SHKEM = YHVH that doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13: Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD That doth sanctify you. Leviticus 20:8: And ye shall keep My statutes, and do them: I am the LORD Which sanctify you. Leviticus 21:8: Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD , Which sanctify you, am holy. Leviticus 22:32: Neither shall ye profane My holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD Which hallow you,

Ezekiel 20:12: Moreover also I gave them My sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD That sanctify them. 5. YHVH-SH } L M = YHVH [send] peace. Judges 6:24: Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD , and called it YHVH-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. 6. YHVH-ZEB } TH = YHVH of hosts. 1Samuel 1:3: And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD , were there. (I Samuel 1:3 contains the first of 281 occurrences of YHVH-ZEB } TH .) 7. YHVH-ZID N = YHVH our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6: 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 33:16: In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 8. YHVH-SH } MM } H = YHVH is there. Ezekiel 48:35: It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. 9. YHVH-ELY N = YHVH Most High. Psalm 7:17: I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD MOST HIGH . Psalm 47:2: For the LORD MOST HIGH is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. Psalm 97:9: For Thou, LORD , art HIGH above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods. 10. YHVH-RO = YHVH my Shepherd. Psalm 23:1: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. We have seven of these, experimentally referred to, in Ps. 23, inasmuch as YHVH, as the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd is engaged in all the perfection of His attributes, on behalf of His sheep: In verse 1, we have YHVH-JIREH In verse 2, we have YHVH-SH }L M In verse 3, we have YHVH-ROPHEKA and YHVH-ZID N In verse 4, we have YHVH-SH }MM } H In verse 5, we have YHVH-NISS and YHVH-ME ADD SHKEM

A Psalm of David Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. III. YAH YAH is YHVH in a special sense and relation. YHVH as having BECOME our Salvation (first occ. Ex. 15:2), He Who IS, and WAS, and IS TO COME. It occurs 49 times (7x7. See Ap. 10). Yah is indicated by type thus: LORD . Scriptures Bullinger references: Exodus 15:2: The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my GOD, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my fathers God, and I will exalt Him. IV. EL EL is essentially the Almighty, though the word is never so rendered (see below, Shaddai.), EL is Elohim in all His strength and power. It is rendered God as Elohim is, but El is God the Omnipotent. Elohim is God the Creator putting His omnipotence into operation. Eloah (see below) is God Who wills and orders all, and Who is to be the one object of the worship of His people. El is the God Who knows all (first occ. Gen. 14.18-22) and sees all (Gen. 16.13) and that performeth all things for His people (Ps. 57.2); and in Whom all the Divine attributes are concentrated. El is indicated in this edition by type in large capital letters, thus: GOD. It is sometimes transliterated in proper names Immanu-el, Beth-el, &c., where it is translated, as explained in the margin. Scriptures Bullinger references: (Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the MOST HIGH GOD. Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the MOST HIGH GOD, possessor of heaven and earth: Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the MOST HIGH GOD, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.) And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD , MOST HIGH GOD, the possessor of heaven and earth, Genesis 16:13 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? Psa 57:2 I will cry unto God MOST HIGH ; unto GOD That performeth all things for me.

V. ELOAH

ELOAH is Elohim., Who is to be worshipped. Eloah is God in connection with His Will rather than His power. The first occurrence associates this name with worship (Deut. 32. 15, 17, in the Song of Moses). Hence, it is the title used whenever the contrast (latent or expressed) is with false gods or idols. Eloah is essentially the living God in contrast to inanimate idols.

Eloah is rendered God, but as we have indicated it is by type thus: GOD

Scriptures Bullinger references: Deuteronomy 32:15: But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook GOD Which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. Deuteronomy 32:16: They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger. Deuteronomy 32:17: They sacrificed unto devils, not to GOD; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. VI. ELYN ELYN first occurs in Gen. 14.18 with El, and is rendered the most high (God). It is El and Elohim, not as the powerful Creator, but as the possessor of heaven and earth. Hence the name is associated with Christ as the Son of the Highest (Luke 1.35). It is Elyn, as possessor of the earth, Who divides the nations their inheritance. In Psalm 83.18, He is over all the earth. The title occurs 36 times (6x6, or 62. See Ap. 10.) Elyn is the Dispenser of Gods blessings in the earth; the blessings proceeding from a Priest Who is a King upon His throne (cp. Gen. 14.18-22 with Zech. 6.13; 14.9). Scriptures Bullinger references: Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy Thing Which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Psalm 83:18 That men may know that Thou, Whose name alone is YHVH, art the MOST HIGH over all the earth. (Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the MOST HIGH GOD. Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the MOST HIGH GOD, possessor of heaven and earth: Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the MOST HIGH GOD, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.) And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD , MOST HIGH GOD, the possessor of heaven and earth, Zec 6:13 Even He shall build the temple of the LORD ; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD , and His name one.

VII. SHADDAI

SHADDAI is in every instance translated Almighty, and is indicated by small capital letters (ALMIGHTY). It is God (El), not as the source of strength, but of grace; not as Creator, but as the Giver. Shaddai is the All-bountiful. This title does not refer to His creative power, but to His power to supply all the needs of His people. Its first occurrence is in Gen. 17.1 and is used to show Abraham that He Who called him out to walk alone before Him could supply all his need. Even so it is the title used in 2 Cor. 6.18, where we are called to come out in separation from the world. It is always used in connection with El (see above).
Genesis 17:1: 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. 2 Corinthians 6:18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty.

VIII. ADON

ADON is one of three titles (ADON, ADONAI, and ADONIM), all generally rendered Lord; but each has its own peculiar usage and association. They all denote headship in various aspects. They have to do with God as over-lord. (1) ADON is the Lord as Ruler in the earth. We have indicated this in type by printing the preceding article or pronouns in small capitals, not because either are to be emphasized, but to distinguish the word Lord from Adonai, which is always so printed in the A.V. (2) ADONAI is the Lord in His relation to the earth; and as carrying out His purposes of blessing in the earth. With this limitation it is almost equivalent to YHVH. Indeed, it was from early date so used, associating the vowel points of the word YHVH with Adon, thus converting Adon into Adonai. A list of 134 passages where this was deliberately done is preserved and given in the Massorah (107-115). (See Ap. 32.) We have indicated these by printing the word like YHVH, putting an asterisk, thus: LORD *. (3) ADONIM is the plural of Adon, never used of man. Adonim carries with it all that Adon does, but in a greater and higher degree; and more especially as owner and proprietor. An Adon may rule other who do not belong to him. Hence (without the article) it is often used of men. But Adonim is the Lord Who rules His own. We have indicated it by type, thus: LORD. The three may be thus briefly distinguished: Adon is the Lord as overlord or ruler Adonim is the Lord as owner Adonai is the Lord as blesser

Table 2: Renderings of the Divine Names and Titles in The Companion Bible
Rendering God GOD GOD * GOD
GOD

Source Elohim YHVH (in combination with Adonai, Lord) YHVH in the Primitive Texts, altered by the Spherim to Elohim as in the Printed Text. (See Ap. 32.) El Eloah YHVH Yah YHVH in the Primitive Text, altered by the Spherim to Adonai as in the Printed Text. (See Ap. 32.) Adonai Adonim Shaddai Elyn

LORD THE LORD LORD * Lord LORD ALMIGHTY MOST HIGH

Table 3. Renderings of Combined Divine Names and Titles in The Companion Bible Combined Name Adonai YHVH YHVH Elohim Elyn El El Shaddai Rendering Lord GOD Lord God MOST HIGH GOD GOD ALMIGHTY