In addition to Yahweh (YHVH), Yeshua and Jesus, what other names for God are in the Bible?

Question

 I’ve been told that God has many names.  I know of Yahweh, Yeshua and Jesus, but what other names are there?  And why are there other names?  Aren’t Yahweh, Yeshua and Jesus enough?

Answer

Before we review the many names the Bible gives for God, let’s first look at the names Yahweh, Yeshua, and Jesus.  Both Yahweh and Yeshua are Hebrew names.  

Yahweh is the covenant name of God. It is a relational name that reminds us of the covenant God made with His people Israel.  It is the pronunciation of the Hebrew YHVH, which is without vowels.  Yehovah is another pronunciation, of which Jehovah is the Anglicized form.

YHVH are the four consonants in the Hebrew language that spell the name of God.  They are pronounced Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey.  This name is often referred to at the Tetragrammaton, which is a Greek word meaning, “consisting of four letters.”  

God first used this name when He spoke with Abram (Abraham) in Gen 15:7.

“And he said unto him, I am the LORD [YHVH, Yehovah, Yahweh] that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”

The name, YHVH, was also revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai when God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. 

Exodus 3:15  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD [YHVH, Yehovah, Yahweh] God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Again in Exodus 6, God reminds Moses of this name:

Exo 6:2  And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD [YHVH, Yehovah, Yahweh]:
Exo 6:3  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty [El Shaddai], but by my name JEHOVAH [Yehovah] was I not known to them.

The name Yeshua is Hebrew for the name we pronounce Joshua.  Joshua was God’s choice to lead His people into their inheritance—the Promised Land.  Typologically Joshua is a picture of salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Joshua’s given name at birth was Oshea, which means salvation.  An abbreviation of the covenant name of God (Yahweh) was later added to his name by Moses, resulting in Yehoshua, from which we get the name, Joshua. Yehoshua/Joshua means “God is salvation.”  (Num 13:16).  

Jesus is the Anglicized translation of Iesus, which is the Latin translation of Yeshua.

Other Names for God 

When Moses came to the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1), where the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush, he sought an explanation of Who God is so he could tell the people Who had sent him. God graciously revealed Himself unto Moses, providing him with an answer by saying, 

“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, emphasis added)

Of the many names for God in the Old Testament, the covenant name of God, “I AM” is perhaps the most cherished. In the Hebrew, it is ehyeh asher ehyeh, which is generally translated  I am that I am.  However, the Hebrew can also be translated as I-shall-be that I-shall-be. The Hebrew contains every tense of the verb “to be”-– so it can also be understood to say, I was, I am, and I shall be.  This name clearly reveals that God is eternal.  

In the Old Testament, we also find many compound names for God.  Some begin with Jehovah (LORD) and others with “El” (translated “God” and meaning “the Strong One”)   These compound names for God are helpful in understanding the nature and character of God.  They serve to better understand many of God’s attributes.

Beginning with Jehovah (Lord)

Jehovah-jireh – The Lord Will See To It – Genesis 22:14

Jehovah-rawfaw – The Lord Who Makes Whole (heals) – Exodus 15:26; Jeremiah 33:6;  1 Kings 18:30; Job 5:17,18; Psalms 103:3; Psalms 146:3

Jehovah-nissi – The Lord Our Banner – Exodus 17:15

Jehovah-shalom – The Lord Gives Peace – Judges 6:24

Jehovah-tsidkeneau – The Lord Our Righteousness – Jeremiah 23:6

Jehovah-raah – The Lord My Shepherd – Psalm 23 (shepherd); Ezekiel 34:11-15 (companion); Jeremiah 3:12-16 (pastors); Judges 11:34-35 (friend); Exodus 33:11 (friend) 

Jehovah-Shama – The Lord is Present – Ezekial 48:35; Exodus 33:14; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9

Jehovah-InKaddesh – The Lord Which Sanctifies – Leviticus 20:18, 21:15, 21:23, 22:9, 22:16

Beginning with El (God)

El-roi – The God Who Sees – Genesis 16:13

El-shaddai – The Almighty God – Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11; Ruth 1:20-21; 31 x in Job; Ezekiel 10:5

El-elyon – The Most High God – Genesis 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:8; Isaiah 14:14

El-elyon – Possessor of Heaven and Earth – Gen 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:8; Isaiah 14:14, Daniel 3: 26, 4:17; Psalm 56:2

El-qanna – Jealous God –  Exo 34:14, Deu 4:24

Elohim – Kurios – Matthew 22:44; Luke 19:31, 33, 34; Matthew 12:8; John 13:13; Matthew 6:24; Revelation 17:14

Adonai – Master – The Lord Our God Deut. 10:17; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 110:1,5; Isaiah 6:1,8,9; Genesis 15:2

Names and Titles for Jesus/Yeshua

In the New Testament, as God is further revealed through the Person and works of His Son, we find not only Jesus’ name given in Matthew 1:21 . . . thou shalt call His name Jesus, but also a number of descriptive titles attributed to Him.  These give additional insight into Who God is: 

Advocate – 1 John 2:1;  Almighty – Revelation 1:8;  Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8, 11; 22:13;  Amen – Revelation 3:14;  Anointed One – Acts 10:38;  Apostle – Hebrews 3:1;  Author and Finisher of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2;  Beginning and End – Revelation 1:8, 22:13;  Bishop of Souls – 1 Peter 2:25;  Bread of Life – John 6:35, 48;  Bridegroom – Matthew 9:15;  Carpenter – Mark 6:3;  Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4;  Christ – Matthew 1:16;  Consolation of Israel– Luke 2:25;  Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6;  Dayspring – Luke 1:78;  Day Star – 2 Peter 1:19;  Deliverer – Romans 11:26;  Door – John 10:9;  Emmanuel – Matthew 1:23;  Faithful and True – Revelation 19:11;  Faithful and True Witness – Revelation 3:14;  First and the Last  – Revelation 1:11;  First Fruits – 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23;  Friend of Publicans (sinners)– Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34;  God – John 1:1;  Glory of God – Revelation 21:23;  Good Shepherd – John 10:11, 14;  Governor – Matthew 2:6;  Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20;  Guide – Luke 1:79;  Head of the Body (the Church) – Colossians 1:18;  Helper – Hebrews 13:6;  High Priest – Hebrews  3:1;  Holy One of God – Mark 1:24; Acts 3:14;   Hope – Romans 15:13; Titus 2:13;  Horn of Salvation – Luke 1:69;  I Am – John 8:58;  Judge – Acts 10:42;  Just – Acts 3:14;  King of Israel – Matthew 27:42;  King of Kings – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16;  Lamb of God – John 1:29;  Last Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:45;  Life – John 11:25;  Light of the World – John 8:12, 9:5;  Lion of the Tribe of Judah – Revelation 5:5;  Lord of Lords – 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16;  Lord from Heaven – 1 Corinthians 15:47;  Master – Matthew 23:8, John 1:38;  Mediator – 1 Timothy 2:5;  Messiah – John 1:41;  Minister (Servant)– Mark 10:45;  Morning Star – Revelation 22:16;  Nazarene – Matthew 2:23;  Passover Lamb – 1 Corinthians 5:7;  Physician – Matthew 9:12;  Potentate – 1 Timothy 6:15;  Priest – Hebrews 4:15;  Prince of Life – Acts 3:15;  Prophet – Acts 3:22;  Propitiation – 1 John 2:2;  Rabbi – John 1:38, 49;  Redeemer – Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14;  Ransom – 1 Timothy 2:6;  Resurrection – John 11:25;  Rock – 1 Corinthians 10:4;  Root of David – Revelation 5:5, 22:16;  Sacrifice – Ephesians 5:2;  Saviour – Luke 1:47;  Second Man (Second Adam) – 1 Corinthians 15:47;  Seed of Abraham – Galatians 3:16;  Seed of David – 2 Timothy 2:8;  Shepherd – 1 Peter 2:25;  Son of David – Matthew 15:22;  Son of God – Matthew 4:3; Luke 1:35; John 1:49;  Son of Joseph – John 1:45;  Son of Man – Matthew 18:11;  Son of Mary – Mark 6:3;  Son of the Highest – Luke 1:32;  Stone – Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11;  True Vine – John 15:1;  Truth – John 14:6;  Way – John 14:6;  Word – John 1:1

Names and Titles for the Holy Spirit

Remember that there are three in the Godhead–God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Just as with the Father and the Son we have many names for the Holy Spirit.  The descriptive words attributed to the Holy Spirit help reveal Who He is and His mighty works. (note: this list contains descriptive words and titles in verses from the King James Bible.  There will be variations of the words used in other translations.)

The Spirit of Access – Ephesians 2:18;  The Spirit of Adoption – Romans 8:15;  The Spirit of Christ – Romans 8:9;  The Spirit of Counsel – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of your Father – Matthew 10:20;  The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Fruitfulness – Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9;  The Spirit of Fullness – Luke 1:15, 41, 67; Acts 2:4, 4:8,31, Acts 7:55, 11:24, 13:9; Ephesians 5:18;  The Spirit of Gifts – Hebrews 2:4;  The Spirit of Glory – 1 Peter 4:14;  The Spirit of God – Genesis 1:2, 41:38; 1 Cor 2:11; Job 27:3, 33:4;  The Spirit of Grace – Hebrews 10:29;  The Spirit of Grace and Supplications – Zechariah 12:10;  The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus – Romans 8:11;  The Spirit of His Son – Galatians 4:6;  The Spirit of Holiness – Romans 1:4;  The Spirit of Indwelling – Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 John 3:24, 4:13;  The Spirit of Inspiration – Mark 13:11; 2 Peter 1:21;  The Spirit of Jesus Christ – Philippians 1:19;  The Spirit of Judgment – Isaiah 4:4;   The Spirit of Knowledge – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:2;  The Spirit of the Living God – 2 Corinthians 3:3;  The Spirit of the Lord – Isaiah 11:2, 61:1, Micah 2:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18;  The Spirit of the Love of God – Romans 5:5;  The Spirit of Might – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Our God – 1 Corinthians 6:11;  The Spirit of Peace – 1 Thessalonians 5:23;  The Spirit of Power – Acts 1:8;  Romans 15:13;  The Spirit of Power, Love and a Sound Mind – 2 Timothy 1:7;  The Spirit of Prayer – Romans 8:26;  Ephesians 6:18;  The Spirit of Promise – Galatians 3:14, Ephesians 1:13;  The Spirit of Prophecy – Ephesians 3:5;  The Spirit of Regeneration and Renewing – Titus 3:5;  The Spirit of Rest – Isaiah 63:14;  The Spirit of Revelation – 1 Cor 2:10; Ephesians 1:17;  The Spirit of Sanctification – Romans 15:16;  The Spirit of Sealing – Ephesians 1:13, 4:30;  The Spirit of Teaching – Luke 12:12; 1 Corinthians 2:13;  The Spirit of Testimony – 1 Peter 1:11;  The Spirit of Truth – John 14:17;  John 15:26;  The Spirit of Understanding – Isaiah 11:2;  The Spirit of Unity– Ephesians 4:4;  The Spirit of Your Father – Matthew 10:20;  The Spirit of Wisdom – Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17;  The Spirit of Witness – Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 5:6-9;   The Spirit from On High – Isaiah 32:15;  The Spirit from the Father – John 15:26;  The Breath of the Almighty – Job 33:4;  The Breath of Life – Genesis 2:7;  The Comforter – John 14:16, 26;  The Double Portion – 2 Kings 2:9,15;  The Earnest/Deposit – Ephesians 1:14;  The Eternal Spirit – Hebrews 9:14;  The Finger of God – Exodus 8:19, 31:18; Luke 11:20;  The Firstfruits – Romans 8:23;  The Hand of God – Job 27:11;  The One Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:13;  The Power of the Highest – Luke 1:35;  The Power of the Lord – Luke 5:17;  The Wind – John 3:8; Acts 2:2;  My Anointing – 1 John 2:27;   My Blessing – 1 Corinthians 14:16;  My Joy – 1 Thessalonians 1:6;  My Promise – Acts 2:33; Galatians 3:14;  Like a Dove – Matthew 3:16, Luke 3:22

We’ve looked at the many names that the Bible gives for God.  To answer the  last question, aren’t Yahweh, Yeshua and Jesus enough?  Yes they are.  The reason for the many names and titles is to help us better know and understand our God.  They give us great insight into His Person and works.

By whatever name or title you call God (see article: Should we call His name Jesus? Or Yahweh? Or Yeshua? ) always remember, the name Jesus is the name above all names and it is sufficient.

 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:9-11)

<*}}}><

Read more about the names of God in the Bible:

• In addition to Yahweh (YHVH), Yeshua, and Jesus, what other names for God are in the Bible?
• For His Great Name's Sake (videos)
• Should we call His name Jesus? Or Yahweh? Or Yeshua?
• The Names of Jehovah hidden in Psalm 23! This will surprise you!
• What a Beautiful Name: The Name of Jesus
• What is the New Name Spoken of in Revelation 2:17?
• His be the Victor's Name (song video)
• Forty Titles of Jesus to Know Him Better and Love Him More
• Is Ehyeh, Yahweh, Jehovah, or Jesus God’s Name?
• Names and Titles for the Holy Spirit

Read about other names in the Bible:

• Is Satan’s Real Name Lucifer? Or Should We Call Him Satan?
• Is there a hidden message in the names in Revelation 7? Why is Dan missing?
• Is There a Hidden Message in the names in Genesis 5?

Read about the Love of Jesus:

• A-Z Proof of Love That Never Fades