36 Powerful Names of God and Their Meanings

 

Looking for names of God and their meanings? If you have ever had children, you may have experienced that thinking of a name for your first child can be overwhelming, confusing, or tiring.  Some parents pick a name according to cultural formalities while others choose a name based on personal preferences or popularity. 

 Whichever the case, a name is much more than a way to identify who you are.  It has the power to direct your destiny.  In the Bible, in the old testament as well as the new testament, God gave Himself different names in addition to others giving Him a name from their personal encounters with Him. 

 Because of who He is, knowing and speaking His names can shake the powers of darkness and bring light into the hopeless of circumstances.  We will look at the names of God and their meanings and gain a greater understanding of how great He truly is and build an intimate relationship with God. 

36 Powerful Names of God and their Meanings

In the Bible, there are many different names used for God. Each name of the Lord has its own special meaning that helps us to understand more about who God is.

For example, the name “El Shaddai” is often translated as “God Almighty.” This name emphasizes God’s power and might, indicating that He is able to do anything. This cute names of God Bible Study journal is a great addition to your quiet time to help you study the names of God. 

Another name for God is “Elohim.” This word is actually plural in Hebrew, signifying that God is more than one person. When used in reference to the Trinity, it reminds us that although there are three distinct persons in the Godhead, they are all united in one divine being.

There are many other names for God in the Bible, each one conveying a different aspect of His character. By studying these names of the lord God, we can gain a better understanding of God’s nature, who God is and how much He loves us as we build a personal relationship with him. Consider also this physical Bible studies book on the Names of God. 

El Shaddai in the Bible

The most common translation of this name is “God Almighty,” but other interpretations of Shaddai include overpowerer, all-sufficient, or God of the mountain.  Whichever way you interpret it, the meaning implies the majesty of God’s strength and how nothing can overpower Him and His purposes. 

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Jehovah Jireh in the Bible

One of the more well-known names of God, this name means “the Lord Will Provide,” but the Hebrew word Jireh also means “see to it”, “experience”, and “perceive.”  This name goes deeper than faith in what He can do but in who He is as the one who has seen the need even beforehand.   

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Jehovah Nissi Meaning

This name means “the Lord is Our Banner” and was only used once in the Bible by Moses when the Israelites defeated the Amalekites.  It is a reminder that God is the one who gives us victory when He is the one who directs us in battle.

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.” Psalms 60:4

Jehovah Tsidkenu Meaning

Because we are sinners, there is no way that we can be made right with God on our own strength or works.  That is why the spotless lamb, God’s Son Jesus Christ, needed to die for our sins so that “the Lord Our Righteousness” could make us right with God.

“ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Jehovah Rapha Meaning

Jehovah Rapha in the Bible – Rapha means “to restore/to heal”, so Jehovah Rapha means the “God Who Heals.”  The greatest healing God has given us is the forgiveness of sins, but He is also able to heal physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental suffering or ailments.

“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”

Psalms 103:3

El Hanne’eman Meaning

The root word ‘aman connotates a meaning of certainty, so El Hanne’eman is translated as “Faithful God.”  He is faithful and true and keeps His promises to a thousand generations to those who love Him and keep His commandments.

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

El Roi Meaning

Used by Hagar, she named Him the “God Who Sees Me” after an encounter with Him in the Wilderness of Beersheba.  It is especially during the times when we feel all alone that we need to remember that the God who never slumbers and who knows everything about you always has His loving eyes watching over you.

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” Psalms 33:18

El Sali Meaning

After rescuing him from his enemies and master, King David writes a song that names God “the Lord is My Strength” or “God My Rock.”  He is the God of our salvation that we can lean on when it feels like we are in the valley of the shadow of death.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Psalms 46:1

El Rachum in the Bible

Because God is love, He is full of compassion and is thus “God of Mercy/Merciful God.”  There are many things that He pardons when we fail and many things that He gives when we do not deserve it.

“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Psalms 145:8

Immanuel Meaning

When God sent His only Son into this world, it was a tangible way that showed “God With Us.”  As Jesus was fully man but also fully God, He came down from Heaven to walk and talk among us and became of human flesh.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

Jehovah Shalom Meaning

The word shalom translates to mean “harmony, completeness, absence of strife,” so Jehovah Shalom means “the Lord is Peace.”  No matter what happens in our lives, because God will never leave us or forsake us, we can have a spirit of quietness when we trust in who He is.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

El Nehkumah

Whenever we are in trouble we can trust that “God is Our Comfort.”  We can cast our cares, our anxieties, our fears, and our suffering onto Him because He cares for us and knows how to ease our troubled hearts and minds.

“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13

Jehovah Mephalti in the Bible

King David knew God very well as “the Lord My Deliverer.”  When we run to Him for safety, He is able to rescue us from every evil attack.

“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalms 34:17, 19 

El Yeshuati Meaning

Because He is the only one who can forgive us of our sins, He is “the God of My Salvation.”  We deserve death, but God in His great grace and love towards us sent His Son Jesus to take our place so we can experience eternal life.  

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1

Jehovah Rohi Meaning

“Rohi” or “raah” means “to feed/shepherd,” so Jehovah Rohi means “the Lord is my Shepherd.”  Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known poems that describe God as our shepherd who leads us, protects us, provides for us, comforts us, and cares for us.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1

I Am

In Hebrew, this name is written as “Ehyeh asher Ehyeh” which translates to “I Will Be What I Will Be.”  He is who He says He is, He is the one who was, who is, and who will be, and He is the self-sustaining, self-sufficient God.

“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

Elohim Meaning

This is a plural form of God which means “Supreme One” or “Mighty One.”  He is the powerful creator of the Heavens and the Earth and is the sovereign ruler of all.

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” Psalms 147:5

El Elyon Meaning

The “Lord Most High” or “God Most High” refers to God as the creator of Heaven and Earth.  Because He is supreme and sovereign, He is to be worshipped and exalted above all else.

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:” Psalms 92:1

Adonai Meaning

This Hebrew name for God means “Lord” or “Master.”  It is another name that refers to His sovereignty over us and His lordship in our lives.

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5

El Olam Meaning

Olam means “forever, for a long time,” so El Olam translates to “the Everlasting/Eternal God.”  Although He created time, He existed before and will continue to exist for all eternity as the One who never changes.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” Isaiah 40:28

El Gibhor Meaning

Because Gibhor means “strong, mighty, hero”, this name means “Mighty God.”  He always prevails and is a warrior whose strength is undefeated.

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

El Emet Meaning

In a world where it can be difficult to tell what is real versus what is fake, it is so assuring that the Lord is the “God of Truth.” He is a faithful God who is trustworthy, dependable, and true.

“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” Isaiah 25:1

El De’ot

“The God of Knowledge” is all-knowing of us, the future, the world, and everything in it.  Because we can trust that He knows, we can run to Him for every circumstance.

“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” 1 Samuel 2:3

El Hakkadosh

God is “the Holy One” because nothing can compare to Him.  He is set apart as something unique and sacred and is the only one worthy of worship.

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.” Psalms 99:9

Alpha & Omega Meaning

He is “the Beginning and the End”, the first and the last, the God of eternity.  Jesus refers to this name to himself implying that he is God, he finishes what he starts, and he is the all in all for salvation.  

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

El Simchah Giyli Meaning

If you have “God My Exceeding Joy,” you will experience a joy that does not depend on circumstances but on who He is.  Happiness is fleeting and worldly wealth wastes away, but knowing the God of your salvation gives you a strength that endures. 

“Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.” Psalms 43:4

Jehovah Magen in the Bible

Because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, we need to know that “the Lord is My Shield/Protector.”  He is the one to watch over us in this ongoing spiritual war, being the one who will deflect the fiery arrows of the adversary.  

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” Psalms 18:30

Jehovah M’Kaddesh Meaning

Not by our own strength or works but it is “the Lord Who Sanctifies You.” He is the one who makes us holy and righteous and continues to mature us in His Son, Jesus Christ.

“And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.” Leviticus 20:8

Jehovah Shammah in the Bible

“The Lord is There” was the name shown in a vision to Ezekiel when the Jews had been held captive for 25 years in Babylon.  Because God will never leave or forsake His chosen people, we can be encouraged that even though we do not know our future, we know that He will always be there with us.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalms 139:7-12

Abba

Abba, “Father”, is not just an intimate name we call God, but it also contains a sense of profound respect for the holiest one.  As His adopted sons and daughters, we are able to see and feel His great love for us which changes our attitudes and heart toward Him.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

Wonderful Counselor

“Wonderful Counselor” was the name given to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, by the prophet Isaiah.  As the word wonderful means “incomprehensible,” we cannot fully comprehend His words, His will, and His ways but we can completely trust in Him to guide us, teach us, and comfort us.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Lamb of God

Jesus was without sin and his death on the cross meant that He was the perfect and final sacrifice, the “Lamb of God”, who took away the sins of the world.  Instead of us having to continually sacrifice lambs in order to be made right with God, we can now repent and believe in Jesus in order to receive the forgiveness needed to restore our relationship with God.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

Word

The “Word” became flesh and his name is Jesus.  Everything we need to know about God has been communicated through His Son who is the Living Word that existed with God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Bread of Life

One of the seven “I AM” statements by Jesus, the “Bread of Life” signifies that he is the staple spiritual food with which whoever believes in him will always feel satisfied.  Jesus is not only essential in giving life but he is the only way to eternal life as well. 

“ And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

Light of the World

This is a name that Jesus used to describe himself in the Gospels of Matthew and John.  He is the only one who can lead us from spiritual darkness to eternal life and light.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

El Hakkvod

Everything exists to bring honor to “the God of Glory.”  The things He has created reveal His beauty, majesty, power, knowledge, and creativity.

“ The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.” Psalms 29:3

 Names of God Coloring Book

 Praying the Names of God

Praying the names of almighty God can be a powerful experience.  Not only is it a reminder of God’s magnificent character, but because these are His names found in the Bible, praying His Word will accomplish what it was sent out to do. 

One way you can pray using His names is to thank Him for who He is, the holy spirit he has given us and how you have witnessed this name personally in your life.  Another way to pray is to ask the most high God to reveal a certain name of His to you or someone else God places on your heart.  If you would like to know more about praying the different names of God, this book by Dr. Tony Evans is a popular resource!

Names of God and their Meanings

God’s name reveal His immeasurable love, strength, power, knowledge, wisdom, faithfulness, and creativity amongst other things.  The more we familiarize ourselves with the names of God, the more we understand who He is and the more we are able to place our faith in Him. 

 It is a privilege and a blessing that God would reveal His names to us and allow us to call Him by them.  May we know His names by heart and share them with others who do not know who He is.