YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD” Strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai “Lord.” The revelation of the name is first given to Moses “I Am who I Am”. This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance, forgiveness and guidance.
YAHWEH-JIREH: “The Lord will Provide” The name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.
YAHWEH-RAPHA: “The Lord Who Heals-“I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from diseases, and by curing them when afflicted with them and in soul, by pardoning their iniquities.
YAHWEH-NISSI: “The Lord Our Banner”, where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites.
YAHWEH-M’KADDESH: “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, could cleanse His people and make them holy.
YAHWEH-SHALOM: “The Lord Our Peace” The name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him.
YAHWEH-ELOHIM: “LORD God” Combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords.
YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: “The Lord Our Righteousness” As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him”.
YAHWEH-ROHI: “The Lord Our Shepherd” After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want”.
YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: “The Lord is There” The name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once departed glory of the Lord had returned.
YAHWEH-SABAOTH: “The Lord of Hosts- “Hosts” means hordes, both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven, and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that he is able to accomplish what he determines to do.
