SENIOR
AGE
GROUP: 14 - 15 YEARS
STANDARD
(GRADE): IX & X
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LESSON – 4
During the Biblical times, the name given to an individual, was meant not only as an identification, but as a personal identity as well. Often, a person’s name included words with a special connotation that revealed the unique nature of that individual. Throughout the Scriptures, God displays his majesty and sovereignty through His names. God's names divulge and remind us of the various divine attributes and the unchangeable nature of God. God appeared to Moses as “I AM THAT I AM” in the burning bush (Exodus 3:13,14). Later, God made Himself known as “LORD (YHVH)” to Moses, before he sent the plagues upon the Egyptians. God informed Moses that he was known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty but not as LORD (YHVH). We are going to learn about the various names of God given in the Holy Bible. (Click this link to learn about the Holy Trinity and the attributes of God)
ELOHIM:
The first name for God given in the Holy Bible is Elohim (or Elohay). It is mentioned over 2300 times in the Old Testament. Genesis 1:1 states "In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth". The very first use of the name of God “Elohim” is in a plural form to refer to the One True God, which is a mystery. This mystery is what is revealed throughout the Holy Bible as the “Trinity or the Triune God”. Hence Elohim is the name of the Triune God. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power". Elohim is combined with other words to describe various unique characteristics of God.
Elohay Mauzi - God of my Strength (Psalm 43:2)
Elohay Tehilati - God of my Praise (Psalm 109:1)
Elohay Yishi - God of My Salvation (Psalm 18:46)
Elohim Kedoshim - Holy God (Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19)
Elohim Chaiyim - Living God (Jeremiah 10:10) (1)
EL:
“EL” is another name used for God in the Holy Bible. El is the simple root word from which the name Elohim arises. El is often combined with other words to describe various natures of God. It is used about 200 times in the Old Testament.
El Elyon - The Most High God (Genesis
14:18)
El Olam - The God of Eternity (Genesis 21:33)
El Echad - The One God (Malachi 2:10)
Immanu El - God is With Us (Isaiah 7:14) (2)
ELAH:
ELAH is another name for God. It is used about 70 times in the Old Testament. When combined with other words, it represents different attributes of God.
Elah Yerush'lem - God of Jerusalem (Ezra 7:19)
Elah Yisrael - God of Israel (Ezra 5:1)Elah Sh'maya V'Arah - God of Heaven and Earth (Ezra 5:11) (3)
YHVH or YHWH:
YHVH or YHWH is the Hebrew word that translates as "LORD". It occurs about 6828 times in the Old Testament more than any other name for God. According to Jewish tradition, it is the unutterable name of God, composed of four Hebrew letters, “Yod, Hey, Vav and Hey”. The title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton", meaning the "The Four Letters". In most Bibles, it is given as LORD, in all capital letters. (4)
Is Jehovah and Yahweh the correct name for God?
Although some pronounce YHVH as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh", scholars really don't know the proper pronunciation, since Hebrew is written without vowel markers, and the utterance of God’s name YHVH was discontinued around 2oo AD after the destruction of the second Temple of Jerusalem, the exact utterance of YHVH was forgotten. The Jews stopped pronouncing this name by about 200 A.D., out of fear of breaking the commandment "You shall not take the name of the LORD (YHVH) your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). Today's Jewish rabbis typically use "Adonai" in place of YHVH when reading from the Torah (the Old Testament). (4) Consonants were only added for ease of reading during the medieval periods. God’s name was only spoken only once a year by the High Priest as he entered into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. (5) The commonly used names “Jehovah and Yahweh” were arrived by inserting the vowel markers of the name Adonai between YHVH, but they are still considered incorrect pronunciation.
God’s name is written as YHVH, all the letters in the name are always capitalized since the name is a proper noun. YHVH is the source and cause of all beings and existences; nothing in the universe exist apart from Him. The name YHVH indicates the mystery as well as the utter transcendence of God. It also shows that His name is beyond all attributes of language and beyond all definite human and linguistic descriptions.
(YHVH) Yahweh -
Jireh: "The LORD Will Provide" (Genesis
22:14)
(YHVH) Yahweh - Rapha: "The
LORD Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26)
(YHVH) Yahweh - Nissi: "The
LORD Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15)
(YHVH) Yahweh - M'Kaddesh: "The LORD Who Sanctifies" (Lev
20:8)
(YHVH) Yahweh - Shalom: "The
LORD Our Peace" (Judges 6:24)
(YHVH) Yahweh - Tsidkenu: "The LORD Our Righteousness” (Jerem
33:16)
(YHVH) Yahweh - Rohi: "The LORD Our Shepherd" (Psalm
23:1)
(YHVH) Yahweh - Shammah: "The
LORD Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35)
(YHVH) Yahweh - O’Saynu:
“The LORD our Maker” (Psalm 95:6) (2)
Adonai:
Adonai means “Lord, Master or Owner”. Adonai is the plural form of Adon. It has been used to refer to men, angels and also God. The word Adonai has been used more than 400 times to refer to God in the Old Testament. (3)
Adonai –
The Lord (Used instead of the Tetragrammaton) Isaiah 6:1
Adonai Ha’adonim –
The Lord of lords (Deuteronomy 10:17)
Adon Adonai Tseva’ot –
The Lord God of hosts (I Samuel 17:45)
We ought to fear misusing and abusing God’s name, for His name is holy and it is a name that is above all names. When people use His name in swearing and cursing, they show disrespect for God and defile His holy name. God's name is of utmost importance therefore we should hold it in high esteem in our minds and hearts.
Memory Verse: Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! …………………. From the rising of the sun to its going down, The Lord’s name is to be praised. (Psalm 113:1-3 NKJV)
References:
1. Names of God (Retrieved 13th August 2020 from https://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm)
2.
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F.,
White, W., & Vine, W. E. (1985). Vine's complete expository dictionary
of Old and New Testament words. Nashville: Nelson.
3.
Orr, James, M.A., D.D.
General Editor. "Entry for 'ADONAI'”. "International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia". 1915.
4.
Day of Atonement (Retrieved
13th August 2020 from https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Day-Atonement)
ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY
I. Fill in the Blanks:
1. ……………………
means “The Most High God”.
2. "Tetragrammaton," is given as
…………………… in the Holy Bible in all capital letters.
3. God’s name was only spoken once a year
by the high priest as he entered into the Holy of Holies on the …………………………
4. Yahweh -Shalom means "The
Lord Our …………………".
II. Give short answers:
1.
What is special about the names of God?
2.
What does the name of God “Elohim” mean?
3.
What is “tetragrammaton”?
4. Why did
Jews use the name “Adonai” instead of YHVH?
III. Give brief answers:
1. What do you know about “YHVH” considered to be an unutterable name of God
in the Jewish tradition.
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