The Divine Names And Titles
This Is Appendix 4 From The Companion Bible.
I. ELOHIM 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 2Chronicles
18:31, where it stands
in contrast with Jehovah as indicating covenant relationship).
‘Elohim is God the Son, the living "Word" with
creature form to create (John 1:1. Colossians
1:15-17. Revelation
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 temporally
assumed. ‘Elohim in indicated (as in the Authorized Version)
by ordinary small type, "God". See table below.
II. JEHOVAH. While Elohim is God as the
Creator of all things, Jehovah is the same God in
covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare
2Chronicles
18:31). Jehovah 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 Jehovah", for Jehovah is "My God."
Jehovah is indicated (as in Authorized
Version) by small capital letters, "LORD"; and by
"GOD" When it occurs in combination with Adonai, in which case
LORD GOD = Adonai Jehovah. The name Jehovah is
combined with ten other words, which form what are known as "the
Jehovah Titles." They are as follows in the
order in which they occur in the Hebrew Canon (Appendix 1). All
are noted in the margin, in all their occurrences:-
- J
EHOVAH-JIREH = Jehovah will
see, or provide. Genesis 22:14.
JEHOVAH-ROPHEKS = Jehovah that
healeth thee. Exodus 15:26.
JEHOVAH-NISSI = Jehovah my
banner. Exodus 17:15.
JEHOVAH-MeKADDISHKEM = Jehovah that
doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13. Leviticus
20:8, 21:8, 22:32. Ezekiel
20:12.
JEHOVAH-SHALOM = Jehovah [send]
peace. Judges 6:24.
JEHOVAH-ZeBA’OTH = Jehovah of
hosts. 1Samuel
1:3, and frequently.
JEHOVAH-ZIDKENU = Jehovah our
righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16.
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH = Jehovah is
there. Ezekiel 48:35.
JEHOVAH-‘ELYON = Jehovah most
high. Psalms 7:17, 47:2, 97:9.
JEHOVAH-RO‘I = Jehovah my
Shepherd. Psalms 23:1.
We have seven of these,
experimentally referred to, in Psalms 23, inasmuch as Jehovah, 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 number 1
above. In verse 2, we have number 5.
In verse 3, we have numbers 2 and 7.
In verse 4, we have number 8.
In verse 5, we have numbers 3 and 4.
III. JAH is Jehovah in a special sense and
relation. Jehovah as having BECOME our Salvation (first occurrence Exodus
15: 2), He Who IS, and
WAS, and IS TO COME. It occurs 49 times (7x7. See Appendix 10).
Jah is indicated by type thus: Lord.
IV. 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
occurrence Genesis 14: 18-22) and sees all
(Genesis 16:13) and that
performeth all things for His people (Psalms 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, etc., where it is translated, as explained in the
margin.
V. 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 (Deuteronomy
32: 15,17). 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 we have indicated it by type thus GOD.
VI. ELYON first occurs in Genesis
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 Elyon, as possessor of the
earth, Who divides the nations "their inheritance". In
Psalms 83:18, He is
"over all the earth". The title occurs 36 times (6x6, or
62. See appendix 10).
Elyon is the Dispenser of God’s
blessings in the earth; the blessings proceeding from a Priest Who is a
King upon His throne (compare Genesis 14:18-22 with Zechariah
6:13, 14:9).
VII. SHADDAI is in every instance translated
"Almighty", and is indicated by small capital letters
("A LMIGHTY"). 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 Genesis 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 2Corinthians
6:18, where we are
called to "come out" in separation from the world. It is
always used in connection with El (see above).
VIII. 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 emphasised, but to distinguish the word
"Lord" from Adonai, which is always so printed
in the Authorized Version. (2) ADONAI is 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
Jehovah. Indeed, it was from an early date so used, by associating the
vowel points of the word Jehovah 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 Appendix 32)
We have indicated these by printing the word like Jehovah, putting an
asterisk, thus: L ORD*.
(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 others 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 Lord as owner.
- Adonai is the Lord as blesser.
- IX. The
TYPES used to indicate
the above titles, in the text, are as follows:
God = Elohim.
GOD = Jehovah (in combination with
Adonai, "Lord").
GOD* = Jehovah in the Primitive Texts, altered by
Sopherim to Elohim as in the Printed Text.
(See Appendix
32.)
GOD = El.
GOD = Eloah.
LORD = Jehovah.
THE LORD = Jah.
LORD* = Jehovah in the Primitive Text, altered by the
Sopherim to Adonai as in the Printed Text.
(See Appendix
32.)
Lord = Adonai.
LORD = Adonim.
ALMIGHTY =
Shaddai.
MOST HIGH = Elyon.
X. THE
COMBINATIONS are indicated as follows:
Adonai Jehovah = Lord GOD.
Jehovah Elohim = LORD God.
Elyon El = MOST HIGH GOD.
El Shaddai = GOD ALMIGHTY.
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