THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GOD’S NAMES

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GOD’S NAMES

Unlike today, the Old Testament place great significance on names. Names revealed something about a person’s history, character, or nature, e.g. Jezebel, Nebuchadnezzar, Jacob, Judas. In those days a name was like a part of a person, an extension of the personality of the individual.

God’s name represents the following:

1. God's PRESENCE (I Kings 8:27-29; II Chron 2:1, 6:1, 2, 6-10)
2. The revelation of His CHARACTER (I Kings 8:43)
3. His POWER (Ex 9:16), and
4. His AUTHORITY (Ex 3:13-15).

• God demands REVERENCE for His name (Deut 28:58-59)
• God’s name must not be taken in VAIN (Ex 20:7)
• God’s name must not be forgotten (Psalm 44:20-21; Jeremiah 23:25-27)
• God promises a blessing for those who know and think upon His name (Psalm 91:14-16, Malachi 3:16, respectively).
• God used many names as a means of progressive self-revelation, e.g., Ex 6:3.
• However, in Gen 22:14, Abraham did use the name Jehovah in recognition of God’s providence, but God did not make known to him the full significance of this name in its redemptive aspect. So, in Exodus 6:3
• God promised to reveal Himself to His people in a new way. That is, He began to associate His name with a new understanding of His character and presence.

To know the name of God is to witness the manifestation of His attributes and to understand that character, which the name signifies. Simply put, God's name is His self-revelation.  

Old Testament Names by which God was known