|
Opening
prayer:
I'd like to give the opening and closing prayer myself this
time, from the Karaite Siddur:
Who am I, but dust and ashes, wretched and woeful, vain and
empty, that I may be worthy to stand in prayer before the great
and awesome king, sublime and exalted is his name, the king of
emperors, the Holy One, blessed be He, the cause of all causes,
the reason for all reasons; but I am dependent upon His great
mercy and his magnificent grace, for he has mercy upon his
creations and accepts the prayers and supplications of his
servants, as it is written: YHWH is nigh unto all them that call
upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him; He will
also hear their cry, and will save them.
Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee doth all flesh come.
Happy are they that dwell in Thy house, they are ever
praising Thee. Selah.
Praise His Holy Name!
by Michelle Johnson
As you
can tell from the title of this study, it's all about praising
His Holy Name. This
isn't going to be my “usual” study, per se, but I hope that
you will enjoy it (and maybe learn something from it, too).
Now, we all know that Yehovah is our God.
No question about it.
We all know that He is the Creator, the Sovereign King of
the Universe, the One True God.
But, do we really know Him?
Who He is?
Who IS He?
Names are important. Names
are powerful. Names
can tell an awful lot about someone; who they are, what they
stand for. Names
(and titles) can (and do) express certain character traits.
How we represent ourselves, our reputation, what other
people call us, is an indication of the type of person that we
are. For example,
would you be more likely to trust: Mother Teresa or Sid Vicious?
Mother Teresa made a name for herself by helping people, and was
known as a kind, caring person; while Sid Vicious lived up to
his name and reputation, and stabbed his girlfriend to death.
Let me say right now that this is not a dissertation to find THE
Name - there are many excellent studies out there that delve
into that subject - rather, this is a study of the different
names and titles that Yehovah has been called in the Scriptures.
I know that many studies have been done by many people
(probably better than I can do) on the different names of
Yehovah. All of the
studies that I have ever come across have been done by
Christians, and naturally have a Christian slant to them.
While I have never seen a study done from the Jewish
perspective, I am sure that there is at least one, if not more,
out there.
I think it is important to know the different names and titles
of Yehovah, what they are, what they mean, and what they tell us
about Him. So,
without further ado, let us begin our study.
I will be using the Strong's Reference numbers for the
various names studied. I
will not put the entire definition down, as some are quite
lengthy. However, I
will put down enough so that the meaning of the word is clear.
Adonai
Strong's Reference: 0136
masculine noun
1)
my lord, lord
a)
of men
b) of God
2)
Lord - title, spoken
in place of Yehovah in Jewish
display of reverence
We all have heard this Name applied to Yehovah at one time or
another. What it
means is “Lord” - the owner and ruler of everything.
Most rabbinical Jews use the term “Adonai” as a substitute
for the tetragrammaton, YHWH, because as it says in
Sh'mot (Exodus) 20:7 - You are not to use lightly the name of
Yehovah your God, because Yehovah will not leave unpunished
someone who uses his name lightly
and
D'varim (Deuteronomy) 5:11 - You are not to misuse the name of
Yehovah your God, because Yehovah will not leave unpunished
someone who misuses his name.
The man who used it as a curse was put to death at Yehovah's
explicit instruction:
Vayikra (Leviticus) 24:10-23 - (10) There was a man who was the
son of a woman of Isra'el and an Egyptian father. He went out
among the people of Isra'el, and this son of a woman of Isra'el
had a fight in the camp with a man of Isra'el, (11) in the
course of which the son of the woman of Isra'el uttered the Name
[YHWH] in a curse. So they brought him to Moshe. (His mother's
name was Shlomit the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan).
(12) They put him under guard until Yehovah would tell them what
to do. (13) Yehovah said to Moshe, (14) “Take the man who
cursed outside the camp, have everyone who heard him lay their
hands on his head, and have the entire community stone him. (15)
Then tell the people of Isra'el, “Whoever curses his God will
bear the consequences of his sin; (16) and whoever blasphemes
the name of Yehovah must be put to death; the entire community
must stone him. The foreigner as well as the citizen is to be
put to death if he blasphemes the Name. ... (23) So Moshe spoke
to the people of Isra'el, and they took the man who had cursed
outside the camp and stoned him to death. Thus the people of
Isra'el did as Yehovah had ordered Moshe.
Some, especially the ultra-Orthodox, have withdrawn from even
using the name “Adonai” except in specific religious
settings. However,
we are specifically commanded to call upon His Name:
Yo'el (Joel) 2:32 (or 3:5, depending on what version/translation
you use) - At that time, whoever
calls on the name of Yehovah will be saved
and
Tz'fanyah (Zephaniah) 3:9 - For then I will change the peoples,
so that they will have pure lips, to call
on the name of Yehovah, all of them, and serve him with one
accord.
Tehillim (Psalms) 105:1 - Give thanks to Yehovah! Call
on his name! Make his deeds known among the peoples.
(This verse is also almost verbatim in Yesha'yahu
[Isaiah] 12:4).
How can we call upon His Name if we do not know what it is?
As it says in
Divrei-Hayamim Bet (2 Chronicles) 6:32-33, when Shlomo was
praying at the dedication of the Temple - (32) Also the
foreigner who does not belong to your people Isra'el - when he
comes from a distant country because of your great reputation,
your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when they come and
pray toward this house; (33) then hear from heaven, from where
you live; and act in accordance with everything about which the
foreigner is calling to you; so that all the peoples of the earth will know your name and fear you, as
does your people Isra'el, and so that they will know that this
house which I have built bears your name.
and
Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 52:6 - Therefore my people will
know my name; therefore on that day they will know that I,
the one speaking - here I am!
As long as we do not lose sight of the fact that we are indeed
to call upon His Name, Yehovah, the use of “Adonai” as a
title meaning “Lord, the owner and ruler of everything”,
should be all right to use, in my opinion.
Just keep in mind that it is just a title, and not His
Name.
Yehovah rules over all of creation.
He summons the world from east to west (Tehillim 50:1).
He calls to the heavens above and to earth, in order to
judge (rule, BDB # 1777) his people (Tehillim 50:4).
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself
is judge, ruler over all - (to rule, govern, judge, BDB # 8199 -
Tehillim 50:6). Barukh
atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, Blessed are you, O Lord
our God, King of the Universe!
Adonai
Elohei-Tzva'ot
Strong's Reference: 06635
masculine noun
1)
that which goes forth, army, war, warfare,
host
a)
army, host
1)
host (of organized army)
2)
host (of angels)
3)
of sun, moon, and stars
4)
of whole creation
b)
war, warfare, service, go
out to war
c) service
Adonai, as we have just seen,
is a title bestowed upon Yehovah that means 'Lord, the owner and
ruler of everything”. Adonai
Elohei-Tzva'ot means Lord God of Hosts, or the Almighty
Commander of the invisible angelic hosts who decrees the course
of history. I have
also seen it spelled as “Sabbaoth”.
There are also similar titles of “Adonai Elohim
Elohei-Tzva'ot”, the Lord God, God of Hosts; “Adonai
Elohim-Tzva'ot”, the Lord God of Hosts; “Adonai Tzva'ot”,
the Lord of Sabaoth, the Lord of [heaven's] armies, Lord of
Hosts.
This name denotes His universal sovereignty over every army,
both spiritual and earthly. The Lord of Hosts is the king of all
heaven and earth.
Sh'mu'el Alef (1 Samuel) 17:45 - David answered the P'lishti,
You're coming at me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I'm
coming at you in the name of Adonai-Tzva'ot, the God of the
armies of Isra'el, whom you have challenged.
Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 1:24 - Therefore, says the Lord,
Adonai-Tzva'ot, the Mighty One of Isra'el, I will free myself of
my adversaries, I will take vengeance on my enemies.
Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 6:1-3 - (1) In the year of King 'Uziyahu's
death, I saw Yehovah sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of
his robe filled the temple. (2) S'rafim stood over him, each
with six wings - two for covering his face, two for covering his
feet and two for flying. (3) They were crying out to each other,
“More holy than the holiest holiness is Adonai-Tzva'ot! The
whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Tehillim (Psalms) 24:7-10 - (7) Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious king can
enter! (8) Who is he, this glorious king? Yehovah, strong and
mighty, Yehovah, mighty in battle. (9) Lift up your heads, you
gates! Lift them up, everlasting doors, so that the glorious
king can enter! (10) Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai-Tzva'ot - he is the glorious king.
Praise you, Yehovah, ruler of all things.
How deeply loved are your dwelling places, Adonai -
Tzva'ot! As the sparrow finds herself a home and the swallow her
nest, where she lays her young, [so my resting place is] by your
altars, Adonai-Tzva'ot, my king and my God. (Tehillim 84:1,3)
El
Strong's Reference:
0410
masculine noun
1) god, god-like one, mighty one
a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes
b) angels
c) god,
false god, (demons, imaginations)
d) God, the one true God, Yehovah
2) mighty things in nature
3) strength, power
The name El is another name for Yehovah.
It can stand alone, or in combination with other
words/names. When
combined with other words, El helps to describe different
aspects of Yehovah's character.
B'resheet (Genesis) 16:13 - So she named Yehovah who had spoken
with her El Ro'i [God of seeing], because she said, Have I
really seen the One who sees me [and stayed alive]?
B'resheet (Genesis) 21:33 - Avraham planted a tamarisk tree in
Be'er-Sheva, and there he called on the name of Yehovah, the
everlasting El.
B'resheet (Genesis) 35:1 - Elohim said to Ya'akov, Get up, go up
to Beit-El and live there, and make there an altar to El, who
appeared to you when you fled 'Esav your brother.
Praise be to you,
Yehovah. You are my El, and I thank you. You are my Elohim; I
exalt you. Tehillim (Psalms) 118:28
El 'Elyon
Strong's Reference:
05945
adj
1) high,
upper
a) of Davidic king exalted above monarchs
n m
2)
Highest, Most High
a) name of God
b) of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes
El 'Elyon
means God Most High. It
expresses the extreme sovereignty and majesty of God. It can
also be translated as "the most exalted God."
B'resheet (Genesis) 14:18-20 - (18) Malk-Tzedek king of Shalem
brought out bread and wine. He was cohen of El 'Elyon [God Most
High], (19) so he blessed him with these words: “Blessed be
Avram by El 'Elyon, maker of heaven and earth.
(20) and blessed be El 'Elyon, who handed your enemies
over to you.” Avram
gave him a tenth of everything.
D'varim (Deuteronomy) 32:8 - When 'Elyon gave each nation its
heritage, when he divided the human race, he assigned the
boundaries of peoples according to Isra'el's population;
Praised be you, Yehovah. Clap
your hands, all you peoples! Shout to Elohim with cries of joy!
For Yehovah 'Elyon is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
(Tehillim 47:2)
El
'Olam
Strong's Reference: 05769
masculine noun
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever,
everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
a) ancient time, long time (of past)
b) (of future)
1) for ever, always
2) continuous existence, perpetual
3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
This name of Yehovah means: The Everlasting God, The God of
Eternity, The God of the Universe, The God of Ancient Days, the
Eternal God. It shows us that Yehovah Was, Is, and Will Be,
forever and ever.
B'resheet (Genesis) 21:33 - Avraham planted a tamarisk tree in
Be'er-Sheva, and there he called on the name of Yehovah, the
everlasting God [El 'Olam].
Praised be your
Name, Yehovah, El 'Olam. Before
the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the
world, from eternity (everlasting, 'olam) past to eternity
(everlasting, 'olam) future you are El.
Elohim
Strong's Reference:
0430
noun, masculine plural.
1) (plural)
a) rulers, judges
b) divine ones
c) angels
d) gods
2) (plural intensive - singular meaning)
a) god, goddess
b) godlike one
c) works or special possessions of God
d) the (true) God
e) God
As I understand it, Elohim used in the plural intensive,
singular meaning, used with the article, refers to Yehovah.
Elohim, plural, refers to humans, angels (messengers), or
judges.
Tehillim (Psalms) 82 - (1) Elohim [Yehovah] stands in the divine
assembly; there with the elohim [judges], he judges: (2) “How
long will you go on judging unfairly, favoring the wicked?
(Selah) (3) Give justice to the weak and the fatherless! Uphold
the rights of the wretched and poor! (4) Rescue the destitute
and needy; deliver them from the power of the wicked!” (5)
They don't know, they don't understand, they wander about in
darkness; meanwhile, all the foundations of the earth are being
undermined. (6) “My decree is: 'You are elohim [judges], sons
of the Most High all of you. (7) Nevertheless, you will die like
mortals; like any prince, you will fall.” (8) Rise up, Elohim
[Yehovah], and judge the earth; for all the nations are yours.
Praised be you, Yehovah, our mighty Elohim.
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all
who adulterously leave you. But for me, the nearness of Elohim
is my good; I have made Adonai Yehovah Elohim my refuge, so that
I can tell of all your works. (Tehillim 73:28)
El
Shaddai
Strong's Reference: 07706
noun, masculine
1) almighty, most powerful
a) Shaddai, the Almighty (of God)
El Shaddai means
God Almighty; the Almighty One who nourishes, satisfies, and
supplies, All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty.
As I was looking at different sources for the Names, I came
across this next bit of information from the Blue Letter Bible
online. I thought it
was very interesting and paints quite a good word picture that
helps to describe this aspect of Yehovah's character:
“El is another name that is translated as "God" and
can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various
aspects of God's character. Another word much like Shaddai, and
from which many believe it derived, is shad meaning
"breast" in Hebrew (some other scholars believe that
the name is derived from an Akkadian word Šadu, meaning
"mountain," suggesting strength and power). This
refers to God completely nourishing, satisfying, and supplying
His people with all their needs as a mother would her child.
Connected with the word for God, El, this denotes a God who
freely gives nourishment and blessing, He is our sustainer.”
B'resheet (Genesis) 17:1 - When Avram was 99 years old Yehovah
appeared to Avram and said to him, I am El Shaddai [God
Almighty]. Walk in
my presence and be pure-hearted.
B'resheet (Genesis) 28:3 - May El Shaddai bless you, make you
fruitful and increase your descendants, until they become a
whole assembly of peoples.
B'resheet (Genesis) 35:11 - God further said to him, I am El
Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a group of
nations, will come from you; kings will be descended from you.
Praise you, Yehovah El Shaddai.
You who live in the shelter of 'Elyon, who spend your
nights in the shadow of Shaddai, who say to Adonai, “My
refuge! My fortress! My Elohim, in whom I trust!” - he will
rescue you from the trap of the hunter and from the plague of
calamities; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his
wings you will find refuge; his truth is a shield and
protection.
'Ehyeh
I will only list
some of the definition here, as there is a lot to it, and it is
all very similar.
Strong's Reference: 01961
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
3) to be instituted, be established
b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
When Yehovah appeared to Moshe in the burning bush, he told
Moshe that he is the eternally existing God:
Sh'mot (Exodus) 3:13-14 - Moshe said to God, Look, when I appear
before the people of Isra'el and say to them, The God of your
ancestors has sent me to you; and they ask me, What is his name?
what am I to tell them? (14) God said to Moshe, Ehyeh Asher
Ehyeh [I am/will be what I am/will be], and added, Here is what
to say to the people of Isra'el: 'Ehyeh [I Am or I Will Be] has
sent me to you.
Praise be to you, He Who Is and Who Will Be, our Yehovah, our 'Ehyeh.
Qanna
This was a new name for me.
I had never heard it before. It means jealous, zealous,
or envy. It can also
be spelled Kanna.
Strong's Reference: 07067
adjective.
1) jealous (only of God)
The fundamental meaning relates to a marriage relationship. God
is depicted as Israel's husband; He is a jealous God, wanting
all our praise for Himself and no one else.
Sh'mot (Exodus) 34:14 - ... you are not to bow down to any other
god; since Yehovah - whose very name is Jealous [Qanna] - is a
jealous God.
Praised be You, Yehovah, for you are our mighty Elohim, and are
Jealous (Qanna), wanting and desiring that You should be first
and foremost in our lives, always.
Yah
Strong's Reference:
03050, contraction for 03068 (Yehovah) and meaning the
same
proper noun dei
1) Yah (Yehovah in the shortened form)
a) the proper name of the one true God
b) used in many compounds
1) names beginning with the letters 'Ye'
2) names ending with 'iah' or 'yah'
As the definition is self-explanatory, I don't really feel the
need to comment further on this name.
Here are some verses that show this particular name being
used in the Scriptures:
Tehillim (Psalms) 68:4 - Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
extol him who rides on the clouds by his name, Yah; and be glad
in his presence.
Sh'mot (Exodus) 15:2 - Yah is my strength and my song, and he
has become my salvation. This is my God: I will glorify him; my
father's God: I will exalt him.
Praise be to you, Yehovah. How
happy the man whom you correct, Yah, whom you teach from your
Torah. Tehillim (Psalms) 94:12
YHWH
This name is used
more than any other name of God. It can be spelled out, such as:
Yehovah, Yehowah, Yahweh, Yihweh
Strong's Reference: 03068
proper noun
Yehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
a) un-pronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136
Yehovah means the only self-existent, ever-living God. This name
of God which (by Orthodox Jewish tradition) is too holy to
voice, is actually spelled "YHWH" without vowels. YHWH
is referred to as the Tetragrammaton (which simply means
"the four letters"). YHWH comes from the Hebrew
letters: Yud, Hay, Vav, Hay. While YHWH is first used in Genesis
2, God did not reveal Himself as YHWH until Exodus 3. The
different modern spellings include vowels to assist in
pronunciation. Many pronounce YHWH as "Yahweh" or
"Jehovah." We no longer know for certain the exact
pronunciation. (I
read a very good study that states just the opposite, that we do
in fact still know how to pronounce the Name, by Nehemia Gordon.
It made a lot of sense to me.) During the third century
A.D., the Jewish people stopped saying this name in fear of
contravening the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name
of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7). As a result of
this, Adonai is occasionally a substitute for YHWH. ** This
explanatory note was taken from the Blue Letter Bible online,
with some interjections from me.
The following names all begin with Yehovah, and are
combined with other words to give yet more insight into the
different aspects of His character. **
Yehovah-Rophe
Strong's Reference:
07495
verb
1) to heal, make healthful
2) of God
3) of hurts of nations involving restored favour (fig)
4) of individual distresses (fig)
Yehovah-Rophe
means the Lord who heals, restores and cures.
It can also be spelled: Yehovah Rophecha; Yehovah Raphah.
Yehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and
emotional needs of His people.
Yesha'yahu 30:26 - Moreover, the light of the moon will be as
bright as the light of the sun; and the light of the sun will be
seven times stronger, like the light of seven days [in one], on
the day that Yehovah-Rophe binds up the wounds of his people and
heals the bruise caused by the blow.
Sh'mot (Exodus) 15:26 - He said, “If you will listen intently
to the voice of Yehovah your God, do what he considers right,
pay attention to his mitzvot and observe his laws, I will not
afflict you with any of the diseases i brought on the Egyptians;
because I am Yehovah-Rophe your healer.”
Praised be you, Yehovah Rophe, because you heal your people.
Praised be you, Yehovah Rophe, for you bring healing to your
land. Praised be
you, Yehovah Rophe, for you restore our strength.
Praise you always, Yehovah!
Yehovah-Rohi,
Yehovah-Raah
Strong's Reference: 07462
verb
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
a) to shepherd
3) (Piel) to be a special friend
Yehovah-Rohi means Yehovah is our Shepherd, or the Lord is my
Friend.
It can
also be spelled as Yehovah Ro'eh.
It speaks of Yehovah as watching over us, as a shepherd
watches over his sheep, taking care of them, seeing to all of
their needs.
Tehillim (Psalms) 23:1 - Yehovah-Rohi is my shepherd, I lack
nothing.
Tehillim (Psalms) 80:1 - Yehovah-Rohi, Shepherd of Isra'el,
listen! You who led Yosef like a flock, you whose throne is on
the k'ruvim, shine out!
Praised be you,
Yehovah Rohi, for guiding us as a shepherd guides his flocks.
Praised be you, Yehovah Rohi, for being our friend.
Praised be you, Yehovah Rohi, for leading us in the path
of your Torah.
Yehovah-Shalom
Strong's Reference: 03073
proper noun
Yehovah-shalom = "Yehovah is peace"
1) the name of a sacred altar built by Gideon in Ophrah
I found one entry for this Name.
The story behind it is found in Shof'tim (Judges) chapter
6. The angel of God
was talking to Gideon about going up against Midyan.
When the angel of God reached out with the stick he was
holding and caused fire to shoot up out of the rock and burn up
the meat and matzot that Gideon had made for him, and then
disappeared from sight, Gideon (understandably so) got upset.
Shof'tim (Judges) 6:22 - 24 - (22) Gid'on realized that he was
the angel of Yehovah and said, “Oh no! My Lord! Yehovah!
Because I've seen the angel of Yehovah face-to-face!” (23) But
Yehovah reassured him, “Shalom to you, don't be afraid, you
won't die!” (24) Then Gid'on built an altar there to Yehovah
and called it “Yehovah-Shalom”; to this day it remains in 'Ofrah
of the Avi'ezri.
Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim; may those who love you prosper.
May shalom be within your ramparts, prosperity in your
palaces. For the
sake of my family and friends, I say, “Shalom be within
you!” For the sake
of the house of Yehovah our Elohim, I will seek your well-being.
(Tehillim 122:6-9)
Yehovah-Shammah
Strong's Reference:
03074
proper noun
Yehovah-shammah = "Yehovah is there"
1) a symbolic name for Jerusalem
Yehovah-Shammah means Yehovah is here.
It can also be spelled Yehovah Samma. It is a symbolic
name for the earthly Jerusalem. The name indicates that God has
not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins, but that there
will be a restoration.
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 48:35 - The perimeter of [the city] will be
just under six [miles] long. And from that day on the name of
the city will be Yehovah Shamah [Yehovah is there].
Blessed be your name, Yehovah.
You are truly our Yehovah -Shammah, for you are with us,
and will nevore abandon your people nor Yerushalayim, but will
restore us and bring us home.
Yehovah-Nissi
Strong's Reference:
03071
proper noun
Yehovah-nissi = "Yehovah is my banner"
1) the name given by Moses to the altar which he built in
commemoration of the discomfiture of the Amalekites
Yehovah-Nissi means Yehovah is our banner, our flag of victory,
the Lord My Banner, The Lord my Miracle.
In the past, when the different clans in the Scottish Highlands
went to war against each other, they would each fly their own
flag, or colors, from a pole on the front lines.
This was to give the men a focal point, and a sense of
hope. It showed
where they were in the battle, if they were falling back, or if
they had the advantage, as the lines pressed forward in battle.
This is what Yehovah is to us.
As we grow in our knowledge of Him, as our faith is
strengthened, He is what we should be focusing on.
He is our banner.
Sh'mot (Exodus) 17:15-16 - Moshe built an altar, called it
Yehovah Nissi [Yehovah is my banner/miracle], (16) and said,
Because their hand was against the throne of Yah, Yehovah will
fight 'Amalek generation after generation.
Praised be to you, Yehovah Nissi, and thank you for reminding us
to always keep our eyes focused on you, our Banner.
Yehovah-Yireh
Strong's Reference:
03070
proper noun
Yehovah-yireh = "Yehovah sees"
1) symbolic name given by Abraham to Mount Moriah in
commemoration of the interposition of the angel of Yehovah who
prevented the sacrifice of Isaac and provided a substitute
Yehovah-Yireh means Yehovah's provision shall be seen, or the
Lord will Provide.
Avraham avinu knew this. He
had complete faith in Yehovah.
As he was taking his son Yitz'chak to be an offering to
Yehovah, as he had been instructed to do, Yitz'chak questioned
him:
B'resheet (Genesis) 22:7-8 - (7) Yitz'chak spoke to Avraham his
father: My father? He answered, Here I am, my son. He said, I
see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt
offering? (8) Avraham replied, God will provide himself the lamb
for a burnt offering, my son; and they both went on together.
As we read in the definition, Yehovah-Yireh is a symbolic name
given to Mount Moriah by Abraham to memorialize the intercession
of God in the sacrifice of Isaac by providing a substitute for
the imminent sacrifice of his son:
B'resheet (Genesis) 22:14 - Avraham call the place Yehovah
Yir'eh [Yehovah will see (to it), Yehovah provides] - as it is
said to this day, “On the mountain Yehovah is seen.”
Praised be you, Yehovah Yireh, My Provider.
Thank you for seeing to all of my needs, that I do not
want. Thank you for
providing for my most basic needs and for providing other things
that are needed as well as some of my wants as well.
You are and have always been, my Provider, Yehovah Yireh.
Yehovah-M'Kiddesh,
Yehovah-Mekoddishkem
This entry was very
long; I will only post the first part of the definition.
Strong's Reference: 06942
verb
1) to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be
holy, be sanctified, be separate
Yehovah-M'Kiddesh means Yehovah makes us holy; the Lord Who
Sanctifies you, the Lord Who makes Holy, the Lord Who sets you
apart.
This name
helps to remind us that we are to be a light to the nations, a
holy priesthood.
Sh'mot (Exodus) 19:5-6 - (5) Now if you will pay careful
attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be
my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is
mine; (6) and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation
set apart. These are the words you are to speak to the people of
Isra'el.
Sh'mot (Exodus) 31:13 - Tell the people of Isra'el, You are to
observe my Shabbats; for this is a sign between me and you
through all your generations; so that you will know that I am
Yehovah-M'Kiddesh, who sets you apart for me.
Vayikra (Leviticus) 20:8 - Observe my regulations, and obey
them; I am Yehovah-M'Kiddesh, who sets you apart to be holy.
Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:32 - You are not to profane my holy name;
on the contrary, I am to be regarded as holy among the people of
Isra'el; I am Yehovah-M'Kiddesh, who makes you holy
Praised be to you,
Yehovah M'Kiddesh, for setting us apart and making us holy, that
we may be a light to others, so that they may come to know you
as well.
Yehovah-Tsidkenu
Strong's Reference: 03072
proper noun
Yehovah is our righteousness
1) a sacred name symbolically applied to Jerusalem
Yehovah-Tsidkenu means Yehovah is our righteousness.
Speaking of the king that will come to reign over Israel:
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 23:6 - In his days Y'hudah will be saved,
Isra'el will live in safety, and the name given to him will be
Yehovah-Tzidkenu [Yehovah our righteousness].
and as the name applied to the holy city of Jerusalem:
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 33:16- When those days come, Y'hudah will
be saved, Yerushalayim will live in safety, and the name given
to her will be Yehovah-Tzidkenu [Yehovah our Righteousness].
Yehovah is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounds
in loving kindness. He does not reward us according to our
iniquities nor is He angry with us forever. As far as the east
is from the west he removes our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children, Yehovah has
compassion on those who fear Him. He is the God of our
redemption, the restorer of our soul, Yehovah-tsidkenu, The Lord
Our Righteousness.
I am sure there are many other names and titles applied to
Yehovah in the Scriptures that I have missed.
Some, that man has applied to him; others, that Yehovah
called himself (El Shaddai, 'Ehyeh, Qanna).
Yehovah is omniscient (knowing everything), omnipresent (he is
everywhere), and omnipotent (having absolute power and
authority). He lives
outside of time and space. How
are we, as mere human beings, frail, finite creatures, going to
be able to understand the infinite?
I believe (and I could be wrong, but this is my opinion),
that the different names applied to Yehovah throughout the
Tanakh help to show us different aspects of his character.
They help us to understand him, to know
who he is.
When all is said and done, Yehovah is indeed mighty and worthy
to be praised.
Tehillim (Psalms) 136:1-3 -
(1) Give thanks to Yehovah, for he is good, for his grace
continues forever. (2) Give thanks to the God of gods, for his
grace continues forever. (3) Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his grace continues forever
Tehillim (Psalms) 135:19-21 - (19) House of Isra'el, bless
Yehovah! House of Aharon, bless Yehovah! (20) House of Levi,
bless Yehovah! You who fear Yehovah, bless Yehovah! (21) Blessed
be Yehovah out of Tziyon, he who dwells in Yerushalayim!
Halleluyah!
Tehillim (Psalms) 29
(1) Give Yehovah his due, you who are godly; give Yehovah his
due of glory and strength; (2) give Yehovah the glory due his
name; worship Yehovah in holy splendor.
... (10) ... Yehovah sits enthroned as king forever! (11)
May Yehovah give strength to his people! May Yehovah bless his
people with shalom!
Closing Prayer:
Blessed be your name, O God of gods, and Lord of lords.
You created me in your great mercy, breathed into me the
life force, and gave me wisdom and understanding to declare your
mighty acts and to sing your wonders.
Because you are He that creates and forms all souls, who
sustains and provides for all, who takes away life in justice
and gives life through grace and great mercy, therefore, as long
as my life force is within me, I am obliged to give thanks to
Your Holy Name to praise your glory.
You alone are Lord, an exalted king with a multitude of
glory and praise, extolled and sanctified in heaven and on
earth.
Blessed be YHWH, God, the God of Isra'el, who alone works
wonders. Blessed be
his glorious name forever, and may the whole earth be filled
with his glory.
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be
acceptable in your presence, YHWH, my Rock and Redeemer.
Amen and Amen.
|