1. ADONAI: LORD AS LORD This word is one that reveals respect. It is used as a name:

1. for God.
2. for angels.
3. priests.
4. husbands.
5. slave owners:
   • A NAME FOR GOD When God was ready to destroy Israel because of rebellion, Moses prayed: “And now I pray let the power of my Lord (Adonai) be great, just as you have spoken saying, The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving the iniquity of these people I pray according to the greatness of your mercy.” (Num 14:17-19)
   • TO SHOW RESPECT FOR ANGELS Now the angels came to Sodom… When Lot saw them… He said, ‘Here now my lords (Adonai).” (Gen 19:1-2)
   • TO SHOW RESPECT FOR PRIESTS Hannah went with her husband to the Tabernacle annually to worship. At one time she was heavily burdened because she had no children. The priest, Eli, saw her praying and thought she was drunk, but she was praying intensely. When the Priest, Eli, accused her of being drunk … Hannah answered and said, “No my lord (Adonai)…” (1 Sam 1:15)
   • TO SHOW RESPECT FOR A HUSBAND When Sarah heard the angel promise Abraham a son by her … Sarah laughed within herself, saying “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord (Adonai) being old also.” (Gen 18:12)
   • TO SHOW RESPECT FOR HIS OWNER BY A SLAVE When Abraham sent his slave back to Nahor, a city in Mesopotamia, to find a girl to become Isaac’s wife “So he said, I am Abraham’s (Adonai)servant (slave)” (Gen 24:34) It seems that anyone worthy of respect was addressed: Adonai

1. ELOHIM In English we have two words to denote singular and plural, however, some Hebrew scholars say that the ancient Hebrew had three; singular, dual, and plural (3 or more). “Elohim” is plural. So the first statement in the Bible declares the Trinity: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1) “Then God (singular) said ‘Let Us (plural) make man in Our (plural) image, according to our likeness… so God (singular) created man in His (singular) own image; in the image of God. He created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:26-27) The Genesis clearly reveals the unity of the Trinity!
2. EL ELYON: MOST HIGH OR MOST HIGH GOD Note the play on worlds, “El-El which means God of Gods” When Nebuchadnezzar lifted his heart in pride by claiming that he had built Babylon as the Chief Nation, God struck him with insanity, so that he wandered with the cattle in the fields eating grass and sleeping in the fields. “And at the end of the time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High (El Elyon) and praised and honoured them who live forever…” (Dan 4:34)
3. EL SHADDAI: THE GOD OF THE COVENANT When Abram was 99 years old, God gave him a covenant and changed his name to Abraham. This is the beginning of the “Israelites”: God’s covenant people. “When Abraham was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abraham and said to him, ‘I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you. And I will multiply you exceedingly.’” (Gen 17:1-3)
4. EL OLAM: THE EVERLASTING GOD This name shows that God has no limit in time or space. He existed before any creation, when nothing existed except the Godhead. David praised him: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” (Ps 45:46)
5. EL GIBBOR: THE MIGHTY GOD The name declares His power and a name for Jesus in prophecy. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given…and His name shall be called…Mighty God…” (Is 9:6)
6. EL ROI: THE GOD WHO SEES When Hagar, Abraham’s slave, saw that she was with child by Abraham, she despised Sarah and disobeyed her. When Sarah punished Hagar, she fled. Soon she became exhausted from the trip and the desert heat, she was desperate. At that time an Angel of the LORD appeared to her to encourage her and bless her expected child. The Angel, also, showed her a spring of water. She drank and was refreshed. “Then she (Hagar) called the name of the LORD who spoke to her. ‘You are the God who sees…’” (Gen 16:13)

1. YHWH – LORD (I AM)
   Note: When the Bible used the word “LORD” (all capitals) (I AM) it is God’s personal name. The background and circumstances of His revelation follows; Moses visited his Hebrew brethren (slaves) in Egypt when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. He slew the Egyptian task master!
   Then Moses fled Egypt because he knew his life was in danger. After Moses spent 40 years in the desert as a Shepherd, God was ready to send Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom, God appeared to him in a bush that was burning but was not being consumed. Now Moses had seen many bushes burn as the result of lightening (For us to understand this we must realize that in the Sinai desert, bushes kept their dry leaves until it rained. Then the dead leaves fell off and new growth began quickly.)
   Moses went to the burning bush to look, and God told him He would send him to deliver the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Moses asked for Gods name. “And God said to Moses, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM” and He said, “Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you…” This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all Generations.” (Ex 3:14-15) Four thousand years later, as recorded in Luke 22:66-71, Jesus identified himself as God by using this familiar Old Testament name for God when he replied to the High Priest by stating, “Ye say that I Am.”
   The high priest recognized Jesus’ claim and accused him of blasphemy. For any other human this claim would have been blasphemy, but in this case it was true. This was also recorded in John 18: 4-8 “Jesus therefore knowing all things that should come upon Him went forth and said unto them, ‘Who seek you?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said unto them ‘I AM (he)’. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon as He had said unto them, ‘I AM (he)’, they went backward, and fell to the ground. This was the confirmation of God’s statement to Moses, that His name would be a memorial for all generations and forever”.
2. YHWH RAPHE: I AM WHO HEALS When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt the people were thirsty. They found a spring in the desert but the water was bitter. The people turned their anger against Moses. Then Moses went to God in prayer. God answered him by telling him to cut down a tree, and throw it into the water. When Moses cast the tree into the water, the water became sweet: the (I AM) healed the water. “…For I am the LORD who heals you.” (Ex 15:26)
3. YHWH RAAH: I AM IS MY SHEPHERD When David was a lad he watched over his father’s sheep. In later years, he thought of God as his shepherd. He wrote: “The LORD is my shepherd…” (Ps 23:1)
4. YHWH TSIDKENU: I AM OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS All Old Testament worship was based upon a sacrifice. All worship in this age and in ages to come is based upon Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary. “‘Behold the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will raise to David a Branch of Righteousness.’ A king shall reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and all Israel will dwell safely, now this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.” (Jer. 23:5-6)
5. YHWH NAKETH: I AM WHO STRIKES This title of God refers to His chastening Israel for their disobedience. “O Lord…You have stricken them, but they have not grieved. You have consumed them but they have refused correction. They have made their faces harder than rock. They have refused to return.” (Jer 5:3) Today, God chastens Believers. “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” (Heb 12:6)
6. YHWH M’QUADDASH: I AM WHO SANCTIFIES “…that you may know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies you.” (Ex 31:13)
7. YHWH SABIOTH: I AM OF HOSTS Yearly Elkanah took his family to the Tabernacle to worship. One of his wives, Hannah was heavily burdened because she has no children. She prayed desperately for a child. Eli the priest saw Hannah and thought she was drunk so he rebuked her. She prayed… “…O LORD of Hosts…” (I Sam 1:11)
8. YHWH GOMOLAH: I AM THE GOD OF RECOMPENSE The word “recompense” means repay or judge. Babylon was a wicked world power. God promised that He would punish her because of her sins. “This is the time of the Lord’s vengeance. He shall recompense her.” (Jer 51:6) This last and final word from Jeremiah’s prophesy declares that in God’s final judgments He rewards good and evil. God will reward the wicked by eternal banishment from His presence. He will receive believers into His eternal presence forever.
9. YWHW SHAMMAH: I AM IS THERE (PRESENT) Probably Ezekiel referred to the eternal city in heaven, the New Jerusalem, when Jesus Christ reigns forever: “…the name of the city from that day shall be: ‘The LORD (I AM) is There (present)” (Ezek 48:35)
10. YHWH SHALOM: I AM OUR PEACE When God visited Gideon as he tended his sheep, He called Gideon to gather an army of Israelites to lead them into battle against the Philistines. Gideon was afraid, but God promised him, and the Israelites victory. The battle was won. “So Gideon built an alter to the LORD (I AM) and called it, “The LORD is Peace.” (Judges 6:24)
11. YHWH NISSI: I AM MY BANNNER When Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he sent Joshua to fight the enemy. God had told Moses that he was to keep his arms raised for the Israelites to win. (A symbol of prayer) So long as Moses kept his arms raised, the Israelites were victorious. When he dropped his arms because of weariness, he sat on a stone: Aaron and Hur stood on each side of Moses and held his arms up until Joshua had won the battle. “And Moses built an alter and called its name, ‘The-LORD-My-Banner” (Ex 17:15)
12. YHWH JIRAH: I AM WILL PROVIDE God had instructed Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. He bound Isaac and laid him upon the alter. With knife in hand, Abraham raised his arm to slay Isaac. At that point God intervened and told Abraham to look around. Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked and there behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by the horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son and Abraham called the name of the place: The LORD (YHWH) Will Provide. (Gen 22:13-14)

BETHEL: THE HOUSE OF GOD Jacob fled from Esau, who threatened, because Jacob had lied to His father and stolen Esau’s blessing. On the trip he slept in the desert that night. During the night he dreamed; a ladder reached from heaven to earth and angels were ascending and descending it. The LORD stood above the ladder and spoke to Jacob. In the vision the LORD (I AM) renewed the covenant He had made with Abraham and promised the land to Jacob’s descendents who would become a nation. Jacob said: “…This is none other than the house of God…” (Gen 28:17) “And he called the name of that place Bethel…” (Gen 28:19)

Every name that God uses for Himself enlarges our comprehension of His existence or being; His works among believers, all Mankind, and in the total universe in the past, today, and throughout all eternity to come. God revealed Himself in the Old Testament by His personal name – “I AM”, and in the New Testament Jesus used the word “I AM” to declare that he was God.

At His betrayal, Jesus asked, “Whom are you seeking?” They replied “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said “I AM.” Now when he said I AM, they drew back and fell to the ground.” (Jn.18:4-6) Thus Jesus proved one more time that He is God. Jesus also said “I and my Father are one.” (Jn. 10:30) To us in another way, Jesus proved He is God.