The Divine Names
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are titles for the personalities of the Deity. What are their names?
Content
Father
See Names of God in Judaism. In medieval times, God was sometimes called The Seven, referring to the seven major names by which he was known among the Jews. Each of the names was considered sacred. The seven names for the deity over which the ancient scribes were instructed to exercise particular care were: YHWH (i.e. Yahweh), El, Elohim, Adonai, Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh (Exodus 3:14), El Shaddai, and Tzevaot (or Tsebaoth or Sabaoth). Wikipedia has two other lists of seven, with only the names YHWH, El, Elohim, El Shaddai, and Tzevaot in common. There appears to be no real agreement as to which seven names to include.
Yahweh. The tetragrammaton יהוה (transliterated as YHWH and commonly read as Yahweh) occurs 6,828 times in the Masoretic Text and is the most common name for God in the Hebrew Bible. The Jewish people refer to Yahweh as HaShem ("the Name") of God. The first occurrence is found in Genesis 2:4. Another important reference is Exodus 3:14 which explains the meaning of the name.
- Genesis 2:4 (NOG): This is the account of heaven and earth when they were created, at the time when Yahweh Elohim made earth and heaven.
- Exodus 3:14 (Expanded Bible): Then God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am” [These Hebrew words are related to the name Yahweh, usually translated “LORD,” and suggest that God eternally lives and is always with his people]. When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, ‘I Am sent me to you.’”
Yahweh's true pronunciation. See God’s name is not Yahweh – Proof from Jewish Rabbis (duration 55:43). The pronunciation is closer to YehovAh. Also see: Nehemia Gordon on the Name of God. and Is the name of God pronounced Yehovah? Irrespective of the true pronunciation, the importance of the "name" is God's character behind the name. Bearing the name of YHWH is bearing His character. If pronounced this way, then the name is viewed as containing 3 syllables with vowels Sheva, Cholam and Kamatz. This would result in 7 letters, considering the nikud (i.e. dotting or pointing) to be "letters".
Also see: The Hebrew Yehovah vs. the Roman Yahweh. The Hebrew grammar and phonetic rules dictate that when a name begins with these three letters (יהו) they are pronounced yeho-, however, when they are at the end of the name, they are pronounced -yahu. Such names are: Yeho-shua, that is Joshua, Yehonathan (Jonathan), Yehoshaphat (Jehoshapat), Yehoram, etc. Then there is Yesha-yahu, that is Isaiah, Yirme-yahu, that is Jeremiah, Eliyahu, that is Elijah, etc. The three letters יהו appear in the beginning of the Name Yehovah, therefore, they must be pronounced as in all other Hebrew names beginning with the prefix yeho- are pronounced. The phonetic rules are unchanged.
Also see: How to utter Hebrew Vav" "Vav" or "Waw"? This article argues that the correct pronunciation is vav [v], not waw [w] as in Arabic. The influence of the Arabic language into Hebrew (brought in by the Arabic speaking Jewish communities) has made the confusion that the Hebrew letter vav is vocalised as waw [w].
Also see: Top 10 Responses: Yehovah or Yahweh? by Keith Johnson.
Yahweh as breath. It has been said that the Jewish sages associated the name Yahweh with breath. A naturally voiced inhalation sounds like “Yah,” and a voiced exhalation sounds like “Weh.” Thus, with every breath we take, we are speaking God’s name. This idea is interesting and plausible, but there is no direct Biblical teaching on this.
Yahweh as Lord (in Greek and Latin). The Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, translates Yahweh as Κύριος ("Lord"). The Latin translation of the Old Testament, the Vulgate, follows the Septuagint practice and translates Yahweh as Dominus ("Lord").
See Word Studies - YHWH / LORD. Duration 4:00.
Elohim. Elohim is the Hebrew word for 'God' or 'gods'. Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity. An important verse in the OT is the Shema (Shema Yisrael) found in Deuteronomy 6:4 which identifies the one true God (Elohim) as Yahweh.
Deuteronomy 6:4: Listen, Israel: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh alone!
When referring to Yahweh, elohim very often is accompanied by the article ha-, to mean, in combination, “the God,” and sometimes with a further identification Elohim ḥayyim, meaning “the living God.” —Elohim, Encyclopedia Britannica.
See Names of God in Christianity. The Father in the NT has three Greek names or titles: Theos (θεός the Greek term for god), Kyrios (i.e. Lord in Greek) and Patēr (πατήρ i.e. Father in Greek). The Aramaic word "Abba" (אבא), meaning "Father" is used by Jesus in Mark 14:36 and also appears in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6.
Theos. Theos, θεός, means "god" in the Greek. It occurs 1,314 times in the New Testament. Theos is always used with reference to a single member of the Deity, never to a plurality of "persons." In (almost) all instances, it refers to the Father. Arguably, there are a handful of instances, seven in total (see below), where it could refer to the Son, at least to trinitarian scholars. Non-trinitarians differ with this opinion and believe all instances of theos in the New Testament refer to the Father.
- John 1:1: In the beginning was ho logos [G3056: the word—the sayings of God, His wisdom, His disposing power], and the word was pros God [—the word was an advantageous attribute of God], and the word was divine [theos in a qualitative sense].
- John 1:18: No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son [Greek, ho monogenēs huios], who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
- John 20:28: Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
- Romans 9:5: To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
- Titus 2:13: waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
- Hebrews 1:8: But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
- 2 Peter 1:1: Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
God the Father. This is a title given to God. This phrase is not a proper name for God in the Old Testament as is Yahweh. However, the concept of Yahweh being "Father" in a metaphorical sense is found in a few places.
- Psalm 68:5:
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
- Isaiah 63:16: For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Yahweh, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
In the New Testament, "God the Father" is a common phrase.
Occurrences. Listed below are some of the more common terms for the Father.
| The Father |
Times |
Notes |
| Yahweh |
6,828 |
Hebrew OT: The most common name for God |
| Elohim |
2,500+ |
Hebrew OT: Meanings range from "God" to "gods" |
| Yahweh Elohim |
887 |
Hebrew OT |
| Theos |
311 |
Greek NT |
| Abba |
3 |
Greek NT |
| "The Almighty" |
44 |
|
| "God the Father" |
13 |
|
| "The Most High God" |
11 |
|
| "Mighty God" |
10 |
|
| "The Highest" |
6 |
|
| "Ancient of days" |
3 |
|
| "Almighty God" |
3 |
|
| "True God" |
5 |
|
Son
Jesus. The name "Jesus" has its origins in the original Hebrew name for Joshua (i.e. Yehoshua) which was later shortened to Yeshua. There are several possibilities as to the literal meaning of the name but, basically, it means "Yahweh saves." The Septuagint transliterated Yeshua into Koine Greek and came up with Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) which is the form found in the Greek New Testament. The Latin translation centuries later took the Greek version and transliterated it to IESVS. Then the 12th century Early Middle English translated it to Iesu which eventually became our modern English version Jesus.
Christ. The word "Christ" is a title which comes from the Greek Χριστός (Christos) used in the Septuagint from the Hebrew word mashiach (messiah), meaning "anointed". The New Testament Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and therefore describes him as the Christ (e.g. Matthew 16:16 and John 11:27). The word Christ was so closely associated with Jesus by the early Christians that the term is often used alone.
Lord. The word "Lord" is the Greek word Kyrios (κύριος) which may mean god, lord or master. Early Christians viewed Jesus as "the Lord."
Son of God. This title is applied to Jesus in many cases in the New Testament. Some examples:
- Matthew 16:16: Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Matthew 27:43: He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
- Matthew 27:54: When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Occurrences. Listed below are some of the common terms for the Son.
| The Son |
Times |
Notes |
| "Jesus" |
942 |
Includes all terms which contain the word "Jesus" |
| "Christ" |
537 |
Includes all terms which contain the word "Christ" |
| "Jesus Christ" |
247 |
Or "Christ Jesus" |
| "Lord Jesus" |
115 |
|
| "Son of God" |
47 |
|
| "begotten" |
11 |
|
| "firstborn" |
6 |
|
| parakletos |
5 |
Variously translated as Advocate, Comforter, Helper |
| "Mediator" |
4 |
|
Spirit
There is no name given to the Spirit, it is simply a title, "Holy Spirit." In that regard, all are "holy." The Father is holy; the Son is holy; and the Spirit is holy. So one could say "holy Father," and "holy Son," and "holy Spirit."
Occurrences. Listed below are some of the common terms for the Spirit.
| The Spirit |
Times |
Notes |
| "Holy Spirit" |
89 |
Or "Holy Ghost" |
| "Spirit of God" |
29 |
|
| "Spirit of Christ" |
3 |
Or "Spirit of Jesus Christ" or "Spirit of his Son" |
| "Thy Spirit" |
9 |
Only 3 refer to a divine person |
Trinitarian terms
Listed below are the common trinitarian terms and their occurrences in the Bible.
| Trinitarian |
Times |
Notes |
| "Trinity" |
zero |
|
| "Triune God" |
zero |
|
| "God the Son" |
zero |
|
| "God the Spirit" |
zero |
|
| "God the Holy Spirit" |
zero |
|
| "God in three persons" |
zero |
|
| "Co-equal" |
zero |
|
| "Co-eternal" |
zero |
|
| "Consubstantial" |
zero |
|
Appendix
Further reading
