Like many, my view of God was shaped by my relationship with my earthly father. I often saw God as distant or disappointed in me. That made it hard to believe He was close, let alone loving. I’m still unlearning some of those misconceptions (for both God and my earthly Dad). One thing that’s helped reshape my faith recently has been studying the names of God.
Why Study The Biblical Names For God.
I’m thankful to be part of a church, Victory, where the names of God are taught regularly. Those messages stirred something in me. I wanted to go beyond the surface and understand more than just the few names I’d grown familiar with. I knew God as Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides but I hadn’t yet encountered Him as El Roi, the God who sees me.
God is like a diamond, full of brilliance and complexity. Each name reveals a different facet of who He is. These aren’t just ancient titles. No, they are invitations to know Him more personally. The more we understand each facet about who He is, the more confident we can be in our identity as His children.
This time, instead of creating affirmations about myself, I wanted to anchor my heart in what’s true about God. This is a journey through the names of God in the order they appear in Scripture. My hope is that each name will help you draw closer to Him, trust Him more deeply, and believe again that you are fully known and fully loved.
A Word Before You Begin.
This list is not meant to be exhaustive or legalistic. It’s a devotional tool, a way to study and reflect on the nature of God. Depending on your background or denomination, some of these names may feel more familiar than others. That’s okay.
If a particular name doesn’t speak to you right now, like El Olam, the Everlasting God, then set it aside. Come back later, or not at all. This is an invitation, not a checklist. The goal is not academic mastery, but deeper intimacy with the One who calls you His own.
Biblical Names of God List.
Includes names from the Trinity. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- Elohim – God, Creator, Mighty One (Genesis 1:1)
- Rauch – Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2)
- Yahweh (YHWH) – I AM WHO I AM (Genesis 2:4, Exodus 3:14)
- El Elyon – God Most High (Genesis 14:18–20)
- Adonai – Lord, Master (Genesis 15:2)
- El Roi – The God Who Sees Me (Genesis 16:13)
- El Shaddai – God Almighty, All-Sufficient One (Genesis 17:1)
- El Olam – The Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)
- Yahweh-Yireh (Jehovah-Jireh) – The LORD Will Provide (Genesis 22:14)
- The Mighty One of Jacob (Genesis 49:24)
- Yahweh-Rapha – The LORD Who Heals (Exodus 15:26)
- Yahweh-Nissi – The LORD is My Banner (Exodus 17:15)
- Yahweh-Mekaddishkem – The LORD Who Sanctifies You (Exodus 31:13)
- Qanna – Jealous God (Exodus 34:14)
- Rock – Unshakeable Refuge (Deuteronomy 32:4)
- Yahweh-Shalom – The LORD is Peace (Judges 6:24)
- Yahweh-Sabaoth – The LORD of Hosts (1 Samuel 1:3)
- Go’el – Redeemer, Kinsman-Redeemer (Job 19:25)
- Yahweh-Rohi (Jehovah-Rohi) – The LORD My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
- Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22)
- Yahweh-Tsidkenu (Jehovah-Tsidkenu) – The LORD Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
- Yahweh-Shammah (Jehovah-Shammah) – The LORD is There (Ezekiel 48:35)
- Immanuel – God With Us (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)
- Jesus (Yeshua) – The LORD is Salvation (Matthew 1:21)
- Christ (Messiah) – Anointed One (Matthew 16:16)
- Son of God (Matthew 3:17)
- Abba (Father) (Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15)
- Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22, Acts 1:8)
- Logos – The Word (John 1:1)
- Lamb of God (John 1:29)
- The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
- Parakletos – Comforter, Advocate, Helper (John 14:16, John 15:26)
- Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, John 16:13)
- Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9, 1 Peter 1:11)
- Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15)
- Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
- Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4:14)
- Alpha and Omega – The Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:8)
- King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)
39 Biblical Names For God and Their Meanings.
Elohim – God, Creator, Mighty.
In the beginning, [Elohim] God created the heavens and the earth.Genesis 1:1
Elohim is the very first name of God revealed in the Bible. It speaks to His power, sovereignty, and creative authority. This plural form points to His majesty and hints at the Trinity. He is the God who speaks order out of chaos.
He is the Creator of all things. Nothing exists apart from Him.
Ruach – Spirit of God.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the [Spirit of God] was hovering over the face of the waters.Genesis 1:2“Ruach” in Hebrew means spirit, wind, or breath. The Spirit of God was active from the very beginning. Hovering, moving, and creating. He is not an impersonal force but the very breath of God breathing life and order into chaos.
Yahweh (YHWH) – I AM WHO I AM.
This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the [Yahweh] LORD God made the earth and the heavens.Genesis 2:4
The sacred covenant name of God. When Moses asked God His name, He replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” Yahweh is personal, eternal, and unchanging. It expresses God’s self-existence and faithfulness.
He is the God who is, who was, and who will always be.
Note: While Exodus 3:14 is the full revelation, Genesis 2:4 is the first appearance of the name YHWH
El Elyon – God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of [El Elyon] God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram by [El Elyon] God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be [El Elyon] God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave a tithe of all.Genesis 14:18-20
Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, blesses Abram in the name of El Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth. This name emphasizes God’s supremacy over all spiritual and earthly powers.
He is exalted above all else. None compares to Him.
Adonai – Lord, Master.
But Abram said, “[Adonai] Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”Genesis 15:2
Abram refers to God as “Adonai,” expressing surrender and reverence. He is not just a distant deity, but the Master we serve. Adonai reflects submission and obedience.
He is not just Savior. He is Lord.
El Roi – The God Who Sees Me.
Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You-Are-the-[El Roi]-God-Who-Sees”; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”Genesis 16:13
Hagar, mistreated and cast out, meets God in the wilderness and declares, “You are the God who sees me.” El Roi reveals that God is not distant. He sees the hurting, the unseen, and the marginalized.
He sees you even when the world doesn’t.
El Shaddai – God Almighty, All-Sufficient One.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am [El Shaddai] Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”Genesis 17:1
When God appears to Abram, He says, “I am El Shaddai.” He is both powerful and nurturing. The all-sufficient provider who strengthens and sustains.
He is enough. He is strength when yours runs out.
El Olam – The Everlasting God.
Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the [El Olam] Everlasting God.Genesis 21:33
Abraham plants a tree and calls on El Olam, the eternal God. He never changes. He exists beyond time. Abraham calls upon this name, recognizing God’s eternal nature and His unchanging faithfulness through generations. He is without beginning or end, and His covenant love endures forever.
Yahweh-Yireh (Jehovah Jireh) – The LORD Will Provide.
And Abraham called the name of the place, [Yahweh-Yireh] The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”Genesis 22:14
After God provides a ram for sacrifice in place of Isaac, Abraham declares, “The LORD will provide.” God sees the need before it arises and meets it in His perfect timing.
He is the provider. Always has been, always will be. He sees our need and makes a way where there seems to be none.
The Mighty One of Jacob.
But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel).Genesis 49:24
This descriptive title appears in Jacob’s blessing of Joseph, emphasizing God’s strength and His special, covenantal relationship with Jacob and his descendants. He is a powerful protector and upholder of His people.
Yahweh-Rapha (Jehovah Rapha) – The LORD Who Heals.
and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the [Yahweh-Rapha] LORD who heals you.”Exodus 15:26
Revealed after the Israelites’ miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, this name assures us of God’s power to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He is our divine physician.
He restores what is broken. Wholeness is in His hands.
Yahweh-Nissi (Jehovah Nissi) – The LORD is My Banner / The LORD is My Victory.
And Moses built an altar and called its name, [Yahweh-Nissi] The-LORD-Is-My-Banner;Exodus 17:15
Moses builds an altar and names it this after a victory in battle against the Amalekites. It signifies God as our victory, our rallying point, and the one who leads us in triumph.
He is your victory. In every battle, He goes before you.
Yahweh-Mekaddishkem (Jehovah Mekaddishkem) – The LORD Who Sanctifies You.
“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the [Yahweh-Mekaddishkem] LORD who sanctifies you.”Exodus 31:13
God uses this name in relation to the Sabbath, emphasizing His role in setting His people apart for Himself, making them holy and consecrated to His purposes.
God sets His people apart through His own holiness. Sanctification isn’t something we achieve, it’s something He works in us.
He calls you out to make you holy.
Qanna – Jealous God.
(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is [Qanna] Jealous, is a jealous God),Exodus 34:14
God declares that He is a jealous God, not envious, but possessive of what is rightfully His. His jealousy protects covenant faithfulness. He desires our full-hearted devotion.
He is not content with half your heart. He wants all of you.
Rock – Unshakeable Refuge.
He is the [Rock], His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.Deuteronomy 32:4
Moses declares God as our Rock, a powerful metaphor for His unwavering strength, stability, and reliability. He is our secure foundation and refuge in all circumstances.
When all else shakes, He remains.
Yahweh-Shalom (Jehovah Shalom) – The LORD is Peace.
So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it [Yahweh-Shalom] The-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.Judges 6:24
Gideon, full of fear, encounters God and builds an altar to Yahweh-Shalom. In the midst of chaos and conflict, God reveals Himself as peace. Gideon names his altar this after God assures him of peace despite his fears, revealing God as the source of true inner peace that transcends understanding.
He is your calm in the storm.
Yahweh-Sabaoth (Jehovah Sabaoth)– The LORD of Hosts.
This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the [Yahweh-Sabaoth] LORD of Hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.1 Samuel 1:3
This name, used over 270 times in Scripture, refers to God as the commander of heavenly armies. He is the King of glory, the divine warrior. This name emphasizes God’s supreme authority over all angelic and heavenly armies, underscoring His power and might.
He fights for you. Victory belongs to the LORD.
Go’el – Redeemer, Kinsman-Redeemer.
For I know that my [Go’el] Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;Job 19:25
“I know that my Redeemer lives,” declares Job. Go’el is the one who rescues family at a cost to himself. God is the Redeemer who brings justice, restores inheritance, and defends the helpless. Job, in his suffering, declares his trust in his living Redeemer. This term speaks of one who buys back, delivers, or avenges a wronged family member, foreshadowing Christ’s redemptive work.
He steps in and pays the price to make you whole.
Yahweh-Rohi (Jehovah-Rohi) – The LORD My Shepherd.
The [Yahweh-Rohi] LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.Psalm 23:1
David’s beloved psalm paints God as our caring shepherd who guides, protects, provides for, and restores His flock, leading us in paths of righteousness.
Ancient of Days.
“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the [Ancient of Days] was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;Daniel 7:9
Daniel’s vision portrays God as eternal and supremely wise, the ultimate judge and ruler over all history, who has existed from eternity past.
Yahweh-Tsidkenu (Jehovah Tsidkenu) – The LORD Our Righteousness.
In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: [Yahweh-Tsidkenu] THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.Jeremiah 23:6
A key prophetic name for the promised Messiah, indicating that God Himself is the source of our righteousness and justice, making us right with Him.
Yahweh-Shammah (Jehovah Shammah) – The LORD is There.
All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: [Yahweh-Shammah] THE LORD IS THERE.”Ezekiel 48:35
The concluding name in Ezekiel’s vision of the renewed temple, signifying God’s permanent and dwelling presence with His people. He is not just near, He is *there*.
Immanuel – God With Us.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name [Immanuel] Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14
Prophesied by Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus’ birth, this name declares that God Himself has come to dwell among humanity, bridging the gap between heaven and earth.
Immanuel is the promise fulfilled in Christ. God did not remain distant. He stepped into time and space to dwell with us.
You are not alone. God is with you.
Jesus (Yeshua) – The LORD is Salvation.
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name [Jesus], for He will save His people from their sins.”Matthew 1:21
“In the beginning was the Word…” Logos is the mind, reason, and communication of God, made flesh in Jesus. Jesus is God’s final word, the full expression of His will and nature.
The very name given to the Son of God, signifying His mission to save His people from their sins. It means “Yahweh saves” or “The LORD is salvation.”
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.
Christ (Messiah) – Anointed One.
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the [Christ], the Son of the living God.”Matthew 16:16
This title confirms Jesus’ divine calling as the long-awaited deliverer and King, chosen and consecrated by God for a specific redemptive purpose.
Son of God.
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved [Son of God], in whom I am well pleased.”Matthew 3:17
Affirmed by God the Father Himself at Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration, this title emphasizes Jesus’ unique relationship and divine nature, sharing the very essence of God.
Abba (Father).
And He said, “[Abba], Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”Mark 14:36
Jesus’ intimate address to God in the Garden of Gethsemane, and later echoed by Paul, highlights a deeply personal and affectionate relationship with God as our loving Father.
Holy Spirit.
And the [Holy Spirit] descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”Luke 3:22The most commonly used name for the third person of the Trinity. He is holy, set apart, and sent to indwell believers, guide us in truth, and glorify Christ. His presence is God’s abiding gift to His people.
Logos – The Word.
In the beginning was the [Logos] Word, and the [Logos] Word was with God, and the [Logos] Word was God.John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word…” Logos is the mind, reason, and communication of God, made flesh in Jesus. Jesus is God’s final word, the full expression of His will and nature.
John introduces Jesus as the eternal Word, the divine expression of God through whom all things were created and through whom God reveals Himself to humanity.
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.
Lamb of God.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The [Lamb of God] who takes away the sin of the world!”John 1:29
John the Baptist identifies Jesus this way, pointing to His role as the ultimate, sacrificial offering for the sins of the world, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Jesus said to him, “I am the [Way], the [Truth], and the [Life]. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”John 14:6
Jesus’ profound self-identification, revealing Him as the sole path to God, the embodiment of absolute truth, and the source of all spiritual and eternal life.
Parakletos (Comforter / Advocate / Helper).
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [Helper], that He may abide with you forever.John 14:16“Parakletos” in Greek means one called alongside to help. He is our Comforter in sorrow, Advocate in weakness, and Helper in life. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just empower, He walks with us.
Spirit of Truth.
The [Spirit of truth], whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.John 14:17Jesus called Him the Spirit of Truth. He does not flatter or deceive. He reveals what is real, even when it convicts. He teaches us, reminds us of Jesus’ words, and leads us into all truth.
Spirit of Christ.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the [Spirit of God] dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the [Spirit of Christ], he is not His.Romans 8:9This title reveals the inseparable unity between Christ and the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who empowered Jesus now dwells in us, forming Christ in us.
Spirit of Adoption.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the [Spirit of adoption] by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”Romans 8:15This name declares our new identity. We are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit seals our adoption and teaches us to call God our Father with intimacy and boldness.
Spirit of God.
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the [Spirit of God].1 Corinthians 2:11The Spirit of God knows the deep things of God. He searches, reveals, and gives us access to the mind of our Creator. This name speaks of divine intimacy and perfect unity within the Trinity.
Eternal Spirit.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the [eternal Spirit] offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?Hebrews 9:14He is not temporary or passing. The Eternal Spirit was, is, and always will be. His work spans eternity, perfectly unified with the timeless plan of God.
Spirit of Glory.
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the [Spirit of glory] and of God rests upon you.1 Peter 4:14When the world mocks or mistreats us for Christ’s sake, the Spirit of Glory rests upon us. He is the radiance of God’s presence in suffering, testifying that we are His.
Alpha and Omega – The Beginning and the End.
“I am the [Alpha and Omega], the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:8
God declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. He is the author and the finisher of all things. Time, creation, history, and salvation.
Your story begins and ends with Him.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: [KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS].Revelation 19:16
Jesus returns wearing this title. Supreme over every ruler, president, empire, and spiritual force. He is the final authority. He reigns forever.
He is not just a king – He is King over all kings.