God, Names of

Names are more than labels. In Old Testament times a name expressed identification, but also identity. Significant meaning often attached to a name. Names had an explanatory function (cf. Abigail's explanation about her husband, "He is just like his name his name is Fool" [ 1 Sam 25:25 ]). Name changes were important, since a message attached to the name. Abram (great father) became Abraham (father of a multitude) ( Gen 17:5 ; 32:28 ). In some sense a name was the expression of an inmost reality.

Scripture makes much of the name for deity because in the name lies a theology. "I am the Lord, that is my name!" ( Isa 42:8 ; cf. Exod 15:3 ). The name of God is a surrogate for God himself ( Psalm 54:1 ; Prov 18:10 ; Jer 23:27 ). To give attention to the name (i.e., to God himself) is to put oneself in the place of blessing ( Mal 3:16 ).

God (Elohim [yihl\a], Eloah [;H/l\a], El [lea]). The subject of the Bible's first sentence is God ( Gen 1:1 ). Elohim [yihl\a], El [lea], and Eloah [;H/l\a] are from related roots.El [lea] (God) is a generic Semitic designation for deity. Judged by Canaanite usage at Ras Shamra/Ugarit, the term signified a god of the highest rank who was something of a father god figure. The term means a god in the widest sense. Etymologically el appears to mean "power" as in "I have the power (el) to harm you" ( Gen 31:29 ; cf. Neh 5:5 ). Job and Psalms have most of the 238 occurrences of El [lea]. El [lea] is associated with other qualities such as integrity (not lying) ( Num 23:19 ; Deut 32:4 ), jealousy ( Deut 5:9 ), and compassion ( Neh 9:31 ; Psalm 86:15 ), but the root idea of "might" remains.

The word Eloah [;H/l\a] (60 times), occurring most often in Job, etymologically underscores the idea of "power." The term is also generic for "god, " and while it refers most often to the true God, it can refer in instances to any god.