The Hebrew Bible uses several names for God, and each one carries a distinct emphasis. The most important is the personal name YHWH, which appears about 6,800 times in the Old Testament and is usually printed as LORD in small capitals in English Bibles. Alongside it stand titles such as Elohim (God), Adonai (Lord or Master), and El Shaddai (God Almighty). Compound names like Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Shalom attach the divine name to a place where God acted. English readers meet the form Jehovah in a handful of verses, including Exodus 6:3 and Psalm 83:18. Knowing what each name means helps you read the Old Testament with greater care.
What is the personal name of God in Hebrew?
The personal name is written with four Hebrew consonants, YHWH, and is often called the Tetragrammaton. Because ancient Hebrew was written without vowels, the original pronunciation is uncertain. Jewish readers, out of reverence, stopped saying the name aloud and read Adonai instead. When medieval scribes added vowel signs to the consonants, the mixed form eventually produced the Latinised spelling Jehovah. Most scholars today prefer Yahweh as a reconstruction, though no one can be certain.
God explained the name to Moses at the burning bush:
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” — Exodus 3:14 (BSB)
The name is linked to the verb “to be” and speaks of God’s self-existence and faithfulness. It is the covenant name by which He made Himself known to Israel. English Bibles show it as LORD in small capitals; the KJV and ASV also print “Jehovah” in a few places, such as:
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. — Psalm 83:18 (KJV)
What do the main Hebrew names and titles mean?
Elohim is the general word for God, used from the first verse of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, BSB). It is a plural form, but when it refers to the God of Israel it takes singular verbs, which is one reason Christians have long seen a hint of God’s majesty and, in the light of the whole Bible, of the triune life.
Adonai means “Lord” or “Master,” from a root meaning to rule. It is the word Jews said aloud when they came to YHWH in the text, and it is the reason English Bibles print LORD (from YHWH) differently from Lord (from Adonai).
El Shaddai, usually translated “God Almighty,” appears in the patriarchal stories:
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless.” — Genesis 17:1 (BSB)
YHWH Sabaoth, “the LORD of Hosts,” pictures God as commander of the armies of heaven. The New Testament keeps the title in Greek: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom” (Romans 9:29, BSB).
What do the compound names of Jehovah mean?
Several compound names tie the divine name to a moment of need.
Jehovah-Jireh, “The LORD Will Provide,” comes from Abraham on Mount Moriah:
And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” — Genesis 22:14 (BSB)
Jehovah-Nissi, “The LORD Is My Banner,” was Moses’ altar after Israel’s victory over Amalek (Exodus 17:15). Jehovah-Shalom, “The LORD Is Peace,” was Gideon’s altar (Judges 6:24). Jehovah-Raah, “The LORD Is My Shepherd,” lies behind Psalm 23:1. Jehovah-Tsidkenu, “The LORD Our Righteousness,” is a prophetic name for the coming king (Jeremiah 23:6). Jehovah-Shammah, “The LORD Is There,” closes Ezekiel’s vision of the city (Ezekiel 48:35).
These are not different gods. They are one God, known by what He does for His people.
Why do Bibles print LORD in small capitals?
English translations follow a long convention. Where the Hebrew has YHWH, they print LORD in small capitals; where it has Adonai, they print Lord in ordinary type. This lets a reader tell the two apart without knowing Hebrew. The KJV and ASV keep the form Jehovah in a small number of verses, including Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 and Isaiah 26:4. Most modern versions use LORD throughout. Neither practice changes the meaning; it is a typesetting decision with a long history.
The ASV, for example, reads at Isaiah 12:2:
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. — Isaiah 12:2 (ASV)
How should these names shape the way you read Scripture?
When you meet a name of God in the Old Testament, slow down and ask what it reveals about Him in that scene. Elohim speaks of the Creator’s power. Adonai speaks of His right to rule. El Shaddai speaks of His sufficiency. YHWH speaks of His covenant faithfulness to a people He has chosen. The compound names show Him meeting real needs — provision, peace, guidance, righteousness, presence.
The New Testament takes up these themes and applies them to Jesus Christ. He is called the Lamb of God (John 1:29), and He bears the name above every name. The God of the Hebrew Scriptures is the God Christians worship: one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Reading the names prayerfully, with a humble heart, is one of the simplest ways to grow in knowing Him. If you want to go further, read Exodus 34:6, where the LORD proclaims His own character, and let that description shape your prayers. Talk with a pastor or a mature believer in your local church about what you are learning; the names of God are best studied in the company of His people.
Questions readers ask
What is the difference between Yahweh and Jehovah?
Both refer to the same four Hebrew consonants, YHWH. Yahweh is a modern scholarly reconstruction of the original pronunciation; Jehovah is the older English form that arose when the consonants were read with the vowels of Adonai. The KJV and ASV use Jehovah in a few verses; most Bibles print LORD in small capitals.
How many names of God are there in the Hebrew Bible?
There is no fixed number. The main names and titles include Elohim, YHWH, Adonai, El Shaddai, and YHWH Sabaoth, along with compound names such as Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Shalom. Each highlights a different aspect of God’s character and work.
Why do Jews not say the name YHWH aloud?
Out of reverence, Jewish readers stopped pronouncing the divine name and read Adonai instead when they came to it in the text. This custom is ancient and is one reason the original pronunciation was eventually lost. Christians read the same text and honour the name in their own way.
Do the names of God in the Old Testament apply to Jesus?
The New Testament presents Jesus as fully God and fully man, sharing the divine identity. Titles such as Lord and Lamb of God are applied to Him, and He is said to bear the name above every name. Christians read the Old Testament names as revealing the one God whom Jesus reveals perfectly.
Lexicon answers from the Bible and public-domain reference works. It is a study aid and is not affiliated with any organisation.