The Names of Jehovah and Their Meanings: A Complete List
The names of Jehovah and their meanings: Jireh, Nissi, Shalom, Shammah, Tsidkenu, Rapha, Rohi and more, with the Hebrew, the verse, and what each shows about God.
The Bible gives God the name Jehovah as his own covenant name, and in several places it records names built from that name to show who he is. Some of these were given by people to altars or places—Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-shalom and Jehovah-shammah—while others are titles drawn from God’s own words, such as Jehovah-rapha, meaning the LORD who heals. Each name is a short window into the character of the God who made himself known to Israel. This article lists the main compound names of Jehovah found in or built from Scripture, with the Hebrew form, the meaning and the verse where each appears. We close by noticing how these names find their fullness in Jesus Christ, without claiming the Old Testament writers intended them as direct prophecies of him. Knowing these names helps us pray to the God who provides, heals and reigns.
The names Jehovah gave to places and altars
The Old Testament records several compound names that people gave to altars or locations to mark what God had done. These are not later inventions; the text itself sets the name in place.
Jehovah-jireh is the Hebrew Yahweh-yireh, “the LORD will provide.” Genesis 22:14 tells us that after God supplied a ram in place of Isaac on Mount Moriah, Abraham called the place by this name. It shows that God himself provides for his people, even the sacrifice their sin requires.
Jehovah-nissi, “the LORD is my banner” (Exodus 17:15), is the name Moses gave an altar after the LORD gave Israel victory over Amalek. The name shows that God is the source of deliverance, and that his people gather under his standard.
Jehovah-shalom, “the LORD is peace” (Judges 6:24), is what Gideon named the altar where the angel of the LORD had appeared and promised him peace. It shows that true peace comes from God’s presence, not merely from the absence of enemies.
Jehovah-shammah, “the LORD is there” (Ezekiel 48:35), is the name given to the city in Ezekiel’s vision of the restored temple. It shows that the great promise of the age to come is the dwelling presence of God with his people.
The name Jehovah-tsidkenu given through Jeremiah
Jehovah-tsidkenu, “the LORD our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6), appears as a name for the righteous Branch, the coming king who would reign wisely. Unlike the altar names, this is a name spoken by the prophet about the LORD himself. It shows that righteousness for God’s people is not earned by the law but given by God, who alone is righteous.
Three devotional titles built from God’s own words
Three well-loved names are not compound names found in a single verse. They are later devotional titles, built from words God speaks about himself. It is good to be plain about this so we do not misread the text.
Jehovah-rapha, meaning “the LORD who heals,” is drawn from Exodus 15:26, where the LORD declares that he is the one who heals his people. It shows God as the restorer of body and soul.
Jehovah-mekoddishkem, meaning “the LORD who sanctifies you,” comes from Exodus 31:13, where the LORD says he is the one who sets his people apart. It shows that God makes his people holy and gives the righteousness they could never manufacture.
Jehovah-rohi, meaning “the LORD my shepherd,” is taken from Psalm 23:1, where the psalmist names the LORD as his shepherd. It shows the tender care and guidance of the God who leads his flock.
The LORD of hosts, Jehovah Sabaoth
Beyond the compound names, the Old Testament uses a recurring title: the LORD of hosts, or Jehovah Sabaoth. It first appears in 1 Samuel 1:3 and is used many times throughout the Scriptures. “Hosts” speaks of the armies of heaven. The title shows that the LORD commands all creaturely power, that no earthly force stands outside his rule, and that he defends his people as a warrior king.
Why the names of God matter
The Bible itself calls God’s people to praise his name.
Praise ye Jehovah. Praise, O ye servants of Jehovah, Praise the name of Jehovah.
— Psalm 113:1 (ASV)
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Jehovah’s name is to be praised.
— Psalm 113:3 (ASV)
Learning the compound names is one way to answer that call, because each name tells us something true and settled about who God is.
How these names meet in Christ
The names we have considered each reveal one aspect of the one true God: he provides, he heals, he gives peace, he is present, he is our righteousness, he shepherds, and he reigns over all. In the person of Jesus Christ these perfections are brought together. The New Testament confesses Jesus as the Son of God through whom the Father’s character is made known. We should not claim that the Old Testament writers set these names down as hidden prophecies of Jesus, but we may say with confidence that the God who bore them is the same God now revealed in Christ.
To grow in knowing Jehovah, read the passages listed above in a Bible you can trust, pray to the Father in the name of Jesus, and walk with a local church where the Scriptures are taught. The names are not trivia; they are invitations to know the living God.
Questions readers ask
Are all the compound names of Jehovah found as single names in the Bible?
Some are, such as the altar and place names in Genesis, Exodus, Judges and Ezekiel. Others, like Jehovah-rapha and Jehovah-rohi, are devotional titles built later from a verse where God describes himself.
What is the difference between Jehovah and the word LORD in small capitals?
Jehovah is the covenant name of God, and most English Bibles print it as LORD in small capitals to distinguish it from other Hebrew words for lord. The name points to the eternal, self-existent God who keeps his covenant.
Is it wrong to use the name Jehovah today?
The name directs us to the true God revealed in Scripture, and knowing its meaning can deepen worship. Christians pray to the Father through the Son, and the names remain a faithful window into his character.
Does Jehovah-rapha appear as a name in Exodus 15:26?
No. Jehovah-rapha is a devotional title drawn from the verse where God says he is the one who heals his people. The text itself gives the statement, not the compound name.
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