God, the LORD

The translation of the Hebrew name “Yahweh” which is the personal name of God whose meaning was revealed to Moses. It emphasises that God is the one who is eternal, unique, unchangeable and always actively present with his people. It expresses God's role as Israel's Redeemer and covenant Lord.

The name of God, the LORD

The LORD is the personal name of God

Isaiah 42:8 “The LORD” is the NIV rendering of the Hebrew “Yahweh”.

I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

The name's meaning

Exodus 3:14–15 This forms part of God's explanation of who he is. “I AM” (in Hebrew closely resembling “Yahweh”) expresses the ever-present, unchanging, totally dependable character of God.

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.’” God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

The name is revealed to Moses

Exodus 6:2–3 The name had been used previously (e.g., Genesis 4:26) but its meaning was not fully understood until God revealed it to Moses in the context of the exodus from Egypt.

God also told Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.

The name is glorious and awesome

Deuteronomy 28:58–59 See also Joshua 7:9; 1 Samuel 12:22

If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name— the LORD your God— He will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary disasters, severe and lasting plagues, and terrible and chronic sicknesses.

The name is not to be misused

Exodus 20:7 parallel Deuteronomy 5:11 The misuse referred to here is swearing falsely by God's name. See also Leviticus 19:12, Leviticus 24:11, Leviticus 24:15–16 The Jews came to believe that just uttering the name “Yahweh” was an offence and as a result its exact pronunciation has been lost. What merited the death penalty here was using God's name as a curse.

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

God's character is revealed by his name the LORD

He is unique

Exodus 8:10; Deuteronomy 4:35, Deuteronomy 4:39; 1 Kings 8:60; Isaiah 45:5, Isaiah 45:18; Joel 2:27

He is eternal

Genesis 21:33; Psalm 9:7, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 135:13; Isaiah 26:4

He is holy

Leviticus 11:44; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 30:4; Isaiah 43:15

He is powerful

Exodus 15:6; Joshua 22:22; Psalm 93:4; Jeremiah 10:6

He is majestic

Psalm 83:18, Psalm 93:1, Psalm 97:9; Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:19, Isaiah 2:21; Micah 5:4

He is compassionate and gracious

Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8–9

He is faithful and true

Psalm 145:13

He is unchangeable

Psalm 33:11, Psalm 110:4; Malachi 3:6

He is actively present with his people

Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; 1 Kings 8:57; Haggai 1:13

God reveals the relevance of his name the LORD by his actions

In creation

Jeremiah 33:2 See also Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 43:15 “The LORD” is Creator of the universe but also the Creator of the people Israel; Isaiah 45:18 Human beings are the purpose of God's creation; they know God as “the LORD”.

“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name:

In the deliverance of his people from Egypt

Exodus 6:6 Deliverance is a central concept in the revelation of the divine name. See also Exodus 12:51, Exodus 14:30, Exodus 16:6, Exodus 20:2; Leviticus 26:13; Psalm 81:10

Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

In establishing a covenant with his people

Exodus 6:7 See also Exodus 29:46; 2 Samuel 7:24 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:22; Jeremiah 14:9

I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

In the judgment of his enemies

Exodus 12:12 See also Exodus 7:5, Exodus 8:22–23; 1 Samuel 17:45–47; 2 Chronicles 14:11–13

On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.

In the restoration of his people

Ezekiel 36:36 See also Psalm 102:15–22; Isaiah 60:15–22; Ezekiel 37:6, Ezekiel 37:13–14 The theme “then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD” (with slight variations) runs throughout the book of Ezekiel and is connected to divine acts of judgment and restoration.

Then the nations around you that remain will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was destroyed, and I have replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.

God, the LORD denotes God's lordship

He is the Sovereign LORD

Ezekiel 2:4 “Sovereign LORD” is the NIV rendering of “Adonai Yahweh”, the favourite divine title in Ezekiel. See also Genesis 15:2, Genesis 15:8; Deuteronomy 3:24; Joshua 7:7; Judges 6:22; 2 Samuel 7:18–29; Psalm 73:28; Isaiah 61:1; Jeremiah 1:6; Amos 1:8

They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

He is the LORD Almighty

1 Samuel 1:3 “The LORD Almighty” is the NIV rendering of “Yahweh Sabaoth” (“the LORD of hosts”) which emphasises the sovereignty of “the LORD”. See also 1 Chronicles 11:9; Psalm 24:10, Psalm 46:7, Psalm 46:11; Isaiah 2:12; Jeremiah 39:16; Haggai 2:6–9; Zechariah 1:3–4, Zechariah 1:6; Malachi 1:14

Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD.

He is the Lord, the LORD Almighty

Isaiah 1:24 “The Lord, the LORD Almighty” is the NIV rendering of “Adonai Yahweh Sabaoth” which is often associated with the LORD's authority to rule and to judge. See also Psalm 69:6; Isaiah 3:15, Isaiah 19:4; Jeremiah 2:19, Jeremiah 46:10, Jeremiah 49:5; Amos 9:5

Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be relieved of My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies.

As the LORD, God interacts with his people

He enforces the moral code

Leviticus 18:1–5 The phrase “I am the LORD” occurs over 40 times in Leviticus chapters 18–26 and is the authority behind the moral law given to God's people. See also Leviticus 11:44–45, Leviticus 19:2

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God. You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs. You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God. Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.

He makes his people holy

Leviticus 22:32 See also Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8, Leviticus 21:8; Ezekiel 20:12, Ezekiel 37:28

You must not profane My holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy among the Israelites. I am the LORD who sanctifies you,

He is the object of his people's worship

Exodus 4:22–23 The purpose of Israel's redemption from Egypt was that they would be free to worship the LORD. See also Exodus 12:31, Exodus 23:25; 1 Chronicles 16:29 parallel Psalm 96:9; Psalm 29:2, Psalm 99:5, Psalm 100:2; Jonah 1:9

Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”

Jesus Christ takes God's name to himself

John 8:58–59 The form of expression used by Jesus Christ meant that he was clearly identifying himself with the divine name “I AM”. The response of the crowd confirms this.

“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.