| Divine
Names |
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| Old Testament Names | ||||||||
| In the
Old Testament we see several names for GOD. Strangely enough there are three
primary names for GOD. Using the three primary names there are many
combinations of those names used in the text. Unfortunately for our Islamic friends "Allah" is not one of the names. For our Jehovah's Witness friends "Jehovah" isn't one of GOD's names either. The primary names for GOD are;
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| YHWH | ||||||||
| In your old
testament where you see the word "LORD" specifically rendered in
capitals the Hebrew being translated is the divine name "YHWH". "The Self-existent one" simply "I AM" YHWH is considered a personal name. This name was considered so sacred that the Jews would not say it allowed or write it with the vowels. The result of this practice means that the true pronunciation of this name has been lost. Some pronounce it "YEH-WEH" others "JeYaWah" and others don't try. |
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| Elohiym | ||||||||
| When you see the
word "GOD" in your English translation also rendered in all caps, the
Hebrew being translated is Elohiym. Elohiym is the plural form of the word
Eloah. This is a fascinating distinction because wherever you see Elohiym
rendered referring to GOD is is used in a singular sense. If we were to use
plural words in a singular tense in the English it would sound like poor
grammar. The Hebrew is that same. Yet we see this word rendered in a singular
tense yet it is plural itself. Perhaps this is another illusion to the
plurality of GOD's nature. It is pronounced "EL-O-Heem". Incidently the Islamics try and tie the word Allah to the Hebrew word Eloah and thus tie themselves into Judaism. The term Eloah in the Hebrew is a generic word for god. When you see passages in the OT referring to pagan gods and false gods, the Hebrew word for god is Eloah. |
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| Adonai | ||||||||
| When you read in
the OT the term "Lord" that is with the initial capped only the
Hebrew underneath it is Adonai. Adonai is close in meaning to the old English word lord, but more likely in modern English to the word Master. |
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| The Compound Names | ||||||||
Strangely enough
the OT has many compound names for GOD.
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| New Testament Names | ||||||||
The New Testament
is written in a different language that the Old instead of Hebrew, the New
Testament is written in Greek. In the New Testament we find primarily two words
for God;
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| Kurios | ||||||||
| LORD, LORDSHIP
kurios NT:2962, properly an adjective, signifying "having power"
(kuros) or "authority," is used as a noun, variously translated in
the NT, "`Lord,' 'master,' 'Master,' 'owner,' 'Sir,' a title of wide
significance, occurring in each book of the NT save Titus and the Epistles of
John. Through out the New Testament we have Jesus referred to as Kurios. Fascinating enough the first Christians were persecuted for not wanting to say "Caesar Kurios" because they thought that would be an insult to Jesus. |
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| Theos | ||||||||
| GOD
theos (I) in the polytheism of the Greeks, denoted "a god or deity,"
e. g., Acts 14:11; 19:26; 28:6; 1 Cor 8:5; Gal 4:8. (II) (a) Hence the word was
appropriated by Jews and retained by Christians to denote "the one true
God." In the Sept. theos translates (with few exceptions) the Hebrew words
Elohiym and Jehovah, the former indicating His power and preeminence, the
latter His unoriginated, immutable, eternal and self-sustained existence. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) |
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