Q. As children of God, why do we call our Father by many titles (God, Lord, Lord Almighty, etc) and not his real name (YHWH or Yahweh)? What name was the Messiah born with and why don’t we use it today?

A. Let’s begin with:  God is one 

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1 Tim 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

So we know that God is one, and yet we know Him through His word by many names.

To answer your first question:  Many of these names that the Bible gives us help us in understanding the nature and character of God.

In the Old Testament we see compound names that include a descriptive Hebrew word with Jehovah or El, both of which are Hebrew words for God.  These descriptive words help us to better understand the nature and character of God.  They serve to define the attributes of God.

Jehovah-jireh – The Lord Will See To It  Genesis 22:14

Jehovah-rawfaw – The Lord That Makes Whole Exodus 15:26; Jeremiah 33:6;  1 Kings 18:30; Job 5:17,18; Psalms 103:3; Psalms 146:3

Jehovah-nissi – The Lord Our Banner Exodus 17:15

Jehovah-shalom – The Lord Gives Peace  Judges 6:24

Jehovah-tsidkeneau – The Lord Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6

Jehovah-raah – The Lord My Shepherd Psalm 23 (shepherd); Ezekiel 34:11-15 (companion); Jeremiah 3:12-16 (pastors); Judges 11:34-35 (friend); Exodus 33:11 (friend) 

Jehovah-Shama – The Lord is Present Ezekial 48:35; Exodus 33:14; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9

Jehovah-InKaddesh – The Lord Which Sanctifies Leviticus 20:18, 21:15, 21:23, 22:9, 22:16

El-shaddai – The Almighty God Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11; Ruth 1:20-21; 31 x in Job; Ezekiel 10:5

El-elyon – The Most High God Gen 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:8; Isaiah 14:14

El-elyon – Possessor of Heaven and Earth, Part II Gen 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:8; Isaiah 14:14, Daniel 3: 26, 4:17; Psalm 56:2

Elohim – Kurios – Matthew 22:44; Luke 19:31, 33, 34; Matthew 12:8; John 13:13; Matthew 6:24; Revelation 17:14

Adonai – Master – The Lord Our God Deut. 10:17; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 110:1,5; Isaiah 6:1,8,9; Genesis 15:2

In the New Testament as God is revealed through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we also see many names that give us understanding of the attributes and roles of our triune God:

Advocate – 1 John 2:1, Almighty – Revelation 1:8;  Alpha (beginning) – Revelation 1:8; Amen – Revelation 3:14; Anointed One – Acts 10:38; Apostle – Hebrews 3:1; Author and Finisher of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2: Beginning (Alpha) – Revelation 21:6; Bishop of Souls – 1 Peter 2:25; Bread of Life – John 6:35,48; Bridegroom – Matthew 9:15; Carpenter – Mark 6:3; Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:4; The Christ – Matthew 1:16; Comforter – John 14:16; Consolation of Israel – Luke 2:25; Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20; Dayspring – Luke 1:78; Day Star – 2 Peter 1:19; Deliverer – Romans 11:26; Door for the Sheep – John 10:7; Emmanuel – Matthew 1:23; End (Omega) – Revelation 21:6; Faithful and True Witness – Revelation 3:14; First Fruits – 1 Corinthians 15:23; Friend of Publicans (sinners) – Matthew 11:19; Gift of God – 2 Corinthians 9:15; God – John 1:1; Glory of God – Rev 21:23; Good Shepherd – John 10:11; Governor – Matthew 2:6; Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20; Guide – Luke 1:79, John 16:13; Head of the Body/the Church – Colossians 1:18; High Priest – Hebrews 3:1; Holy One of God – Mark 1:24; Hope - Rom 15:13, Titus 2:13; Horn of Salvation – Luke 1:69; I Am – John 8:58; Jesus – Matthew 1:21; King of Israel – Matthew 27:42; King of Kings – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16 ; Lamb of God – John 1:29; Last Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:45; Life – John 11:25; Light of the World – John 8:12; John 9:5; Lion of the Tribe of Judah – Revelation 5:5; Lord of Lords – 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16; Lord from Heaven – 1 Corinthians 15:47; Master – Matthew 23:8; Mediator – 1 Timothy 2:5; Messiah – John 1:41; Minister (Servant) – Mark 10:45; Morning Star – Revelation 22:16; Nazarene – Matthew 2:23; Omega (End) – Revelation 1:8; Passover Lamb – 1 Corinthians 5:7; Physician – Matthew 9:12; Potentate – 1 Timothy 6:15; Priest – Hebrews 4:15; Prophet – Acts 3:22; Propitiation – I John 2:2; Rabbi – John 1:49; Ransom – 1 Timothy 2:6; Redeemer – Gal 3:13, Titus 2:14; Resurrection – John 11:25; Rock – 1 Corinthians 10:4; Root of David – Revelation 22:16; Sacrifice – Ephesians 5:2; Savior – Luke 1:47; Second Man (Second Adam) – 1 Corinthians 15:47; Seed of Abraham – Galatians 3:16; Seed of David – 2 Timothy 2:8; Shepherd – 1 Peter 2:25; Son of David – Matthew 15:22; Son of God – Luke 1:35; Son of Man – Matthew 18:11; Son of Mary – Mark 6:3; Son of the Highest – Luke 1:32; Stone – Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11; True Vine – John 15:1;  Truth – John 14:6; Way – John 14:6; Word – John 1:1

In answer to your second question, What name was the Messiah born with and why don’t we use it today?, the Messiah was given the name Jesus, and we do use it today.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

This entry was posted in Questions Answered. Bookmark the permalink.