JEHOVAH: THE COVENANT NAME

We often refer to a person's reputation as his "good name."

When a company is sold, often the right to use the company's name is included in the sale. The Hebrew concept of the importance of a name is similar, conveying the nature and essence of the person or thing named, including its history and reputation.

WHAT SHOULD I CALL YOU?

We see in Ex. 3:13-22 that when Moses asks God what His name is, he is not asking "what should I call you." He is asking "who are you? What are you like? What have you done?" Kevin Conner says that to understand a name in Hebrew does not mean simply to be acquainted with it but to have experience and history with the person to whom the name belongs. We know this is true by how God responds, saying that He is eternal, He is the God of our ancestors, He sees our suffering and heals and delivers us.

Jehovah is the covenant name of God. It occurs 6,823 times in the Old Testament. It is first used in Gen. 2:4. It literally means to be or to live. Further, it means The Self-Existent One, I Am Who I Am and I Will Be Who I Will Be.

Because a name contains the reputation of the person or thing named, we should treat the name with the same respect as its reputation. Therefore, God's Names, in all of their forms, deserve enormous respect and reverence.

WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP?

The covenant name of Jehovah focuses on God's lovingkindness and mercy. This name is used in combination with other names or phrases that refer to how He has moved and will move to redeem those that are his. Here are some examples:

JEHOVAH-JIREH: The Lord will Provide. Gen. 22:14. From jireh (to see or to provide). God always provides at the right time.

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU: The Lord Our Righteousness. Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From tsidek (full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.

JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: The Lord Who Sanctifies. Lev. 20:8. Means to make whole and set apart for holiness.

JEHOVAH-SHALOM: The Lord Our Peace. Judges 6:24. Shalom. Is translated peace 170 times. Means whole, finished, fulfilled, perfected. Is related to well, welfare. Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21. Shalom refers to the kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship with God and one's fellow man.

JEHOVAH-ROPHE: The Lord Who Heals. Ex. 15:22-26. From rophe (to heal); implies spiritual, emotional and physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit.

JEHOVAH-NISSI: The Lord Our Banner. Ex. 17:15. God in battle. From a word that means to glisten, to lift up. See Psalm 4:6.

JEHOVAH-ROHI: The Lord Our Shepherd. Psa. 23. From ro'eh (to pasture).