Biblical Names of God: 15 Names, Meanings, and Bible Verses
Biblical names of God are the names and titles Scripture uses to reveal who God is. Names like Elohim, Yahweh, El Shaddai, Jehovah Jireh, and Immanuel do not describe different gods. They show different facets of the one true God - His power, holiness, presence, care, and covenant faithfulness.
That is why the names of God matter. They do more than give believers new words to study. They help us know how God has made Himself known in creation, covenant, rescue, peace, provision, and the coming of Christ. This is a curated list of some of the most important biblical names of God, not an exhaustive count. Some of the entries are proper names, some are titles, and some are compound descriptions, but each one helps us see God's character more clearly.
Why does God have different names in the Bible?
In the Bible, names often reveal character, calling, authority, or relationship. So when Scripture gives different names and titles for God, it is not changing who God is. It is revealing more of who He is.
That also means names-of-God lists need a small note of caution. Not every entry works like a modern first name. Some are titles such as Adonai ("Lord" or "Master"). Others are compound descriptions such as Yahweh-Jireh ("The LORD Will Provide"). Together, they show how God made Himself known in different moments of redemptive history.
The biggest example is YHWH, often written as Yahweh. In many English Bibles, that divine name appears as LORD in all capital letters. The older form Jehovah comes from the same divine-name tradition. When God revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3, He tied that name to His living presence and covenant faithfulness: He is the God who is, the God who remembers, and the God who will be with His people.
15 biblical names of God and what they mean
This list is not every name or title used for God in Scripture, but it covers the major names most readers are looking for when they study the biblical names of God.
1. Elohim - God, Creator, Mighty One
Bible references: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33
Elohim is one of the first names for God that readers encounter in the Bible. It appears in Genesis 1:1, where God creates the heavens and the earth. The name highlights His power, majesty, and right to rule over all things.
When Scripture uses Elohim, it reminds us that God is not limited, needy, or derivative. He is the Creator, not part of creation. He speaks, and the world begins to exist.
2. Yahweh (YHWH) - LORD, "I AM"
Bible references: Exodus 3:14-15; Deuteronomy 6:4
Yahweh is the central covenant name of God in the Old Testament. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He said, "I AM WHO I AM," and then identified Himself as the God who would be remembered by this name from generation to generation.
In many English translations, YHWH appears as LORD in all caps. That matters because it helps you notice when the Bible is using the divine name instead of the more general title "Lord." The older English form Jehovah points back to the same name tradition. This name emphasizes that God is self-existent, faithful, and personally present with His people.
3. Adonai - Lord, Master
Bible references: Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15
Adonai means "Lord" or "Master." It emphasizes God's authority and our rightful posture before Him. He is not only the Creator; He is the One to whom we belong.
This name helps guard against casual ideas about God. To call Him Adonai is to recognize His rule, His wisdom, and our need to trust and obey Him.
4. El Shaddai - God Almighty
Bible references: Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3
El Shaddai is usually translated "God Almighty." It highlights God's overwhelming strength and sufficiency. He is not merely strong enough to help a little. He is mighty enough to keep covenant promises that seem humanly impossible.
That is why this name often feels especially comforting in situations where people are weak, waiting, or beyond their own ability. El Shaddai reminds us that God's power is never exhausted.
5. El Elyon - God Most High
Bible references: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 97:9
El Elyon means "God Most High." The name stresses God's exalted rule above every earthly power, rival claim, or false god. He is not one strong being among many. He is the Most High.
This name is especially helpful when life feels chaotic or when earthly authority looks bigger than it really is. El Elyon reminds us that God's throne is higher than every other throne.
6. El Roi - The God Who Sees
Bible references: Genesis 16:13
El Roi means "the God who sees." Hagar used this name after meeting God in her distress in the wilderness. She had been mistreated, driven out, and left in a place of vulnerability, yet God saw her there.
That makes El Roi one of the most personal names in the Bible. It reminds readers that God is not distant from the overlooked, ashamed, anxious, or abandoned. He sees what others miss.
7. El Olam - Everlasting God
Bible references: Genesis 21:33; Psalm 90:1-2
El Olam means "Everlasting God." This name points to God's eternity. He is not bound by time, aging, or decay. Before generations came and went, He already was.
For believers, that means God's promises are not fragile. He is not temporary, changeable, or short-lived. The Everlasting God remains who He has always been.
8. Yahweh-Jireh / Jehovah Jireh - The LORD Will Provide
Bible references: Genesis 22:14
After God provided a ram in place of Isaac, Abraham named that place Yahweh-Jireh, often rendered Jehovah Jireh, "The LORD Will Provide." The name is anchored in a moment of testing, trust, and divine provision.
That does not mean God promises to give every desire exactly when we want it. It does mean He sees the true need of His people and is able to provide what is necessary in His wisdom and faithfulness.
9. Yahweh-Rapha / Jehovah Rapha - The LORD Who Heals
Bible references: Exodus 15:26
Yahweh-Rapha means "The LORD who heals." In Exodus 15, the name appears in a setting of bitter water, testing, and restoration. The name shows God as the One who can heal what is broken.
This name should be handled with reverence and balance. God is the healer of body and soul, yet His healing does not always unfold on our desired timetable. Still, the name teaches believers to look to Him as the true source of restoration.
10. Yahweh-Nissi / Jehovah Nissi - The LORD Is My Banner
Bible references: Exodus 17:15
Yahweh-Nissi means "The LORD is my banner." After victory over Amalek, Moses built an altar and gave it this name. A banner was a rallying point, a sign of identity and victory.
The name reminds believers that God is the One under whom His people stand. Their hope is not in self-confidence or human strength, but in the Lord who leads and defends them.
11. Yahweh-Shalom / Jehovah Shalom - The LORD Is Peace
Bible references: Judges 6:24
Yahweh-Shalom means "The LORD is peace." Gideon used this name after a fearful encounter in which God reassured him. The context matters: this was not shallow calm or wishful thinking. It was peace given in the middle of trembling and uncertainty.
That is why this name is so comforting. God's peace is not mere quiet circumstances. It is the steadiness of His presence when fear would otherwise take over.
12. Yahweh-Tsidkenu / Jehovah Tsidkenu - The LORD Our Righteousness
Bible references: Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16
Yahweh-Tsidkenu means "The LORD our righteousness." This name points to the truth that righteousness is not something sinners manufacture for themselves. God is the One who gives what He requires.
For Christians, this name naturally points forward to the righteousness God provides through Christ. It is a name of hope for people who know they cannot make themselves clean enough.
13. Yahweh-Rohi / Jehovah Rohi - The LORD My Shepherd
Bible references: Psalm 23:1
Yahweh-Rohi means "The LORD my shepherd." Psalm 23 gives this one its unforgettable place in Christian memory. God is not only high and mighty. He also leads, feeds, guards, and restores His people like a shepherd with sheep.
This name brings tenderness into the list. The God of glory is also the God who guides weary people one step at a time.
14. Yahweh-Shammah / Jehovah Shammah - The LORD Is There
Bible references: Ezekiel 48:35
Yahweh-Shammah means "The LORD is there." In Ezekiel, the name points to the restored reality of God's presence with His people. It answers one of the deepest fears in Scripture: not only suffering or judgment, but the loss of God's presence.
This name matters because it teaches believers that God's final answer is not distance. His answer is presence.
15. Immanuel - God With Us
Bible references: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
Immanuel means "God with us." Matthew applies this name to Jesus, showing that God's presence with His people is not only a promise in the abstract. It comes to fulfillment in Christ.
That is why Immanuel makes such a fitting close to a list of biblical names of God. The same God who is Most High, Almighty, Provider, Peace, and Shepherd has drawn near to us in the coming of Christ. If you want to keep tracing that theme, these Bible verses about the name of Jesus make a natural next step.
Other biblical titles and names could also be added, including Yahweh-Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts), Rock, Redeemer, Ancient of Days, and Father. But the fifteen above are a strong starting point for understanding the names of God in Scripture.
What do these names of God reveal about Him?
Taken together, these names show that God is both exalted and near. He is Elohim and El Elyon, the mighty Creator and the Most High. He is also El Roi, the God who sees, and Yahweh-Shammah, the Lord who is there.
They show that God's character is not one-dimensional. He is powerful, but He is not only power. He is holy and righteous, but He is not cold. He provides, heals, shepherds, sees, and gives peace. That is why studying the names of God can deepen worship instead of merely expanding religious vocabulary.
In other words, the names of God help believers move from vague thoughts about God to clearer knowledge of who He is. They help us grow in knowing God and resting in His presence instead of treating Him like a distant idea.
How can you pray through the names of God?
A simple way to pray through the names of God is to start with the passage where the name appears. Read it in context. Notice what the scene reveals about God. Then praise Him for that truth and bring your need under it.
For example, if you are afraid, you can remember Yahweh-Shalom and ask the Lord to steady your heart. If you feel unseen, you can remember El Roi and bring your pain to the God who sees. If you are uncertain about tomorrow, you can remember Yahweh-Jireh and ask God to provide what you truly need. This kind of prayer naturally leads into praising God and submitting yourself to God's will.
One caution matters here: the names of God are not magic formulas. The power is not in repeating a Hebrew term as if it were a spiritual technique. The power is in the Lord Himself. His names help you know Him more truly, trust Him more deeply, and pray more biblically.
A short prayer praising God by His names
Father, You are Elohim, the mighty Creator, and You are Yahweh, the faithful Lord who is always true to Your word. You are El Roi, the God who sees, Yahweh-Jireh, the Lord who provides, and Yahweh-Shalom, the Lord who gives peace. Thank You for being our Shepherd, our righteousness, and our ever-present God. Help me know You more truly, trust You more fully, and worship You with greater love. In Jesus' name, amen.
