The Proper Name of the Creator
Part 7: New Testament Uses of “Name” in Relation to the CREATOR
By Ken Burns
One of the questions that arises as we consider the topic of “The Proper Name of
the CREATOR” is: What does the CREATOR want us to call Him today? And that
question leads to another question: Are any of the following terms--“Yahweh,”
“God,” “Lord,” and/or “Father”--the “[proper] name(s)” of the CREATOR? And, if
so, in what sense is it/are they His proper name(s)?
To answer these and related questions from a biblical standpoint, one must begin
by studying the occurrences of the primary words translated “name” in the Old
and New Testaments. These words are:
1. The Hebrew word shem (Strong’s #8034; first occurrence = Genesis 2:11
as “name”; and translated “name” in 832 of 864 occurrences); and
2. The Greek word onoma (Strong’s #3686; first occurrence = Matthew 1:21
as “name”; and translated “name” in 193 of its 223 occurrences). (The technical
term "onomastics"--which is the study of names, including their origins, form,
meaning, and use--comes from this Greek word.)
In considering these matters, one must also realize that the term “name” is
somewhat vague. Here is the definition of “name” from The Oxford Companion to
the English Language ("OCEL") which was, until recently, available online
free of charge at
http://www.xrefer.com (/entry/443033).
"A general, non-technical term for a word or phrase that designates a person
(woman, Helen), an animal (cat, Felix the Cat), a place . . . , or a thing . . .
"Traditionally, names fall into two categories: (1) The common name, which
designates a member of a class, such as cat, tomcat, stone, rhinestone, verse,
blank verse. Generally, common names are written without initial capital
letters. (2) The proper name, which designates a specific entity: Helen, Troy,
Helen of Troy; Henry, Henry Smith, Henry VI (both a person and a play).
Generally, proper names are written with initial capital letters for each of
their constituents, especially if they are nouns or adjectives: Prince Hal, . .
.
"Proper names are distinguished, according to referent, as: personal names
(William Smith, Heather Gibson); place-names (Alice Springs, Chicago); names of
events . . . ."
In this series of articles titled “The Proper Name of the CREATOR,” I am
presenting biblical evidence which indicates that “Yahweh” (YHWH,
Strong’s #’s 3068 and 3069) is the “proper name” of the CREATOR of the heavens
and the earth. Even more precisely, that “Yahweh” is the “personal name” of the
CREATOR, so to speak. In other words, "Yahweh" is as much the "personal name" of
the CREATOR as "Richard" is the (first part of) the personal name of my earthly
father.
And, if “Yahweh” is the "proper name" (or “personal name,” so to speak) of the
CREATOR, how is it similar to and different from “Father” as a “name” of the
CREATOR, for example? This article will begin to address that question by
providing some brief background information concerning the use of “Yahweh” in
the Old Testament--with much more planned for future articles-and by listing the
New Testament verses which certainly or possibly use the term “name” with
reference to the CREATOR.
(Please keep in mind that we are talking about
grammatical terms here--i.e., "proper name" and "personal name"--and not
theological terms. By using the term "personal name" above, I am not talking
about whether or in what sense the CREATOR is or is not a "person.")
The first occurrence of “Yahweh” is found in Genesis chapter two:
Gen. 2:4:
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were
created, in the day that the LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)] God [elohim]
made the earth and the heavens,
Here is how this verse is translated in three Bibles which use “Yahweh”
throughout the Old Testament to represent the Hebrew word YHWH:
Gen. 2:4:
These are the geneses of the heavens and the earth when they were created,--in
the day when Yahweh God made earth and heavens. [Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible (EB);
emphasis added]
Gen. 2:4:
Such was the story of heaven and earth as they were created. At the time when
Yahweh God made earth and heaven [New Jerusalem Bible (NJB); emphasis added]
Gen. 2:4:
This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they
were created, in the day that Yahweh God made earth and the heavens. [World
English Bible (WEB); emphasis added]
The first occurrence of the Hebrew word shem ("name") is also found in
Genesis chapter two:
Gen. 2:11:
The name [shem] of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the
whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
The first place where these two words [i.e., “Yahweh” and “name” (shem)]
are used together is in Genesis chapter four:
Gen. 4:26:
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name [shem]
Enos: then began men to call upon the name [shem] of the LORD [YHWH
(Yahweh)].
Verse 26 is also interesting in that we see Seth giving his son what we would
call in English grammatical terms a “proper name”; and, more specifically, a
“personal name”-i.e., “Enos.” Here is how verse 26 is translated in the EB, the
NJB, and the WEB:
Gen. 4:26:
And to Seth--to him also was born a son, and he called his name Enosh,--then was
a beginning made, to call on the name of Yahweh. (EB; emphasis added)
Gen. 4:26:
A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. This man was the first to
invoke the name Yahweh. (NJB; emphasis added)
Gen. 4:26:
There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to
call on Yahweh’s name. (WEB; emphasis added)
Next, we will look at the record in Exodus chapter three in which Moses asked
GOD what His name was:
Exod. 3:13-16, 18:
And Moses said unto God [elohim], Behold, when I come unto the children
of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God [elohim] of your fathers hath
sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say
unto them?
And God [elohim] said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM [ehyeh asher ehyeh]:
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM [ehyeh]
hath sent me unto you.
And God [elohim] said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel, The LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)] God [elohim] of your
fathers, the God [elohim] of Abraham, the God [elohim] of Isaac,
and the God [elohim] of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for
ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD [YHWH
(Yahweh)] God [elohim] of your fathers, the God [elohim] of
Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited
you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of
Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD [YHWH
(Yahweh)] God [elohim] of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us
go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may
sacrifice to the LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)] our God [elohim].
We can see clearly what (proper) name the CREATOR revealed to Moses by comparing
Exod. 3:6 with Exod. 3:15. In Exod. 3:6, GOD says:
. . . I am the God [elohim] of thy father, the God [elohim] of
Abraham, the God [elohim] of Isaac, and the God [elohim] of Jacob.
. . .
Whereas in Exod. 3:15, GOD says:
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)]
God [elohim] of your fathers, the God [elohim] of Abraham, the God
[elohim] of Isaac, and the God [elohim] of Jacob: this is my name
for ever, and this is my memorial [Heb.: zeker] unto all generations.
The language of the segment of Exod. 3:6 quoted above is very similar to the
language of the middle segment of verse 15. The primary difference between the
two segments is the addition in verse 15 of the “proper name” of the CREATOR:
i.e., YHWH (Yahweh). And the CREATOR’s proper name is seen more clearly
in other Bible versions and translations which use “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”
throughout the Old Testament to represent YHWH (Strong’s #’s 3068 and
3069):
Exod. 3:15:
And God said yet further unto Moses--Thus shalt thou say unto the sons of
Israel, Yahweh, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of
Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my name to times age-abiding, And this my
memorial to generation after generation.
[EB; emphasis added]
Exod. 3:15:
God further said to Moses, You are to tell the Israelites, Yahweh, the God of
your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has
sent me to you. This is my name for all time, and thus I am to be invoked for
all generations to come. [NJB; emphasis added]
Exod. 3:15:
God said moreover to Moses, You shall tell the children of Israel this, Yahweh,
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 my memorial to
all generations. [WEB; emphasis added]
Exod. 3:15:
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of
Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this
is my memorial unto all generations. [American Standard Version (ASV); emphasis
added]
Exod. 3:15:
And God said moreover to Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel:
Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my name for ever, and this is my
memorial unto all generations. [Darby Translation (DT); emphasis added]
Exod. 3:15:
And God saith again unto Moses, `Thus dost thou say unto the sons of Israel,
Jehovah, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob,
hath sent me unto you; this is My name--to the age, and this My memorial, to
generation--generation. [Young’s Literal Translation (YLT); emphasis added]
As can also be seen in the various versions of Exod. 3:15 quoted above, GOD
states that YHWH (Yahweh) is His name forever. And the permanence of
YHWH (Yahweh) as the CREATOR’s (proper) name may also be seen in a number of
other verses. For example, note the similarity between the last part of Exod.
3:15 and the following verse in Psalm 135:
Ps. 135:13:
Thy name, O LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)], endureth for ever; and thy memorial [zeker],
O LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)], throughout all generations.
The Hebrew word translated “memorial” in verse 15 is zeker (Strong’s
#2143)-the same word translated “memorial” in Exodus 3:15. Zeker is
translated “remembrance” in 11 of its 23 occurrences. Additional verses which
indicate the permanence of YHWH (“Yahweh”) as the CREATOR’s (proper) name
include the following:
1 Ki. 9:3:
And the LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)] said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and
thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house,
which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine
heart shall be there perpetually. [cp. 2 Chron. 7:16]
2 Ki. 21:7:
And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which
the LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)] said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this
house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I
put my name for ever: ; cp. 2 Chron. 33:7]
2 Chron. 33:4:
Also he built altars in the house of the LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)], whereof
the LORD [YHWH (Yahweh)] had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for
ever.
Once we realize that “Yahweh” is the CREATOR’s “proper name,” and that it is His
proper name “for ever,” we can see many references to that name in the New
Testament. The writers of each of the four Gospels--as well as Peter, Paul, and
James-all used the term “name” with reference to the proper name of the CREATOR:
Matthew
Matt. 21:9:
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna
to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna
in the highest. ; see also Matt. 6:9 and Matt. 23:39 (quoted below); and cp. Ps.
118:26 (“the name of YHWH,” {Yahweh})]
Ps. 118:26:
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh]: we have
blessed you out of the house of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh].
Mark
Mark 11:9, 10:
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna;
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Hosanna in the highest.; [cp. these verses (esp. verse 9) to Ps. 118:26a (“the
name of YHWH," {Yahweh}]
Ps. 118:26:
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh]: we have
blessed you out of the house of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh].
Luke
Luke 1:49:
For he that is mighty [i.e., “God my Savior” (verse 47)] hath done to me great
things; and holy [is] his name. ; see also 11:2 and 13:35 (quoted below)]
John
John 12:13:
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna:
Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.; [see also
5:43; 10:25; 12:28; 17:6, 11, 12, 26; Rev. 3:12 (quoted below)]
Peter
Acts 2:14a, 16-21:
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them,
. . .
. . . [T]his is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my
Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood,
and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that
great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved. ; cp. Joel 2:28-32; and note that “the Lord” in Acts 2:20 is
YHWH (Yahweh) in Joel 2:31; and “the Lord” in Acts 2:21 is YHWH
(Yahweh) in Joel 2:32]
Joel 2:28-32:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I [Yahweh your God (:27)] will pour
out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out
my spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and
pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great
and the terrible day of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh] come.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD [YHWH,
Yahweh] shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be
deliverance, as the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh] hath said, and in the remnant
whom the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh] shall call.
Paul
Rom. 2:24:
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is
written.
Rom. 9:17:
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised
thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. ; cp. Exod. 9:16]
Exod. 9:16:
And in very deed for this cause have I [YHWH, Yahweh (:13)] raised thee
up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout
all the earth.
Rom. 15:9:
And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For
this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. ;
cp. Ps. 18:49, which has YHWH (Yahweh) inserted after “thee”]
Ps. 18:49:
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD [YHWH, Yahweh], among the
heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
1 Tim. 6:1:
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all
honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
Heb. 2:12:
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church
will I sing praise unto thee. ; cp. Ps. 22:22]
Ps. 22:22:
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will
I praise thee.
Heb. 6:10:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have
shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do
minister.
James
Acts 15:13-18:
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren,
hearken unto me:
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is
fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon
whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. ; cp. Acts
15:16, 17 with Amos 9:11, 12, and note that “saith the Lord” in Acts 15:17 is
“saith YHWH,” (Yahweh) in Amos 9:12; (other possibilities include James
2:7; 5:10, 14-see below)]
Amos 9:11, 12:
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up
the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in
the days of old:
That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are
called by my name, saith the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh] that doeth this.
John (in Revelation)
Rev. 11:18:
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead,
that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy
servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and
great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev. 13:6:
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev. 14:1:
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred
forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
; and Rev. 3:12 (quoted below)]
Jesus used the term “name” with reference to the CREATOR both before and after
he was raised from the dead.
Matt. 6:9:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be
thy name.
Matt. 23:39:
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed
[is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord. ; cp. Ps. 118:26a (“the name of
YHWH,” Yahweh)]
Ps. 118:26:
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh]: we have
blessed you out of the house of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh].
Luke 11:2:
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in
earth.
Luke 13:35:
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye
shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord. ; cp. Ps. 118:26a (“the name of YHWH,"
Yahweh)]
Ps. 118:26:
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh]: we have
blessed you out of the house of the LORD [YHWH, Yahweh].
John 5:43:
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in
his own name, him ye will receive.
John 10:25:
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me.
John 12:28:
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have
both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
John 17:6, 11, 12, 26:
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world:
thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to
thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me,
that they may be one, as we are.
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou
gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that
the scripture might be fulfilled.
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love
wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Rev. 3:12:
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall
go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of
the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from
my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Additional Occurrences of “Name” to Consider
John 1:12:
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
Rom 10:13:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ; cp. Joel
2:32a, in which “the Lord” = YHWH]
Joel 2:32a:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD [YHWH,
Yahweh] shall be delivered:
2 Tim. 2:19:
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity. ; “Christ” = “Lord” in the UBS and N/A Greek New
Testaments]
Heb. 13:15:
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that
is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
James 2:7:
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
James 5:10:
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an
example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James 5:14:
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And finally, as a preview of at least one planned future article, here are some
of the non-Greek words--in this case, proper names--found in the Greek New
Testament which contain a shortened form of “Yahweh,” the proper name of the
CREATOR:
“Jesus”
[(m) From Greek Iesous, which was from an Aramaic form of JOSHUA, “YAHWEH is
salvation” from the Hebrew name Yehoshua. (http://www.behindthename.com/);
Matt. 1:1, etc.]
“Urias”
[(m) Greek form of URIAH used in the New Testament. URIAH (m) "YAHWEH is light"
from the Hebrew name Uriyah. (http://www.behindthename.com/);
Matt. 1:6]
“Abia”
[1 Chron. 3:10-Rehoboam’s son, Abia = Strong’s #29 (Abia or Abiah or Abijah =
“Yahweh is (my) father”); 1 Ki. 14:31--Rehoboam’s son, Abijam = Strong’s #38
(“my father is the sea” or ”Yah(u) is (my) father”); Matt. 1:7]
“Josaphat”
[1 Ki. 15:24-Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat = Strong’s #3092 (“Yahweh has judged”); see
also: (http://www.behindthename.com/);
Matt. 1:8]
“Joram”
[1 Ki. 22:50; Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram = Strong’s #3088 (Jehoram or Joram =
“Yahweh is exalted”); Matt. 1:8]
“John”
[(m) English form of Johannes, which was the Latin form of the Greek name
Ioannes, itself derived from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning “YAHWEH is gracious”.(http://www.behindthename.com/);
Matt. 3:1, etc.]
“Matthew”
[(m) “gift of YAHWEH,” from Hebrew Mattityahu. (http://www.behindthename.com/);
Matt. 9:9, etc.]
There are many other examples that could be brought forward, but I have to wrap
this part up.
In GOD’s love,
Ken Burns
[Please feel free to share the article
above with anyone, as long as you send the material in its entirety, unedited,
and include my name and contact email address along with it:
Ken Burns
kenNO-SPAMburns@hawaii.rr.com.
(Just remove the "NO-SPAM", leaving kenburns@ . . ., to send me a message.)
Thanks and GOD bless you. Your comments would be appreciated.]