Tuesday 11th February 2020 Devotion
Scripture:- Genesis 17:1-17
Topic:- The Names of God in the Old Testament:- [2]
Text:- Psalm 148:13
3. ADONAI (LORD, MASTER). (ad-o-noy’). Lord, Master. Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Adonai occurs 434 times.
There are heavy uses of Adonai in Isaiah (e.g., Adonai Jehovah). It occurs 200 times in Ezekiel alone and appears 11 times in Daniel Chapter 9. Adonai is first used in Genesis 15:2. Adonai in the Septuagint, kurios – Lord, Master.
Meaning and Derivation: Adonai is the verbal parallel to Yahweh and Jehovah. Adonai is plural; the singular is adon. In reference to God the plural Adonai is used. When the singular adon is used, it usually refers to a human lord.
Adon is used 215 times to refer to men. Occasionally in Scripture and predominantly in the Psalms, the singular adonis used to refer to God as well. See Exodus 34:23.
To avoid contravening the commandment, sometimes Adonai was used as a substitute for Yahweh (YHWH). Adonai can be translated literally as, “my lords’ ” (both plural and possession. See Exodus 20:7.
4. YAHWEH (LORD, JEHOVAH). (yah-weh). Lord, Jehovah Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Yahweh occurs 6,519 times.
This name is used more than any other name of God. Yahweh is first used in Gen 2:4. Variant spellings: YHWH, Jehovah. Yahwehin the Septuagint: kurios – Lord, Master despotês – Lord, Master, denoting the omnipotence of God (TDNT), despot, absolute ruler.Meaning and Derivation: Yahweh is the promised name of God.
This name of God which (by Jewish tradition) is too holy to voice, is actually spelled “YHWH” without vowels. YHWH is referred to as the Tetragrammaton (which simply means “the four letters”). YHWH comes from the Hebrew letters: Yud, Hay, Vav, Hay.
While YHWH is first used in Genesis 2, God did not reveal Himself as YHWH until Exodus 3. The modern spelling as “Yahweh” includes vowels to assist in pronunciation.
Many pronounce YHWH as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.” We no longer know for certain the exact pronunciation. During the third century A.D., the Jewish people stopped saying this name in fear of contravening the commandment “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.” See Exodus 20:7.
As a result of this, Adonai is occasionally a substitute for YHWH. The following compound names which start with “YHWH” have been shown using “Jehovah.”
This is due to the common usage of “Jehovah” in the English of these compound names in the early English translations of the Bible (e.g., the Geneva Bible, the King James Version, etc..
5. JEHOVAH NISSI (THE LORD MY BANNER). (yeh-ho-vaw’ nis-see’). The Lord My Banner, The Lord My Miracle
Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Nissi occurs only once in Exodus 17:15.
Variant spellings: Jehovah Nisi; Jehovahnissi Jehovah Nissi in the Septuagint: kurios kataphugê mou – the Lord is my refuge
Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as “The Existing One” or “Lord.” The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning “to be” or “to exist.” It also suggests “to become” or specifically “to become known.”
This denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Nes (nês), from which Nissi derived, means “banner” in Hebrew.
In Exodus 17:15, Moses, recognizing that the Lord was Israel’s banner under which they defeated the Amalekites, builds an altar named Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our Banner).
Nes is sometimes translated as a pole with an insignia attached. In battle opposing nations would fly their own flag on a pole at each of their respective front lines.
This was to give their soldiers a feeling of hope and a focal point. This is what God is to us: a banner of encouragement to give us hope and a focal point. Further references of the name Jehovah Nissi in the Old Testament: Exodus 17:15.
Prayer Point:- Oh Lord God, let Your name work effectively for me always henceforth by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Have A Wonderful Tuesday!
