If you’re anything like me, you’ve been comfortable most of your life calling God by names like Lord, Creator, or Father. And while these names are meaningful, have you ever stopped to wonder what God’s real name is?
It’s not a requirement for faith to go beyond these titles. However, the deeper we seek to know God, the more intentionally we grow our relationship with him. The more we trust him.
I’m sitting back and wondering how I’ve let myself follow Jesus for 13 years and never stopped to ask what God’s real name is. It’s always been a title or nickname — never the full name. It’s time to change that.
THE IMPORTANCE OF NAMES
In the Old Testament, names were a big deal. They carried power, meaning, and reflected identity. Names often pointed to family heritage or religious beliefs. Think about how some families name their sons after themselves to carry on the family name (e.g., John Smith Jr.). Or consider King Henry VIII — a name with such weight, it’s no wonder his ego followed suit.
Even angels emphasized the importance of names. Take Gabriel’s instructions to Zechariah and Elizabeth to name their son John:
“When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, ‘No! His name is John!’ ‘What?’ they exclaimed. ‘There is no one in all your family by that name’” (Luke 1:59-61, NLT).
Names mattered. They still do!
Remember, how you weren’t supposed to call your parents, grandparents, or other respected adults by their first names growing up? It was always Mom, Dad, Nana, Papa, Mrs. Jones, or Mr. Smith … It was a big deal when someone said, “Please call me ______ (insert first name here).”
So, when God revealed his real name to Moses, it was an act of trust and love. Imagine the God of the universe sharing his most personal name with you. Think about how significant that moment was for Moses!
MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH
In Exodus 3, Moses encounters God in a burning bush. Moses is well aware that in the presence of God he needs to cover his face because God’s glory would blind him. But in this crazy, sacred moment, God gives Moses (and us) a piece of himself, one we so often overlook — his name.
This happens when Moses is in the middle of some serious self-doubt. God has just informed him that he’s his chosen representative to get the Israelites out of Egypt. Look at Exodus 3:13-14 where Moses freaks out, asking God all the questions he can think of:
“Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” Then what shall I tell them?’
“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am [EHYEH]. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am [YAWEH] has sent me to you.”’”
At this moment, God shared his real name: YAHWEH.
YAHWEH is the great “I AM.”
YAHWEH is the one true God.
YAHWEH is our friend.
YAHWEH wants us to know him.
UNDERSTANDING YAHWEH
Scholars didn’t want to say YAHWEH aloud, thinking the casual use of it could diminish the sacredness of the name, so the game of telephone started in terms of adapting YAHWEH.
God’s Name Has Changed?! (Learn Its Interesting Biblical History)
If you don’t have time to watch the BibleProject’s video above, here is a rundown of what it says:
YAHWEH → ADONAI → LORD → YAHOWAH → JEHOVAH
- Yahweh – “I AM” or “He That Is”
- Adonai – Hebrew name for “Lord”
- LORD – English translation (note: LORD and Lord have different meanings)
- Yahowah – Combination of Yahweh and Adonai to remind people to not say Yahweh
- Jehovah – Yahowah spelled out in Christian scribes’ language
They even came up with a visual device to help you remember to say the other name by combining the consonants of Yahweh and the vowels of Adonai, giving you Yahowah. But some people didn’t realize this wasn’t a real word and translated in their language, giving us Jehovah.
All these names are still used today (except maybe Yahowah). In a way, this is like God having a real name and many nicknames. Just as my real name is Abigail, but I’m also called Abbey, Abs, Abbito, etc., so God is Yahweh but he’s also called Adonai, Jehovah, LORD, Jireh (provider), Abba (father), and the list goes on and on.
WHY DOES GOD’S REAL NAME MATTER?
God didn’t have to share his name, but he did. It’s a reminder of his desire for an intimate relationship with us. Knowing Yahweh isn’t just about the name — it’s about the stronger connection and trust it represents.
As Psalm 9:1-2 (NLT) declares:
I will praise you, YAHWEH, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
No matter what we call him, we get to know and be known by the Creator of the universe, leading us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with him.
Thank you, Yahweh.
WORSHIP SONGS TO PRAISE HIS NAME(S)
Yahweh by Maverick City Music
Adonai by Chris Renezma
Jehovah by Elevation Music
Jireh by Maverick City Music
Abba by Dante Bowe
If you’d like to dig deeper on this topic with a small group, friends, or family, check out God’s Real Name on Young Life’s Discipleship website.
