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The
different names and titles of God used in the Bible reveal something about His
nature and character. Let’s look at them. I will begin from the names and
titles of God written in the Old Testament (first some of His names in Hebrew
and their meaning and then His names and titles only in English), and then I
will speak about the names and titles of God we find in the New Testament.
When you read them bear in mind that some of them refer to the Son as well. |
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In the Old Testament |
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God’s
personal name is YHWH (the TETRAGRAMMATON,
meaning ‘The four letters’), which is a Hebrew name, which is pronounced
YAHWEH and which means ‘The Self-Existent-One’ or ‘He who is’ or ‘I am’. God
revealed His Name to Moses when He appeared to Moses and commanded him to go
to |
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Yah is a shortened form of
YHWH. It means the same thing as YHWH, and is used approximately 40 times in
the Scriptures. Yah appears primarily in the book of Psalms (for example: Psalm
105:3; 106:1; 147:20; 149:1). It is also found in the compound word
‘hallelu-Yah’, which means ‘praise Yah (the LORD).’ |
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God is
called Elohim, which means ‘Gods’
but it is translated as ‘God,’ as it is written: “In the beginning God
[Elohim] created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This name is plural
in form but it is commonly construed with a singular verb or adjective. The
name Elohim is used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim is
combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God. Here
are some examples. |
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Elohay Mishpat - God of
justice, or God of judgment (Isaiah 30:18). God is a righteous God, a Judge
who loves righteousness and hates iniquity, and who rewards righteousness and
punishes wickedness. |
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Elohay Selichot - A
forgiving God (Nehemiah 9:17). He is a God who freely pardons all those who
forsake their evil ways and turn to the Lord (Isaiah 55:7). He forgives all
our iniquities (Psalm 103:3). |
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Elohay Marom - The High
God or The exalted God (Micah 6:6). God is exalted by his power (Job. 36:22)
and above all the nations (Psalm 99:2; 113:4). His name is exalted (Isaiah
12:4) |
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Elohay Mikarov - God who
is near (Jeremiah 23:23). God “is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27 -
NKJV), for in Him we live and move and have our being. However, He is also a
God far away because He fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:23). Nobody can
hide himself in secret places so that God cannot see him. God is close to the
brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) but He is far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29). |
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Elohay Mauzi - God of
my strength (Psalm 43:2). He gives us strength. The prophet Isaiah says that
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah
40:29 – NIV) and the Psalmist said: “You have exalted my horn like that of a
wild ox” (Psalm 92:10 - NIV). |
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Elohay Tehilati - God of
my praise (Psalm 109:1). He is “most worthy of praise” (Psalm 96:4; 145:3 -
NIV) and we praise His name for all the wonderful and countless things He has
done in our life so far. Each one of us must say: “I will bless the Lord at
all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1 - NKJV). |
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Elohay Yishi - God of
my salvation (Psalm 18:46; 25:5). He is the One who has saved us from sin
through Jesus Christ, and the One who delivers us out of all distresses and
afflictions. Salvation belongs to God (Psalm 3:8; Jonah 2:9; Revelation
7:10). |
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Elohim Kedoshim - Holy
God (Leviticus 19:2; Joshua 24:19). God is Holy. He is absolutely pure,
perfect and sinless. His name is holy. |
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Elohim Chaiyim - Living
God (Jeremiah 10:10). The gods of the nations have ears but cannot hear, have
eyes but cannot see, have mouth but cannot speak, for they are vain idols,
but He is the living God. |
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Elohay Elohim - God of
gods (Deuteronomy 10:17). He “is greater than all gods” (Exodus 18:11);
“great is our God above all gods” (2 Chronicles 2:5); He “is to be feared
above all gods” (Psalm 96:4), for all the gods of the nations are vain idols
but the Lord made the heavens, and one day He will destroy all the gods of
the earth (Zephaniah 2:11). |
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Elohay Tz'vaot - God of
hosts, or God of Armies (2 Samuel 5:10). He is the commander in chief of the
angelic armies in heaven and of the army of God who is on the earth (we are
the army of God because each of one of us is a soldier of Jesus Christ called
to fight the good fight of the faith). God “is a warrior” (Exodus 15:3); in
ancient times He fought many times for Israel against the enemies of Israel
(Exodus 14:14; 2 Chronicles 20:17). God is the One who gives us the victory,
for Paul says: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in
Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). |
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Elohay Chasdi - God of
my Mercy (Psalm 59:10, 17). God is kind and merciful to us. He is the source
of the kindness and the mercy we taste every day. |
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Elohay Kol Basar - God of
all flesh (Jeremiah 32:27). He is the Creator of all the living creatures
which are on the earth. |
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Elohay HaRuchot LeKol Basar
- God of the spirits of all flesh (Numbers 16:22). God created all flesh, and
He gives breath to the people who live on the earth and spirit to those who
walk on it (Isaiah 42:5). |
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Eloah is the singular of Elohim,
and it too is translated as ‘God.’ It occurs about 50 times in the Old
Testament (mostly in the book of Job). |
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El, which means ‘God,’ is
another name used for God in the Scripture. It occurs about 200 times in the
Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim and is often
combined with other words in order to emphasize different attributes of God.
Here are some examples. |
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El Olam - The
Everlasting God or The God of eternity (Genesis 21:33). He exists from
eternity. Moses said to God: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or
ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to
everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2). |
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El Shaddai - The
Almighty God or God the all sufficient (Genesis 17:1). With Him all things
are possible (Luke 18:27; Matthew 19:26). God cares for His people and supply
all their needs. |
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El Elyon - The Most
High God (Genesis 14:19). Height signifies power and position. |
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El Roi - The God
who sees (Genesis 16:13). “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding
the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). |
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El HaNe'eman - The
Faithful God (Deuteronomy 7:9). He always keeps His word, as it is written:
““God is not a man, that He should lie; nor a son of man, that He should
repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not
make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 - NKJV). No matter how long ago God said He
will do a certain thing, we are sure He will keep His word. His promises are
faithful and truthful and will never fall to the ground. If we are
unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. |
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El HaGadol - The
Great God (Deuteronomy 10:17). He is indeed a great God; the Son of God,
declared that God, His Father, “is greater than all” (John 10:29). |
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El HaKadosh - The
Holy God (Isaiah 5:16). He is absolutely pure and perfect. He is totally
separated from every kind of evil. |
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El Yisrael - The God
Of Israel (Psalm 68:35). The people of Israel is the nation whom He foreknew,
with whom God made a covenant, and to whom God revealed His laws and decrees
(Psalm 147:19). However, it must be said that God is also the God of the
Gentiles (Romans 3:29). |
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El HaShamayim - The God
of heaven (Psalm 136:26). He created heaven and He is in heaven. Heaven is
His throne. |
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El De'ot - The God
of knowledge (1 Samuel 2:3). He knows everything. |
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El Emet - The God of truth (Psalm
31:5). He is always true. “Let God be true, but every man a liar,” Paul says to
the Romans (Romans 3:4) |
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El Kana - The Jealous God
(Deuteronomy 4:24). He is a God who wants His people to be devoted to Him
alone. They must worship and serve only God. That’s why God is angry with His
people when they become idolaters; because they provoke Him to jealousy. His
name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). |
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El Tzadik - The
righteous God (Isaiah 45:21). He loves righteousness and hates iniquity.
Everything He says or does is right. |
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El Sali - God my rock (Psalm 42:10).
God is the foundation of my life, in Him I trust with all my heart. In the
midst of all my distresses I know I can rely upon Him for in Him there is
everlasting strength. He is my stronghold, my fortress, my strong tower, my
protection from all attacks. |
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El Chaiyai - The God
of my life (Psalm 42:8). God is the One who gives me life, in Him I live and
move and I have my being. God is the Lord of my life because my life belongs
to Him, since He has purchased me with His own blood. Therefore, whatever He
wants me to do I will do, and wherever He wants me to go I will go, in order
to please Him. I will serve Him alone during all my life. |
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El Yeshuati - The God
of my salvation (Isaiah 12:2). He is the One who saved us from our sins and from
all distresses. Blessed be His Holy Name for ever. Amen. |
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El Simchat Gili - God the
joy of my exaltation or God my exceeding joy (Psalm 43:4). He is the source
of a great joy to all those who love Him and fear Him. |
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El Rachum - The God
of Compassion or The merciful God (Deuteronomy 4:31). He is a God full of
compassion and mercy; we taste His mercy continually. |
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El Chanun - The
Gracious God (Jonah 4:2). God is good; we have tasted His goodness. |
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Elah is another name for God, used
about 70 times in the Old Testament. When it is combined with other words,
different attributes of God are emphasized. Some examples: |
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Elah Yerush'lem - God of
Jerusalem (Ezra 7:19). The city of Jerusalem is the place chosen by God from
among the tribes of Israel to put His Name there for His dwelling
(Deuteronomy 12:5). Jerusalem is called the city of the great King (Matthew
5:35). |
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Elah Yisrael - God of
Israel (Ezra 5:1). |
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Elah Sh'maya - God of
Heaven (Ezra 7:23). |
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Elah Sh'maya V'Arah - God of
Heaven and Earth (Ezra 5:11). |
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Another
divine name is Adonai, which is an
emphatic form of the word ‘Adon’, which means ‘master’ or ‘lord’. It can
literally be translated as ‘my lords’, but it is usually translated as
‘Lord’. The meaning of this name reflects the attribute of sovereignty. It
means that God is the Lord who rules. It is used approximately 450 times. |
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I AM (Exodus 3:14) |
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I AM WHO I AM (Exodus
3:14 - NKJV) |
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The LORD strong and mighty
(Psalm 24:8) |
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The LORD mighty in battle
(Psalm 24:8) |
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The LORD who formed it [the
earth], and established it
(Jeremiah 33:2 - NIV) |
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The LORD that created thee, O Jacob
(Isaiah 43:1) |
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The LORD that is faithful
(Isaiah 49:7) |
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The LORD who is worthy to be praised
(2 Samuel 22:4) |
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The LORD who sees/provides
(Genesis 22:14) |
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The LORD that healeth thee
(Exodus 15:26) |
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The LORD my banner (Exodus
17:15) |
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The LORD is there (Ezekiel
48:35) |
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The LORD God of recompenses
(Jeremiah 51:56) |
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The LORD God of heaven (Genesis
24:7) |
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The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the
guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the
children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation
(Exodus 34:6-7) |
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The Lord of lords (Psalm
136:3) |
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The Lord of heaven (Daniel
5:23) |
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The Lord of the whole earth (Psalm
97:5) |
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Lord of lords
(Deuteronomy 10:17) |
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Lord my salvation (Psalm
38:22) |
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LORD my rock (Psalm
28:1) |
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LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest
the reins and the heart (Jeremiah 11:20) |
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The LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the
womb (Isaiah 44:2) |
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The LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth
forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; that
frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth
wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; that confirmeth the
word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers
(Isaiah 44:24-26) |
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The glorious LORD (Isaiah
33:21) |
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The righteous LORD (Psalm
11:7) |
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A Lord of kings (Daniel
2:47) |
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He that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an
everlasting dominion (Daniel 4:34) |
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He that sitteth in the heavens
(Psalm 2:4) |
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He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth
(Isaiah 40:22) |
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He that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and
spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in (Isaiah
40:22) |
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He that by wisdom made the heavens
(Psalm 136:5) |
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He that stretched out the earth above the waters
(Psalm 136:6) |
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He that made great lights
(Psalm 136:7) |
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He who hath created these things, that bringeth out
their host by number (Isaiah 40:26) |
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He that created the heavens, and stretched them out
(Isaiah 42:5) |
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He that spread forth the earth, and that which
cometh out of it (Isaiah 42:5) |
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He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and
spirit to them that walk therein (Isaiah 42:5) |
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He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind,
and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness,
and treadeth upon the high places of the earth (Amos
4:13) |
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He that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath
founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea,
and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Amos
9:6) |
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He that rideth upon the heavens
(Psalm 68:4) |
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He who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders
with mighty voice (Psalm 68:33 – NIV) |
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He that planted the ear (Psalm 94:9) |
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He that formed the eye (Psalm
94:9) |
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He that doth speak: behold, it is I (Isaiah
52:6) |
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He who alone doeth great wonders
(Psalm 136:4) |
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He that pondereth the heart
(Proverbs 24:12) |
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He that is mightier than man
(Ecclesiastes 6:10) |
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He who avenges blood (Psalm
9:12 – NIV) |
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He that ought to be feared
(Psalm 76:11) |
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He who giveth food to all flesh
(Psalm 136:25) |
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He who is perfect in knowledge
(Job 37:16 - NIV) |
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He that is mighty (Luke
1:49) |
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He that teacheth man knowledge
(Psalm 94:10) |
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He that chastiseth the heathen
(Psalm 94:10) |
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He that is most just (Job
34:17) |
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He that is higher than the highest (Ecclesiastes
5:8) |
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He that keepeth thee (Psalm
121:3) |
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He that keepeth thy soul (Proverbs
24:12) |
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He that goeth with you, to fight for you against
your enemies, to save you (Deuteronomy 20:4) |
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He that comforteth you (Isaiah
51:12) |
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He that took me out of the womb
(Psalm 22:9) |
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He that seeth me (Genesis
16:13) |
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He in whom I trust (Psalm
144:2) |
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He who vindicates me (Isaiah
50:8 - NIV) |
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He against whom we have sinned
(Isaiah 42:24) |
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He that hath mercy on them
(Isaiah 49:10) |
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A great King over all the earth
(Psalm 47:2) |
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A great King above all gods
(Psalm 95:3) |
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A warrior (Exodus 15:3
– NIV) |
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A mighty terrible one (Jeremiah
20:11) |
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A righteous judge (Psalm
7:11 – NIV) |
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A judge of the widows (Psalm
68:5) |
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A shield around me (Psalm
3:3 - NIV) |
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A sun and shield (Psalm
84:11) |
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An everlasting light (Isaiah
60:19) |
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A revealer of secrets (Daniel
2:47) |
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A very present help in trouble
(Psalm 46:1) |
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A refuge for the oppressed
(Psalm 9:9) |
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A refuge in times of trouble
(Psalm 9:9) |
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An house of defence (Psalm
31:2) |
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A refuge from the storm (Isaiah
25:4) |
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A shadow from the heat (Isaiah
25:4) |
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A place of broad rivers and streams (Isaiah
33:21) |
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A buckler to all those that trust in him
(Psalm 18:30) |
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A buckler to them that walk uprightly
(Proverbs 2:7) |
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A father of the fatherless
(Psalm 68:5) |
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A strength to the poor (Isaiah
25:4) |
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A strength to the needy in his distress
(Isaiah 25:4) |
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A strong tower from the enemy
(Psalm 61:3) |
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A shelter for me (Psalm
61:3) |
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Our own God (Psalm
67:6) |
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Our God for ever and ever
(Psalm 48:14) |
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You who hear prayer (Psalm
65:2 - NKJV) |
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You who lift me up from the gates of death
(Psalm 9:13 – NKJV) |
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You who save those who trust in You from those who
rise up against them (Psalm 17:7 – NKJV) |
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The God of gods (Psalm
136:2; Daniel 11:36) |
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The God of hosts (Amos
4:13) |
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The God of heaven (Psalm
136:26; Jonah 1:9; Daniel 2:37) |
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The God of heaven and earth (Ezra
5:11) |
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The God of the whole earth
(Isaiah 54:5) |
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The God of all the kingdoms of the earth
(2 Kings 19:15) |
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The God of all flesh (Jeremiah
32:27) |
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The God of glory (Psalm
29:3) |
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The God of salvation (Psalm
68:20) |
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The God of truth (Isaiah
65:16) |
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The God of judgment (Malachi
2:17) |
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The God of my salvation (Psalm
25:5; Psalm 18:46; Micah 7:7) |
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The God of the rock of my salvation
(2 Samuel 22:47) |
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The God of my mercy (Psalm
59:10) |
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The God of my rock (2 Samuel
22:3) |
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The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are
all thy ways (Daniel 5:23) |
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The God who avenges me, who subdues nations under
me, who saves me from my enemies (Psalm 18:47-48 - NIV) |
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The God who avenges (Psalm
94:1 - NIV) |
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The God that doest wonders
(Psalm 77:14) |
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The God that is above (Job
31:28) |
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The God of our salvation (Psalm
68:19) |
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The great and dreadful God
(Daniel 9:4) |
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The great God that formed all things (Proverbs
26:10) |
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The great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant
and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments
(Nehemiah 1:5) |
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The great, the mighty, and the terrible God who
keepest covenant and mercy (Nehemiah 9:32) |
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The living God (Psalm
42:2) |
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The true God (Jeremiah
10:10) |