How God Reveals His Name
In the Bible, God’s name is far more than a label—it conveys His character, authority, and relationship with His people. Names in ancient Israel carried profound meaning, often reflecting the nature, role, or destiny of the person or being named. When God reveals His name, He is disclosing aspects of His divine identity, His purposes, and His covenant relationship with humanity.
1. God’s Name as a Revelation of His Character
The Bible shows that God reveals His name to communicate who He is. Names such as Yahweh (יהוה) carry deep theological meaning:
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Yahweh: Often rendered “LORD” in English translations, this is the personal name God reveals to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14-15). It is connected to the Hebrew verb “to be”, suggesting self-existence, eternality, and unchanging presence. God declares:
“I AM WHO I AM.”
This name reveals God as the eternal, self-existent One, independent of creation, yet intimately involved in it.
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El Shaddai (“God Almighty”) emphasizes God’s all-sufficient power and sovereignty.
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Jehovah Jireh (“The LORD Will Provide”) highlights God’s provision and care.
Through these names, God reveals different facets of His character: holiness, justice, mercy, power, and faithfulness. Each name communicates His nature in ways His people can understand and relate to.
2. God Reveals His Name Through His Actions
God also discloses His name through deeds and interventions in history. His actions demonstrate the meaning behind His name:
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Redemption from Egypt: In Exodus 6:6-7, God tells Moses that He will deliver Israel, saying:
“I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”
Here, the revelation of God’s name is inseparable from His saving action. The divine name is confirmed and made known through powerful acts of deliverance, justice, and mercy.
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Creation and Providence: God’s sustaining of the world demonstrates His name as Lord and Provider. Psalm 104 portrays God as the Creator whose actions sustain life, revealing His power and care.
By acting on behalf of His people and creation, God manifests the reality of His name—His essence is demonstrated through His works.
3. God Reveals His Name in Covenant Relationships
Names in Scripture are also relational. God reveals His name in the context of covenant, showing that knowing His name involves knowing Him personally and entering into relationship:
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Exodus 34:5-7: God reveals Himself to Moses as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and faithful. This disclosure of His name comes in the context of renewing the covenant with Israel after their failure with the golden calf.
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Psalm 9:10: God’s name is a refuge to those who seek Him, showing that His revealed name invites trust and intimate reliance.
Thus, the revelation of God’s name is relational—it is how God makes Himself known personally to His people.
4. God Reveals His Name Through Scripture
God’s self-disclosure is recorded and transmitted through Scripture. By revealing His name to prophets, patriarchs, and the Israelite nation, God provides humanity a way to know Him across generations.
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Moses and the Law: God’s name is revealed repeatedly in the Pentateuch, linking His identity to covenant obligations, promises, and worship.
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Prophets: God’s name is invoked to remind His people of His holiness, justice, and mercy (e.g., Isaiah 42:8, Jeremiah 16:21).
The written Word preserves God’s name, making it accessible to all who seek Him, emphasizing that knowing God involves learning about Him as He has revealed Himself.
5. God Reveals His Name Ultimately in Christ
In Christian theology, the ultimate revelation of God’s name is found in Jesus Christ. John 1:18 states:
“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”
Christ embodies God’s character, will, and mission. By knowing Jesus, humanity comes to know God personally and intimately. Names like Emmanuel (“God with us”) further reveal God’s desire to be present among His people.
This demonstrates that God’s revelation of His name is both personal and historical, connecting divine identity with salvation and relationship.
6. Conclusion
God reveals His name in several complementary ways:
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Through His nature – His self-existent, eternal, and holy character.
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Through His actions – Deliverance, provision, justice, and mercy make His name known.
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Through covenant relationships – God’s name invites trust and intimacy.
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Through Scripture – Written revelation preserves and communicates His identity.
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Ultimately in Christ – God’s fullest revelation of Himself is in Jesus, making His nature and mission visible to humanity.
The revelation of God’s name is not merely informational—it is relational and transformative. Knowing God’s name means knowing His character, trusting His actions, entering His covenant, and experiencing His presence in life. Through His name, God calls humanity to recognize Him, worship Him, and live in alignment with His will.