The Names of God Bible.

Ann Spangler.

INTRODUCTION.

The Bible reveals many fascinating names and titles for God that can yield rich insights into our understanding of who God is. There's El Shadday and Adonay, Elohim and Abba, ancient names that sound strangely attractive to us even though they were coined thousands of years ago. What do they mean? How important are they? Where are they revealed within the text of Scripture? Can learning about them and using these names in our prayers draw us into a fresh encounter with the living God?

The Bible also contains many names and titles of Jesus. Can these tell us more than we already know concerning the figure about whom more has been written than any other person on the planet? What does it mean, for instance, to say that his Hebrew name echoes the most sacred name of God in the Old Testament? Or why is he known as the Bright Morning Star, the Prince of Peace, or the Alpha and Omega? Are these titles anything more than lovely metaphors?

I have spent several years considering these questions and many others as I have studied the names of God revealed throughout the Bible. Out of these studies have come two books. The first is Praying the Names of God, which explores the Hebrew names and titles of God found in the Old Testament. The second is Praying the Names of Jesus, which primarily explores names and titles found in the New Testament. Though these books focus on the two different testaments, it's difficult to ignore the way in which many of the names overlap. It's impossible, for instance, to write about Yahweh Nissi, "the Lord Is My Banner," without reference to Christ on the cross or to talk about Yahweh Shalom, "the Lord Is Peace," without reference to Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Indeed, a closer look at God's names reveals many connections between the Old and New Testaments that might otherwise escape us.

When learning about this subject, it helps to realize that names in the ancient world in which the Bible was written often functioned differently than they do today. In addition to distinguishing one person from another and linking people to their family heritage, names were thought to reveal the essential nature and character of a person. This is particularly true when it comes to the various names and titles of God revealed in Scripture. Furthermore, it was thought that to know God's name was to enjoy privileged access to him, to gain a kind of spiritual power. Once his people knew his name, they could cry out to him, claiming his help and protection. But God's self-revelation also introduced a note of vulnerability. By associating his name so closely with a particular people, God risked the possibility that they would dishonor it by behaving in ways that contradicted his character.

Many of the names and titles of God, particularly within the pages of the Old Testament, are difficult for lay readers to locate in an English translation. This is the primary advantage of The Names of God Bible, a translation that prints the most significant names and titles of God in their original language. For the first time, readers with no understanding of Hebrew can read through the Bible and locate God's names and titles with ease. In a project such as this one, it was necessary to set limits. To translate every conceivable title of God would have resulted in a Bible that would have been difficult for lay readers to navigate. Much care and thought has been given to translating those titles that seemed most significant.

With one exception, all of the English names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament remain in their English translation. To restore the originals would have meant rendering them in Greek, which might make the New Testament difficult for lay readers like myself to read with ease. But to emphasize the connection between the Testaments, I have chosen to render Jesus' name in its Hebrew equivalent, Yeshua, a name that carries significant echoes from the Hebrew Scriptures. In fact, it is the name his family would likely have called him.

To help readers better understand the most important names of God and Jesus, I have included name pages, providing background information and devotional readings that are designed to offer help in praying these names and titles.

Brief introductions to every book of the Bible provide a brief overview of the book and list each of the names revealed in that particular book. In the back of the Bible is a topical prayer guide to help readers pray for their needs and the needs of others by invoking the names of God.

Before I go on, I should mention two things. First, when I speak about the names of God, I am conscious of the fact that, strictly speaking, most are not names but titles for God. I refer to them as names for the sake of simplicity. Second, some readers who learn about the names of God may begin to wonder if there are rules governing the way we should address God. For instance, should we always refer to God as Yah or Yahweh? Scripture never counsels such a practice, nor do I. Just as we are free to address God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are also free to address him as Abba, Yeshua, or Ruach, or as El Shadday, Adonay, or Elohim. No matter how we address the Lord, of course, much about him remains a mystery. What matters is that in every prayer we approach God with reverence and humility, confident that he loves us and that he welcomes us into his presence. There is no correct formula, no right way except to offer ourselves in honest prayer with humble, willing hearts.

The Names of God Bible owes much to its publisher, Revell, within the Baker Publishing Group. Andrea Doering, senior acquisitions editor, and Brian Vos, director of Bibles at Baker Publishing Group, made certain that I received the support I needed to make this Bible a reality, hiring scholarly experts to go through the text to make the necessary changes to the translation. Additionally, Reverend Michael Hackbardt, who is executive director of God's Word to the Nations Mission Society, lent his enthusiastic support and made many helpful suggestions. Reverend Hackbardt's support was especially appreciated because he presided over the original GOD'S WORD Translation. Additional thanks go to Andrea Doering for her very capable and careful work on this project. As a result, she probably knows more about Bible publishing and about the names of God than she ever imagined she would. Her encouragement, support, and insight have been invaluable.

LaVonne Neff has done an excellent job writing introductions to each book of the Bible. She has succeeded in offering readers a book-by-book overview that is both easy to read and based on sound scholarship.

I am grateful also for the careful work of Tremper Longman, who reviewed the material that LaVonne and I wrote in order to ensure that this Bible is in line with contemporary biblical scholarship.

Thanks also go to my agent for this project, Linda Kenney, who in her various publishing roles has become something of an expert on Bible publishing herself. I am grateful for her advocacy.

My assistant, Barbara Adams, as always, has ably and patiently helped me organize the material I have contributed to The Names of God Bible.

My hope is that all who desire to learn more about the names and titles of God will be richly rewarded as they read this Bible, recognizing many surprising connections between the Old and New Testaments. My prayer is that everyone who encounters God's names within this Bible will be led into a deeper experience of his goodness and love.

Ann Spangler.

WELCOME TO THE.

NAMES OF GOD BIBLE.

For the first time, readers with no understanding of Hebrew can read through the Bible and locate God's names and titles with ease. In The Names of God Bible, the Hebrew transliterations of the names and titles of God are printed in the biblical text. This Bible includes a range of features designed to help you better understand the names of God, rediscover the richness of his character, and encounter him in a deeper way.

Hebrew Names.

This translation includes the most significant names of God in Hebrew and a few in Aramaic so that they can be easily located within the text of the Old Testament (i.e. Yeshua).

Names of God Reading Paths For continued prayer and praise throughout Scripture, you can follow a name of God through the Bible using the Names of God Reading Paths. Click marked forward references (see above image) in the text of this Bible to link to the next location of the name in the text. The first reference for each reading path can be found on page xvi.

Name Pages.

Name pages located throughout the text and written by Ann Spangler provide: when appropriate, the name or title written in Hebrew or Aramaic background information to help you understand the names of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit key Scripture passages in which the name and the meaning of the name is revealed a devotional reading to help you pray according to the name specific Bible promises connected to the name.

Navigating The Names of God Bible.

Welcome to the Kindle edition of The Names of God Bible with direct verse lookup and book and chapter navigation.

Book and Chapter Navigation.

You can go to any book and chapter in the Bible by selecting the book name in the Table of Contents. After selecting the book name, select from the list of chapter numbers.

You can easily access the Table of Contents at any time by pressing the MENU button.

To advance one chapter at a time to the next or previous chapter, use the right or left buttons on the 5-Way Controller.

Direct Verse Lookup.

To quickly navigate directly to any verse in the Bible, press the MENU button and select INDEX. Type the abbreviation for the book of the Bible followed by a period, the chapter followed by a period, and the verse number. Then press ENTER.

For example, to go to Genesis 12:1, press MENU, select INDEX, type gene 12.1, then press ENTER.

By using the INDEX search feature for direct verse lookup in this Kindle edition, the regular search function is available for searches on words in the biblical text.

Direct Verse Lookup is not available on the Kindle 1 or any Kindle applications.

The book abbreviation is the first four characters of the name of the book of the Bible. The complete list of abbreviations is included below.

Abbreviations.

Old Testament Genesis Gene Exodus Exod Leviticus Levi Numbers Numb Deuteronomy Deut Joshua Josh Judges Judg Ruth Ruth 1 Samuel 1 Sa 2 Samuel 2 Sa 1 Kings 1 Ki 2 Kings 2 Ki 1 Chronicles 1 Ch 2 Chronicles 2 Ch Ezra Ezra Nehemiah Nehe Esther Esth Job Job Psalms Psal Proverbs Prov Ecclesiastes Eccl Song of Songs Song Isaiah Isai Jeremiah Jere Lamentations Lame Ezekiel Ezek Daniel Dani Hosea Hose Joel Joel Amos Amos Obadiah Obad Jonah Jona Micah Mica Nahum Nahu Habakkuk Haba Zephaniah Zeph Haggai Hagg Zechariah Zech Malachi Mala New Testament Matthew Matt Mark Mark Luke Luke John John Acts Acts Romans Roma 1 Corinthians 1 Co 2 Corinthians 2 Co Galatians Gala Ephesians Ephe Philippians Phil Colossians Colo 1 Thessalonians 1 Th 2 Thessalonians 2 Th 1 Timothy 1 Ti 2 Timothy 2 Ti Titus Titu Philemon Phile Hebrews Hebr James Jame 1 Peter 1 Pe 2 Peter 2 Pe 1 John 1 Jo 2 John 2 Jo 3 John 3 Jo Jude Jude Revelation Reve Book Introductions Brief introductions, written by LaVonne Neff, are provided for each book of the Bible. They highlight main themes and provide a list of the specific names and titles of God that appear in each book.

Calling God by Name Sidebars connecting biblical people and the specific names they called God.

Topical Prayer Guide A guide to help you pray for your needs and the needs of others by invoking the names of God found in Scripture.

Alphabetical List of Names and Titles of God A complete listing of the names and titles of God in The Names of God Bible.

Name Index An index to help you find particular names within the text of the Bible.

Pronunciation Guide A guide to help you pronounce the Hebrew names and titles of God.

Reading Plans Multiple reading plans including a plan with an overview of key Scripture passages for the names of God.

Scripture Callouts Highlight key Scripture for memorization and reflection.

GOD'S WORD Translation of the Bible GW accurately translates the meaning of the original texts into clear, everyday language. While most modern translations obscure the names and titles of God by replacing them with just a few terms like "God," "Lord," or "LORD," The Names of God Bible reveals the transliteration of ancient words to help you better understand the rich distinctions made in the original Hebrew and Aramaic.

NAMES OF GOD.

READING PATH SYSTEM.

For continued prayer and praise of the names and titles of God throughout Scripture, readers can follow a particular name through Scriptures using the reading path system. For each name of God listed below, references in the margins of the Bible will lead you to the next location of the name in the biblical text. The table below lists the first instance of each name. In this way, you can further your study and appreciation for each name and title of God profiled in the text.

Because the names Elohim, Yahweh, Yahweh Elohim, and Yeshua occur frequently and are easily followed within each chapter, the editors have chosen to link only the last instance of these names in each chapter to the next instance in order to simplify the reading path system. In addition, both Elohim and Yahweh have variations that make up one chain in the link reference system. The editors have started from the assumption that readers will gain the most value by looking at these names in all their variations, whether the biblical term is singular, plural, Aramaic or Hebrew. The editors have chosen the name "Elohim" in the reference system to note the location of related names El, Eloah, Elohe, and Elah. "Yahweh" is used to note the variation Yah.

Names and Titles First references Ab, Abba Deuteronomy 32:6 Adonay Genesis 20:4 Adonay Elohim* Daniel 9:3 Adonay Yahweh Genesis 15:2 Adonay Yahweh Elohe Tsebaoth Amos 3:13 Adonay Yahweh Tsebaoth Psalm 69:6 Bar-Enash* Daniel 7:13 Ebed Isaiah 42:1 Ehyeh Exodus 3:14 El Chay, Elohim Chay Deuteronomy 5:26 El Elyon, Elah Illa-ah, Elyon, Elyonin, Illa-ah Genesis 14:18 El Kanna Exodus 20:5 El Olam Genesis 21:33 El Roi* Genesis 16:13 El Shadday, Shadday Genesis 17:1 El Yahweh* Psalm 85:8 Elohe Tsebaoth* Amos 5:27 Elohim, El, Elah, Eloah Genesis 1:1 Elohim Elyon Psalm 57:2 Elohim Tsebaoth Psalm 80:7 Esh Oklah Deuteronomy 4:24 Go'el Job 19:25 Ha-shem Leviticus 24:11 Ish* Hosea 2:16 Ish Makoboth* Isaiah 53:3 Machseh Psalm 14:6 Magen 2 Samuel 22:3 Maon* Psalm 71:3 Mashiach Psalm 2:2 Melek Psalm 5:2 Metsuda 2 Samuel 22:2 Migdal-Oz Psalm 61:3 Miqweh Yisrael* Jeremiah 17:13 Qedosh Yisrael 2 Kings 19:22 Roeh Psalm 23:1 Rophe* Psalm 147:3 Ruach Numbers 11:17 Ruach Elohim, Ruach El Genesis 1:2 Ruach Qodesh Psalm 51:11 Ruach Yahweh Judges 3:10 Sar Shalom* Isaiah 9:6 Shophet Judges 11:27 Tsemach Jeremiah 23:5 Tsur 1 Samuel 2:2 Yah Elohim* Psalm 68:18 Yahweh, Yah Genesis 4:1 Yahweh Adonay Psalm 68:20 Yahweh El* Isaiah 42:5 Yahweh El Elyon* Genesis 14:22 Yahweh Elohim Genesis 2:4 Yahweh Elohe Tsebaoth Amos 4:13 Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth 2 Samuel 5:10 Yahweh Elyon Psalm 7:17 Yahweh Nissi* Exodus 17:15 Yahweh Ropheka* Exodus 15:26 Yahweh Shalom* Judges 6:24 Yahweh Shammah* Ezekiel 48:35 Yahweh Tsebaoth 1 Samuel 1:3 Yahweh Tsidqenu Jeremiah 23:6 Yahweh Yireh* Genesis 22:14 Yeshua Matthew 1:1 *Indicates a name that occurs one time in Scripture.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE While most modern translations obscure the names and titles of God by replacing them with just a few terms like "God," "Lord," or "LORD," this Bible reintroduces the transliteration of ancient words to help readers understand the rich distinctions made in the original Hebrew and Aramaic. The translation into which these transliterated names and titles of God have been inserted is GOD'S WORD Translation, which has itself been translated by biblical scholars to reach a twentyfirst century reading audience by accurately rendering the text in clear, everyday language.

Though the names and titles of God don't change, the structure of language does-how we put together a sentence, how often we use pronouns, how we turn a phrase, how we use language to indicate the plural nature of God. In our efforts to make the names of God in the original Hebrew and Aramaic clear in this translation, the editors were guided by several principles.

The notes, headings, and bracketed comments within GOD'S WORD Translation remain in English, so that Hebrew transliterations were used only where the original language indicates a name.

Where the original Hebrew text uses pronouns for God, and the editors could be certain which name of God was replaced with a Hebrew pronoun, that original name of God has been transliterated into the text. In areas where the original proper noun referred to by the pronoun was in question, the pronoun has been left in the text.

In cases in which GOD'S WORD Translation chose a pronoun instead of the name of God, this Bible has reintroduced the original name found in the Hebrew text.

Since portions of Daniel and Ezra were originally written in Aramaic, the names of God in these sections have been transliterated from Aramaic.

Though Hebrew is not the original language of the gospels, The Names of God Bible has chosen to transliterate Jesus to Yeshua in the New Testament because it highlights important connections between this name and key names in the Old Testament. It is also the name by which Jesus would have been known to friends and family, at least during the early years of his life, before being addressed as "Rabbi." By using this Hebrew name in the New Testament, we hope that readers will gain a deeper appreciation for the world which Jesus entered as man-a very Hebrew world, rich in tradition and custom.

May your reading of the Word be enriched and enhanced by these efforts.

PREFACE.

GOD'S WORD Translation GOD'S WORD Translation (GW), produced by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society, fills a need that has remained unmet by English Bibles: to translate the Bible from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to their closest natural English equivalent.

GW consciously combines scholarly fidelity with natural English. Because it was translated by a committee of biblical scholars, GW is an accurate, trustworthy translation. Because of the involvement of English reviewers at every stage of the translation process, GW reads like contemporary literature.

Closest Natural Equivalence Like many Bibles published before it, GOD'S WORD has been translated directly from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Unlike many Bibles before it, however, GW used a translation theory that reflects the advancement of translation theory and practice.

Closest natural equivalent (CNE) translation provides readers with a meaning in the target language that is equivalent to that of the source language. It seeks to express that meaning naturally, in a way that a native English speaker would speak or write. Finally, it expresses the meaning with a style that preserves many of the characteristics of the source text.

However, CNE does not attempt to make all books or passages function on the same level. The more difficult books of the Bible are translated to the same level of difficulty as the original languages. In addition, abstract concepts in Greek and Hebrew are translated into abstract concepts in English, and concrete concepts remain concrete in translation.

This translation theory is designed to avoid the awkwardness and inaccuracy associated with formal-equivalent translations, and to avoid the loss of meaning and oversimplification associated with functional-equivalent translations.

Translation Process The first consideration for the translators of GW was to find equivalent English ways of expressing the meaning of the original text, ensuring that the translation is faithful to the meaning of the source text. The next consideration was readability; the meaning is expressed in natural English by using common English punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and vocabulary. The third consideration was to choose the natural equivalent that most closely reflects the style of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek text. At the core of this effort was a full-time translation team composed of biblical scholars who served as translators, English experts who actively reviewed English style with scholars at every stage of the translation process, and professional production personnel who oversaw the work. The basic process is outlined below.

Translation In the first step of this process, a biblical scholar used the principles of closest natural equivalence to produce an initial translation of one of the books of the Bible. During this time, the translator was able to consult with the rest of the translation team as needed.

English Review With the initial draft of a book completed, an expert in English style reviewed the translator's text and suggested changes. The English reviewer was concerned primarily with a natural English rendering. Additionally, the English reviewer electronically searched the entire translation to ensure that any proposed revisions would not destroy the translation's consistency.

The translator and the English reviewer then worked together to produce a second draft that improved both the naturalness and accuracy of the translation. Upon completion of the second draft, the translator and English reviewer served as resources for the rest of the editorial process.

Peer Review After the English review process, the second draft was circulated to the other full-time translators and English reviewers for comments. This peer review stage allowed the other members of the translation team to compare the draft with their own work, offer suggestions for further improvement, and maintain consistency from one book of the Bible to another.

Technical Review The translator and English reviewer incorporated all appropriate suggestions offered in the peer review stage to produce a third draft. This draft was then submitted to a number of scholarly technical reviewers, who submitted written suggestions for improvements in the translation.

Review by Book Editorial Committee The next step in the process produced a fourth draft of the text. Taking into account the comments of the technical reviewers, a book editorial committee met to read and discuss the text for each book of the Bible.

The final step for the book editorial committee was reading the text aloud. Since the Bible is read not only silently but also aloud in worship and instructional settings, having a Bible translation that can be immediately grasped by the listener or reader and understood without the benefit of rereading was an important consideration.

Review by Consultative Committee After the members of the book editorial committee finished their work, they passed the fourth draft to the members of the consultative committee. This group of more than fifty Christian leaders from various denominations submitted comments and suggestions.

Review by Old Testament, New Testament, and Bible Editorial Committees The final editorial changes were made when all the books of the Bible had been completed or were near completion. Old and New Testament committees and, finally, a Bible editorial committee approved the accuracy and readability of the text.

Features of GOD'S WORD Layout The features that distinguish GOD'S WORD from other Bible translations are designed to aid readers. The most obvious of these is the open, singlecolumn format. This invites readers into the page.

In prose, GW looks like other works of literature. It contains frequent paragraphing. Whenever a different speaker's words are quoted, a new paragraph begins. Lists, genealogies, and long prayers are formatted to help readers recognize the thought pattern of the text. The prose style of GW favors concise, clear sentences. While avoiding very long, complicated sentences, which characterize many English Bible translations, GW strives to vary the word arrangement in a natural way. Doing this enhances readability and brings the Scriptures to life.

The books that are primarily poetry in GW are instantly recognized by their format. The singlecolumn format enables readers to recognize parallel thoughts in parallel lines of poetry. In a singlecolumn, across-the-page layout, a variety of indentations are possible. The translators have used indentation to indicate the relationship of one line to others in the same context. This enables a person reading the Bible in English to appreciate the Bible's poetry in much the same way as a person reading the Bible in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek.

Punctuation, Capitalization In English, meaning is conveyed not only by words but also by punctuation. However, no punctuation existed in ancient Hebrew and Greek writing, and words were used where English would use punctuation marks. GOD'S WORD strives to use standard English punctuation wherever possible. At times this means that a punctuation mark or paragraph break represents the meaning that could only be expressed in words in Hebrew or Greek.

Italics are also used as they would be in other printed English texts: for foreign words or to indicate that a word is used as a word. (GW never uses italics to indicate emphasis.) Wherever possible, GW has supplied information in headings or halfbrackets to identify the speaker in quoted material. To minimize the confusion produced by quotations within quotations, quotation marks are used sparingly. For instance, they are not used after formulaic statements such as "This is what the LORD says:. . ."

Contractions can fit comfortably into many English sentences. Certainly, "Don't you care that we're going to die" is more natural than, "Do you not care that we are going to die?" GW achieves a warmer style by using contractions where appropriate. But uncontracted words are used in contexts that require special emphasis.

GW capitalizes the first letter in proper nouns and sentences. Some religious literature chooses to capitalize pronouns that refer to the deity. As in the original languages, GW does not capitalize any pronouns (unless they begin sentences). In some cases scholars are uncertain whether pronouns in the original texts refer to God or someone else. In these cases the presence of capitalized pronouns would be misleading. Additionally, in some cases Hebrew or Greek pronouns are not ambiguous but an English pronoun would be. In those cases, GW uses the appropriate proper noun in its place.

Gender References The Scriptures contain many passages that apply to all people. Therefore, GOD'S WORD strives to use gender-inclusive language in these passages so that all readers will apply these passages to themselves. For example, traditionally, Psalm 1:1 has been translated, "Blessed is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked. . ." As a result, many readers will understand this verse to mean that only adult males, not women or children, can receive a blessing. In GW the first Psalm begins "Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of the wicked. . ."

If a passage focuses upon an individual, however, GW does not use plural nouns and pronouns to avoid the gender-specific pronouns he, him, and his. In these cases the translators considered the text's focus upon an individual more important than an artificial use of plural pronouns. For example, Psalm 1:2 has been translated "Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD. . ." In addition, gender-accurate language is preserved in passages that apply specifically to men or specifically to women.

Word Choice The translation team chose words that were natural in context and that were as easily understood as possible without losing accuracy and faithfulness to the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible.

One of the challenges faced by the translators of GW was finding words that accurately communicate the meaning of importanttheological concepts in the Bible. Many of these concepts have traditionally been translated by words that no longer communicate to most English speakers. Examples of these theological terms include covenant, grace, justify, repent, and righteousness. While these words continue to be used by theologians and even by many Christians, the meanings that readers assign to them in everyday use do not equate to the meanings of the Hebrew or Greek words they are intended to translate. GOD'S WORD avoids using these terms and substitutes words that carry the same meaning in clear, natural English. In some cases traditional theological words are contained in footnotes the first time they occur in a chapter.

Living, Active, and LifeChanging While all these features make GOD'S WORD Translation an accurate and readable Bible, the ultimate goal of the God's Word to the Nations Mission Society is to bring the readers of GW into a new or closer relationship with Jesus. The translation team and support staff of the Mission Society pray that your reading of GW makes the living, active, and lifechanging words of our great God and Savior clear and meaningful.

For more details on the translation process and the unique features that enable GW to accurately and clearly communicate God's saving, lifechanging message, visit www.godsword.org. For more information on available editions of GW, visit www.godswordtranslation.org.