What is the name of God?

TL;DR:

God’s name is YHWH, meaning “I AM”—the eternal, self-existent One who has always been and will always be. God’s name reveals His unchanging nature and His desire to be known by His people.

God’s personal name is YHWH, revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14–15 and rooted in the phrase “I AM,” meaning He is eternal, unchanging, and self-existent. Though the exact pronunciation is uncertain, scholars believe it was likely “Yahweh,” with “Yah” being a shortened, more familiar form found in the word Hallelujah (“Praise Yah”). While YHWH is God’s unique name, other terms like Elohim, Adonai, and El-Shaddai are titles that describe His nature and role. In the New Testament, God’s name YHWH is translated as “Lord” (kurios), showing that while we can use His name, it is not a requirement to know or worship Him. Most importantly, God gave us His name, so we could know Him personally, and through Jesus, we are invited into a relationship with the eternal “I AM.”

from the old testament

God gave Moses His name in Exodus 3:15. God gave that known name to reassure the Israelites that it was the true God who was sending Moses. In many English Bibles, God’s name is translated as “the LORD” in all capital letters. The original Hebrew is spelled YHWH, often pronounced “Yahweh.” Since ancient Hebrew lacked written vowels, later scholars added vowel markings to guide pronunciation but intentionally avoided supplying vowels for God’s name. “Yahweh” is the most widely accepted reconstruction. In modern Hebrew, the “W” is pronounced like a “V,” so YHWH is also written as YHVH and pronounced “Yahveh.”
While sometimes, Exodus 3 is thought to be when God first revealed His name to humanity, it is a name that has been known from the beginning. For example, in Genesis 4:26 we read, “To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD (YHWH).”
When Moses asked God for His name, God started His answer by saying, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The Hebrew word for “I AM” is likely the root of the word, “YHWH.” “I AM” refers to a state of being. For example, in English we say, “I am tired.” Our state of being is described by how we currently feel. However, for God to say, “I AM,” without any other descriptive words, like “tired,” was for Him to declare His eternality. He always is and never changes. So, God’s personal name is also a reminder that He is.
Though YHWH is God’s personal name, there is an even more personal one in Hebrew, which is pronounced “Yah.” It is a shortened version of YHWH. Just like calling someone “Tom” instead of “Thomas,” saying “Yah” adds an even more personal touch. For example, Psalm 113:1 says, “Praise the LORD (YAH)! Praise, O servants of the LORD (YHWH), praise the name of the LORD (YHWH)!” This Psalm starts and ends with “Praise Yah!”
What about other names, such as Elohim, Adonai, Jehovah-Jira, and El-Shaddai? These names, though often used in churches and some Bible translations as names for God, are closer to titles than names in Hebrew. Some of them, like Elohim and Adonai are generic words for “god” and “lord” and can be used for pagan gods and human kings, as well as God. “Jehovah” is a Latinized word for YHWH, and, while unlikely to be the original pronunciation, is God’s personal name. However, Jehovah-Jira means “Yahweh provides,” meaning that His title is “Provider.” El-Shaddai, for its part, is often translated as “God Almighty” (Genesis 17:1). “El” is a generic word for “god,” and “shaddai” means, “power.” Combined, they describe YHWH’s power. So, though each are used frequently for God in the Old Testament and each describe Him to one degree or another, none are a personal name like YHWH or Yah.

from the new testament

God’s personal name made it into the New Testament by transliterating the Hebrew for “Praise Yah” (Halelu Yah) into Greek. That word went from Hebrew to Greek, continued being transliterated into Latin, and eventually ended up in English as “Hallelujah.” The “jah” at the end is “Yah.” Whenever we say Hallelujah, then, we are saying, “Praise Yah.”
Even when quoting Old Testament verses that used YHWH, the New Testament writers used the Greek word kurios, meaning “Lord” (e.g., Romans 10:13, quoting Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21, quoting Joel 2:32; Hebrews 1:10, quoting Psalm 102:25). This shows that while it is acceptable to use God’s Hebrew name or titles, the Bible does not require us to do so, nor is there anything inherently more holy about using the Hebrew form.

implications for today

YHWH is more than God’s personal name—it is a reminder that He is a personal God. He told us His name so that we could know Him, which is an incredibly humble and personal thing for the eternal, “I AM” to do.

Because God “condescended” (came near) to us, we are able to know Him and have a relationship with Him. God is holy and hates sin, but in His humility, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in the place of sinners. Everyone who calls on His name will be saved. Once saved, he or she then begins an eternal relationship with YHWH. No longer is he or she His enemy, but He makes him or her His child. Being His child means we can cry out to Him, and He listens!

David talks about YHWH inclining His ear (Psalm 116:1–2). This is the idea of God listening intently to His children’s needs, worries, and fears. For the believer, YHWH is a name of great comfort because nothing is bigger than He is. That is, we have a relationship with the eternal “I AM” who created the world, knows the hearts of our enemies, and fights for us.

Let the name of YHWH cause you to remember Him. When you do, call out, “Hallelujah!”

understand

God’s personal name is YHWH, meaning “I AM”—the eternal, self-existent One who is unchanging and always present.
YHWH is distinct from titles like Elohim or Adonai, which describe God’s roles and attributes but are not His personal name.
While God's name is sacred, using its exact Hebrew form is not required to know or worship Him.

reflect

How does knowing that God’s name means “I AM”—the eternal, unchanging One—shape the way you trust Him?
In what ways does God revealing His personal name to Moses invite you into a deeper, more personal relationship with Him?
How do you experience God’s presence differently when you remember that His name shows He is always present and listening to you?

engage

How can understanding the difference between God’s personal name YHWH and titles like Elohim or Adonai deepen our appreciation of who God is?
How does the New Testament’s use of the Greek word kurios (Lord) to translate God’s name reflect the way early believers understood and connected with God, and what lessons can we draw from this for our worship today?
How might embracing God’s name as “I AM” impact the way we live in confidence and surrender amid life’s uncertainties?