“Yahweh” is God’s personal name (see Exodus 3:13-15 and Exodus 6:2-3), and is usually “translated” as Lᴏʀᴅ (in small caps). It’s not really a translation because Yahweh does not mean Lord. Rather, it means something like “I am who I am” or “I will be who I will be”.
God has other names also. The following table gives twelve names used of God in the Old Testament, and their frequencies.
Name | Frequency |
---|---|
Adon | 27 |
Adonai | 428 |
El | 221 |
Elahh | 74 |
Elohim | 2340 |
Eloah | 52 |
Yah | 40 |
Yahweh | 6807 |
Shaddai | 48 |
Elyon | 35 |
Illay | 9 |
Sabaoth | 278 |
(Source: Table 4, What is his name?: a biblical study of divine titles, Alfred Norris. Aletheia Books, 1986.)
- There are other titles used of God, but the ones not listed above concern his attributes and are not actual names.
- Elahh and Illay are Aramaic rather than Hebrew names. They are equivalent to Eloah and Elyon in Hebrew.
- References to false gods and to agents of the true God (such as judges or angels) have been omitted.