Relative to any covenant is that which pertains to the person or persons entering into covenant and that is the name or the names of the covenanters. Henry D. Houghton says that most human covenants have five distinct and essential elements to them; these elements being the following:
The DATE of the agreement.
The PARTIES between whom the covenant is made.
The SUBJECT or scope of the covenant.
The TIME and operation of the agreement, limited or otherwise.
The SIGNATURE, i.e. the Person’s name.
The same is true of the Divine Covenants. Each of the Divine covenants are stamped with God’s Time upon them, the Parties involved, the Subject and scope of the covenantal word, the Time and operation of the covenant, being either temporal or everlasting, and finally signed with the Name of God.
When the covenant had been drawn up and the parties involved entered into covenant by sacrifice, the contract was signed with the person’s names. Some customs of certain tribes signed their name in blood. The name was also used as a seal of the covenant. A covenant was only as good as the person’s name. The covenant was invalid without the persons signature.
When it comes to the Divine covenants, which fall basically into two groupings, the name of God is indelibly stamped upon each. This name also becomes God’s seal as to the authenticity of His covenants. Because of Christ’s work at Calvary, the Divine covenants have indeed been “signed in blood”, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The two groupings of Divine covenants have to do with the Covenant of Creation and the Covenants of Redemption. Because this is so, the Bible reveals two groupings of Divine Names and/or Titles; these Names or Titles having to do with Creation and those having to do with Redemption.
It is because God has signed His name to His covenants that He often moved in behalf of His people, in spite of their wickedness “for His Name’s sake” (Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22, 39, 44).
The Elohistic (Elohim) Names of God—The Covenant of Creation.
The first covenant involving man is the Edenic Covenant, the covenant of creation, revealing God’s purpose for man. This covenant is signed with the name of God, involving the persons of the Godhead, even the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1 uses the title or name “GOD” about 32 times. The Hebrew word “Elohim” is a Hebrew uni-plural word denoting the unity in plurality of the Divine Persons. The word “Elohim” simply means “object, or objects of worship”. Throughout the Scripture it is used of the true God, of angels, of devils and even of men (Psalms 82:1; 138:1; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; John 10:33–35).
“El” in the singular means “The Strong One, The Mighty One”. “Elohim” in the uni-plural form involves the three persons in the Godhead, the Covenanters. God said in the covenant of creation, “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness” and “God created man in HIS own image, in the image of God He made them”. It was ELOHIM speaking (Genesis 1:26–28). The Divine Covenanters, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, were active in this Edenic Covenant, declaring the purpose for the creation of man.
The Elohistic Name of God is used thousands of times in the Bible. Its prominent truth is that God is the Creator, the Strong One, the Mighty One and the one and only true object of worship for man, the creature. Man was created to worship God, the Creator, for he owes and depends upon God for his very existence. He was created to glorify and worship God and to do His will (Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20; Revelation 4:11).
Wherever the Elohistic name or title is used in Scripture it always speaks of God the creator and pertains to the covenant of creation, the Edenic Covenant in particular. The various Elohistic names are generally translated as “God”. Following are some of the compound Elohistic names or titles of God, along with the singular use of the same. When a compound name is used, it is generally using the creatorship name with one or more of the attributes of God.
El—The Strong One, The Mighty One, the Creator.
It is used of the Godhead in the singular, showing that each person in the Godhead is God, co-equal in nature, power, attributes and glory
The Father is El (Genesis 14:18–22).
The Son is El (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Psalms 22:1; 89:26).
The Holy Spirit is El (Job 33:4; 37:10).
Elohim—God or Gods, The Strong One, the Mighty One. It is the Old Testament equivalent to the New Testament Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It speaks of unity yet plurality in the Divine Persons (Genesis 1:1–26).
Eloah—The One and only true God, in contrast to the polytheistic and pantheistic religions of heathen nations. It speaks of the unity of God’s being (Deuteronomy 32:15; Daniel 2:11).
El-Elyon—God, the Most High. It signifies the omnipresence of God, who is high above all things (Genesis 14:19).
El-Shaddai—God Almighty, The Strong One, the Breasted One, the All-Sufficient One. It involves the omnipotence of His being (Genesis 17:1).
El-Roi—God, the All-seeing, the God who sees me. It speaks of the omniscience of His being (Genesis 16:13, 14).
El-Olam—God, the Everlasting God. It signifies eternity of being (Genesis 21:33).
El-Bethel—God of the House of God. It signifies the revelation of His being in His dwelling place (Genesis 28:19; 31:13).
El-Elohe-Israel—God, the God of the Prince having power with God and man. The God of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. He is the God who changes human names and human nature to partake of His name and His nature (Genesis 33:20).
These compound Elohistic names or titles of God use the signature of God who is a covenant keeping God as the God of creation.
El-Gibbor—The Mighty or Great God (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 32:18, 19).
Elohim-Elyon—God, The Most High (Psalms 91:1, 2; 78:56).
Elohim-Saboath—God of Hosts (Psalms 80:7, 14).
Adon or Adonai—Master, Owner(s), Ruler of all (Psalms 147:5; 86:12).
Immanu-El—God with us.
The greatest of all these Elohistic names is revealed in the name Immanu-El, which means “GOD with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21–23). All the compound Elohistic names of God consummate in this name. Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God made flesh, the Incarnate Word, the new creation. The previous creation of man in Eden pointed to the new creation in redemption, of which Jesus Christ is the beginning (John 1:13, 14–18; Revelation 3:14).
The Jehovahistic Names of God—The Covenants of Redemption
All of the subsequent covenants revealed in the Bible are covenants of redemption’s plan. Each is signed with the dominant redemptive name of God, as well as, many times, linked in compound significance with the name of God in the covenant of creation.
When this is seen, Creation and Redemption are brought together, for the God who creates man is also the God who redeems man.
The clearest revelation of the redemptive covenantal name of God is given for us in the call of God to Moses at the burning bush and in the process of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt’s bondage. This is found in Exodus 3:1–15; 6:1–6.
When the Lord called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt it was on the basis of the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 2:23–25; 3:1–6). Moses, knowing that the Egyptians worshipped many gods, wanted to know by what name of the true God would he deliver Israel. Moses said to God “Behold when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say unto me, What is His name? What shall I say unto them” (Exodus 3:13).
God told Moses in time that He would judge all the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). The name of God would be a name above all the gods of Egypt. God’s reply to Moses question is found in Exodus 3:14, 15. “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD GOD of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My name forever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.”
In Exodus 6:1–6 God further told Moses that He was not known (i.e., understood fully, or fully revealed in power) by His name JEHOVAH to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with whom He had made covenant. This is not to say that the covenantal name was not used in Genesis, but the full power of it was not manifested as it would be in the redemption of Israel from Egypt’s house of bondage. The covenantal name of God in relation to redemption is revealed as JEHOVAH (Or, YAHWEH, and translated LORD above 6000 times in Scripture). When He signs the covenant He says “I am the Lord” (Exodus 6:2–8). Redemption is founded on grace and grace is manifested in covenant, signed by His redemptive name.
These are three major truths to be noted in connection with this name of God relative to the covenants of redemption.
The Being of God
When God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush and declared His name, the first thing we see is that which pertains to the very nature and being of God. This is seen in the following:
It is God or ELOHIM who speaks out of the bush. That is, the triunity of God’s being is seen there, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also identified Himself with men who represented His triune characteristics when He said that He was the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. It is the covenanters in the Godhead who speak to Moses.
When God declared His name to be I AM THAT I AM, He also expressed by this His essential attributes.
I AM THAT I AM expressed eternity of being, comprehending time past, time present and time future; that is, timelessness (Revelation 1:4).
I AM THAT I AM expresses Self-existence, that is, He is the life-source, depending on nothing and no-one outside Himself for His very existence (John 1:1–4; Acts 17:28).
I AM THAT I AM expresses the essential attributes of God such as omnipotence, (All-powerful); omnipresence (All-present) and omniscience (All-knowing and All-seeing).
The God of covenant reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and signs His name to His covenants. Because of His very being and His attributes He is able to make and fulfill His covenants. This is what is implicitly seen in the name LORD GOD or JEHOVAH ELOHIM, the I AM THAT I AM!
The Activity of God
When God spoke to Moses and said His name was the LORD GOD, it also involved the meaning that He was a God who was active in behalf of His people. Jehovah’s name (Or Yahweh, translated most often as Lord) means “I will be what I will be”. It declares the activity of God. It shows that God will be all that is necessary to His covenant people as their needs arise.
This name signifies the active presence of God the covenant-maker and covenant-keeper in behalf of His own. He is not just a God who exists as a being for Himself, but a God who is active in covenantal power.
This thought is particularly expressed to Moses in Exodus 6:1–6 when God says He will rid Israel, His covenant people, of the Egyptians by His mighty power and judgments. The plagues on Egypt showed God to be active in redemptive and covenantal power for His people, Israel.
The Redeeming and Creating Power of God
The predominant truth in the name revealed to Moses in the bush is that which pertains to covenant. God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 2:24). The Abrahamic Covenant was a covenant of grace, an irrevocable covenant, and on this basis God would deliver His covenant nation. He did not exist in abstract or inactive sense for Himself, but to redeem His own. The covenant of redemption is involved. The LORD is the redemptive name, the covenantal name, and the power of the covenantal name would be fully seen in Egypt’s judgments and Israel’s deliverance (Exodus 6:3; 6:10; Romans 9:17).
Numerous are the times when God signs His name in covenantal truth: “The LORD is My Name” (Psalms 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; Malachi 3:6; Jeremiah 16:21); Isaiah 42:8).
When God combines His name in the LORD GOD, He gives us the combined truths of Redemption and Creation.
JEHOVAH—The Lord, The Covenant Redeemer.
Elohim—God, The Covenant Creator.
Redemption and Creation are brought together in the name of the LORD God, which is used thousands of times in the Bible.
Just as the Elohistic names of God, which are used in compound manner, so in the Jehovahistic names of God we see many compound redemptive names. In the Elohistic names of God, the compound name is generally linked with some essential attribute of God. But, in the Jehovahistic names of God, the compound name is generally associated with the needs of man, which can only be met by the God of Covenant, the God of redemption.
Compound Redemptive Names
Following are the majority of the compound redemptive names of the God of covenant, the God of creation and the God of redemption. These compound Creator-Redeemer or Redeemer-Creator names were revealed to men in covenantal relationship with the Lord God and may be grouped accordingly.
Jehovah-Elohim—The Lord God, the Redeemer-Creator (Genesis 2:4).
Jah—Abbreviated form of Jehovah (Exodus 15:2; 17:16; Psalms 68:4).
Jehovah-Elohim-Saboath—Lord God of Hosts. That is, of the hosts of heaven, creation and creatures (Psalms 84:8; Jeremiah 15:16).
Adonai-Jehovah-Saboath—Master, Lord of Hosts (Psalms 69:6).
Jah-Jehovah—Lord Jehovah (for double emphasis) (Isaiah 12:2; 26:4).
Jah-Elohim—Lord God (Psalms 68:18).
Jehovah-Jireh—The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14).
Jehovah-Rapha—The Lord that heals (Exodus 15:26).
Jehovah-Nissi—The Lord my Banner (Exodus 17:15).
Jehovah-Kanna—The Lord who is Jealous (Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:9).
Jehovah-Mekaddeskum—The Lord who sanctifies (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8).
Jehovah-Shalom—The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24).
Jehovah-Shaphat—The Lord is Judge (Judges 11:27).
Jehovah-Saboath—The Lord of Hosts (1 Samuel 1:3; Psalms 24:10; 84:1–3).
Jehovah-Elyon—The Lord Most High (Psalms 7:17).
Jehovah-Raah—The Lord my Shepherd (Psalms 23:1).
Jehovah-Hosenu—The Lord our Maker (Psalms 95:6).
Jehovah-Gibbor—The Lord is Mighty (Isaiah 42:13).
Jehovah-Tsidkenu—The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).
Jehovah-Shammah—The Lord is There, or Everpresent (Ezekiel 48:35).
Each of these names may be grouped under their particular covenants, from the Edenic, Adamic, Abrahamic, Mosaic and to the Davidic Covenants. However, the greatest compound redemptive name ever to be revealed in this world or the world to come is the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 1:21; Acts 2:34–36; Ephesians 1:19–23).
The Lord Jesus Christ is the New Covenant redeemer and all covenants pointed to Him. Because all the fulness of the Godhead bodily dwells in Him, it is fitting that all of the compound redemptive names of former covenants find fulfilment in Him who is the New Covenant personified and in whom is the greatest of all compound redemptive covenant names.
As the Godhead was involved in the Old Testament covenantal redemptive name of the LORD GOD, so the Godhead is involved in the New Covenant redemptive name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, Jehovah’s Saviour Anointed and the New Covenant name.
The triune Covenanters of the Everlasting Covenant share the triune name previously hidden in the counsels of the Godhead but revealed in the New Covenant.
When the Father gave the words, and the Son made the sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit sealed the New Covenant, all were signed with the redemptive name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is valid, signed by the name of the triune God.
Under the Mosaic Covenant, and even under succeeding covenants, the people of God often became partakers of the name of God with whom they were in covenantal relationship.
Under the Aaronic priesthood especially the covenantal name was invoked in a thrice-fold manner upon the Israelites in blessing (Numbers 6:22–27). The Israelites were a people called by His name (2 Chronicles 7:14). Because they were in covenantal relationship with the Lord God, they were partakers of the covenant name. For this reason, they were forbidden to take the name of the Lord their God in vain, otherwise they would be guilty (Exodus 20:7; Ezekiel 20:12).
Because the believer in Christ is under the New Covenant, he also is in covenantal relationship with God through Christ, by the Spirit, and thus partakes of the triune covenantal and great redemptive name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest compound redemptive name ever to be revealed because it comprehends the greatest, even the name of the Godhead, the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is also the greatest compound redemptive name because it comprehends in a triune name all previous redemptive names of all previous covenants. The New Covenant is the greatest of all covenants; so is the New Covenant name.
A person takes the New Covenant name, the redemptive name of the Lord Jesus Christ when he accepts the words of the covenant, the sacrifice of the covenant, and the seal of the covenant. The early believers were added to the Church, the covenant community by obeying the terms of the New Covenant. That is, they became members by repentance, faith, water baptism into the Godhead name and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This becomes the signature of the covenant God upon His New Covenant people. Those who are in covenantal relationship with God through Christ and upon whom the covenant name has been called are to depart from all iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). Read also Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–20; Acts 2:1–47; 11:26; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Revelation 3:12; 7:1–3; 14:1; 22:4).
The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest redemptive name ever to be revealed because it comprehends in a triune name all the compound redemptive names of Jehovah. It is in the name and the person the Lord Jesus Christ that God meets every need of man in redemptive power. The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s ordained covenant Redeemer, and all Old Testament redemptive names point to and find their consummation in His redemptive name. It is the name of the Godhead bodily. It is a triune name for the triune God. It is the name of the God of covenant.
We may say with the Psalmist “He will ever be mindful of His Covenant … He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His Covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His Name” (Psalms 111:5, 9.).
AMEN