Names of God Bible Study How many times does God's Word reference the use of His name? "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His Name alone is excellent; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven." Psalm 148:13 (KJV) Editor's Note: To assist you in your own personal journey into drawing closer to God through the knowledge of His names, I have provided only a few of the Scripture references to "whet your appetite". It is my hope that you will want to study for yourself all the verses and environments/occasions in which God's name is referenced. (The list of Scripture references may not be all-inclusive.) Is God's name really that important? I mean, really... who cares? God cares! During the course of my regular Bible studies in the past six months I became aware of phrases referencing, not God's name, but the use of God's name. So, I thought it worthwhile to investigate just how many times God's Word talks about His name. In so doing, I gained even greater insight into how God feels about His name — and I discovered that He's quite serious about how, when, where, and why His name is used. In the Old Testament, the Bible references God's "name" more than 175 times. God wants people to know Him by knowing His name! At least 16 times God says that His reason for doing certain things was so people would "know [His] name", "fear [His] name", or that His name would be "declared": Exodus 9:16: "but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth;" Psalm 9:10: "Those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek You." Jeremiah 16:21: "Therefore, behold, I will cause them to know, this once will I cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is Yahweh." Malachi 4:2: "But to you who fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall." See also 1 Kings 8:42-43; 2 Chronicles 6:33; Nehemiah 1:11; Psalm 61:5, 83:18, 86:11; Isaiah 52:6; Jeremiah 29:3; Ezekiel 20:44, 36:23, and 39:7. God cares deeply about where and in whom His name dwells! More than 50 times God refers to a place for His "name to dwell" or His name being in a person or place: Exodus 23:21: "Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don't provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for My name is in him." Deuteronomy 16:11: "and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God . . . in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause His name to dwell there." Nehemiah 1:9: "but if you return to Me . . . yet will I . . .bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause My name to dwell there." 2 Chronicles 7:14: "if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." See also Exodus 20:24; Numbers 6:27; Deuteronomy 12:11, 14:23, 16:2, 16:6, 26:2; Ezra 6:12; 2 Samuel 7:13; 1 Kings 5:5, 8:16-19, 8:29, 9:3, 11:36; 2 Kings 21:4, 21:7, 23:27; 1 Chronicles 22:8-10, 28:3; 2 Chronicles 6:5-10, 6:33, 7:16, 7:20, 33:4, 33:7; Numbers 1:9; Isaiah 43:7, 63:19, 65:1; Jeremiah 7:10-14, 7:30, 14:9, 15:16, 25:29, 32:34, 34:15; Daniel 9:18-19; and Amos 9:12. God cares about His name's reputation! At least 19 times God references doing something for the sake of His name: 1 Samuel 12:22: "For Yahweh will not forsake His people for His great name's sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to Himself..." Psalm 23:3: "He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Ezekiel 20:22: "Nevertheless I withdrew My hand, and worked for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth." See also 1 Kings 8:41; 2 Chronicles 6:32; Psalm 25:11, 31:3, 79:9, 106:8, 109:21, 143:11; Isaiah 48:9, 66:5; Jeremiah 14:7, 14:21; Ezekiel 20:9, 20:14, 20:44, and 36:22. God cares about how His name is used! More than 30 times God says, not only that He is holy, but that His name is holy or worthy of glory: 1 Chronicles 16:10: "Glory you in his holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice who seek Yahweh." Psalm 29:2: "Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array." Psalm 111:9: "He has sent redemption to His people. He has ordained His covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome!" Isaiah 57:15: "For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite." See also Leviticus 20:3, 22:2, 22:32; 1 Chronicles 16:29, 16:35, 29:16; Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 30:4, 33:21, 97:12, 99:3, 103:1, 105:3, 106:47, 138:2, 145:21, 148:13; Isaiah 12:4, 47:4; Ezekiel 20:39, 36:20-22, 39:7, 39:25, 43:7-8; and Amos 2:7. And finally, God simply cares about people knowing His name! The phrases "My name" and "Your name" (apart from the other more specific verses already provided) appear at least 58 times: Exodus 3:15: "God said moreover to Moses, "You shall tell the children of Israel this, 'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations." Leviticus 19:12: "'You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh." 2 Samuel 7:26: "Let Your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of hosts is God over Israel..." Isaiah 42:8: "I am Yahweh, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to engraved images." 1 Chronicles 17:24: "Let Your name be established and magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Hosts is the God of Israel..." 2 Chronicles 14:11: "...help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on You, and in Your name are we come against this multitude..." See also Exodus 6:3; Numbers 6:27; Deuteronomy 18:19-20; 2 Samuel 22:50; 1 Kings 8:33-48, 2 Chronicles 6:20-38, 14:11, 20:8-9; Psalm 89:24, 91:14; Isaiah 29:23, 41:25, 43:7, 48:11, 49:1, 52:5-6, 65:1; Jeremiah 12:16, 14:14-15, 23:25-27, 27:15, 29:9, 29:21-23, 34:16, 44:26; Zechariah 5:4, 13:9; Malachi 1:6, 1:11, 1:14, 2:2, and 2:5. It's obvious that these aren't mere casual references to God's name, but that He cares deeply about how, when, where, and why His name is used. As Christians, shouldn't we care just as much about how we address and worship the Most High God?