Names of God Bible Study Yahweh Tzva'ot (Sabaoth) "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: As there is considerable variance among Bible scholars as to former customs, usage, and translations of the numerous names of God in the Bible, the neutrality and factual accuracy of this article may be disputed. These studies are a summation of those ideas and conclusions on which most scholars agree. Yahweh Tzva'ot (Sabaoth, Sabbaoth) - The LORD of Hosts (of Armies) / Lord of Powers Pronounced Yä-wá' (or Yä-vá') Sa-bâ'ôt, the name derives from sabaôth, which means "armies" or "hosts". Thus, Yahweh Tzva'ot — or "YHWH Elohe Sebaot" as some passages render it — can be translated "Yahweh of Armies/Hosts" or "Yahweh God of Armies/Hosts". These two names denote Yahweh's total sovereignty over all heavenly, demonic, and earthly armies. The compound name appears more than 285 times in the Old Testament, primarily in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, as well as many times in the Psalms. Interestingly, the name never appears in the Torah (the first five books). The name Yahweh-Sabaoth appears first in connection with the cult center at Shiloh: 1 Samuel 1:3a — This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot] in Shiloh." 1 Samuel 1:11 — She vowed a vow, and said, "Yahweh of hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot], if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but will give to Your handmaid a man-child, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head." The association of this name with the Ark of the Covenant is significant in that Yahweh is enthroned above the angelic figures. Because the name was associated with the Ark of the Covenant, when David recovered the Ark from the Philistines, he addressed the people in that name: 1 Samuel 4:4 — So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot], who sits above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 2 Samuel 6:18 — When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot]. The name is often associated with the military activities of Israel, as well as in the life of the individual: 1 Samuel 15:2-3 — Thus says Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot], "I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek..." 2 Samuel 5:10 — David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of hosts [Yahweh Elohe Tzva'ot], was with him. 2 Samuel 7:26-27 — Let Your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot] is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall be established before You. For You, Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot], the God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has Your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to You. Psalm 46:6-7 — The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted. Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot] is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 59:5 — You, Yahweh God of hosts [Yahweh Elohe Tzva'ot], the God of Israel, Rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah. Psalm 69:6 — Don't let those who wait for You be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Hosts [Adonai Yahweh Tzva'ot]. Don't let those who seek You be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel. Psalm 80:7 — Turn us again, God of hosts [Elohe Tzva'ot]. Cause Your face to shine, And we will be saved. Isaiah 1:24 — Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot], The Mighty One of Israel, says: "Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, And avenge myself of my enemies;" Isaiah 5:16 — But Yahweh of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot] is exalted in justice, And God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. See also 1 Samuel 17:45; 1 Kings 19:14; 2 Kings 3:9-12,14; 1 Chronicles 11:9; Psalm 24:10, 46:11, 48:8, 80:4,19, 84:3; Isaiah 3:15, 6:5, 9:19, 10:26, 13:4, 14:22; Jeremiah 9:15, 11:20, 48:1; Hosea 12:5; Amos 3:13; Micah 4:4; Nahum 3:5; Haggai 2:6; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 1:6; Habakkuk 2:13; Zephaniah 2:9 The compound name also appears — or is referenced — several times in the New Testament: Romans 9:29 — As Isaiah has said before, "Unless the Lord of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot] had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And would have been made like Gomorrah." James 5:4 — Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts [Yahweh Tzva'ot]. Rev. 19:11-16 — I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God." The armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it He should strike the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." The military connotation of the name cannot be over-emphasized. As the name reveals, the King of the universe brings the hosts of heaven to do battle with our adversary on our behalf. Thus, the victory is already ours! Hallelu YAH! Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB)