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Genesis 32:22–32

And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (v. 28).

David heard the sound of the hosts of heaven marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then watched as God swept away his Philistine enemies like a torrent of water gushing from a suddenly breached dam. And so he praised God as “Baal Perazim” (2 Sam. 5:20). Unfortunately, these words are meaningless for those of us who do not understand Hebrew. Reading them, we might pause, scratch our heads, and wonder why David would use an otherwise unknown name for God. Thankfully, however, most Bibles provide the translation—”the Master of Breakthroughs.” And with the translation comes a new understanding.

Many names in the Bible are similarly instructive. It was a very common practice in Israel to give people names that said something about their character, their exploits, or the national situation. In our study of 1 Samuel, we saw that Phinehas’ wife named her newborn son Ichabod, which means “Inglorious,” because “The glory has departed from Israel”—God had abandoned His people (4:19–22). Later we saw a selfish, ungrateful man named Nabal insult David—and we learned that Nabal means “Fool” (25:25). The Bible is full of similar stories. Probably the best example is that of Jacob. He emerged from his mother’s womb clutching at the heel of his twin brother Esau, and so he was named Jacob, which means “Supplanter” or “Deceitful.” He lived up to both meanings, taking his brother’s birthright and blessing by deceit. But later, as he was returning to Canaan after living with his uncle in Haran, he wrestled all night with an angel. Finally, at daybreak, Jacob pleaded for the angel’s blessing. In reply, the angel asked for Jacob’s name, which was a way of asking him to surrender. And Jacob did so. With that, the angel gave him a new name—Israel, or “Prince with God,” for as the angel said, “You have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

The names and titles of God are frequently as filled with meaning as those of His people, just as David’s example indicates. By examining these sobriquets in detail, we can learn much about the God they signify. Toward that end, we will spend this week looking at some of the best-known names and titles for God with the help of Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series, The Names of God.

Coram Deo Living before the face of God

Are you familiar with the name “Yahweh” and the titles “Elohim,” “Adonai,” and “El Shaddai”? Perhaps more important, do you know what they mean? We will look at these four names and titles over our next four studies. Pray that these excursions into God’s Word will give you new insights into the character and attributes of your God.


For Further Study
  • Pss. 7:17; 20:7; 102:15
  • Prov. 18:10
  • Isa. 24:15
  • Heb. 13:15

    A Morning of Joy for David

    God’s Holy Name

    Keep Reading Counting It All Joy: The Acts of Christ in the Third Century

    From the August 2003 Issue
    Aug 2003 Issue