God’s Name

Description:

The reason why it’s called a swear word is because the term comes from the verb “swear,” which originally meant to take an oath or make a solemn declaration, often invoking a deity or sacred entity. For example, saying “By God” or “Jesus Christ” in a profane or casual manner was considered taking the Lord’s name in vain, a serious offense in many religious traditions. The idea originates from the Bible, specifically the Third Commandment, which states, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). This commandment has been interpreted by many to mean that one should not use God’s name in a disrespectful or irreverent manner. “Vain” means “empty,” so taking the Lord’s name in vain actually means talking about God as if He does not exist. This is part of why swearing is considered so offensive to theists. Using God’s name in a curse or casual exclamation was seen as blasphemous and deeply disrespectful, which historically could have severe social and legal consequences, and in many places it still is.

Many of today’s Christians don’t know this, but the name of God in the Bible is not “God.” It’s not “Jehovah,” as included in the name of the Christian denomination “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” either. And it’s not “Yahweh,” either, as many will claim. These are all words used to censor God’s name, which is also one of the reasons why they call God “He,” “Father,” “Jesus Christ,” and “Lord.” Just like in the Harry Potter book series, where they say “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” when talking about the devilish character Voldemort, Christians do the same when referring to God. His actual name in the Bible is “YHWH,” which means “the way,” and is a mirror anagram of “HWHY,” which means “away,” a name associated with the Devil. (The letter “H” resembles the letter “A” if you tilt the vertical lines by their tops towards each other.) This hints at them both being the same character. The name “YHWH” appears in the Tetragrammaton יהוהיהוהיהוה in Hebrew and is often vocalized as “Yahweh,” though traditionally, it is not pronounced by Jews, who use titles like “Adonai” (the Lord) or “Elohim” (God) instead.

It is considered so blasphemous to use God’s actual name “YHWH,” that God go by many different names throughout the Bible, such as:

  • Abba – An Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and Paul to address God in a personal and intimate manner.
  • Adonai – Meaning “Lord” or “Master,” which denotes God’s authority.
  • El Shaddai – Translated as “God Almighty,” highlighting God’s power and sufficiency.
  • El Elyon – Meaning “The Most High God,” showing God as the exalted ruler of the universe.
  • El Olam – Meaning “The Everlasting God,” emphasizing God’s unchanging, eternal nature.
  • El Roi – Meaning “The God Who Sees Me,” used by Hagar in Genesis 16:13.
  • Elohim – A plural noun for gods in Hebrew, but used for the one true God in the Bible, emphasizing His majesty and power.
  • Immanuel – Meaning “God with us,” a name given to Jesus to signify God’s presence with His people.
  • Jehovah Jireh (Yahweh Yireh) – Meaning “The LORD Will Provide,” as named by Abraham when God provided a ram to sacrifice in place of Isaac.
  • Jehovah Mekoddishkem (Yahweh Mekoddishkem) – Meaning “The LORD Who Sanctifies You.”
  • Jehovah Nissi (Yahweh Nissi) – Meaning “The LORD Is My Banner,” which denotes God’s leadership and protection.
  • Jehovah Raah (Yahweh Raah) – Meaning “The LORD My Shepherd.”
  • Jehovah Rapha (Yahweh Rapha) – Meaning “The LORD Who Heals.”
  • Jehovah Sabaoth (Yahweh Sabaoth) – “The LORD of Hosts,” referring to God’s sovereignty over all heavenly and earthly armies.
  • Jehovah Shalom (Yahweh Shalom) – Meaning “The LORD Is Peace.”
  • Jehovah Shammah (Yahweh Shammah) – Meaning “The LORD Is There.”
  • Jehovah Tsidkenu (Yahweh Tsidkenu) – Meaning “The LORD Our Righteousness.”
  • Logos – Meaning “Word,” used in the New Testament to describe Jesus as the divine expression of God.
  • Yahweh (often translated as “LORD”) – This is the personal name of God, revealed to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14, and signifies God as eternal and self-existing.

Muslims have such extreme fear of their God, and the Quran and Hadith reflect this through the use of various names and attributes. Muslims have a specific list of the 99 names of Allah, known as “Asma’ul Husna” (the Beautiful Names), which are primarily derived from various mentions throughout the Quran and Hadith. Many of the 99 names are directly mentioned in the Quran. The concept of there being 99 names of Allah is explicitly mentioned in a famous Hadith, reported by Abu Huraira, one of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions. In this Hadith, found in collections such as Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, “Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e., one-hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise.” The names are:

  1. Allah (الله) – The Greatest Name.
  2. Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) – The All-Compassionate.
  3. Ar-Rahim (الرحيم) – The All-Merciful.
  4. Al-Malik (الملك) – The Absolute Ruler.
  5. Al-Quddus (القدوس) – The Pure One.
  6. As-Salam (السلام) – The Source of Peace.
  7. Al-Mu’min (المؤمن) – The Inspirer of Faith.
  8. Al-Muhaymin (المهيمن) – The Guardian.
  9. Al-Aziz (العزيز) – The Victorious.
  10. Al-Jabbar (الجبار) – The Compeller.
  11. Al-Mutakabbir (المتكبر) – The Greatest.
  12. Al-Khaliq (الخالق) – The Creator.
  13. Al-Bari’ (البارئ) – The Maker of Order.
  14. Al-Musawwir (المصور) – The Shaper of Beauty.
  15. Al-Ghaffar (الغفار) – The Forgiving.
  16. Al-Qahhar (القهار) – The Subduer.
  17. Al-Wahhab (الوهاب) – The Giver of All.
  18. Ar-Razzaq (الرزاق) – The Sustainer.
  19. Al-Fattah (الفتاح) – The Opener.
  20. Al-`Alim (العليم) – The Knower of All.
  21. Al-Qabid (القابض) – The Constrictor.
  22. Al-Basit (الباسط) – The Reliever.
  23. Al-Khafid (الخافض) – The Abaser.
  24. Ar-Rafi (الرافع) – The Exalter.
  25. Al-Mu’izz (المعز) – The Bestower of Honors.
  26. Al-Mudhill (المذل) – The Humiliator.
  27. As-Sami (السميع) – The Hearer of All.
  28. Al-Basir (البصير) – The Seer of All.
  29. Al-Hakam (الحكم) – The Judge.
  30. Al-`Adl (العدل) – The Just.
  31. Al-Latif (اللطيف) – The Subtle One.
  32. Al-Khabir (الخبير) – The All-Aware.
  33. Al-Halim (الحليم) – The Forbearing.
  34. Al-Azim (العظيم) – The Magnificent.
  35. Al-Ghafur (الغفور) – The All-Forgiving.
  36. Ash-Shakur (الشكور) – The Appreciative.
  37. Al-Ali (العلي) – The Highest.
  38. Al-Kabir (الكبير) – The Greatest.
  39. Al-Hafiz (الحفيظ) – The Preserver.
  40. Al-Muqit (المقيت) – The Nourisher.
  41. Al-Hasib (الحسيب) – The Accounter.
  42. Al-Jalil (الجليل) – The Majestic.
  43. Al-Karim (الكريم) – The Bountiful, The Generous.
  44. Ar-Raqib (الرقيب) – The Watchful One.
  45. Al-Mujib (المجيب) – The Responder to Prayer.
  46. Al-Wasi’ (الواسع) – The All-Comprehending.
  47. Al-Hakim (الحكيم) – The Perfectly Wise.
  48. Al-Wadud (الودود) – The Loving One.
  49. Al-Majid (المجيد) – The Most Glorious.
  50. Al-Ba’ith (الباعث) – The Resurrector.
  51. Ash-Shahid (الشهيد) – The Witness.
  52. Al-Haqq (الحق) – The Truth.
  53. Al-Wakil (الوكيل) – The Trustee.
  54. Al-Qawiyy (القوي) – The Possessor of All Strength.
  55. Al-Matin (المتين) – The Forceful One.
  56. Al-Wali (الولي) – The Governing Friend.
  57. Al-Hamid (الحميد) – The Praiseworthy.
  58. Al-Muhsi (المحصي) – The Appraiser.
  59. Al-Mubdi’ (المبدئ) – The Originator.
  60. Al-Mu’id (المعيد) – The Restorer.
  61. Al-Muhyi (المحيي) – The Giver of Life.
  62. Al-Mumit (المميت) – The Taker of Life.
  63. Al-Hayy (الحي) – The Ever Living One.
  64. Al-Qayyum (القيوم) – The Self-Existing One.
  65. Al-Wajid (الواجد) – The Finder.
  66. Al-Majid (الماجد) – The Glorious.
  67. Al-Wahid (الواحد) – The Only One.
  68. As-Samad (الصمد) – The Satisfier of All Needs.
  69. Al-Qadir (القادر) – The All-Powerful.
  70. Al-Muqtadir (المقتدر) – The Creator of All Power.
  71. Al-Muqaddim (المقدم) – The Expediter.
  72. Al-Mu’akhkhir (المؤخر) – The Delayer.
  73. Al-Awwal (الأول) – The First.
  74. Al-Akhir (الآخر) – The Last.
  75. Az-Zahir (الظاهر) – The Manifest One.
  76. Al-Batin (الباطن) – The Hidden One.
  77. Al-Wali (الوالي) – The Governor.
  78. Al-Muta’ali (المتعالي) – The Supreme One.
  79. Al-Barr (البر) – The Source of All Goodness.
  80. At-Tawwab (التواب) – The Guide to Repentance.
  81. Al-Muntaqim (المنتقم) – The Avenger.
  82. Al-‘Afuww (العفو) – The Forgiver.
  83. Ar-Ra’uf (الرؤوف) – The Compassionate.
  84. Malik-al-Mulk (مالك الملك) – The Owner of All.
  85. Dhu-al-Jalal wa-al-Ikram (ذو الجلال و الإكرام) – The Lord of Majesty and Bounty.
  86. Al-Muqsit (المقسط) – The Equitable One.
  87. Al-Jami’ (الجامع) – The Gatherer.
  88. Al-Ghani (الغني) – The Rich One.
  89. Al-Mughni (المغني) – The Enricher.
  90. Al-Mani’ (المانع) – The Preventer of Harm.
  91. Ad-Darr (الضار) – The Creator of The Harmful.
  92. An-Nafi’ (النافع) – The Creator of Good.
  93. An-Nur (النور) – The Light.
  94. Al-Hadi (الهادي) – The Guide.
  95. Al-Badi (البديع) – The Originator.
  96. Al-Baqi (الباقي) – The Everlasting One.
  97. Al-Warith (الوارث) – The Inheritor of All.
  98. Ar-Rashid (الرشيد) – The Righteous Teacher.
  99. As-Sabur (الصبور) – The Timeless.