Lord: Compound Names

Theophoric names are compound names that include a name of God together with one of His attributes, characteristics, or qualities. Old Testament theophoric names may include the name Lord, God, Adoni, or other names of Deity. This chart presents only those Hebrew names that include Lord (Hebrew YHWH, or Jehovah; remember that Jehovah is none other than Jesus Christ), which is represented in the names by the suffixes -iah,

-jah, -ai, or -jahu or the prefixes Ho-, Jo-, Jeh-, or Jeho-. For instance, the names Isaiah, Jeremiah, Uriah, Zedekiah, and Zephaniah each feature the suffix -iah, which is translated into English as “Lord.” Similarly, the names Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, Jehoiada, Jehoiakim, and Jehoram each include the prefix Jeho-, which is also translated as “Lord.”

Theophoric names containing Lord are common in the Old Testament, and the chart contains only a representative sample. The first column in the chart lists the English form of the name as the translators of the Bible have transliterated it. The second column provides the meaning or the translation of the name.

The various theophoric names set forth the Lord’s attributes and character: He is a father, brother, protector, king, fortress, light, and refuge; He is mighty, majestic, great, exalted, righteous, strong, and good. He hears, saves, builds, sees, answers, sustains, succors, helps, knows, strengthens, loves, creates, establishes, shows favor, judges, remembers, protects, ransoms, heals, and consoles. Theophoric names teach us of these and many more characteristics that belong to God.