How Important is Your Name to You?

Have you ever been introduced to someone and 15 minutes later they have forgotten your
name. Have you ever met someone and they persisted in calling you by a name that isn’t
yours? How did that make you feel?

How important is it to have your correct name on vitally important documents, such as
the deed to your home, car, pay check, savings account or your medical chart?

How do you think our heavenly Father feels when his name has been replaced in the bible
almost 7,000 times by the phrase “The Lord?” Or how does He feel when you refer to
Him as “God?” Both of these titles come from paganism. He tells us many times in
scripture how important His name is and that He doesn’t like being called by pagan titles.

Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies?
yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which
they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for
Baal.

Referring to the Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Concordance, we find that one definition of the
word “Baal” is “Lord”.

H1168

בעל

ba‛al
BDB Definition:
Baal = “lord”

Do we really feel comfortable referring to YHWH as Baal? How does YHWH feel about
our calling Him “God?” It can readily be shown that this word also comes from
paganism. It is the word substituted for the Hebrew word “Elohim.”

Isa 65:11 But ye are they that forsake YHWH, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

The Hebrew word translated “that troop” is  “gad”. The Massoretes vowel pointed
it to be pronounced as gad, but we find other scriptures where the word is vowel pointed
to be pronounced “god”. An example is Jos. 11:17 where we find “Baal God” or “lord
god”. Most scholars agree that gad refers to the Canaanite pagan deity of luck or fortune.
Could this be the origin of the common phrase “Good Luck”?

H1408

גד

gad
BDB Definition:
Gad = “god of fortune”

Gad is usually identified with Jupiter by astrologers. Alexander Hislop in his book “The
Two Babylons” identifies gad as the Sun deity. He goes on to say that the name Gad is
applicable to Nimrod. We also find that “gott” or “god” was also the name of a Teutonic
deity. It was used to refer to the false deity Odin. C.J. Koster writes “We further found
“Goda” as a proper name of an idol. Moreover, the same author (quoting Jacob Grimm,
Teutonic Mythology) relates how Wodan the name of the highest god also called Wotan
and Odan, was also called Godan.”

Scripture tells us in numerous places that the name of YHWH is Holy (Qodesh - set
apart- sacred) and we are not to profane it.

1Ch 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek YHWH.


Lev 22:32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am YHWH which hallow you


Psa 33:20 Our soul waiteth for YHWH: he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.


Psa 145:21 My mouth shall speak the praise of YHWH: and let all flesh bless his Holy name for ever and ever.

This is only a few of the numerous scriptures that indicate that the name of YHWH is
very important for us to use. How can one bless and praise His Holy name if one does not
utter it? We are told in scripture that we are guilty of profaning the Holy name of
YHWH.

Eze 36:17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
Eze 36:18 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
Eze 36:19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
Eze 36:20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of YHWH, and are gone forth out of his land.
Eze 36:21 But I had pity for mine holy name , which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Master YHWH; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake , which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name , which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am YHWH, saith the Master YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

Many will say it isn’t important what name we call Him because He knows who we
mean. But the above scriptures seem to disagree. The Muslims and many other pagan
religions also call their deity “God”. Why should we call out Elohim that?

Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane , and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

We know that the name of YHWH is Holy and that the names of pagan deities are
profane. Brown-Driver-Briggs define the Hebrew word translated profane as follows:

H2455

חל

chol
BDB Definition:
1) profaneness, commonness, unholy, profane, common, sand

Is YHWH’s name “common?” Isn’t calling Him by a ‘common’ pagan title mixing the
Holy and the profane? Isn’t that the same as bringing His name to naught or in a false
fashion?

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain; for YHWH will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The word Hebrew word translated “vain” is “shav”

H7723

שו / שוא

shav' / shav
BDB Definition:
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood
1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity
1b) emptiness of speech, lying
1c) worthlessness (of conduct)

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other Elohim but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and masters many,)
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one Elohim, the Father , of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Master Yahushua the Messiah, by whom are all things, and we by him.

So, is it fair to assume then that since these false gods are nothing, then by calling our
Elohim (YHWH) by the titles and names of any false god, is also bringing his name to
“nothing?”

There are many scriptures that indicate that YHWH is zealous for His Holy name. His
name is also in the name of our Messiah, Y’shua. Shouldn’t we also be zealous for the
only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved?

There are so many scriptures that state that YHWH’s name is very important, it is hard to
do justice to the subject. However, I wanted to keep this as short as possible and concede
that there are many other scriptures I could have used to prove this. Perhaps, this might
provoke others to do a scripture study on the words “holy name”.

One final question on the importance of names. Would you want some other name or title
written into the Book of Life in place of your true name? I think the answer is obvious.
So why don’t we make sure we honor our heavenly Father by using His proper name
when we refer or pray to Him? We are much more solid ground by doing so.

Selah – (stop and think about it.)