Do you know the meaning of your name? My name, Stephanie, comes from the Greek word, stephanos which means crowned. Revelation 19:12 (ESV) says of Jesus:

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems [stephanos], and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

~Revelation 19:12 ESV

I really don’t like to be called anything but Stephanie, meaning I don’t like my name shortened. It ends up sounding like stuff or staph…who wants to be called staph?

In English, we call the Son of God, Jesus. Messianic Jews call him Yeshua. In Matthew 1:21, an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the name for her son.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

~Matthew 1:21 ESV

Yeshua means salvation. But it is a combination of God’s name Yehovah (see below) and the Hebrew word for salvation. In Hebrew, we find his name written as Yeshuah. It is the word for salvation. We see this word many times in Scripture.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation [yeshuah, Jesus].

~Psalm 13:5 ESV.

Behold, God is my salvation [yeshuah, Jesus]; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation [yeshuah, Jesus]. With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation [yeshuah, Jesus].

~Isaiah 12:2-3 ESV.

There are many more: Exodus 15:2, Psalm 27:1, 62:1-2, Isaiah 49:6, 49:8, 62:11 Jonah 2:9…(I read this in a book called, The Rabbi, the Secret Message, and the Identity of the Messiah, by Carl Gallups, 2018.)

We often refer to the Father as God or Lord. God can be god as well when we are referring to a false god or idol.

Jewish people call him Adonai, which means my Lords or Masters (yes, it is plural). They refuse (out of reverence) to call him Yehovah (or in American known as Yahweh), which is a four-letter word in Hebrew: Yod Hey Vav Hey = YHVH. Our Bible translates this as LORD.

Here is a cool video that explains this better. Please watch it.

Yehovah is also known as Jehovah. This is the only name of God and it means (I AM). In Hebrew texts, YHVH is written with the added vowels as Yehovah.

In her book, To Know Him by Name, Kay Author explains Yahweh or Yehovah means, “I am that I am. I am the self-existent one. I am everything and anything you will ever need.” ( Multnomah Books, 1995, pg. 61).

God has one name but many titles. Like El Shaddai and Elohim.

In my Bible study The Jewels of Hebrews, I wrote:

God is referred to as Elohim in Genesis 1–the account of creation. This title for God in the Hebrew language is אֱלֹהִים, and it consists of five consonants (read right to left). Hebrew is both a written and pictorial language. Each letter represents a picture or symbol adding to its meaning. The first letter of Elohim is an Aleph or א. It illustrates an ox and stands for a leader or father. The next consonant, depicted by a shepherd’s crook, is a Lamed or ל, and it symbolizes the Son or shepherd. The third character is a Hey or ה, and it portrays a man with his arms raised. It represents the Holy Spirit or revealer. The fourth consonant, signifying a mighty deed or life, is a Yod, or י, while the last letter is a Mem or מ, and suggests separation of the waters. This title for God is a plural, masculine word, and this one name contains the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit pictured as the mighty Creator. [i]

Names are important.

God knows your name, too. He knew it before you were born. He calls you by your name. You are a Somebody. You are known.

God knows your name, too. He knew it before you were born. He calls you by your name. You are a Somebody. You are known. #WhatsinaName #VineWords #Yeshua @DPavlantos Click To Tweet

Try calling on Him by His name.

Meet Our Contributor

STEPHANIE PAVLANTOS

Stephanie Pavlantos is an award-winning writer who is passionate about getting people into God’s Word. She has taught Bible studies for over fifteen years, speaking at ladies’ retreats, at her church, and over the internet.

She is an ordained minister, holding credentials with Messenger Fellowship in Nashville, TN.

Stephanie works for the Besorah Institute for Judeo-Christian Studies in the Student Services department, as well as teaching their online classes.

Stephanie holds weekly Zoom Bible studies, covering topics such as the Jewish roots of Christianity; the Four Covenants; Greek linguistics, and other themes.

She is published in Refresh Bible study magazine, Charisma magazine, and Christian Broadcasting Network, and Faith Beyond Fear. She is the Social Media Manager and devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

She is a contributing author to Feed Your Soul with the Word of God(Lighthouse Bible Studies), and Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships (VineWords Publishing).

Her book, Jewels of Hebrews, won third place at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, and an Honorable Mention at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

Married for twenty-seven years, she and Mike have three children: Matthew, Alexandria, and Michael. Stephanie loves animals of all kinds and has adopted into her family an assortment of dogs, ducks, goats, and chickens.