“What’s in a name?” – Biblically, a lot.

The covenant name God used for Himself in the Old Testament is actually four letters, “YHWH.” (Scholars refer to it as a “tetragrammaton,” which, in Greek, means “four letters.”)

Vowels were later added to give us the name “Yahweh” which, when pronounced correctly, sounds like a breath. This more personal, “covenant” name, Yahweh, was used in the first two chapter of Job when we’re being introduced to the book’s primary character.

However, in chapters 3-37, when Job’s “friends” (with friends like these who needs enemies) are verbally beating Job up, the writer uses the Hebrew name for God, “El Shaddai,”  which means “God the Almighty”.

It’s not until God “shows up” in chapter 38 that, once again, the writer, inspired by God, returns to using the name “Yahweh.”

Here’s the implication:  this reminds me that, even in my most unspeakable pain & suffering, God is not only with me, He is INTIMATE with me.

Centuries later, God revealed His name on an even more intimate level in Jesus Christ, who is called “Emmanuel” (God is with us.)