Yahweh is God
There are several Hebrew words used for "God" in His revelation to mankind.
The two most common are found in both plural and singular forms and mean "Mighty/Strong One" or "First One" (אל singular) and "One worthy of praise" (אלוה singular; אלהים plural). The Greek words for "God" mimic the Hebrew in meaning a deity, one worthy of praise.
Yahweh as אל (El)
When Yahweh speaks of Himself as אל (El), He is inviting us to see Him as the sole One with power over the universe. This word is often connected with the word "Almighty," reinforcing its meaning. Because He created and sustains the entire universe, He alone has authority and power over it, knows all things that happen in it, and therefore rightly judges its inhabitants' actions.
18Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. Genesis 14:18
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. Genesis 17:1
33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God. Genesis 21:33
2Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
1Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! Psalms 150:1
16but Yahweh of Armies is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. Isaiah 5:16
5Thus says God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it. 8“I am Yahweh. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images. Isaiah 42:5,8
10“You are my witnesses,” says Yahweh, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me. Isaiah 43:10
21Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me. Isaiah 45:21
10Don’t we all have one father? Hasn’t one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Malachi 2:10
Seen above is another aspect of Yahweh being אל (El): He is the God of one's fathers, because He was before all other gods. He is revealed as a God of covenants, one who is able to perform what He has promised because of His power and might. Because He is the Strong and First One, He is able to do what He is bound to do by His covenants with mankind. He then expects those in covenant to cling to Him to the exclusion of any other pretending gods, because of the truth that He alone is God.
24“Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours? Deuteronomy 3:24
24For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
9You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; Deuteronomy 5:9
17For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons, nor takes reward. Deuteronomy 10:17
15But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation. 18Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth. 21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. Deuteronomy 32:15,18,21
3“Don’t keep talking so exceedingly proudly. Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3
11God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day. Psalms 7:11
3Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters. Psalms 29:3
2I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me. Psalms 57:2
17and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them. Nehemiah 9:17
56For the destroyer has come on her, even on Babylon. Her mighty men are taken. Their bows are broken in pieces, for Yahweh is a God of retribution. He will surely repay. Jeremiah 51:56
Because Yahweh is El, the God of covenants, He is able to forbear punishment under said covenants. He has the power to do justice and punish as promised under the covenant, and He has the power to forgive and bless instead. He truly is the Mighty One, and we see from His revelation His merciful nature; although His people continued to disobey and forsake Him, He did not leave them. They can be confident to run unto Him in times of distress, knowing that He is Almighty and loves them enough to save them.
6Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, 14for you shall worship no other god: for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Exodus 34:6,14
26“There is no one like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, in his excellency on the skies. Deuteronomy 33:26
20God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 24They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. Psalms 68:20,24
35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer. Psalms 78:35
15But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth. Psalms 86:15
21They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, Psalms 106:21
26Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever. Psalms 136:26
2Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Yah, Yahweh, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
18Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. Micah 7:18
Yahweh as אלוה (Eloah)
Yahweh is also known as Eloah, or One worthy of praise. This is the singular form, and is not used often in reference to Yahweh. However, when it is used, we can gather more insight into Who He is.
Just as El is often used to reveal Yahweh as the Strong One Who is able to perform what He has promised, so Eloah shows Him to be the same, with an emphasis on the duty of people to worship Him. Because He is able to do all things, He is truly worthy of honor and praise. He is to be respected for His uniqueness, and all others that claim to be gods should be rejected.
15But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation. 17They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread. Deuteronomy 32:15,17
31For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God, 32the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect? Psalms 18:31,32
Even pagan kings would recognize that the gods of the nations were unable to save their people. This king went so far as to put Yahweh into the same category of dead gods, but soon found out that He alone was the Living God.
15Now therefore don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this way. Don’t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand?” 2 Chronicles 32:15
Again, like El, Eloah is used to describe Yahweh as the covenant maker, the One Who forgives the shortcomings and deliberate disobedience of His people.
17and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them. Nehemiah 9:17
And also, as with El, Eloah is used to show Yahweh as the righteous Judge—because He is all powerful and the Creator, He is truly worthy of worship.
17‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? Job 4:17
17“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5:17
7Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Psalms 114:7
5“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5
3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth. Habakkuk 3:3
8Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.” Isaiah 44:8
Yahweh as אלהים (Elohim)
More often Yahweh is referred to as אלהים (Elohim), revealing Himself as the worshipful One. This flows from the truth of Him being the Strong One, for His glory is connected to the fact that He alone has power over His creation.
1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
The fact that this word is plural in Hebrew can denote majesty (such as the "royal We") and/or the plurality within Yahweh which we see as Father, Son/Word, and Holy Spirit later in His revelation. The plural form is most often used with singular form verbs, showing that God's unity is important, as well as revealing that the word Elohim can be used of a single deity.
This word is often connected with God's eternal Name, Yahweh. This reveals that Yahweh is to be intimately known as one worthy of praise. He is worthy to be honored because He is the everlasting One, the One Who causes existence. He commands the heavens and they obey. This too is seen by the word Elohim being connected to the word for "hosts" or "armies." Yahweh is often called either "Yahweh of Armies" or "Elohim of Armies," denoting His majesty as the commanders of His angels. Because of this, His people can rely upon Him when facing the natural rulers of this world, as well as the spiritual rulers.
45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you, and take your head from off you. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines today to the birds of the sky, and to the wild animals of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 1 Samuel 17:45,46
19But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me. Psalms 66:19,20
Yahweh alone is Elohim, therefore He alone should be praised. He alone is able to save.
37Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.” 38Then Yahweh’s fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!” 1 Kings 18:37-39
1God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. 11But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced. Psalms 63:1,11
5By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, God of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, of those who are far away on the sea; Psalms 65:5
3But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him! 5A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 7God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah. 8The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai— at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Psalms 68:3-8
Yahweh as אלהים (Elohim) and אל (El)
22They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” Numbers 16:22
Here we see the words El and Elohim used together when referring to Yahweh—"Elohim, the El of the spirits of all flesh"—showing that He being worthy of praise is directly connected to the truth that He is the Mighty One over all the spirits of His creatures.
1My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me. 13Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God? 14You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples. 16The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed. Psalms 77:1,13,14,16
The Father as God
16For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, Yahweh, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. Isaiah 63:16
8But now, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8
10Don’t we all have one father? Hasn’t one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Malachi 2:10
17Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 2 Corinthians 1:3
17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; Ephesians 1:17
6one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. Ephesians 4:6
The Son as God
The Son, Jesus Christ, appears many times throughout the Old Covenant in different forms and under different titles—the Word of Yahweh, the Angel/Messenger of Yahweh, Yahweh of hosts, the captain of Yahweh's hosts, etc.
1After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” Genesis 15:1-2
20“Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don’t provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him. 22But if you indeed listen to his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. Exodus 23:20-22
13When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” 14He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of Yahweh’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your shoes; for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15
1Yahweh’s angel came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to give your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you. Judges 2:1
21But Yahweh’s angel didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was Yahweh’s angel. 22Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.” Judges 13:21-22
21Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by Yahweh’s word. 1 Samuel 3:21
6For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
25He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
33The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.” John 10:33
28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” John 20:28-29
5of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:5
13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. Titus 2:13-14
28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28
1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Peter 1:1
1Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus; 2who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house. 3For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because he who built the house has more honor than the house. 4For every house is built by someone; but he who built all things is God. Hebrews 3:1-4
The Holy Spirit as God
Although not explicitly stated as often as the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit is also called God.
2“Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue. 3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 2 Samuel 23:2-3
7Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? 8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! Psalms 139:7-8
3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.” Acts 5:3-4
17Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Seeing all these descriptions together, we come out with a better understanding of Who Yahweh really is. He is the First, the Strong and Mighty One. Because of this truth, He is truly worthy of worship, the only One worthy of our praise. He stands both together and individually as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as the only God that is—Yahweh!