How Many Times Is God Mentioned In The Bible? (What Does The Bible Say About God?)

For my last Bible Studies class, I wanted to uncover what God’s names mean in the Bible. While many times in song and prayer, we refer to Him using different titles, I realized not many believers understand what they mean. Some are even unaware that they originated from the Bible. I knew this was a much-needed lesson. But before I dove head first into the topic, I asked my attendees a simple question: how many times is God mentioned in the Bible?

In this article, I take a deep look at the name ‘God’ and its variations. I examine these names’ origins from both the Old and New Testaments. You shall also gain an in-depth understanding of their meanings, and whether or not it is appropriate to call on the Lord by name.

What the Bible Says About God’s Name

According to scholars, the Bible encourages the respectful use of God’s name. God’s name is Jehovah as said in Isaiah 42:8. It is the English translation for the four Hebrew consonants, YHWH, which is used over 7,000 times in the Hebrew Bible. It is a divine name that some argue should not be used by believers. But Scripture reveals that His followers were not afraid of using it. For instance, Elijah and Zechariah were named after Jehovah. Elijah means “My God is Jehovah” and Zechariah means “Jehovah has remembered”. It is further contended that God wants us to use His name for Psalm 105:1 says that we should give thanks to Jehovah and call on His name.

Names and Titles of God in The New Testament

Theologians propound that God had many divine names throughout the Bible and New Testament as a part of His self-revelation. The different titles revealed aspects and principles of the Lord to build our trust and faith in Him. Here are some of the names and titles God went by in the New Testament, which was originally written in Koine Greek:

• Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:18) – This is a translation of the Greek name Kyrios Pantokrator, which comes from the Hebrew titles, YHWH Sabaoth and YHWEH El Shaddai.
• Eli (Matthew 27:46) – As Jesus died on the cross, He cried out to God calling Him Eli, which is from the Greek phrase, theos mou, theos mou, meaning “My God, My God”.
• Abba (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6, and Mark 14:36) – Jesus Christ uses this Aramaic name, meaning “Father”, three times.
• Lord of Hosts (James 5:3 and James 5:7) – Derived from the Hebrew titles, YHWH Elohe Tzevaot, Elohe Tzevaot, and Adonai YHWH Tzevaot.
• Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8) – Since Jesus Christ is God under the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, His names and titles are also given to God. In this verse, John calls Christ as the Alpha and Omega to show He is the beginning and end.
• The Word (John 1:1) – God is called “the Word” from the Greek word, logos, as is His son, Jesus Christ.
• King of Kings, Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16) – This verse describes that when the second coming of Christ will happen, He shall wear a robe with the title “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”.
• Immanuel (Matthew 1:23) – Jesus Christ, the Son of God is known as Immanuel, which means, “God is with us”.

How Many Times Is God Used in The Old Testament?

‘God’ is used a total of 2,750 times in the Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible. Since most Old Testament books were written in Ancient Hebrew (the language of the Israelites), the word ‘God’ was not used. Instead, ‘God’ was Eloah or Elohim for ‘Gods’. Although these names were also used in reference to other deities such as Chemosh, a Moabite god, and even angels, they were mostly given to the one and only God of Israel, whose personal name was known as Yahweh. Even though Elohim is in plural form, it is generally taken to be singular.

How Many Times Does the Bible Say I Am the Lord Your God?

The Bible says I Am the Lord Your God, over 150 times. It is stated many times in the Bible to reiterate how the Lord never changes. He is the same from the beginning of time and will remain unchanged until the end. The phrase is an ode to God’s existence and His infinite power. In fact, it is said before the Ten Commandments to reveal His great authority to give the stipulations that follow. Christians are to adhere to God alone and no other entity.