The Names of God – Part 2

Elah or Elahi

Elah is the name for God in Aramaic and is used in a similar way to the Hebrew El, it is found only in the books of Daniel and Ezra. The addition of the letter i at the end of the word signifies ‘my’ so Elohi means my God. The word denotes someone who is worthy to be worshipped. Elohi is a God who is both worthy of worship and personal.

Mark 15:34 shows Jesus quoting Psalm 22:1 from the cross, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The words are not the Hebrew the Psalm was written in, but rather Jesus saying it in his native Aramaic, but rendered into Greek letters. In Aramaic it would be elahi elahi lema sebaqtani.

Here is Daniel using Elah:

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Daniel 2:20-23

Jesus called out to God who was both awesome and worthy of worship, and we can call on that same God. Why don’t you call on him now?

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.