King James Bible Dictionary

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Psalms 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

1. The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

2. The a posteriori argument, by which we proceed logically from the facts of experience to causes. These arguments are,
(a) The cosmological, by which it is proved that there must be a First Cause of all things, for every effect must have a cause.
(b) The teleological, or the argument from design. We see everywhere the operations of an intelligent Cause in nature.
(c) The moral argument, called also the anthropological argument, based on the moral consciousness and the history of mankind, which exhibits a moral order and purpose which can only be explained on the supposition of the existence of God. Conscience and human history testify that "verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth."

The attributes of God are set forth in order by Moses in Exodus 34:6, 7. (see also Deuteronomy 6:4; 10:17; Numbers 16:22; Exodus 15:11; 33:19; Isaiah 44:6; Habakkuk 3:6; Psalms 102:26; Job 34:12.) They are also systematically classified in Revelation 5:12 and 7:12.

God's attributes are spoken of by some as absolute, i.e., such as belong to his essence as Jehovah, Jah, etc.; and relative, i.e., such as are ascribed to him with relation to his creatures. Others distinguish them into communicable, i.e., those which can be imparted in degree to his creatures: goodness, holiness, wisdom, etc.; and incommunicable, which cannot be so imparted: independence, immutability, immensity, and eternity. They are by some also divided into natural attributes, eternity, immensity, etc.; and moral, holiness, goodness, etc.

Appearances of:

To Adam
Genesis 3:8-21

To Abraham
Genesis 18:2-33

To Jacob, at Beth-El
Genesis 35:7; Genesis 35:9

To Moses

In the flaming bush
Exodus 3:2

At Sinai
Exodus 19:16-24; Exodus 24:10

To Moses and Joshua
Deuteronomy 31:14-15

To Israel
Judges 2:1-5

To Gideon
Judges 6:11-24

To Solomon
1 Kings 3:5; 1 Kings 9:2; 1 Kings 11:9; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 2 Chronicles 7:12-22

To Isaiah
Isaiah 6:1-5

To Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1:26-28

Name of:

Proclaimed
Exodus 34:5; Exodus 34:14; Exodus 6:3; Exodus 15:3; Psalms 83:18

To be reverenced
Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11; Deuteronomy 28:58; Psalms 111:9; Micah 4:5; 1 Timothy 6:1

To be praised
Psalms 34:3; Psalms 72:17

Not to be profaned
Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 19:12; Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 21:6; Leviticus 22:2; Leviticus 22:32; Deuteronomy 5:11; Psalms 139:20; Proverbs 30:9; Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24; Revelation 16:9

Profaned
Psalms 139:20; Matthew 26:74
Blasphemy; Perjury

Repentance attributed to
Genesis 6:6-7; Exodus 32:14; Judges 2:18; 1 Samuel 15:35; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Psalms 106:45; Jeremiah 26:19; Amos 7:3; Jonah 3:10

Rejected:

By Israel
1 Samuel 8:7-8; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4

By Saul
1 Samuel 15:26
Jesus, The Christ, Rejected

Comforter

General references
Job 35:10
Afflictions, Consolation in; Holy Spirit

Covenant keeping
Covenant

Anger of
Anger, Of God

Condescension of
Condescension

Unclassified scriptures relating to
Job 5:8-20; Job 9:2-35; Job 10:2-18; Job 12:7-20; Job 26:7-14; Job 33:12-30; Job 34:10-30; Job 37:1-24; Job 38:1-41; Job 39:1-30; Job 40:1-24; Job 41:1-34; Job 42:1-6; Psalms 8:3-6; Psalms 97:6; Psalms 104:1-32; Psalms 107:23-26; Psalms 119:90-91; Psalms 135:6-7; Psalms 147:15-18; Psalms 148:3-6; Ecclesiastes 3:14-15; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 13:13; Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 50:2-3; Isaiah 64:3; Jeremiah 5:24; Jeremiah 10:2; Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 31:35-37; Jeremiah 33:20-21; Jeremiah 33:25-26; Jeremiah 51:16; Daniel 2:21; Amos 5:8; Nahum 1:3-6; Romans 1:19-20

Access to

General references
Deuteronomy 4:7; Psalms 24:3-4; Psalms 27:4; Psalms 43:2; Psalms 65:4; Psalms 145:18-19; Isaiah 55:3; Matthew 6:6; John 10:7; John 10:9; John 14:6; Acts 14:27; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:13; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12; Colossians 1:21-22; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 11:6; James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:16
Penitent; Repentance; Seekers

Compassion of
God, Longsuffering of; God, Mercy of

Creator
Genesis 1:1-28; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:1-25; Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:11; 1 Samuel 2:8; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 16:26; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 9:8-9; Job 10:3; Job 10:8; Job 12:7-9; Job 26:7-13; Job 28:23-26; Job 37:16; Job 37:18; Job 38:4-38; Psalms 8:3; Psalms 19:1; Psalms 19:4; Psalms 24:1-2; Psalms 33:6-7; Psalms 33:9; Psalms 65:6; Psalms 74:16-17; Psalms 78:69; Psalms 89:11-12; Psalms 89:47; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 95:4-5; Psalms 102:25; Psalms 96:5; Psalms 103:22; Psalms 104:2-3; Psalms 104:5-6; Psalms 104:24; Psalms 104:30-31; Psalms 119:90-91; Psalms 121:2; Psalms 124:8; Psalms 136:5-9; Psalms 146:5-6; Psalms 148:5-6; Proverbs 3:19; Proverbs 8:26-29; Proverbs 16:4; Proverbs 22:2; Proverbs 26:10; Proverbs 30:4; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Isaiah 17:7; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 40:12; Isaiah 40:26; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 45:7; Isaiah 45:12; Isaiah 45:18; Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 51:13; Isaiah 51:16; Isaiah 66:2; Jeremiah 5:22; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 10:16; Jeremiah 51:19; Jeremiah 27:5; Jeremiah 31:35; Jeremiah 32:17; Jeremiah 33:2; Jeremiah 51:15-16; Jeremiah 10:13; Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Amos 9:6; Jonah 1:9; Zech 12:1; Mark 10:6; Mark 13:19; Acts 4:24; Acts 7:50; Acts 14:15; Acts 17:24-26; Romans 1:20; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 11:12; Ephesians 3:9; 1 Timothy 6:13; Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 3:4; Hebrews 11:3; Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 10:6; Revelation 14:7

Creator of man

General references
Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 9:6; Exodus 4:11; Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16; Deuteronomy 4:32; Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 32:18; Job 10:8-9; Job 10:11-12; Psalms 119:73; Job 12:10; Job 27:3; Job 31:15; Job 33:4; Job 34:19; Job 38:36; Psalms 33:15; Psalms 86:9; Psalms 94:9; Psalms 95:6; Psalms 100:3; Psalms 139:13; Psalms 149:2; Proverbs 16:4; Proverbs 20:12; Proverbs 22:2; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 43:15; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 45:12; Isaiah 45:18; Isaiah 51:13; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 27:5; Daniel 5:23; Zech 12:1; Malachi 2:10; Acts 17:24-26; Acts 17:28-29; 1 Corinthians 12:18; 1 Corinthians 12:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:38; Hebrews 12:9; 1 Peter 4:19
Life, From God; Man

Eternity of

General references
Genesis 21:33; Romans 16:26; Exodus 3:15; Deuteronomy 32:40; Deuteronomy 33:27; 1 Chronicles 16:36; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Nehemiah 9:5; Job 36:26; Psalms 9:7; Psalms 33:11; Psalms 41:13; Psalms 55:19; Psalms 68:33; Psalms 90:1-2; Psalms 90:4; Psalms 92:8; Psalms 93:2; Micah 5:2; Psalms 102:12; Psalms 102:24-27; Psalms 104:31; Psalms 111:3; Psalms 135:13; Psalms 145:13; Psalms 146:10; Exodus 15:18; Proverbs 8:23-25; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 43:13; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 46:4; Isaiah 48:12; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 63:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 17:12; Lamentations 5:19; Daniel 4:34; Daniel 4:3; Habakkuk 1:12; Habakkuk 3:6; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 3:21; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 9:14; 2 Peter 3:8; 1 John 2:13; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 4:8-10; Revelation 1:4; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 11:17; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 10:6; Revelation 16:5
God, Self-existent

Faithfulness of
Genesis 9:15-16; Genesis 6:18; Genesis 21:1; Genesis 24:27; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 32:10; Exodus 6:4-5; Exodus 2:24; Exodus 12:41; Exodus 34:6; Leviticus 26:44-45; Deuteronomy 4:31; Judges 2:1; Deuteronomy 7:8-9; Nehemiah 1:5; Deuteronomy 9:5; Deuteronomy 32:4; Joshua 23:14; Joshua 21:45; 1 Samuel 12:22; 2 Samuel 7:28; 2 Samuel 23:5; 1 Kings 8:23-24; 1 Kings 8:56; 1 Kings 8:15; 1 Kings 8:20; 2 Chronicles 6:4-15; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Chronicles 21:7; 2 Kings 13:23; 1 Chronicles 17:27; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Deuteronomy 31:6; Ezra 9:9; Nehemiah 9:7-8; Nehemiah 9:32; Psalms 9:10; Psalms 18:30; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalms 19:9; Psalms 25:10; Psalms 31:5; Psalms 33:4; Psalms 36:5; Psalms 37:28; Psalms 40:10; Psalms 89:1-2; Psalms 89:5; Psalms 89:8; Psalms 89:14; Psalms 89:24; Psalms 89:28; Psalms 89:33-34; 2 Samuel 7:14-15; Psalms 92:1-2; Psalms 92:14-15; Psalms 94:14; Psalms 98:3; Psalms 100:5; Psalms 103:17; Psalms 105:8; Psalms 105:42; Psalms 111:5; Psalms 111:7-9; Psalms 117:2; Psalms 119:65; Psalms 119:89-90; Psalms 121:3-4; Psalms 132:11; Psalms 138:2; Psalms 146:6; Isaiah 11:5; Isaiah 25:1; Isaiah 42:16; Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 49:16; Isaiah 51:6; Isaiah 51:8; Isaiah 54:9-10; Isaiah 65:16; Jeremiah 29:10; Jeremiah 31:36-37; Jeremiah 32:40; Jeremiah 33:14; Jeremiah 33:20-21; Jeremiah 33:25-26; Jeremiah 51:5; Lamentations 3:23; Ezekiel 16:60; Ezekiel 16:62; Daniel 9:4; Hosea 2:19-20; Micah 7:20; Haggai 2:5; Zech 9:11; Matthew 24:34-35; Luke 1:54-55; Luke 1:68-70; Luke 1:72-73; John 8:26; Acts 13:32-33; Romans 3:3-4; Romans 11:1-2; Romans 11:29; Romans 15:8; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Timothy 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 6:13-19; Hebrews 10:22-23; Hebrews 10:37; 1 Peter 4:19; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 6:10; Revelation 15:3

Fatherhood of

General references
Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Deuteronomy 32:5-6; 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 28:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalms 68:5; Psalms 89:26; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 8:18; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 3:19; Hosea 1:10; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 5:45; Matthew 6:4; Matthew 6:6; Matthew 6:8-9; Luke 11:2; Matthew 7:11; Matthew 10:20; Matthew 10:29; Matthew 10:32-33; Matthew 11:25-27; Matthew 12:50; Matthew 13:43; Matthew 15:13; Matthew 16:17; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 18:14; Matthew 18:19; Matthew 20:23; Matthew 26:29; Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42; Mark 8:38; Mark 11:25-26; Mark 13:32; Luke 2:49; Luke 10:21-22; Luke 11:13; Luke 22:29; Luke 23:46; Luke 24:49; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 2:16; John 4:21; John 4:23; John 5:17-23; John 5:36-37; John 5:43; John 6:27; John 6:32; John 6:44-46; John 8:19; John 8:27; John 8:38; John 8:41-42; John 8:49; John 10:15; John 10:29-30; John 10:32-33; John 10:36-38; John 12:26-28; John 12:50; John 13:3; John 14:2; John 14:6-13; John 14:16; John 14:20-21; John 14:23-24; John 14:26; John 14:31; John 15:8-10; John 15:16; John 15:23-24; John 15:26; John 16:3; John 16:10; John 16:15; John 16:23; John 16:25-28; John 17:1; John 17:5; John 17:11; John 17:21; John 17:24; John 20:17; John 20:21; Acts 1:4; Acts 2:33; Romans 1:3-4; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Ephesians 6:23; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; Titus 1:4; Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 1:1; Galatians 1:4; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 1:17; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:14; Ephesians 4:6; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 1:3; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 2:2; Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Hebrews 1:5-6; Hebrews 12:9; James 1:17; James 1:27; James 3:9; 1 Peter 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 1:2; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 2:15; 1 John 2:22-24; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:14; 2 John 1:3-4; 2 John 1:9; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:5-6; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 14:1
Adoption

Favor of
God, Grace of

Foreknowledge of

General references
1 Samuel 23:10-12; Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 44:7; Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 46:9-10; Isaiah 48:3; Isaiah 48:5-6; Jeremiah 1:5; Daniel 2:28-29; Matthew 6:8; Matthew 24:36; Acts 15:18; Romans 8:29; Romans 11:2; 1 Peter 1:2

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being

ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty , or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God. Jehovah denotes specifically the one true God, whose people the Jews were, and who made them the guardians of his truth. The name is never applied to a false god, nor to any other being except one, the ANGEL-JEHOVAH who is thereby marked as one with God, and who appears again in the New Covenant as "God manifested in the flesh." Thus much is clear; but all else is beset with difficulties. At a time too early to be traced, the Jews abstained from pronouncing the name, for fear of its irreverent use. The custom is said to have been founded on a strained interpretation of (Leviticus 24:16) and the phrase there used, "THE NAME" (Shema), is substituted by the rabbis for the unutterable word. In reading the Scriptures they substituted for it the word ADONAI (Lord), from the translation of which by Kurios in the LXX., followed by the Vulgate, which uses Dominus , we have the LORD of our version. The substitution of the word Lord is most unhappy, for it in no way represents the meaning of the sacred name. The key to the meaning of the name is unquestionably given in God's revelation of himself to Moses by the phrase "I AM THAT I AM," (Exodus 3:14; 6:3) We must connect the name Jehovah with the Hebrew substantive verb to be , with the inference that it expresses the essential, eternal, unchangeable being of Jehovah. But more, it is not the expression only, or chiefly, of an absolute truth: it is a practical revelation of God, in his essential, unchangeable relation to this chosen people, the basis of his covenant.

GOD, noun

1. The Supreme Being; Jehovah; the eternal and infinite spirit, the creator, and the sovereign of the universe.

GOD is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24.

2. A false god; a heathen deity; an idol.

Fear not the gods of the Amorites. Judges 6:10.

3. A prince; a ruler; a magistrate or judge; an angel. Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Exodus 22:28. Psalms 97:7.

[Gods here is a bad translation.]

4. Any person or thing exalted too much in estimation, or deified and honored as the chief good.

Whose god is their belly. Philippians 3:19.

GOD, verb transitive To deify. [Not used.]