WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God - Preached,  Hebrews 4:2 and armed with threatenings, Hebrews 4:3 Is living and powerful - Attended with the power of the living God, and conveying either life or death to the hearers. Sharper than any two - edged sword - Penetrating the heart more than this does the body. Piercing - Quite through, and laying open. The soul and spirit, joints and marrow - The inmost recesses of the mind, which the apostle beautifully and strongly expresses by this heap of figurative words. And is a discerner - Not only of the thoughts, but also of the intentions.

Light of revelation

Light of revelation

Simeon used the phrase Light of revelation as a name of Jesus (Yeshua‘) when he met and blessed the baby Jesus in the temple. His poetic and prophetic blessing drew from the prophets. Isaiah had prophesied that the Servant of the Lord would be a light to the nations (Isa. 42:6, 49:6). Jesus came as that light, shining beyond His own nation, Israel. He brought freedom to captives and salvation throughout the world.

Although Isaiah’s prophecy does not include the word “revelation” in the Hebrew or in the Greek translation, any light from God brings revelation.

Photograph of the name that Simeon gave to Jesus, the Light of revelation to the Gentiles in the Greek of Luke 2:32
Light of revelation to the Gentiles in the Greek of Luke 2:32

Light of Revelation in Greek:

Phōs eis apokalypsin
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 5457, 602
Bible reference: Luke 2:32

The elder Simeon used beautiful words about Jesus. He called Him,
A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel. (Luke 2:32)

KJV has “a light to lighten the Gentiles.”
In Isaiah, a prophetic messianic name of Jesus is light to (or of) the nations. Jesus is also the True Light, the Light of the world.

Majesty on high

Majesty on high

Majesty on high might have been a way of speaking of God without mentioning His personal name Yahweh (Jehovah). The Jews did not speak the name Yahweh because they did not want to mispronounce it or profane it in any way. They came up with several alternative names for God. In that sense, Majesty on high might be the equivalent of the name God on high. It is a name that tells of God’s exaltation.

Majesty on High - a name of God photographed in the Greek text of Heb. 1:3.

Majesty on High in the Greek text of Heb. 1:3.

Majesty on high in Greek:

Megalōsynē en hypsēlois
Strong’s Concordance number: 3172

Bible reference: Heb. 1:3
And He [Jesus] is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)

Rular over Isreal

Ruler:

The most well-known example of the word ruler used as a name of Jesus (Yeshua‘) is in Micah’s prophecy about Jesus the Messiah (Christ). The prophecy also says that He would be a shepherd. King David was a shepherd before he became the king of Israel. People expected the Messiah to come as a shepherd-ruler as a greater David.

In the New Testament, the English word ruler is only given to God a few times and usually as part of a compound name of God or Jesus. Only once does the word occur on its own. The same Greek word can also mean “leader.” In Luke 22:26, the word is used when Jesus says the “leader” should function as a servant.

Ruler in Hebrew:

Moshel

Strong’s Concordance number: 4910

Bible references: 2 Chron. 20:6; Mic. 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times. (Micah 5:2)

The NIV calls God Israel’s ruler in the previous verse.

Ruler in Greek:

Hēgoumenos

Strong’s Concordance number: 2233

Bible reference: Matt. 2:6 (which quotes Micah 5:2)

The KJV uses the word Governor in this verse.

Ruler of the kings of the earth and Ruler of the creation of God are similar names of God in the English New Testament, though they come from a different Greek word.

Jesus is a Morning Star

Morning Star

The Greek word phōsphoros literally means a light bearer. Some scholars think the reference is to the planet Venus. In any case, the morning star is the brightest star and heralds the light of day. Peter’s prophetic exhortation spoke of Jesus’ return.

Morning Star in Greek:

Ho phōsphoros

Strong’s Concordance number: 5459

Bible reference: 2 Pet. 1:19

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19 NIV)

The KJV uses the title Day star.

A similar sounding name of Jesus (Yeshua‘) is the bright morning star, but the Greek is quite different.

God is Fountain of Living Water

Fountain of living water

Fountain of living water is one of the names for God that later found fulfillment in Jesus (Yeshua‘). The NIV uses a slightly different name for God in the two verses in which the name occurs: Spring of living water. We can better understand its meaning by looking at the Hebrew words.

The Hebrew word for fountain (maqor) is related to the word for digging. Jeremiah chose maqor instead of the near cognate word mayan, which comes from ‘ayin, meaning a natural spring. Perhaps Jeremiah wanted to emphasize that having a relationship with God is like maintaining some springs; a little effort is required to keep it flowing.

During the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus dramatically interrupted the temple ritual. He stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). He described a simple process. Faith in Him is the basic condition for Him to quench our thirst. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38–39) Jesus goes beyond satisfying us; His life overflows. The Spirit in us bubbles out like a spring, forming rivers of living water that flow on to refresh other dusty, dry lives. Jesus might have alluded to any of several Scriptures that speak of the desert being watered.1 One passage even speaks of a coming king as a desert stream.2 In Jesus, Yahweh completed the supply of living water. Now it can overflow through us into the spiritually arid world to water others.3
A name of Jesus pictured in the Hebrew text: Fountain or Spring of living waters (Meqor mayim khayyim) in Jeremiah 2:13.

Fountain (or Spring) of living waters (Meqor mayim khayyim) in the Hebrew text of Jeremiah 2:13.

Fountain of living water (waters) in Hebrew:

Meqor mayim khayyim

Strong’s Concordance numbers: 4726, 4325, 2416

Bible references: Jer. 2:13; 17:13

My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV)

Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
    because they have forsaken the Lord,
    the spring of living water. (Jeremiah 17:13 NIV)

Lion of the tribe of Judah

Lion of the tribe of Judah (Lion of Judah)

Lion of the tribe of Judah is a name of Jesus (Yeshua‘) found in the book of Revelation but perhaps it derives from a reference to God in Hosea 5:14. In Hosea, the Hebrew word kephir means a lion.

This title leads to perhaps the most powerful paradox in the Scriptures. When John turned to see the Lion of Judah, he saw a slain Lamb. There, in triumphant heaven that was filled with the might and majesty of God, we find the marks of sacrifice displayed. If this doesn’t show that costly love is central to God’s eternal nature, I don’t know what does.

Lion of the tribe of Judah (Lion of Judah) in Greek:

Ho leōn ho ek tēs phylēs Iouda

Strong’s Concordance numbers: 3023, 5443, 2455

Bible reference: Rev. 5:5

One of the elders' saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5 KJV)