The Names and Titles of God
I just noticed that the transition I have written of between "God" in Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 and "The LORD God" in Genesis 2:4 through the exile from Eden (at a minimum, except when spoken of between the serpent and the woman) is the addition of the name Yahweh, YHWH, יְהוָ֨ה. This is the same proper name I have heard reference God's search for a soulmate, the Father's search for The Mother, given the value of 26 for the name, which can be split by letter as 11/15 (or 13- Ahava/Echad- cleaved). Not only that, but The LORD God's first main "move" with a man was to put him in a deep sleep and present him with a partner, a woman.
Genesis 2:21-22
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
It feels as though, much as Jesus' name is Salvation, Yeshua, ישועה, and this is what Jesus accomplished, though the results are yet to be fully seen in this timeline, Yahweh's name indicates what Yahweh accomplished, though the results are yet to be fully seen in this timeline. It feels as though, in this timeline, where The Word is threaded through/as Creation, and Word becomes flesh as well, these names are specific representations of God, though God in Genesis 1 does not have a name that I can discern. I have heard Elohim, אֱלֹהִ֑ים, used as the name of God, but in Hebrew this looks to be the word for God, whereas names are then added/applied to this to indicate specific identities, aims, missions, perhaps. I will admit to a lack of clarity for myself between the word God and the name God (simply put) here, though it feels as though this additive function for what mankind would then call "names" or "titles" has significance, at a minimum in the relationship between God and mankind.
For example, Lord, Adonai, אֲדֹנָ֥י, appears in a number of cases- Abraham often, the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah (at a minimum). It is interesting to me that this naming often appears as אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה, which is Adonai Yahweh, and is written as "The Lord GOD," with the capitalization to indicate where a translation of YHWH has occurred, much like with The LORD in Genesis. It could be that Adonai indicates a name/title of ruling specifically in the scenario, an arrangement that was not present, perhaps was unnecessary, in the garden. Still, it leaves me wondering why YHWH was not added in Genesis 1, when God was speaking Creation into existence. Was it because there was no one externally for a name to be necessary, or perhaps even valid? Was it because God's search for a soulmate could not yet begin, without a man (and then partner) yet in mind or in place to act as a counterpoint/partner? The name YHWH does precede a man's physical creation from dust (Genesis 2:4-5 vs. Genesis 2:7) but, given the proximity of these verses, it could be said that God already had this plan in mind, and was on this path of mating, prior to the act of physical creation from dust/imbuing the dust with the breath of life.
Also, regarding titles, I have often wondered about why different modifiers, perhaps names, are used for God in different places. In research for this post I examined this verse closely:
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
"the Sovereign LORD" is an interesting title, and I believe I am starting to comprehend its significance here. The full title may actually come from "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me," as this title seems to represent a kind of agreement between God and another, a resonance on a deep level, between Spirit, and two entities- in this case YHWH and Isaiah. It feels as though, in this state, a man is granted much power and control over what will be; to use my language in other posts it feels as though God is "riding sidecar" and offering agreement to the other freely. Obviously this state is granted only under specific and precise circumstances, but it does seem to create a single- long by human standards- name, which represents the entirety of "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me," and is indicated here by "The LORD has anointed me." which notably does not also use the additions/modifiers of "Spirit" or "Sovereign," further suggesting to me that these elements are shifted/added, in a combination effect, through the anointing.
This all feels a bit like additional gears locking into place, getting clockwork that is already set up within me, but unused (generally speaking), to start moving.
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