Of the many words used to name God in the Bible, the following are especially important. The most common is the general noun Elohim, usually translated as "God" when it refers to the God of Israel, or "gods" when it refers to other gods. This name is related to El, the Semitic word for god that appears in many ancient languages. El is frequently used with other terms, creating various names such as: El Shaddai (God All-Powerful), El Elyon (God Most High), El Olam (Eternal God), and El Berith (God of the Agreement).

The most important word for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh. In English Bibles it usually appears as "the Lord." But this is not a translation. Yahweh is God's personal name that God made known to Moses by the burning bush (Exod 3:13-15).

Unlike the other names for God, "The Lord All-Powerful" is a title. In 1 Samuel 1:3 it is the name used in the worship of God at Shiloh. It is commonly used in the books of the prophets. Literally, the Hebrew phrase means "The Lord of Hosts," though it is unclear whether the "hosts" are the armies of Israel, or the sun, moon, and stars, or the angels and heavenly forces that are ready to obey God.