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IS ALLAH THE NAME OF GOD?
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John Henry
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Apr 07, 2007 20:01 PDT
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IS ALLAH THE NAME OF GOD?
By John Henry
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
The First Biblical Mention Of God
Eloheem & It's Variations
God's Proper Name: Jehovah
Eloheem Used With Jehovah
The Aleph / Tahv Of Genesis 1:1
Jehovah's Menorah In The Torah
God's Name & The Number Eight
Conclusion
End Notes
______________
INTRODUCTION
One defender of Islam said, "Allah is the God of Abraham
Isaac and Jacob, Hebrew 'Eloah'." He further states:
"Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most inclusive of the Names
of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and only
God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which
the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God (eloah), the word which Jesus Christ
used in Aramaic when he prayed to Allah. Allah has an identical
name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.... However, it should be noted
that God in Islam is One and Only. He...does not have a son (i.e.
Jesus)..."
This caused me to do some research on the Word "God" in the
Bible. The results of which are below in the following
chapters. My study proves that Eloah or Allah is not the name of
God at all, and that Jesus the Messiah is in fact God and the Son of
God.
Islam denies the Tri-Unity of God and along with it the Deity of Christ
Jesus. It denies the Lord's death and resurrection as well
as. Christianity and salvation rises or falls with these all
important doctrines. They strike a death blow to Islam, because it
denies the one true Almighty God of the Bible.
The Bible indicates that when the Lord Jesus was taking the sins of the
world upon Himself on the cross that He "cried with a loud voice,
saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) The Lord
was in the process of fulfilling Psalm 22 which says in part:
"... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far
from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? ... For dogs have
compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced
my hands and my feet." (Psalm 22:2, 16)
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, declared the Holy Trinity
when He cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" It was
Eloi, the Father, and Eloi, the Holy Spirit, that Eloi, the Son,
cried out to!
However, the Moslem will, no doubt, say that the New Testament record is
corrupted where it speaks of Jesus' death on the cross and His
resurrection. An accusation refuted by an abundance of manuscript
evidence. Be not deceived, the Word of God has been preserved
by God and is an incorruptible unity just as He Himself is.
The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I and my Father are one"
(John 10:30). But the clearest statement of the Tri-Unity is found
in 1 John 5:7 which is also attested to by not a little evidence. [1]
1 John 5:7 says:
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Is Allah the Almighty or the Great I AM of the Bible the most high
God? Let's examine the Biblical record to see if "Eloah"
is really the name of the Almighty or not.
At least 13 verses in the Koran indicate that God's name is Allah
(al-Fatihah 1:1; al-Ma'idah 5:4; al-An`am 6:118, 119, 121, 138; Hud
11:41; Yusuf 12:66, 80; al-Hajj 22:28, 34, 36, 40; an-Naml 27:30).
The very first verse of the Koran says that Allah is the name of the
Beneficent and Merciful. It reads:
"In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful."
(al-Fatihah 1:1, Pickthall Translation)
THE FIRST BIBLICAL MENTION OF GOD
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
(Genesis 1:1)
The first occurrence of the word "God" in the Bible is in
Genesis 1:1. The word translated "God" here is
"Eloheem". It is the plural form of El.
Neither Eloheem nor any of it's variations are proper names, but are
rather titles like King, Prince, or Mister. Inferior gods lesser in
power to the Almighty are also called "eloheem". [2] The
word is also translated "judge", "great", and
"mighty".
ELOHEEM AND IT'S VARIATIONS
El-o-heem (Hebrew)
The word "el-o-heem" [Strong's #0430] occurs in the Old
Testament 2,606 times. It refers to God Almighty at least 2,347
times (i.e. Gen 1:1; Deut 6:4). It refers to lesser and false gods
at least 252 times (i.e. Gen 31:30; Ex 22:20; Deut 32:17).
El (Hebrew)
The word "el" [Strong's #0410] occurs in the Old Testament
245 times. It refers to God Almighty at least 214 times (i.e. Gen
14:18-20, 28:3 , 35:11, 43:14, 48:3 Ex 6:3; Jer 32:18; Isa 7:14, 43:12;
Nah 1:2). It refers to lesser and false gods at least 16 times
(i.e. Ex 15:11, 34:14; Deut 32:12; Ps 44:20, 81:9 ; Dan 11:39; Mal
2:11), and to an idol once (Isa 57:5). It also means power, might,
strong.
El-o-ah (Hebrew)
The word "el-o'-ah" [Strong's #0433] occurs in the Old
Testament 56 times. It refers to God Almighty 50 times (i.e. Deut
32:15; Job 11:7 ; Prov 30:5; Isa 44:8), and to lesser gods 6 times (i.e.
2 Chron 32:15; Dan 11:37-39; Hab 1:11). Islam claims that
"el-o'-ah" is the Hebrew equivalent for the name of Allah,
their god.
El-aw (Aramaic)
The word "el-aw" [Strong's # 0426] occurs 78 times in the
Old Testament. It is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew
"el-o'-ah". Portions of Ezra, Jeremiah and Daniel
were written in Aramaic. It is only in these portions that the word
"el-aw" is found. El-aw refers to God Almighty at least
60 times [i.e. Ezra 5:11-17; Dan 2:27, 3:17, 25, 6:22-23]. It
refers to lesser and false gods 15 times [i.e. Jer 10:11; Dan 2:11,
3:12]. Islam claims that "el-aw" is the Aramaic
equivalent for the name of Allah, their god. However, as we have
already noted it is not the name of God at all, but a title designating
Almighty God and lesser gods. [2]
GOD'S PROPER NAME
God's proper name is Jehovah or Yahovaw or Yahweh which means
"the One who is" [Strong's #03068]. The Name is spelled
YHWH and is unpronounceable except with the vowel pointings of the Hebrew
word, "ad-o-noy" (Strong's #0136) which is most often
translated, "Lord". Adonoy is a title, spoken in place of
Jehovah as a Jewish display of reverence. In English
"Jehovah" is most often translated "LORD" with all
capitol letters. It is "Yah" [Strong's #03050] in it's
shortened form, and is translated "JAH" and
"LORD".
Prior to the time of Moses Jehovah was known as "Shaddai"
[Strong's #07706], "the Almighty" (i.e. Gen 17:1, 35:11; Job
33:4, 34:10, 12, 37:23).
The Lord Jehovah's name comes from Exodus 3:14 where He called Himself,
"I AM THAT I AM". Examples of the use of the LORD
Jehovah's holy name follow:
Exodus 3:14-15: "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and
he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent
me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say
unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you:
this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all
generations."
Exodus 6:3: "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto
Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not
known to them."
Exodus 15:3: "... the LORD is his name."
Deuteronomy 28:58: "... fear this glorious and fearful name,
THE LORD THY GOD."
Isaiah 42:8: "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory
will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven
images."
Isaiah 47:4: "As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his
name, the Holy One of Israel." (cf. Isa 54:5, Jer 50:34)
Jeremiah 32:18: "Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands,
and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their
children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his
name." (Jer 10:16, 31:35, 33:2, 48:2, 51:15, 19; Amos 4:13,
5:8, 9:6)
Jeremiah 23:6: "...this is his name whereby he shall be
called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Psalm 68:4: "Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol
him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before
him."
Psalm 83:6-8, 16-18: "The tabernacles of Edom, and the
Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon,
and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot.
Selah. ... Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy
name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever;
yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that
thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the
earth."
God's Names, I AM THAT I AM, and LORD signify externality. His
association of these names with His Name, Almighty, by which He was know
unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob show that He is the all powerful
eternal One (Exodus 3:14-15, 6:3)
ELOHEEM USED WITH JEHOVAH
Now back to the title Eloheem in Genesis 1:1. The "heem"
suffix makes it plural. Some ask, "How can one speak of one
God in the plural?" The Bible says, "The LORD our
God is one LORD" (Deut 6:4). Look at it closely:
"The LORD [Yahweh] our God [Eloheem] is one LORD
[Yahweh]."
Put another way: "Jehovah our Trinity is one
Jehovah."
This explanation should help: God says that He "created man in
his own image". If God is a Tri-Unity then He must have made
man a trinity also. Note these passages of Scripture:
Genesis 1:26: "... God said, Let US make man in OUR image,
after OUR likeness .... So God created man in his own image, in the image
of God created he him; male and female created he them.
1 Thessalonians 5:23: "And the very God of peace sanctify you
WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Just as the One True God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, is a
Holy Trinity, so likewise each man is a trinity. God made him that way in
His own image and likeness. This is an indisputable fact.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One." (1 John
5:7)
Put still another way Deuteronomy 6:4 may be explained like
this:
"The LORD [the Great I AM] our God [the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Ghost] is one LORD [all powerful self existing One]."
THE ALEPH / TAHV OF GENESIS 1:1
In Hebrew Genesis 1:1 reads like this, except from right to
left:
1
2
3
4
5
6 7
Beresheet barah Eloheem
eht hashamayim vaeht haeretz
[In the beginning] [created] [God] [aleph/tahv] [the heavens] [and]
[earth]
The first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet are "aleph"
and "tahv" respectively. They are to Hebrew what A and Z
are to English and also correspond the Greek "alpha" and
"omega". Together the "aleph" and
"tahv" are pronounced "eight". Rabbinic
scholars call this word, "the word of creation". In
Genesis 1:1 "eight" is translated together with
"Eloheem" as "God". It is one with God.
All this helps us understand John 1:1-3 and Revelation 1:8
better.
John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with
God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing
made that was made."
In Revelation 1:8 the Lord Jesus says, "I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was,
and which is to come, the Almighty."
Clearly the Word who became flesh (John 1:14) is found in the very first
verse of the Old Testament. Clearly Christ, the Word, is Almighty
Jehovah of the Old Testament, along with the Father and the Holy
Spirit.
Also note that the "aleph" and "tahv" is the center
word in Genesis 1:1 forming an Hebrew menorah of sorts. The Menorah
of the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple had seven lamps on it.
Three on either side pointed in toward the center servant lamp that was
used to light the other 6 lamps. This gives added meaning to John
1:4-5 and Revelation 1:12-13:
John 1:4-5: "In him was life; and the life was the light of
men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not."
Revelation 1:12-13: "And I turned to see the voice that spake
with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in
the MIDST of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of
man...."
JEHOVAH'S MENORAH IN THE TORAH
It is very interesting that there is a five pronged menorah found
hidden in the first paragraphs of the five books of Moses. These
first five books of Moses are called the "Torah" in
Hebrew. There are specific words encoded in the opening paragraphs
of these five books. By counting every fifty letters in Genesis and
Exodus the word "Torah" is spelled out. Beginning with
the first "tahv" and counting 50 letters you come to the letter
"vav"; then counting another 50 letters you come to
"resh"; and counting another 50 letters you come to a
"hay". This spells the word "Torah" (Law) in
Hebrew. Similarly in Numbers and Deuteronomy the word
"Torah" is spelled out except it is spelled backwards beginning
with the "hay", then the "resh", then the
"vav", and finally the "tahv". The letters are
at 50 letter intervals in Numbers, but 49 letter intervals in
Deuteronomy. It is as if the "Torah" in Genesis and
Exodus are facing inward toward Leviticus, and the Law in Numbers and
Deuteronomy are facing backward to Leviticus.
In Leviticus there is a different word spelled out and at a different
interval. Counting at 8 letter intervals beginning with the second
letter in verse one which is a "yod" you get:
"yod", "hay", "vav", "hay" which
spells "Jehovah". [3]
Here is a graphic of it:
Torah > Torah > YHVH <
Torah < Torah
GOD'S NAME AND THE NUMBER EIGHT
The sequencing of the letters that spell Jehovah in the first verse
of Leviticus, and pronunciation of the first and last letters of
the Hebrew alphabet, "aleph" and "tahv" are both
eight.
Numbers in the Bible frequently have special meanings. For
example: 1 signifies unity and primacy; 2 is for division,
difference, and can mean enmity; 3 shows completeness; 4
symbolizes the world; 5 means grace; 6 is the number of man;
7 is for perfection, and 8 is the number of new beginnings, resurrection,
and infinity.
In Greek as well as in Hebrew the letters of their alphabets are used for
numbers as well. In Greek when the letters of the Lord's name,
Jesus (meaning Saviour), are added together you get a total of 888.
Not only so, but other names and titles of Jesus in Greek are multiples
of 8. Observe: 1) Messiah = 656 [8 x 82], 2) Lord = 800 [8 x 100],
3) Son = 880 [8 x 110], 4) Saviour = 1,408 [8 x 176], 5) Christ = 1,480
[8 x 185], 6) Emmanuel = 25,600 [8 x 3200]. [4]
CONCLUSION
Coincidences? Of course not! The law of probability
forbids that. These are evidences that God has built into of the
Greek and Hebrew alphabets, evidences as to fact of the Deity of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
These facts also refute the false teachings of Islam and show that
neither eloah, nor elaw, nor allah is the holy Name of God.
Mohammed's is proven to be a false prophet for teaching that God has no
son, and for adding to God's holy Word, the Bible.
Proverbs 30:4-6: "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or
descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the
waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what
is his name, and what is his Son's name, if thou canst tell? Every
word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in
him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be
found a liar." (cf. Psalm 2)
A man's name is only as good as his word. So it is with man, so it
is with God. He magnifies His Word above all His name.
Psalm 138:2: "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and
praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast
magnified thy word above all thy name."
What is God's Name? It is LORD Jahovah, JAH; it is God
with us (Immanuel); it is Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace; His name is Jesus
(Saviour). Jesus Christ's Name is above every name. His name
is I AM. Jesus said:
"I AM the living bread which came down from heaven..."
(John 6:51)
"...I AM the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
"...Ye are from beneath; I AM from above: ye are of this world; I AM
not of this world." (John 8:23)
"...if ye believe not that I AM he, ye shall die in your sins."
(John 8:24)
"...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."
(John 8:58, cf. 18:5-6)
"I AM the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved..." (John 10:9)
"...I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly." (John 10:10)
"I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the
sheep." (John 10:10; cf. Mark 10:18)
"...I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John
11:25-26)
God cannot die. That's why He was "made flesh" (John
1:14). He was born so He could die (Heb 10:5-10).
"...God was manifest in the flesh..." (1 Tim 3:16)
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Rom 8:3) The Bible
says:
Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a
sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
NAME Immanuel."
Matthew 1:21: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins."
Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his NAME shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
Philippians 2:5-11: "...Christ Jesus: Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death
of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given
him a NAME which is above every name: That at the NAME of Jesus
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved."
Jesus Christ is coming again! Are you ready to meet Him? Will
you meet Him as Saviour or Judge?
Revelation 19:11-13: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a
white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a
flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a NAME
written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with
a vesture dipped in blood: and his NAME is called The Word of
God."
1 John 5:7, 11-12: "For there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one. ... And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life." [1]
John 1:12: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
NAME."
END NOTES
1. "And These Three Are One" by Jesse M. Boyd,
[
http://kjv.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/1John5-7Boyd.html]; The Johannine
Comma - First John 5:6-8 by Floyd Jones
[
http://kjv.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/1John5]; The Johannine Comma by
John Henry,
[
http://kjv.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/1John5-7Henry.html]
2. False gods are also called el-aw [0426], el-o-ah
[0433], el [0410], and el-o-heem [0430] (These
words simply mean deity, be it true, false, usurped or bestowed)
A. Habakkuk 1:6, 11: "I [God] raise up the Chaldeans,
that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of
the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. ... Then
shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this
his power unto his god [0433]."
B. Jeremiah
10:11: "Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods [0426] that have
not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the
earth, and from under these heavens."
C. Daniel
5:4: "They drank wine, and praised the gods [0426] of gold,
and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone."
D. Exodus
12:12: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt ... against
all the gods [0430] of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD
[03068]."
E. Exodus
15:11: "Who is like unto thee, O LORD [03068], among the gods
[0410]? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing
wonders?"
F. Psalm 82:1,
6: "...God [0430] standeth in the congregation of the mighty
[0410]; he judgeth among the gods[0430]. ... I have said, Ye are gods
[0430]; and all of you are children of the most High."
G. 1 Chronicles
16:25: "For great is the LORD [03068], and greatly to be praised: he
also is to be feared above all gods [0430]."
H. Isaiah
37:38: "...he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god
[0430]..." (Nisroch = "the great eagle", an idol of
Nineveh worshipped by Sennacherib; symbolised by the eagle-headed human
figure; cf. 2 Kings 19:37; 2 Chron 32:21)
I. Danial
1:1-2: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of
Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged
it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with
part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land
of Shinar to the house of his god [0430]; and he brought the vessels into
the treasure house of his god [0430]." (Nebuchadnezzar's god = Nebo
/ Bel, "two different titles for the same god" [Hislop, p. 34],
"the prophetic god" [Hislop, pp. 25-26], "The
Prophet" [Hislop, pp. 256, 260])
J. Jonah
1:5: "...the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto
his god [0430]..."
K. Micah
4:5: "For all people will walk every one in the name of his
god [0430], and we will walk in the name of the LORD [03068] our God for
ever and ever."
3. J. R. Church and Gary Stearman, The Mystery
Of The Menorah, pp. 34 - 37; Prophecy Publications, P. O. Box 7000,
Oklahoma City, OK 73153, 1993.
4. E. W. Bullinger, Number In Scripture, pp. 203 -
204, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, 1967.
.
(c) Copyright 2004 by John Henry. Readers are encouraged to share
this article with others. Please do not charge for it, and please include
this notice and the e-mail and web site addresses here: E-mail:
KJ-@LandmarkBibleBaptist.net, Web:
http://LandmarkBibleBaptist.net ; -- John Henry
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