Names of God

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” (Gen. 22:14 KJV)

God has many names and titles in the Bible. Each one tells us something important about Him—His character and how He relates to us. And how we must relate to Him. Here is another one of His many Names, which is Jehovah Jireh.

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide

The name “Jehovah Jireh” is seen in Genesis 22 when God provides a ram in the thicket in place of the sacrifice of his son.

“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.” (Gen. 22:7-8)

When they reached the spot God had designated, “Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order: and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (Gen. 22:9-10).

At that point, God calls out for him to stop because Abraham has passed the test. Abraham sees a ram caught in a thicket nearby and offers it for a burnt offering instead of his son (Gen. 11-13). 

“And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide” (Gen. 22:14) or “Jehovahjireh” (KJV).

He provides for our needs

Jehovah Jireh thus becomes one of the names for God in the Old Testament—one that emphasizes how He provides for our needs. The Hebrew word, jireh, means not only “to provide;” it also means “to perceive,” “to experience.” Our Lord is the “God Who Provides,” because He is also the “God Who Perceives” our needs—the “God Who Experiences” what we are experiencing and who can therefore provide exactly what we need.

Salvation is our greatest need

Our greatest need, as humans, is for salvation—forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. The story of Abraham offering Isaac in Genesis 22 is more than just a dramatic illustration of faith and obedience. It is a preview of the salvation God has provided us in the great sacrifice of His Son on the cross.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Therefore

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:34 NIV)