Psalms 55 (WEB)

God

Also called
LORD, Lord, Father, hosts, Almighty, Holy, GOD, Saviour, last, JEHOVAH, Judge, father, lawgiver, Fathers, dayspring, host, Ancient
Gender
Male
Appears in
Children AdamEve

Yahweh, the Personal Name of God

Word Study | Israel Loken • Hershel Wayne House
יְהֹוָה Yᵉhôvâh ·Strong's H3068

Strictly speaking, the only personal name of God belonging to Him alone, and the most significant name of God found in the Old Testament (over 5000 times).  Yahweh is the approximate (and likely) pronunciation of the tetragrammaton, the four-letter word YHWH.  When Moses asked what His name was to take back to the Hebrews in Egypt, God replied, “I AM THAT I AM (אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה ehyeh esher ehyeh): and he said, Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM (אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה, ehyeh, 1st person singular, giving God's declaration of His name) has sent me to you” (Exod 3:14).  Thus God revealed to Moses the very essential meaning of His name as Yahweh (יְהוָ֞ה, Yahweh, 3rd person singular, the response of the people of God, He is).  There is a strong indication that Jesus (or Yeshua, Yahweh is salvation) used this name and its divine implication to apply to himself when he said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (ἐγὼ εἰμί, egō eimi) (John 8:58).  Thus, the very Person who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush was the very same Person who addressed the startled Jews in the Gospel of John.

For a more complete discussion of the personal name of God, see the passage in Exodus in which He reveals His name to Moses, Exodus 3:14, 15.

A Name of God (אֱלֹהִים; 'elohim)

Word Study | Hershel Wayne House
אֱלֹהִים ʼĕlôhîym ·Strong's H430

This is a generic name for the divine being. In the Hebrew Bible, the word is regularly used in the plural in reference to the God of Israel but in regard to His majesty or intensity. The plural has a third person singular with the God of Israel, but a third plural with foreign deities.

Abba, Father

Word Study | Hershel Wayne House • Steve Stanley
Ἀββᾶ Abbâ ·Strong's G5

This Aramaic term is used only three times in the NT and approximately 80 times in the writings of the early church fathers when quoting or paraphrasing Jesus’ words. It is translated by the very next word in this verse as ὁ πατήρ (ho pater) “the Father,” as it is in all three NT uses. Jesus spoke in Aramaic, and Hebrew, both languages being used in Israel. In Jesus’ day, abba was used for the father in the family, and was a customary title for God in prayer among the Jews. It was eventually taken over by Greek-speaking Christians as a liturgical formula. Some posit that abba is equivalent to “daddy,” an American English term for “father.” This assumes that the American informality expressed by children toward their father would have an analogy in Jesus’ culture, an assumption difficult to sustain. It is, therefore, not appropriate to refer to God as “daddy.” Linguistically, then, abba means "father" in Hebrew, Greek and English. It must be noted, however, that while “father” is a term of respect in biblical literature, it is also a term of affection, very deep and abiding affection. With His use of “Abba,” Jesus expresses His respectful and intimate relationship with His Heavenly Father in prayer, a wonderful example for all believers.

Person & place data: Theographic Bible Metadata by Robert Rouse (Viz.Bible), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Psalms 55 (WEB)

For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.

1Listen to my prayer, God.

Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

2Attend to me, and answer me.

I am restless in my complaint,

and moan 3because of the voice of the enemy,

because of the oppression of the wicked.

For they bring suffering on me.

In anger they hold a grudge against me.

4My heart is severely pained within me.

The terrors of death have fallen on me.

5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.

Horror has overwhelmed me.

6I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!

Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

7Behold, then I would wander far off.

I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.

8“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

9Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,

for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they prowl around on its walls.

Malice and abuse are also within her.

11Destructive forces are within her.

Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.

12For it was not an enemy who insulted me,

then I could have endured it.

Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,

then I would have hidden myself from him.

13But it was you, a man like me,

my companion, and my familiar friend.

14We took sweet fellowship together.

We walked in God’s house with company.

15Let death come suddenly on them.

Let them go down alive into Sheol.

For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

16As for me, I will call on God.

Yahweh will save me.

17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.

He will hear my voice.

18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,

although there are many who oppose me.

19God, who is enthroned forever,

will hear and answer them. Selah.

They never change

and don’t fear God.

20He raises his hands against his friends.

He has violated his covenant.

21His mouth was smooth as butter,

but his heart was war.

His words were softer than oil,

yet they were drawn swords.

22Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you.

He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.

Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,

but I will trust in you.

God