In this article, we will continue our study of the names of God, and today, we will look at Jehovah Gibbor or El Gibbor. So, grab your Bible, and let’s dig in…

Throughout the Bible, the names of God hold significant meaning and carry profound messages about His character and nature. It can help us see God for Who He is, which stirs our faith and can bring peace and comfort.

One such name that encapsulates God’s power, might, and strength is “Jehovah Gibbor.” You may have heard this name before it might be completely new as it’s not as well known as some others.

Like God’s other names, many Christians fail to understand what this name means and how it applies to their lives.

So, to remedy that, we are going to go on an adventure and explore the meaning of this name, examine its scriptural references, and discuss how understanding the name Jehovah Gibbor can impact and empower us in our walk with the Lord.

What Does Jehovah Gibbor / El Gibbor Mean in Hebrew?

To see what Jehovah Gibbor means, let’s start with the literal meaning of the words in the Hebrew language.

The name Jehovah Gibbor consists of two Hebrew words:

1. “Jehovah” (YHWH – Strong’s number H3068): It is derived from the Hebrew word “hayah,” meaning “to exist” or “to be.”
   
   This name signifies God’s eternal and self-existent nature. It’s usually translated as “I AM,” indicating first of all that God exists and, secondly, that He is about to reveal some aspect of Who He is.
2. “Gibbor” (Strong’s number H1368): This Hebrew word implies strength, mightiness, and bravery. It represents a warrior, hero, or champion who possesses superior power and authority.
   
   גִּבּוֹר gibbôwr, ghib-bore’; or גִּבֹּר gibbôr; (shortened) intensive from the same as H1397; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:—champion, chief, × excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.

So, when we combine the two words, we can see that God introduces Himself to us as a mighty warrior, a champion, and a hero with unmatched power and strength. This is when we see in translations: Mighty God and I AM Mighty.

I love this characteristic of God! It shows that He is our protector and victor in our life.

Biblical Uses Of Jehovah Gibbor

The name “Jehovah Gibbor” or “El Gibbor” (another way that God often introduces Himself) appears a number of times in the Bible. Some noteworthy examples are below. I have bolded the translation in English for Jehovah Gibbor.

1. Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

In this verse, the Hebrew words translated as “mighty God” are “Gibbor El.” It is one of Isaiah’s many prophecies about the coming of Christ, and it emphasizes the divine strength and power of Jesus.

Anyone who doubts if Jesus is truly God can get all the proof they need from this one verse.

Note that Jesus is depicted as a Mighty Warrior, which is a long way from how some believers see Him. He’s not just the tenderhearted shepherd, though that’s also an aspect of His being; He is also a Mighty Warrior!

• Psalm 24:8: “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!”

This verse is one of the few scriptures that uses “Jehovah Gibbor” instead of “Gibbor El,” though the meanings of the two names are the same for our purposes.

The words “the LORD, mighty in battle” are “Jehovah Gibbor Milchamah” in Hebrew.

It’s a Psalm of praise that speaks of the glory of God and how everything on Earth is the Lord’s. Amid all the aspects of God that David chooses to praise, He also praises God for being a warrior who’s strong and mighty in battle.

• Jeremiah 32:18: “You show steadfast love to thousands, but You repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts.”

This is another verse that translated “Mighty God” from the Hebrew “El Gibbor,” further establishing the greatness and might of the Lord. The verse forms part of Jeremiah’s prayer for understanding since God was showing Him His vengeance upon Israel but also how He would bring them back.

The contrast is reflected in this verse, talking about God’s steadfast love and the fact that He is a mighty warrior who repays guilt.

• Isaiah 10:21: “A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.”

This verse assures the restoration and return of God’s people to the powerful embrace of the “mighty God” (“Gibbor El”). It’s a promise that, despite how far God’s people fell, there will be a remnant who will return to Him and find their refuge in His might again.

What Does Jehovah Gibbor Mean For Modern Believers?

It’s powerful to understand the meaning of any of the names of God. But it would be pointless if we stop at just knowledge of His name.

We want His name to impact our lives, transform us, and be able to apply who He is in our lives. However, God never introduces Himself to us without the intent of us recognizing that aspect of His being and worshiping Him as such.

With that in mind, we as believers can take the following to heart when we worship Him as Jehovah Gibbor:

Assurance Of God’s Power

It’s easy to look at the world around us and wonder if God is still in control. We face so many challenges, even as believers.

Sin abounds, and people seem to be falling further away from God than ever before, entertaining every form of blasphemy and anti-Christian behavior. It’s really crazy right now.

And yet, we know that God is a warrior with might beyond comprehension.

We can see that He will return as that mighty warrior to fight in the last battle and emerge victorious (Revelation 19).

That should encourage us even in the darkest times – God is our mighty warrior, and He will not be defeated!

Empowerment In Spiritual Battles

Whether it’s all-out spiritual warfare or just the “normal” battles we face daily, it helps to remember that we worship Jehovah Gibbor, the God Who is Mighty.

That will give us the courage to face the battle head-on as David did.

But it should also remind us that the battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). If we are fighting a struggle that relates to our spiritual walk with God, nothing can keep us from the victory because Jehovah Gibbor is fighting it for us.

That does not mean we are to just passively sit and wait for God to win unless He specifically instructs us to. As David did in this scripture, we are to run out and face the enemy, knowing that we are fighting with the strength and might of Jehovah Gibbor!

We Are To Emulate God

We should never forget that God wants us to be like Him. This means reflecting His character in every aspect of our lives, including manifesting the mighty warrior in us.

This can be tricky – we tend to lean strongly towards one aspect of God’s character over the other. For example, many Christians fall so far into humility that they become complacent and essentially useless for the kingdom.

Like Jesus, we must strike a balance between the compassionate healer and the warrior who cleared the temple.

Curry Blake from John G. Lake Ministries describes this as a warrior holding a sword in one hand and protecting a baby in the other. What a perfect picture!

Be loving and compassionate but defend your ability to be compassionate with everything you have. David is called a man of peace, but he earned the right to be that by fighting every war that he faced.

Don’t succumb to fear or uncertainty when you see a spiritual battle. Stand up and face the fight, knowing that God’s Holy Spirit is in you, and He is Jehovah Gibbor, the Mighty Warrior.

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The name Jehovah Gibbor may not be one of the names of God we often use during praise and worship, but it is a vital and crucial aspect of God’s character. We are to recognize His strength and might in every circumstance we face, but also that He imparted that same character to us.

Whatever battle you’re facing, worship God as Jehovah Gibbor and know that the war is already won! Praise God!!

The Names Of God Study

If you are hungry to grow and learn more about the names of God, then I would really encourage you to check out my other articles on the topic: