The Covenant Name of God in the Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation refers to God and Christ using various names and titles, reflecting their nature and roles. One significant name attributed to Christ in Revelation is "The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13) [1, 2]. This title appears as Christ is depicted in a garment sprinkled with blood [1, 2].
While the term "covenant name" often refers to the special name by which God revealed himself to the ancient Hebrews, Jehovah (YHWH), which was considered so sacred by later Jews that it was rarely pronounced [4], Revelation does not explicitly use this Tetragrammaton. Instead, it employs descriptive titles that allude to God's covenantal relationship and character. The concept of "covenant" itself, meaning berith in Hebrew [3], is foundational to understanding God's relationship with humanity throughout scripture.
The New Testament, including Revelation, builds upon Old Testament covenant theology. The author of Hebrews, for instance, quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to establish the superiority of the new covenant, which was realized through Jesus Christ's redemptive mission [8, 9]. This new covenant addresses human weaknesses that the first covenant, made at Sinai, could not resolve [8]. The "name of the Lord" in the Old Testament signifies God's self-revealed character and reputation [12]. In the New Testament, "the name" is also applied to Jesus [12].
The Book of Revelation, authored by John the apostle around A.D. 96 [5], presents a vision of God's ultimate plan. While not using the specific term "covenant name" in reference to a single word, the book's portrayal of God and Christ consistently aligns with the covenantal promises and character revealed throughout the Bible. For example, God is praised as the Creator (Revelation 4:11), a theme echoed in Old Testament passages like Genesis 1:1 and Exodus 20:11 [7]. The Lord's discipline is also presented as a sign of His love, a concept cross-referenced with Old Testament texts such as Proverbs 3:11 and Hebrews 12:5 [6].
The names and titles used in Revelation, such as "The Word of God," emphasize Christ's divine nature and his role in God's redemptive plan, which is intrinsically tied to the concept of covenant. The shared name between Joshua and Jesus (both from the Greek Iēsous and Hebrew Yehoshua‘) highlights how Jesus provides the ultimate rest that Joshua could not fully deliver, further connecting New Testament figures to Old Testament covenantal themes [11]. The Lord's covenant name in relation to Israel (YHWH) is understood as demonstrating God's covenant love [10].
Sources
- Revelation “He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.” -- Revelation 19:13”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 19:13 (LITV) — and having been clothed in a garment which had been dipped in blood. And His name is called The Word of God.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Berith — covenant”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jehovah — The special and significant name (not merely an appellative title such as Lord [adonai]) by which God revealed himself to the ancient Hebrews (Ex. 6:2, 3). This name, the Tetragrammaton of the Greeks, was held by the later Jews to be so sacred that it was never pronounced except by the high priest on the great Day of Atonement, when he entered into the most holy place. Whenever this name occurred in the sacred books they pronounced it, as they still do, "Adonai" (i.e., Lord), thus using another word in its stead. The Massorets gave to it the vowel-points ap”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation, Book of — =The Apocalypse, the closing book and the only prophetical book of the New Testament canon. The author of this book was undoubtedly John the apostle. His name occurs four times in the book itself (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8), and there is every reason to conclude that the "John" here mentioned was the apostle. In a manuscript of about the twelfth century he is called "John the divine," but no reason can be assigned for this appellation. The date of the writing of this book has generally been fixed at A.D. 96, in the reign of Domitian. There are some, howev”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 3:19 cross-references: Numbers 25:11, Deuteronomy 8:5, 2 Samuel 7:14, Job 5:17, Psalms 6:1, Psalms 39:11, Psalms 69:9, Psalms 94:10, Proverbs 3:11, Proverbs 15:10, Proverbs 15:32, Proverbs 22:15, Isaiah 26:16, Jeremiah 2:30, Jeremiah 7:28, Jeremiah 10:24, Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 31:18, Zephaniah 3:2, Matthew 25:7, John 2:17, Romans 12:11, 1 Corinthians 11:32, 2 Corinthians 6:9, 2 Corinthians 7:11, Galatians 4:18, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 12:5, James 1:12, Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:21”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 4:11 cross-references: Genesis 1:1, Exodus 20:11, Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:4, 1 Chronicles 16:28, Nehemiah 9:5, Job 36:3, Psalms 18:3, Psalms 29:1, Psalms 68:34, Psalms 96:7, Proverbs 16:4, Isaiah 40:26, Isaiah 40:28, Jeremiah 10:11, Jeremiah 32:17, John 1:1, Acts 14:15, Acts 17:24, Romans 11:36, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 1:10, Revelation 5:2, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 5:12, Revelation 10:6, Revelation 14:7”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 8:7: 8:7-13 The author quotes Jer 31:31-34, an Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes a number of striking promises. Establishing the superiority of the new covenant lays a foundation for the argument in Heb 9:1–10:18 that the Son’s offering under the new covenant was superior to the offerings of the old covenant. 8:7 The first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless. It was not the end of God’s plan, because it didn’t solve human weaknesses (see 7:11-28; 8:9).”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 31:31: 31:31 The day of the new covenant was realized when Jesus Christ accomplished his redemptive mission on earth (see Heb 8:8-12).”
- Jonah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jonah 4:6: 4:6 The Lord is God’s covenant name in relation to Israel (see, e.g., Ps 72:18). God did these things to show his covenant love toward Jonah and to those in Israel who had the same attitude. • arranged for: see study note on Jon 1:17.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 4:8: 4:8 Joshua is the same name as Jesus (Greek Iēsous, Hebrew Yehoshua‘). It is normally translated Joshua in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament (see also study note on Exod 17:9). The author is making a word play on Jesus’ and Joshua’s shared name. Joshua did lead God’s people into the Promised Land (Josh 3–4), but God had more in mind when he promised his people rest. God’s ultimate rest is provided by Jesus (Heb 3:13-14; 4:3, 9-11, 14-16).”
- 1 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Kings 5:4: 5:4-5 Unlike David, Solomon enjoyed peace [literally rest] on every side. Solomon’s name (Hebrew shlomoh) may be a variation of the word for “peace” (Hebrew shalom). • The name of the Lord signifies God’s self-revealed character and reputation. The Hebrew term translated the name was sometimes used in oral reading of Scripture so the reader could avoid uttering the personal name of God (the tetragrammaton—YHWH). The New Testament applies the term “the name” to Jesus (Acts 5:41; 3 Jn 1:7).”