"Jehovah Nissi," which translates to "The Lord is My Banner," is a powerful testament to God's role as our protector and leader in the battlefield of life. This name first appears in the Book of Exodus during the Israelites' battle against the Amalekites, where Moses, lifting his hands to heaven, declares God as the standard under which they triumph. Discover how this divine designation not only offers historical context but personal reassurance of God's sovereignty and enduring presence in our lives.
What Language Is Jehovah Nissi?
Jehovah Nissi is a Hebrew designation for God (yhwh nissiy). “Jehovah” is taken from the Tetragrammaton, a transliteration of the Hebrew name for God taken from the four letters YHWH (The written Hebrew alphabet has no vowel letters). In English, we first read God’s name for Himself—Jehovah—when God tells Moses He is “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14-15; John 8:58).
Where Does the Bible Refer to God as Jehovah Nissi?
When God set Moses as the leader of the Israelites through their forty-year wilderness experience, the Amalekites attacked them while they were at Rephidim. The Amalekites (from the line of Esau) were Israel’s sworn enemies.
Moses commanded Joshua to choose men to fight against the invaders. After he gave Joshua his charge, Moses said, “Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands” (Exodus 17:9). And so, he did, “As long as Moses held up his hands [with the staff of God], the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (Exodus 17:10b). Moses accepted help from Aaron and Hur to keep his hands upright, and by sunset, Joshua and his men defeated the Amalekite army “with the sword” (Exodus 17:13).
The Lord then commanded Moses to make a memorial scroll to record the events of the day and to make sure Joshua heard of it because God was going to completely wipe out the name of Amalek “from under heaven” (Exodus 17:14).
Moses built an altar and named it “The Lord is my Banner” (Jehovah Nissi). Moses gives all glory to God here by proclaiming that the enemies came against God and that God would war against them “from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:16).
What Does Jehovah Nissi Tell Us about God’s Character?
What does a banner do but proclaim (1) a victor, (2) one’s loyalty, (3) praise, and (4) submission (to an ideal)?
The account in Exodus 17 shows us how God reveals Himself as our banner.
Previously, God gave Moses his staff for God to perform supernatural signs of wonder as Moses wielded it (Exodus 4:17). God as our Banner proclaims His power of deliverance by His might and presence. As Moses lifted it during God’s rout of the Amalekites through Joshua and his men, the people were reminded of God’s sovereign victory over their enemies. God fights for us; if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 2:14. See also Deuteronomy 1:30; Nehemiah 4:20; Ephesians 6:10, 13). When we know this truth, our faith is strengthened.
Just as the Israelites, through their worship at the altar Moses erected with the banner God had him produce, anyone with ears to hear and eyes to see will know we belong to God through our Lord Jesus Christ when we proclaim He is our Banner and Savior.
Lifting God in praise is one of our primary responsibilities and privileges as Christians. Declaring Jehovah Nissi speaks to a lost and dying world of the truth, love, kindness, compassion, faithfulness, and holiness of God, plus so much more. Praising Jehovah Nissi offers encouragement to believers and leads unbelievers to ask us the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Praise Jehovah Nissi for every opportunity to share the Gospel.
As we submit to our Father, Jehovah Nissi, He welcomes our prayers for the intervention only He can provide. As our banner, others know we pray for them because we hold Him so high! Jesus is God and our Intercessor (Romans 8:26-27, 34). We raise a banner of prayer to the One who taught us to pray (Luke 11:1), for we know He hears a Christian’s every prayer (Hebrews 7:25).
We may grow weary at times, just as Moses did when he held the staff of God. But our God never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:1). Peter knew directly from Jesus, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). We long to remain alert, yet when we lose focus through weariness, Jehovah Nissi—our Banner—never falters. He gave us each other to keep us focused on Him. Moses had Aaron and Hur; we thank the Lord for His church.
Everything we do is to be an act of worship to our Lord. As Moses gave all glory to God for the victory, we also give Him praise, honor, and glory by proclaiming Jehovah Nissi—The Lord our banner.
How Does Jehovah Nissi Compare to Other Names of God?
One cannot describe the Lord any better than He does throughout Scripture. He is beyond human description in his holiness and goodness; therefore, we look to Him for words to portray His character.
Other names of God speak to His perfect and holy character (sample passages are noted):
- Jehovah-Raah: The Lord our Shepherd (Psalm 23)
- Jehovah Rapha: The Lord that heals (Exodus 15:26)
- Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35 – only occurrence of this name)
- Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16)
- Jehovah Mekoddishkem: The Lord Who sanctifies you (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8)
- Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14 – only occurrence of this name)
- Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24 – only occurrence of this name)
- Jehovah Sabaoth: The Lord of hosts/of powers (1 Samuel 1:3)
- Jehovah El Roi: The Lord who sees (Genesis 16:13 – only occurrence of this name, which may be more a description)
Looking through the above list, we see God in His relational aspects. He shepherds, heals, sees, and sanctifies us. He gives us peace, healing, righteousness, and provision. He is our all-powerful God, and He is our peace.
The names which tell us who He is:
- Yahweh: LORD, Jehovah (Exodus 3:14)
- El Shaddai: Lord God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)
- El Elyon: The Most High God (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 78:35)
- Adonai: Lord, Master (Genesis 15:2; Isaiah 6:1) Isaiah and Ezekiel use this name for God numerous times.
- El Olam: The Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)
- Elohim: God, Judge, Creator (Genesis 1:1)
- Qanna: jealous, zealous (Exodus 20:5)
God reveals all His glorious names, and we have no confusion about Who He is. He wrote the Bible; therefore, what Scripture tells us about God is true. Every historical narrative, every psalm or proverb, every Gospel or epistle, and every bit of apocalyptic literature found in the Bible gives us a clear view of God’s character.
Unsaved people can only refer to our heavenly Father as God, not knowing Him as He is. How sad not to know Him as Lord, Savior, Peace, Righteousness, Healer, Provider, etc. And yet what a call to us as God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
God has entrusted us with the Gospel, that Jesus Christ—God’s own Son—came to earth as a man (yet still fully God) to save us from our sins—from God’s wrath. The Bible tells us salvation comes only in Him, for there is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). To know God is to know Him as fully as this side of heaven allows. We now see Him as looking in a dim mirror; we know Him in part, but we will know fully when we get to heaven. One day we who love Him will see Him face-to-face in all His radiant glory (1 Corinthians 13:12). To that end, we proclaim Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner. Hallelujah; the best is yet to come!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/C. Fish Images
