We find numerous names for the Lord throughout the Bible. Last time, we learned about the name Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my Banner. Today, we will talk about the name Jehovah Sabaoth, or The Lord of Hosts.
What does Jehovah Sabaoth mean?
Jehovah Sabaoth is translated from Hebrew as “The Lord of Hosts.” This term is made up from a combination of Jehovah, or Yahweh—our attempt at pronouncing YHWH, (a personal name for God in the Bible) and sabaoth, (meaning host, multitude, armies, or that which goes forth).
Where is Jehovah Sabaoth found in the Bible?
Jehovah, or Yahweh, Sabaoth appears nearly 300 times throughout the Old Testament. As the word sabaoth, means host, or multitude, Jehovah Sabaoth, is the Lord of Hosts, or Multitudes. So then, who, or what, are these multitudes that He is Lord over?
Sabaoth can appear as a military term. This can describe a host, or multitude, of fighting men; in other words, a large army. So Jehovah, or Yahweh, Sabaoth is the Lord of Armies, the Lord over all of the multitudes of armies in heaven and on earth:
“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD ALMIGHTY (The LORD of Hosts), the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45).
Sabaoth also sometimes refers to the “hosts of heaven,” in other words, multitudes of angels and heavenly beings. Jehovah Sabaoth is the Lord over all of the angels in heaven:
“Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.” (1 Kings 22:19).
Additionally, sabaoth describes the hosts, or multitudes, of stars in the sky. Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, created all of the billions of stars in the sky, and is Lord of them all:
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6).
Finally, sabaoth describes natural forces, such as thunder, rain, earthquakes, and fire. The Lord of Hosts created all of these forces, and uses them at will:
“Suddenly, in an instant, the LORD ALMIGHTY (The LORD of Hosts) will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.” (Isaiah 29:6).
Jehovah, or Yahweh, Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, first appears in the Bible in 1 Samuel 1. Hannah, distraught due to years of barrenness, cries out to the Lord to remember her. She uses this unique term that invokes the mighty power of God:
“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “LORD ALMIGHTY (LORD of Hosts), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11).
With this name, Hannah remembered God’s mighty power and authority. He created everything. He is Lord of every army, every angel in heaven, every star in the sky…of course, He can easily give her a child! The Lord honored Hannah’s request and she gave birth to Samuel later that year (check out more of her story in Hannah and the Issue of Barrenness). In fact, the Lord blessed Hannah over time with three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).
What does Jehovah Sabaoth mean to us today?
“Our Redeemer—the LORD ALMIGHTY (The LORD of Hosts) is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 47:4).
Jehovah, or Yahweh, Sabaoth, can do all things. Nothing is impossible for Him. Wherever you are, whatever you need, call out to Lord of Armies, the Lord of the Hosts of Heaven, the Lord who created all of the stars in the sky. He is able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). He is our Redeemer.
“For your Maker is your husband—the LORD ALMIGHTY (The LORD of Hosts) is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” (Isaiah 54:5).
Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, is your Husband, provided that you are in the Bride of Christ (the Church). He is on your side. He wants to give you life, and life abundantly (John 10:10). While He created every star in the sky, He also keeps count of every hair on your head (Matthew 10:30). While He rules over every army on earth and every multitude in heaven, He also watches your every step (Psalm 121:8).
Jehovah Sabaoth heard Hannah’s cry and gave her a child. Likewise, He heard David’s call and defeated a giant. He created the heavens and the earth. Call on Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, today. Why would you call on anyone else?
I hope you enjoyed learning about Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts. Learn more today with El Roi, the God who Sees Me, or Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will Provide.
