Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Jehovah-shammah (meaning "the LORD who is present") is one of several such names given in the Bible that are added to the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14. (A listing of those names, as well as their meanings and Scriptural references, can be found at http://www.prayertoday.org/NamesofGod/Jehovah-names.htm)

The Scripture verse from which the name Jehovah-shammah is derived is Hebrews 13:5, in which the writer of the epistle says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'", which, in turn, was quoting Deuteronomy 31:6, in which Moses told the Israelites to be strong and courageous in fighting against the idolatrous nations that occupied the Promised Land, and assured them that God would never leave them nor forsake them.

June 19 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Who is Jehovah-shammah?

Jehovah-Shammah is found in Ezekiel 48:35: "The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day, the name of the city will be 'The Lord is There.'" Jehovah-Shammah is the name of God that means I am the Lord who is there and is symbolic of Jerusalem. This name promises His presence.

Jehovah Shammah (Hebrew: יְהוָה שָׁמָּה) translates to "The Lord is there".

The name Jehovah-Shammah, or "Jehovah Himself Is There," would signify a representational presence of God like that expressed in other texts, such as Psalm 46:5; 132:13, 14; Isaiah 24:23; Joel 3:21; and Zechariah 2:10, 11, where Jehovah, whom 'the heaven of the heavens cannot contain,' is spoken of as though residing in an earthly city or place.​—1Ki 8:27. 

Ezek. 48:15-19, 30-35, footnote​—What does the city in Ezekiel's vision represent? "Jehovah-Shammah" is situated in "profane" land, indicating that it must represent something earthly. Having gates on each side illustrates its openness. 

This expression translates Yehwahʹ Shamʹmah, applied to the city seen by the prophet Ezekiel in his vision recorded in chapters 40 through 48. (Eze 48:35) 

The name of the city is "Jehovah Is There." This name assures that this is a city where Jehovah's presence is felt. By showing Ezekiel this centrally located city, Jehovah effectively told the exiles: 'I will be with you again!'

What lessons can we draw from this part of Ezekiel's prophecy? The name of this city-like administration assures us that Jehovah does dwell with his faithful servants on earth now and always will. 

Another remarkable feature of the city, "Jehovah Is There": While ancient cities had walls for protection with as few gates as possible, this city has 12 gates! (Ezek. 48:30-34) This large number of gates (three on each side of the square city) illustrates that the city's administrators are approachable and available to all of God's servants. Further, the city's having 12 gates emphasises that it is open to everyone.

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Such a great question, Charlotte! "Jehovah is there," is the meaning of the name, the symbolical title given by Ezekiel to Jerusalem, which was seen by him in vision (Ezek. 48:35). It was a type of the gospel Church. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia adds something, "the new Jerusalem," not just "Jerusalem." --> "Yahweh is there"): The name to be given to the new Jerusalem, restored and glorified, as seen in the vision of Ezek (48:35 margin; compare Rev 21:3). Yahweh returns to the temple which He had forsaken, and from that time forward the fact of supreme importance is that He is there, dwelling in the midst of His people."

My favorite Old Testament Bible commentary has this:  Lord is there—Jehovah-Shammah. Not that the city will be called so in mere name, but that the reality will be best expressed by this descriptive title (Je 3:17; 33:16; Zec 2:10; Rev 21:3; 22:3). --Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 619.

My favorite readily available online Bible commentary has this:

48:35 that day is “Yahweh Is There The Hebrew name of the city will be yhwh shammah, or “Yahweh is Here”—symbolizing Yahweh’s promise to dwell among His people.

Names of God in the Old TestamentTable

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Eze 48:35.

"This is [just] one of several “compound names” of the Lord found in the Old Testament. See Genesis 22:13-14; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24; Jeremiah 23:6; Ezekiel 48:35." Warren Wiersbe

NET © Ezekiel 48:35 --	
"The circumference of the city will be six miles. 1 The name of the city from that day forward will be: ‘The Lord Is There.’” 2 

NET © Notes	
1 tn Heb “eighteen thousand cubits” (i.e., 9.45 kilometers).

2 sn See Rev 21:12-21.

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