01.08. Chapter 3 - His name is One

Chapter 3 - His name is One Yahweh will be king over all the land, in that day the Yahweh will be one and his name is One

Zechariah 14:9 When we read that God is one, we quickly assume that this is relating to a number of one, because of our Western understanding of the word “one.” We ignore the Hebraic understanding of the word “dxa” which identifies God as a unity within himself. The above passage is not attempting to place God within a box, which contains only one object, but an infinite God that can manifest in many ways, all of which are in unity. What does the idea of unity within God mean? In the book of Exodus, God reveals himself to Israel as two pillars.

“And the LORD walked before them by day in a pillar of cloud to comfort them on the path and by night a pillar of fire to give light to them for walking by day and night.”

(Exodus 13:21)

Each of these manifestations of God, the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, is unique in its function. The pillar of fire provides heat during the cold nights as well as light in the darkness. The pillar of cloud provides shade from the heat of the sun. While the function of each pillar is distinct and separate from the other, they are also united in their functions in that both bring comfort to the people. The two clouds are “dxa” (ehhad), two separate actions with a common function.

God is not just a God of love, but a God of hate as well (Malachi 1:2-3). He is a God of mercy and justice. He is also a God of war and peace. He creates light and darkness, good and evil (Isaiah 45:7). Throughout the scriptures we see God raising up nations and tearing down nations all for the purpose of bringing about his will.

While God manifests himself within two extremes, they are always in balance and in unity. The writer of Ecclesiastes best expresses this balance of unity. Just as God manifests these characteristics, his people who know the heart and will of God and his balance in unity, know the proper time and season for each of these characteristics to be applied.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to morn and a time to dance, A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and time to refrain, A time to search and a time to give up, A time to keep and a time to throw away, A time to tear and time to mend, A time to be silent and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Now that we have a Hebraic understanding of the two key words in the title of this book, we can read the phrase through the eyes of the ancient Hebrew Zechariah who wrote it.

“The LORD will be king over all the land, in that day the LORD will be one and his name is one.”

Zechariah 14:9 The final phrase of this verse in Hebrew is “dxa wmX” (sh’mo ehhad). Translators have interpreted this phrase several different ways, including:

“his name the only name” (NIV) “his name the only one” (NASB) “his name one” (KJV)

All of these are the translators’ attempts to make sense of the Hebrew phrase to an English reader. As we have discovered, the Hebrew word “~X” (shem) of God is the attributes of his character which is identified as “dxa” (ehhad), a unity. A translation reflecting the Hebraic understanding of this passage would be:

“His character is in unity.”

Or;

“His attributes and being, work together in unity.”

God manifests himself in many different ways and for many different reasons. All of the names of God found in the Bible are a reflection of these manifestations of his character, all of which are in unity, revealing the nature of God. Let us now look at some of these names of God through the mind of the Biblical author rather than our Western minds.