Does God have more than one name?
Question submitted to “Ask the Rabbi” by:
Name: Herschel Raysman
City: Welgemoed, South Africa
Profession: Self Employed
Full Question:
“In Zecharia 4:7, we read in Hebrew ‘mu Atah Har HaGadol’. Various English translations read ‘what are you’ or ‘who are you’. Who or what is this great mountain? I heard that it is possibly another Name for HaShem? This is what I need clarified..”
Rabbi Tully Bryks responds:
Is G-d referred to by more than one name? It is true that various names are used to refer to Hashem throughout the Torah. Each term has a different definition. Among the benefits of utilizing different names is that it helps to show the context of how Hashem is relating to us at that particular juncture. For example, in the first verse of the Torah, which describes the creation of the world, the name “Elokim” is used, which represents the Divine aspect of strict justice, as nature has very specific rules which cannot be bent. On the other hand, when Hashem gave us the Torah at Mount Sinai, which involves our relationship with Hashem and the various commandments, the name “Hashem” is used, which represents mercy, as His judgement and relationship with us must be tempered with flexibility.
With regard to your specific question, I am definitely not an expert on Zecharia. But after a brief glance at the verse, “Har Hagadol” does not appear to be referring to Hashem (G-d). One possibility is that it is referring to the King of Gog, an evil king who will not be able to thwart Hashem’s plans.
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