Yahweh: The One God Who Is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

When you hear the name Yahweh, what do you feel? Confusion, curiosity, maybe a quiet pull in your heart to know who this God really is?

This name is not a label humans gave to God. It is the name God spoke about Himself. It carries power, history, and deep love. In Scripture, Yahweh is the God whose power shakes nations, but He is also the God who bends low, comes to us in Jesus, dies for us, and now lives inside His people by the Holy Spirit.

This article walks through what the Bible says about the power of God in the original languages, what Yahweh means, how Yahweh is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, how Jesus came, died, and rose, and how His power now flows through people who know Him personally. If you are hungry to understand God’s power and to know Jesus for yourself, you are in the right place.

What the Bible Means by the Power of God

In the Old Testament, God’s power is not just about explosions of strength. It is about His steady ability to create, carry, and keep His people.

Two key Hebrew words help us see this:

• Koach: strength, ability, power to do something.
• Oz: strong power, might, force that cannot be stopped.

You can see koach in verses like Deuteronomy 8:18, where God warns Israel not to say, “My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.” The word for “power” there is koach. It is a reminder that every bit of strength we have comes from Him. If you want to look deeper at this word, tools like the Strong’s entry for koach are helpful.

In Exodus 15, after God splits the Red Sea and brings Israel through, Moses sings about God’s “right hand” shattering the enemy. The picture is simple: when Yahweh lifts His hand, no army can stand.

Isaiah 40:28–31 paints another side of this same power. God does not grow tired, even when we do. He gives strength to the weary. Those who hope in Him “renew their strength.” Here we see God’s power not only in big miracles, but in daily endurance, courage, and quiet trust.

God’s power in Scripture is always linked to His heart. His strength is not random. It is holy, faithful, and personal.

Koach and Oz: How the Old Testament Describes God’s Strength

You could say koach is the “ability” of God and oz is the “weight” of His might.

• In creation: By His koach, Yahweh speaks and galaxies appear. Psalm 33 shows God making the heavens by His word. Nothing resists Him, because nothing exists before Him.
• In rescue: In Exodus 15, God’s oz shows when He drowns Pharaoh’s army. Israel did not win because they were strong. They were afraid and trapped. Yahweh’s power alone opened the sea.
• In daily life: Isaiah 40 tells us God shares His koach with those who hope in Him. Picture someone at the end of themselves, emotionally drained, but somehow still standing. That quiet “somehow” is God’s strength.

A helpful way to think about it: human strength is like a tiny flashlight. God’s power is the sun. Our flashlight only shines at all because the sun exists.

Why God’s Power Is Different From Human Power

Human power is limited. It runs out. It is often selfish or mixed with pride. We use strength to control, to win, to protect ourselves.

God’s power is different:

• It is unlimited; He never runs out.
• It is holy; He never sins with it.
• It is loving; He uses it for good, even when He disciplines.

Every breath, every heartbeat, every clear thought is borrowed strength. Our koach is on loan from the God who has all oz forever. This same God is the One who reveals His personal name as Yahweh.

That is where we go next.

Who Is Yahweh? Understanding God’s Personal Name and Identity

Yahweh is the personal covenant name God reveals in the Old Testament. It first shines clearly in Exodus 3, when God speaks to Moses from the burning bush.

God tells Moses His name is “I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: ehyeh asher ehyeh), then He connects that to the name Yahweh. Many scholars see a link between the verb “to be” and God’s name. Yahweh is the One who simply is, who always will be. For more background on this phrase, you can explore articles like “I Am Who I Am”? The Real Meaning of God’s Name in Exodus.

Passages such as Exodus 3:14–15, Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 45:5, and Psalm 83:18 all echo the same truth: Yahweh is not one god among many. He is the only real God.

“I AM WHO I AM”: What Yahweh Revealed to Moses Really Means

Picture the scene. Moses is watching sheep in the desert. Same hills, same sand, same wind. Then he notices a bush on fire, but it does not burn up. He steps closer. A voice calls his name.

God tells Moses He has seen Israel’s suffering and will rescue them. Moses is scared. “If they ask Your name, what do I say?” God answers, “I AM WHO I AM.” Then He says, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you’… This is my name forever” (Exodus 3:14–15).

Moses before the burning bush where God reveals His name. 

This is not abstract philosophy. Yahweh is saying, “I always exist. I do not change. I depend on no one. You depend on Me.”

Every fake god has a beginning. Every idol cracks or falls. But Yahweh simply is. That is terrifying if you want to run from Him. It is deeply comforting if you belong to Him.

Yahweh Alone: The One True God in the Old Testament

The Old Testament repeats this like a drumbeat:

• “Hear, O Israel: The Lord [Yahweh] our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
• “I am Yahweh, that is my name; my glory I give to no other” (Isaiah 42:8).
• “I am Yahweh, and there is no other, besides me there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5).
• Psalm 83:18 prays that people would know “that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.”

Since Yahweh alone is God, He alone deserves our worship, trust, and obedience. No idol, no career, no relationship, no feeling can share this place in our hearts.

How Yahweh Is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Bible

Now we move into a mystery that stretches the mind but feeds the soul. The Bible teaches that Yahweh is one God, yet He exists as three Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

Christians call this the Trinity. It is not a human math puzzle. It is God telling us what He is like. A helpful summary of this doctrine can be found in resources like What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?.

We see hints in the Old Testament when God says, “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26), and when the Angel of Yahweh speaks as God Himself. The New Testament shines brighter light at Jesus’ baptism, in the Great Commission, and in the way the Holy Spirit is called God.

If you want to go deeper into how the Spirit fits within the Trinity, this article on the Biblical identity of the Holy Spirit offers a thorough but readable overview.

Yahweh the Father: The Loving Source of All Life

The Bible often speaks of God as Father. Isaiah 63:16 says, “You, O Yahweh, are our Father.” Malachi 2:10 asks, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?”

The Father is not a different god from Yahweh. He is Yahweh. He plans, loves, and sends. He is the source of all life and every good gift.

In the New Testament, Jesus talks to the Father, loves Him, and obeys Him. The Father sends the Son into the world and later exalts Him above all. This sets the stage for the next Person.

Yahweh the Son: Jesus Uses God’s Own Name “I AM”

In John 8, Jesus is in a heated conversation with religious leaders. They talk about Abraham, their ancestor. Jesus says, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

He does not say, “I was.” He says, “I am.” The crowd knows exactly what He is claiming. He is echoing Yahweh’s words in Exodus 3. That is why they pick up stones to kill Him. To them, this is blasphemy, unless it is true.

John 1:1–3 also calls Jesus “the Word” who was with God and was God, and by whom all things were made. Later, John 1:14 says this Word “became flesh” and lived among us.

Jesus is not a lesser god or a nice prophet. He is Yahweh the Son, fully God and fully man.

For a deeper look at Jesus as fully God and fully man, and how He operated in the Spirit’s gifts, this study on Jesus and the Word of Knowledge explained is helpful.

Yahweh the Holy Spirit: God’s Presence and Power With Us

The Holy Spirit is not an “it” or a vague force. He speaks, feels, teaches, and can be lied to.

David prays, “Do not take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). Isaiah 63:10–11 says Israel “grieved His Holy Spirit.” In Acts 5:3–4, Peter tells Ananias that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God.

So the Spirit is Yahweh too. He is God with us, God in us, God empowering us. He brings the power of Yahweh’s presence into the hearts and bodies of ordinary people.

How Yahweh Came as Jesus, Died for Our Sins, and Rose Again

Here is where the story turns from large truth to very personal good news.

Yahweh the Son became a man. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Philippians 2:5–11 tells us that though He was in the form of God, He humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and obeyed to the point of death on a cross.

Why? Because our sin separates us from this holy God. No one can climb their way up to Him. So God came down.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 sums it up: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day. John 3:16 tells us this came from love. Romans 5:8 says God shows His love for us in that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Yahweh did not send a random messenger to suffer. God Himself, in the Person of the Son, bore our punishment so we could be with Him forever.

Why God Had to Become Man to Save Us

Sin is not just “messing up.” It is rejecting God’s rule and breaking His law. The result is death and separation from Him.

A holy God cannot pretend sin is fine. That would deny His justice. At the same time, His heart is full of love. How can justice and love meet?

Only Yahweh could pay the full price for sin, but God cannot die. So Yahweh the Son took on human flesh. As a true man, Jesus could stand in our place. As true God, His life had infinite worth.

At the cross, justice and love meet. Sin is punished, and sinners are invited home.

The Cross and the Empty Tomb: What Jesus Did for You

On the cross, Jesus took what we deserved. He carried our guilt, shame, and curse. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” so that you would never have to be forsaken.

The empty tomb on the third day shows that death could not hold Yahweh. Jesus rose in power, proving that His sacrifice worked and that He is who He claimed to be.

His resurrection is not just a historical point. It means He can forgive you today, live with you now, and raise you one day as well.

How the Father Gave All Authority to Jesus and How Jesus Shares His Power

After His resurrection, Jesus tells His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). The Father, who is Yahweh, gives this authority to the Son, who is also Yahweh.

Philippians 2:9–11 says God highly exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above every name. Ephesians 1:20–23 pictures Christ seated at God’s right hand, far above every power, with all things under His feet.

Revelation 1:17–18 shows the risen Jesus saying, “I am the first and the last… I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

All Authority in Heaven and on Earth: What Jesus Now Has

“All authority” really means all. Jesus rules over:

• Heaven and angels
• Earth and every nation
• Demons and spiritual darkness
• Death, hell, and the grave

This is the authority of Yahweh Himself. The Father has not retired. He reigns through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we worship Jesus, we are not honoring a second god. We are honoring Yahweh.

How Jesus Shares Yahweh’s Power With His People Today

Jesus does not keep this power at a distance. He shares it with His people by giving them the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 1:8 He promises, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” At Pentecost, that promise lands with fire. If you want a rich study of that event and its meaning, check out this teaching on Pentecost and Spirit baptism.

The New Testament shows this power in action:

• Bold preaching in Acts 2 and 4
• Healing of the lame man in Acts 3
• Miracles, prophecy, and gifts in 1 Corinthians 12

Spiritual gifts are another way this shared power shows up. For a balanced overview of those gifts, see this guide to The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

This power is not for pride or show. It is for love, service, and pointing people to Jesus.

Who Are God’s People and How Does Yahweh’s Power Flow Through Us?

So who are “His people” now?

The New Testament says God’s people are those who repent of sin, trust in Jesus, and are born again by the Spirit.

John 1:12 says that all who receive Jesus and believe in His name are given the right to become children of God. 1 Peter 2:9–10 calls believers “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.”

We are:

• Children of God
• The body of Christ
• A Spirit-filled people

Yahweh’s power flows through us not because we are impressive, but because we are joined to Jesus.

What the Bible Says About Who Belongs to God

Romans 10:9–10 says that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

It is not about family background or good behavior. It is about faith in Christ.

When we belong to Him, we are adopted into God’s family. We are accepted, forgiven, and filled with the Spirit. That is when the power of Yahweh begins to flow in and through us.

Real-Life Ways Yahweh’s Power Shows Through Ordinary Believers

How does this look in daily life?

• Strength to forgive someone who deeply hurt you
• Freedom from addiction, old patterns beginning to break
• Courage to share the Gospel with a friend
• Healing after prayer, sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly
• Deep peace in suffering, when nothing on paper explains it
• Love for enemies, when everything in you wants revenge

None of this is natural. It is Yahweh’s power, through the Holy Spirit, flowing from our union with Jesus.

The more we walk with Him, the more these things show up. If you want to explore how God’s Spirit moves through His people in a united way, studies like Seven Spirits of God explained can give helpful insight.

Ordinary believers seeking God together, relying on His power. 

How to Personally Know Jesus and Walk in the Power of Yahweh

All of this means little if it stays as theory. Yahweh invites you to know Him, not just know about Him.

The Bible gives a clear path:

• Hear the good news of Jesus
• Believe who He is
• Admit and turn from your sin
• Trust Him alone to save you
• Ask Him to be Lord of your life
• Receive the Holy Spirit

John 3:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9–13, and Revelation 3:20 all describe this kind of response. If you want help understanding how the Spirit’s presence changes you from the inside, you might appreciate this teaching on What baptism in the Holy Spirit means.

A Simple Biblical Way to Begin a Relationship With Jesus

Here is one simple way to respond:

1. Recognize your need: Admit before God that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.
2. Believe the Gospel: Trust that Jesus is Yahweh the Son, who died for your sins and rose again.
3. Repent: Turn from living your own way and surrender to His way.
4. Confess Jesus as Lord: Tell Him, and do not be ashamed to tell others.
5. Ask Him to save you: Call on His name from your heart.

You could pray something like:

“Jesus, I believe You are Yahweh the Son. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I confess that I am a sinner and I need You. Please forgive me, change me, and be the Lord of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to know You and walk with You forever. Amen.”

The exact words are not magic. God listens to a honest heart.

Growing Closer to Yahweh Daily Through the Holy Spirit

Knowing Jesus is a beginning, not an end. Relationship grows over time.

Some simple daily steps:

• Talk to God in honest prayer.
• Read the Bible, even a small portion each day.
• Gather with other believers who love Jesus.
• Confess sin quickly and receive His forgiveness.
• Obey what He shows you, even in small things.

As you keep coming to Him, the Holy Spirit will make Jesus more real. Yahweh’s power and love will become less of an idea and more of a lived experience.

Conclusion

We started with a name: Yahweh. We saw His power in the Hebrew words for strength, in creation, and in rescue. We heard Him speak from the burning bush, “I AM WHO I AM.” We watched Him revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three Persons.

We followed Yahweh the Son as He took on flesh, died for our sins, and rose again. We saw the Father give Him all authority, and we watched Jesus pour out His Spirit and share that power with His people.

Now the invitation is simple and weighty. Will you trust this God, call on the name of Jesus, and step into a real relationship with Him? Yahweh is powerful enough to rule the universe, and gentle enough to enter your heart today.