The four-letter Name of God, YHWH, considered the most sacred biblical Name. Traditionally not pronounced as written; read as Adonai in prayer.

Literally "the explicit Name." In early rabbinic texts, usually the 4-letter Name YHWH as pronounced in the Temple; in later Kabbalah, also used for extended Names like the 72-fold Name.

72 Names of God (72-fold Name)

A set of 72 three-letter Hebrew combinations derived from Exodus 14:19–21 using a forward–backward–forward letter arrangement. Used in Jewish mysticism for meditation and reflection.

A complex divine Name in Kabbalah, often linked to the mystical prayer Ana Bekoach and sometimes seen as encoded in the opening words of Genesis.

A Hebrew word meaning "my Lord," used in Jewish prayer as the spoken substitute for the written 4-letter Name YHWH.

A common biblical Name for God, often associated with divine power and justice.

A tradition of Jewish mysticism that explores the inner meaning of Scripture, divine Names, and creation, especially developed from the medieval period onward.

What is 42-letter Name?

A long mystical Name of God in Kabbalah, often linked to the Ana Bekoach prayer and to the first words of Genesis.

What Are the 72 Names of God? — The 72 Names of God: A Gentle Kabbalistic Introduction

Step 1: Names of God in Judaism – The Big Picture

Many Names for One God

Judaism teaches that God is beyond full human understanding, so no single name is enough. Instead, Jewish texts use many Names of God, each showing a different aspect, like power, mercy, or closeness.

Familiar Biblical Names

Common names include Elohim (God), the 4-letter Name YHWH, Adonai (my Lord), and El Shaddai (often translated God Almighty). These appear throughout the Hebrew Bible and Jewish prayer.

Mystical Exploration

Jewish mysticism, called Kabbalah, goes deeper. It treats divine Names as spiritual keys that can hint at how God relates to the world, creation, and the human soul.

Where the 72 Names Fit

The 72 Names of God are short 3-letter Hebrew combinations from a special reading of a biblical passage. They sit alongside other mystical Names: 4, 12, 22, 42, and 72-letter Names.

What You Will Learn

You will explore what the 72 Names are, how they relate to the 4-letter Name YHWH, and why they are approached with strong reverence and caution in Jewish tradition.

Step 2: Key Term – Shem HaMephorash

Meaning of Shem HaMephorash

Shem means name. HaMephorash means explicit or clearly articulated. Together, Shem HaMephorash means the explicit Name of God.

Early Use of the Term

In early rabbinic sources, Shem HaMephorash usually refers to the 4-letter Name YHWH as pronounced by the High Priest in the Temple on Yom Kippur.

Later Mystical Use

In medieval Kabbalah, Shem HaMephorash was also used for longer, complex Names, including the 72-fold Name built from Exodus verses.

How We Will Use Terms

In this module, Tetragrammaton = 4-letter Name YHWH. 72-fold Name = set of 72 three-letter combinations. Shem HaMephorash can mean either, but we focus on its mystical use for the 72 Names.

Step 3: The Family of Mystical Divine Names (4, 12, 22, 42, 72)

Measured Divine Names

Kabbalistic texts talk about special Names of God described by their length: 4, 12, 22, 42, and 72 letters. Each is treated as a key to different aspects of the divine.

The 4-letter Core Name

The 4-letter Name YHWH is the most central biblical Name. It appears many times in the Hebrew Bible and is considered too holy to pronounce as written.

Longer Names

The 12-, 22-, and 42-letter Names appear in rabbinic and mystical texts. Their exact spellings are debated, but they are seen as complex expressions of God's qualities.

The 72-fold Name

The 72-fold Name, our main focus, comes from Exodus 14:19–21. It produces 72 three-letter combinations that many mystics view as channels of divine energy.

Why This Matters

Knowing this family of Names shows that the 72 Names are part of a broader mystical system built on the Bible, not random or separate inventions.

Step 4: Where the 72 Names Come From (Exodus 14:19–21)

Source in Exodus

The 72 Names come from three verses about the crossing of the Red Sea: Exodus 14:19, 14:20, and 14:21. In a traditional count, each verse has 72 Hebrew letters.

Writing the Verses

Mystics write verse 19 right-to-left, verse 20 left-to-right (reversed), and verse 21 right-to-left. This creates three rows of 72 letters each, with the middle row flipped.

Forming Columns

Now imagine 72 vertical columns. Each column has one letter from each verse: top from verse 19, middle from verse 20, bottom from verse 21.

Creating Triplets

Reading down each column gives a 3-letter group. Doing this for all 72 columns produces 72 three-letter combinations, called the 72 Names.

Symbolic, Not Grammatical

These triplets are not normal Hebrew words. They are symbolic letter combinations used for meditation and mystical reflection on God's saving power at the sea.

Step 5: A Concrete Example of a 3-Letter Name

A Toy English Example

Use three short rows: Row 1: A B C D E F; Row 2: F E D C B A; Row 3: A B C D E F. This copies the pattern used with the real Hebrew verses.

Building Triplets

Make columns: Column 1 is A (row 1), F (row 2), A (row 3) → AFA. Column 2 is B, E, B → BEB, and so on. Each column gives a 3-letter group.

Real Hebrew Triplets

In actual practice, each column uses Hebrew letters from Exodus 14:19–21. Examples of real triplets include והו, ילי, סיט, and many others in a 72-name chart.

Symbolic Connections

Mystics sometimes link each triplet to a verse, a quality like mercy or protection, or even a day or sign. For beginners, focus on the idea, not memorizing all 72.

Step 6: Thought Exercise – Comparing the 4-letter Name and the 72 Names

Use this short reflection to clarify the difference between the Tetragrammaton (4-letter Name) and the 72 Names.

Task 1: Fill in a comparison table (mentally or on paper)

Create a simple two-column table with the headings:

Column 1: 4-letter Name (YHWH)
Column 2: 72 Names (triplets)

Now, for each row below, decide what belongs in each column.

Origin in text

4-letter Name: Appears directly as a word in the Hebrew Bible.
72 Names: Constructed from letters of three verses in Exodus using a special method.

Form

4-letter Name: A single 4-letter Name (YHWH).
72 Names: A set of 72 different 3-letter combinations.

Use in prayer

4-letter Name: Usually read as "Adonai" in synagogue and prayer books.
72 Names: Rarely read aloud in normal prayer; mainly used in mystical meditation traditions.

Level of public familiarity

4-letter Name: Widely known as "the Name of God" in Jewish and even non-Jewish contexts.
72 Names: Mostly known in Kabbalistic and esoteric circles; popularized more recently in some spiritual books and online charts.

Task 2: Short reflection questions

Write down or think through answers to these:

Why do you think the 4-letter Name is used in regular prayer, while the 72 Names are usually not?
How might the fact that the 72 Names are built from a miracle story (splitting the sea) affect how mystics understand their power?
Which feels more personal to you: one central Name (YHWH) or many symbolic Names (the 72 triplets)? Why?

You do not need to share your answers, but taking 2–3 minutes to think about them will deepen your understanding.

Step 7: Reverence, Caution, and Misconceptions

Not Magic Passwords

Classic Jewish sources do not treat the 72 Names as automatic magic spells. They are tools for inner work and prayer, not shortcuts that force God to do something.

Need for Guidance

Traditional Kabbalah is usually studied after a strong base in Torah and Talmud, often with a teacher. Many modern rabbis still recommend guidance for using the 72 Names.

Respecting Divine Names

Jews often avoid casual use of any divine Name and are careful about printing or discarding them. The 72 Names are sometimes written in stylized forms to prevent disrespect.

Watch Out for Hype

Be cautious of products or claims promising instant wealth, health, or scientific proof tied to the 72 Names. Ask whether they match classic sources or rely on marketing.

Awe, Not Control

Traditional Kabbalah teaches that God cannot be controlled by formulas. The Names are meant to deepen awe, humility, and ethical living, not to give humans power over God.

Step 8: Quick Check – Core Ideas

Test your understanding of the 72 Names of God and related concepts.

Which description best captures the 72 Names of God in Jewish mystical tradition?

A list of 72 everyday Hebrew words for God that appear directly in the Bible
Seventy-two 3-letter combinations constructed from Exodus 14:19–21 using a specific letter pattern
A set of 72 different ways to pronounce the 4-letter Name YHWH
A modern invention with no roots in classical Jewish sources

Show Answer

Answer: B) Seventy-two 3-letter combinations constructed from Exodus 14:19–21 using a specific letter pattern

The 72 Names are 72 three-letter combinations built from the letters of Exodus 14:19–21 by writing one verse forward, the next backward, the third forward, and reading down the columns. They are not normal words, not pronunciation variants of YHWH, and they do have roots in classical mystical texts.

Step 9: Flashcards – Key Terms Review

Use these flashcards to review the main terms from this module.

Names of God in Judaism: Multiple biblical and traditional names (like Elohim, YHWH, Adonai, El Shaddai) used to express different aspects of the one God, since no single name can fully describe the divine.
Tetragrammaton: The four-letter Name of God, YHWH, considered the most sacred biblical Name. Traditionally not pronounced as written; read as Adonai in prayer.
Shem HaMephorash: Literally "the explicit Name." In early rabbinic texts, usually the 4-letter Name YHWH as pronounced in the Temple; in later Kabbalah, also used for extended Names like the 72-fold Name.
72 Names of God (72-fold Name): A set of 72 three-letter Hebrew combinations derived from Exodus 14:19–21 using a forward–backward–forward letter arrangement. Used in Jewish mysticism for meditation and reflection.
42-letter Name: A complex divine Name in Kabbalah, often linked to the mystical prayer Ana Bekoach and sometimes seen as encoded in the opening words of Genesis.
Kabbalah: A stream of Jewish mysticism that explores the inner meaning of the Torah, divine Names, and the structure of reality. Developed especially from the 12th to 16th centuries and studied in various forms today.
Reverence and caution with divine Names: The Jewish practice of treating Names of God with special respect, avoiding casual use, and approaching mystical Names like the 72 triplets only with ethical preparation and proper guidance.

Step 10: Apply What You Learned – A Safe, Respectful Practice

Instead of trying to "use" the 72 Names directly, you can practice a safe, respectful exercise that follows the spirit of Jewish tradition.

Exercise: Letter Meditation on a Known Name

Choose a familiar, accepted Name

For example, use "Adonai" (Lord) or "Elohim" (God) rather than the 4-letter Name YHWH.

Write the Name slowly

On paper, write the Hebrew letters (if you know them) or the transliteration (Adonai / Elohim) one letter at a time.

Pause with each letter

For each letter, ask yourself:

What quality of God does this Name remind me of? (mercy, justice, closeness, creativity, etc.)
How could I live that quality a bit more today?

Connect to the idea of many Names

Notice how even a single Name can open several meanings.
Imagine how a whole system of Names (4, 12, 22, 42, 72) could offer many angles on the same infinite God.

Optional written reflection (2–3 minutes)

Write a few sentences: "One thing I learned about the 72 Names is..." and "One reason they are treated with caution is..."

This practice keeps the focus on ethics, reflection, and reverence, which is the heart of how Jewish tradition encourages people to relate to divine Names.

Key Terms

Adonai: A Hebrew word meaning "my Lord," used in Jewish prayer as the spoken substitute for the written 4-letter Name YHWH.
Elohim: A common biblical Name for God, often associated with divine power and justice.
Kabbalah: A tradition of Jewish mysticism that explores the inner meaning of Scripture, divine Names, and creation, especially developed from the medieval period onward.
42-letter Name: A long mystical Name of God in Kabbalah, often linked to the Ana Bekoach prayer and to the first words of Genesis.
Tetragrammaton: The four-letter Hebrew Name of God, YHWH, considered uniquely sacred and traditionally not pronounced as written.
72 Names of God: A set of 72 three-letter Hebrew combinations constructed from Exodus 14:19–21 using a specific forward–backward–forward letter pattern; used in Kabbalah for meditation.
Shem HaMephorash: Hebrew for "the explicit Name." Originally referred mainly to the Tetragrammaton; later also used for extended mystical Names like the 72-fold Name.
Meditation on letters: A mystical practice of focusing on individual letters of divine Names or verses to deepen awareness of God and personal spiritual qualities.
Names of God in Judaism: Multiple biblical and traditional names used to describe different aspects of the one God, recognizing that no single name can fully capture the divine.