What is the meaning of "hallowed be thy name"?

Jesus mentioned the sanctification of God’s name as the first request in his model prayer. God’s name embraces the full scope of His excellence, majesty, and holiness. In another prayer, Jesus addressed God as “Holy Father.” (John 17:11) Since God is holy, all principles and laws that originate with him are holy. In spite of this, in the garden of Eden, Satan slyly questioned God’s right to set standards for humans. By lying about Jehovah, Satan slandered God’s sacred name.​—Gen. 3:1-5.

Jesus, on the other hand, truly loved the name of God. (John 17:25, 26) Jesus contributed to the sanctification of the divine name. (Read Psalm 40:8-10.) By his perfect life course on earth, Jesus proved that it is reasonable and righteous for God to set standards for his intelligent creatures. Even when Satan subjected Jesus to an agonizing death, Jesus remained completely loyal to his heavenly Father. By being loyal, Jesus proved that a perfect human could maintain perfect obedience to God’s righteous standards.

We can show we love God's name by our conduct. God requires that we be holy. (Read 1 Peter 1:15, 16.) This means that we worship only God and that we obey him with our whole heart. Even when we are persecuted, we do our best to live according to His righteous principles and laws. By performing righteous deeds, we let our light shine and thus bring glory to God’s name. (Matt. 5:14-16) As holy people, we prove by the way we live our lives that God’s laws are good and that Satan’s accusations are false. When we make mistakes, as we all do, we genuinely repent and turn away from practices that dishonor God.​—Ps. 79:9.

On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, God forgives the sins of those who exercise faith. He accepts as his worshippers those who dedicate themselves to him. God declares anointed Christians righteous as his sons and those of the “other sheep” righteous as his friends. (John 10:16; Rom. 5:1, 2; Jas. 2:21-25) So even now, the ransom enables us to have a righteous standing with our Father and to share in the sanctification of his name.

What is the name of God?

In the Bible, God says: “I am Jehovah. That is my name.” (Isaiah 42:8)ASV Although he also has many titles, such as “God Almighty,” “Sovereign Lord,” and “Creator,” he honors his worshippers by inviting them to address him by his personal name.—Genesis 17:1 ASV; Acts 4:24 WNT; 1 Peter 4:19 ASV. Jesus is never called "God Almighty" nor "Sovereign Lord" nor "Creator".

Many translations of the Bible contain God’s personal name at Exodus 6:3 ASV, AKJ, KJ, DBT, ERV, WBT and YLT. That passage says: “I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah, I was not known to them.”

Jehovah is a rendering of God’s name in English that has been used for centuries. While many scholars prefer the spelling “Yahweh,” Jehovah is the form of the name that is most widely recognized. The first part of the Bible was written not in English but in Hebrew, a language that is read from right to left. In that language, the divine name appears as four consonants, יהוה. Those four Hebrew characters—transliterated YHWH—are known as the Tetragrammaton.

Is there a difference between God and his name?

The Bible acknowledges: “There are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords.’” (1 Corinthians 8:​5, 6) Yet it clearly identifies the one true God by his name, Jehovah.​—Psalm 83:18.

God has just one personal name. It is written יהוה in Hebrew and is usually rendered “Jehovah” in English. * Through his prophet Isaiah, God stated: “I am Jehovah. That is my name.” (Isaiah 42:8)ASV. This name appears about 7,000 times in ancient Bible manuscripts​—far more frequently than any other term for God or, indeed, anyone else’s personal name. *

Although the Bible refers to God by only one personal name, it uses many titles and descriptions for him. The following list of some of those titles and descriptions shows how each one reveals an aspect of Jehovah’s nature or his personality.

Derived from Arabic, the word “Allah” is not a personal name but a title meaning “God.” Bible translations in Arabic and other languages use “Allah” as an equivalent for “God.”

Almighty

Genesis 17:1

Has irresistible power. The Hebrew expression ʼEl Shad·daiʹ, “God Almighty,” occurs seven times in the Bible.

The Alpha and the Omega

Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13

“The first and the last,” or “the beginning and the end,” meaning that there was no Almighty God before Jehovah and there will be none after him. (Isaiah 43:10) Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.

Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:​9, 13, 22

Had no beginning; existed for an eternity before anyone or anything else came into being.​—Psalm 90:2.

Creator

Isaiah 40:28

Brought all things into existence.

Father

Matthew 6:9

Life-giver.

God

Genesis 1:1

An object of worship; a strong One. The Hebrew word ʼElo·himʹ is plural, indicating Jehovah’s majesty, dignity, or excellence.

God of gods

Deuteronomy 10:17

The supreme God, in contrast with the “worthless gods” worshipped by some.​—Isaiah 2:8.

Grand Instructor

Isaiah 30:20, 21

Gives beneficial teaching and direction.​—Isaiah 48:17, 18.

Grand Maker

Psalm 149:2

Brought all things into existence.​—Revelation 4:​11.

Happy God

1 Timothy 1:​11

Characterized by joy and happiness.​—Psalm 104:31.

Hearer of prayer

Psalm 65:2

Personally listens to each prayer offered to him in faith.

I Am That I Am

Exodus 3:​14, King James Version

Becomes whatever is needed to fulfill his purpose. This phrase has also been translated “I Will Become whatsoever I please” or “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” (The Emphasised Bible, by J. B. Rotherham; New World Translation) This description helps to explain the personal name, Jehovah, given in the verse.​—Exodus 3:​15.

Jealous

Exodus 34:14, King James Version

Tolerates no rivalry in worship. This term has also been translated “does not tolerate rivals” and “known for requiring exclusive devotion.”​—God’s Word Bible; New World Translation.

King of eternity

Revelation 15:3

His rulership has no beginning or end.

Lord

Psalm 135:5

Owner or master; Hebrew ʼA·dhohnʹ and ʼAdho·nimʹ.

Lord of hosts, Lord of Sabaoth

Isaiah 1:9, King James Version; Romans 9:​29, King James Version

Commander of vast forces of angels. The title “Lord of Sabaoth” can also be rendered “Jehovah of armies” and “Lord of the [heavenly] armies.”​—Romans 9:​29, New World Translation; NET Bible, footnote.

Most High

Psalm 47:2

Occupies the supreme position.

Most Holy One

Proverbs 9:​10

More holy (morally clean and pure) than any other being.

Potter

Isaiah 64:8

Has authority over individuals and nations, just as a potter has authority over clay.​—Romans 9:​20, 21.

Redeemer, Repurchaser

Isaiah 41:14; King James Version

Recovers or buys back mankind from sin and death through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.​—John 3:​16.

Rock

Psalm 18:​2, 46

A secure refuge and source of salvation.

Savior

Isaiah 45:21

Delivers from danger or destruction.

Shepherd

Psalm 23:1

Cares for his worshippers.

Sovereign Lord

Genesis 15:2

Has supreme authority; Hebrew ʼAdho·naiʹ.

Supreme One

Daniel 7:​18, 27

The highest sovereign.

Place names in the Hebrew Scriptures Some place names in the Bible include God’s personal name, but these are not alternate names for God.

Place name

Reference

Meaning

Jehovah-jireh

Genesis 22:13, 14

“Jehovah Will Provide.”

Jehovah-nissi

Exodus 17:15

“Jehovah Is My Signal Pole,” or “my Banner.” (Today’s New International Version) Jehovah is a God around whom his people can rally for protection and help.​—Exodus 17:13-​16.

Jehovah-shalom

Judges 6:​23, 24

“Jehovah Is Peace.”

Jehovah-shammah

Ezekiel 48:35, footnote, American Standard Version

“Jehovah Is There.”

Reasons to know and use God’s name God must feel that his personal name, Jehovah, is important, because he included it thousands of times in the Bible.​—Malachi 1:​11.

God’s Son, Jesus, repeatedly stressed the importance of God’s name. For instance, he prayed to Jehovah: “Let your name be sanctified.”​—Matthew 6:9; John 17:6.

Those who come to know and use God’s name take the first steps in building a friendship with Jehovah. (Psalm 9:​10; Malachi 3:​16) Such a relationship enables them to benefit from God’s promise: “Because he has affection for me, I will rescue him. I will protect him because he knows my name.”​—Psalm 91:14.

The Bible acknowledges: “There are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords.’” (1 Corinthians 8:​5, 6) Yet it clearly identifies the one true God by his name, Jehovah.​—Psalm 83:18.