There are several different names and titles used for God in the Bible. One interesting one is “Lord of Sabaoth” and is used just two times in the New Testament (Romans 9:29; James 5:4). What exactly does this name mean?
Sabaoth is a transliteration of the word sabaoóth. This word means hosts or armies. Lord of Sabaoth then means Lord of hosts. The English Standard Version translates the name Kúrios Sabaoóth as “Lord of hosts.”
The term means “God over all.” It emphasizes the fact that God is the supreme, all-powerful ruler over everything – the heavenly host, mankind, and whatever powers exist here on the earth. The translation provided in the New International Version helps explain the meaning. It translates Kúrios Sabaoóth as “Lord Almighty.”
The passage in Romans 9:29 that uses this term is a quotation of Isaiah 5:9. That passage uses the name “Lord of hosts.” (The NIV uses “Lord Almighty” again in this verse.)
Sometimes when studying the Bible, we will come across words that we may not immediately understand, such as Lord of Sabaoth. There are many resources that we can use to help us understand these terms (dictionaries, lexicons, commentaries, different translations, etc.). Some of these are even available for free online. I have some listed on the Links page, including Vine’s Expository Dictionary which is very helpful on this particular term.
Don’t be discouraged when you study the Bible and find a term you don’t know or a teaching you don’t immediately understand. Keep studying. God has revealed His will in a way that we can understand (Ephesians 3:4). If we are diligent and honest in our study, our knowledge will grow and our understanding will deepen as time goes on.
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