Names of God

El Qana אל קנא

Passionate God

Zealous God

Praiseworthy God

The only worthy, zealous, passionately loving, holy God!

The Hebrew Qana refers in meaning to strong emotions that cause an immediate, vigorous commitment to the hoped-for relationship. The adjective Qana therefore corresponds most to the English word "zealous" and "passionate".

"Jealous God", the translation usually used, does not seem entirely sufficient. He rather longs for His people and communion with passionate zeal.

It is the intimately burning desire of God to save man from missing the mark and being separated from HIM.

His strong desire to maintain the relationship and the covenant between Himself as the only holy God and those created by Him, to sanctify and redeem His beloved people, predominates.

Exodus 20:1-5a (ESV)

And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous [passionately loving] God..."

Exodus 34:14 (ESV)

For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous [passionate], is a jealous [passionately loving] God...

Hosea 11:8b+9 (ESV)

My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

Leviticus 11:45 (ESV)

For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Matthew 9:35+36 (ESV)

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Isaiah 63:14-16 (ESV)

Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

Luke 15:17-24 (ESV)

"But when he came to himself, he said, "How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."" And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." And they began to celebrate.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 (ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

John 15:9+10 (ESV)

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.