# Old Testament Yahweh Texts Applied to Jesus > The New Testament puts words about the LORD on Jesus: Psalm 102 in Hebrews 1, Joel 2:32 in Romans 10 and Acts 2, Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4, Isaiah 45 in Philippians 2, Isaiah 6 in John 12, and Isaiah 8:13 in 1 Peter 3:15. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/yahweh-texts-applied-to-jesus - Religions: Christianity - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: christology, scripture, messiah - Updated: 2026-10-11 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) The New Testament writers take sentences about the LORD, Yahweh, and say them of Jesus. [Hebrews 1:10](/bible/hebrews/1/10) addresses the Son with the prayer of [Psalm 102](/bible/psalms/102). [Romans 10:13](/bible/romans/10/13) and [Acts 2:21](/bible/acts/2/21) use Joel’s “whoever calls on the name of the LORD” of calling on the Lord Jesus. That is identity, not a loose illustration. ## Key Points - [Psalm 102:25–27](/bible/psalms/102) is a prayer to the LORD who laid the foundation of the earth. [Hebrews 1:8–12](/bible/hebrews/1) says “unto the Son he saith,” and then quotes that prayer. - [Joel 2:32](/bible/joel/2/32) says whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be delivered. [Romans 10:13](/bible/romans/10/13) quotes it of the Lord the reader confesses, and [Romans 10:9](/bible/romans/10/9) has just named Jesus. - [Acts 2:21](/bible/acts/2/21) quotes the same Joel line, and [Acts 2:36](/bible/acts/2/36) says God has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ. - [Psalm 68:18](/bible/psalms/68/18) says the LORD ascended and received gifts. [Ephesians 4:8](/bible/ephesians/4/8) says he gave gifts, and applies the ascent to Christ. - [Isaiah 45:23](/bible/isaiah/45/23) is the LORD’s oath that every knee will bow to him. [Philippians 2:10–11](/bible/philippians/2) says that at the name of Jesus. - [John 12:41](/bible/john/12/41) says Isaiah saw his glory, after quoting [Isaiah 6](/bible/isaiah/6). [1 Peter 3:15](/bible/1-peter/3/15) says sanctify the Lord God, where [Isaiah 8:13](/bible/isaiah/8/13) says sanctify the LORD of hosts. - [Hosea 11:1](/bible/hosea/11/1) and [Matthew 2:15](/bible/matthew/2/15) are a different kind of line: Israel called out of Egypt, then the child Jesus. That is pattern. The rows above are the LORD’s own words set on the Son. ## The Lines | Old Testament, about the LORD | New Testament, about Jesus | | --- | --- | | [Psalm 102:25–27](/bible/psalms/102). Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth | [Hebrews 1:10–12](/bible/hebrews/1). Said “unto the Son” | | [Joel 2:32](/bible/joel/2/32). Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered | [Romans 10:13](/bible/romans/10/13) and [Acts 2:21](/bible/acts/2/21) | | [Psalm 68:18](/bible/psalms/68/18). Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast received gifts | [Ephesians 4:8](/bible/ephesians/4/8). He ascended and gave gifts to men | | [Isaiah 45:23](/bible/isaiah/45/23). Unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear | [Philippians 2:10–11](/bible/philippians/2). At the name of Jesus every knee bows, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord | | [Isaiah 6:1–10](/bible/isaiah/6). Isaiah sees the LORD, high and lifted up | [John 12:41](/bible/john/12/41). Isaiah said this when he saw his glory, and spoke of him | | [Isaiah 8:13](/bible/isaiah/8/13). Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself | [1 Peter 3:15](/bible/1-peter/3/15). Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts | | [Isaiah 40:3](/bible/isaiah/40/3). Prepare ye the way of the LORD | [Mark 1:3](/bible/mark/1/3). The voice prepares the way of the Lord, and the next verses are Jesus | | [Deuteronomy 6:4](/bible/deuteronomy/6/4) and the one LORD | [1 Corinthians 8:6](/bible/1-corinthians/8/6). One God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ | The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of [Acts 2:21](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/acts/2/#v44002021) reads “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” [(13)](#ref-13) The Greek is τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου, “the name of the Lord.” Joel’s Hebrew is the name of the LORD. Peter’s sermon spends the next verses on Jesus, risen and at the right hand. [Who Is Jehovah?](/jehovahs-witnesses/who-is-jehovah) is how that translation handles the name. The Greek word in Acts and Romans is Lord, and the person the chapters identify is Jesus. [Ephesians 4:8](/bible/ephesians/4/8) does not copy [Psalm 68:18](/bible/psalms/68/18) word for word. The psalm says he received gifts among men. Paul says he gave gifts unto men. The ascent is the same event Paul then explains: he that ascended is the one who descended, which is Christ. The verb “gave” is Paul’s application of the spoil to the ministers he lists in the next verses. It is still the LORD’s ascent, said of the Son. ## Repurposing, and Typology A real objection is that the New Testament sometimes takes an Old Testament sentence about Israel, or about a servant, and sets it on Jesus without claiming that the earlier sentence was already a speech about the Son’s identity. [Hosea 11:1](/bible/hosea/11/1) says, when Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. [Matthew 2:15](/bible/matthew/2/15) says the child’s return from Egypt happened so that this word might be fulfilled. Hosea is talking about the exodus of the nation. Matthew is talking about Jesus. That is a pattern: the son Israel, then the Son. It is not a claim that Hosea 11 was a conversation about the infant in Bethlehem and about nobody else. [Isaiah 49:6](/bible/isaiah/49/6) says it is a light thing that the servant should raise up the tribes of Jacob, and that the LORD will also give him for a light to the Gentiles. [Acts 13:47](/bible/acts/13/47) has Paul and Barnabas quote that line of their own mission. The servant song is larger than the two missionaries. The apostles use it. They do not say Isaiah 49 was written as a biography of Paul. Those two uses are typology and application. The table above is a different move. Hebrews does not say the Son is like the God of Psalm 102. It says the Father says the psalm’s “thou, Lord” to the Son. John does not say Isaiah’s vision illustrates Jesus. It says Isaiah saw his glory. Philippians does not say every knee bows the way it bows to the LORD. It puts the LORD’s oath on the name of Jesus, to the glory of God the Father. Identity is the writer saying this person is the one the older sentence addressed. Pattern is the writer saying this person repeats a shape in Israel’s story. Both happen in the New Testament. They are not the same claim. [Did Jesus Exist Before He Was Born?](/christianity/did-jesus-exist-before-he-was-born) is the rock in the wilderness and John 8:58. [Psalm 110: Who Is David’s Lord?](/christianity/psalm-110-who-is-davids-lord) is a messianic psalm whose first word is the divine name and whose second lord is H113. That psalm is not in this table, because the New Testament quotes it as David’s words about the Messiah at the right hand, not as a sentence that already said “you, Yahweh” to Jesus. ## The Christian Claim Jesus is the LORD the prophets spoke of, and he is the Son the Father addresses. That is one God, not two. [The Trinity](/christianity/the-trinity) is the confession. [Does 1 Corinthians 8:6 Mean Only the Father Is God?](/biblical-unitarianism/one-god-the-father-1-corinthians-8-6) is the verse that keeps “one God, the Father” and “one Lord, Jesus Christ” in a single sentence. The rows in the table are why the second title is not a lower god. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does Every Old Testament Quotation Mean Jesus Is Yahweh? No. Matthew’s use of Hosea 11:1 is the child repeating Israel’s path out of Egypt. Hebrews’ use of Psalm 102 is the Father speaking the Creator’s praise to the Son. The page separates those. ### Why Does Ephesians 4:8 Say “Gave” When the Psalm Says “Received”? Paul applies the ascended LORD’s gifts to the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers he names next. The change of verb is in the letter. The person who ascended, in Paul’s next sentence, is Christ. ## Keep Reading - [Who Is Jehovah?](/jehovahs-witnesses/who-is-jehovah) - [Does Jehovah Belong in the New Testament?](/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) - [Messianic Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled](/christianity/messianic-prophecies-jesus-fulfilled) - [What Is the Deity of Christ?](/christianity/deity-of-christ) - [Did Jesus Exist Before He Was Born?](/christianity/did-jesus-exist-before-he-was-born) ## Passages Quoted on This Page ### Hebrews 1:10 King James Version. > And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: ### Romans 10:13 King James Version. > For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ### Acts 2:21 King James Version. > And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. ### Psalms 102:25–27 King James Version. > [102:25] Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. [102:26] They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: [102:27] But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. ### Hebrews 1:8–12 King James Version. > [1:8] But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. [1:9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. [1:10] And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: [1:11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; [1:12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. ### Joel 2:32 King James Version. > And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. ### Romans 10:9 King James Version. > That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ### Acts 2:36 King James Version. > Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ### Psalms 68:18 King James Version. > Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. ### Ephesians 4:8 King James Version. > Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ### Isaiah 45:23 King James Version. > I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. ### Philippians 2:10–11 King James Version. > [2:10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [2:11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ### John 12:41 King James Version. > These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. ### 1 Peter 3:15 King James Version. > But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: ### Isaiah 8:13 King James Version. > Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ### Hosea 11:1 King James Version. > When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. ### Matthew 2:15 King James Version. > And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. ### Hebrews 1:10–12 King James Version. > [1:10] And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: [1:11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; [1:12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. ### Isaiah 6:1–10 King James Version. > [6:1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. [6:2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. [6:3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. [6:4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. [6:5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. [6:6] Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: [6:7] And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. [6:8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. [6:9] And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. [6:10] Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. ### Isaiah 40:3 King James Version. > The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ### Mark 1:3 King James Version. > The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. ### Deuteronomy 6:4 King James Version. > Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: ### 1 Corinthians 8:6 King James Version. > But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. ### Isaiah 49:6 King James Version. > And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. ### Acts 13:47 King James Version. > For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Letter to the Hebrews, 1:10–12](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/hebrews/1). King James Version 2. [Book of Psalms, 102:25–27; 68:18](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/psalms/102). King James Version 3. [Book of Joel, 2:32](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/joel/2/32). King James Version 4. [Letter to the Romans, 10:13](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/romans/10/13). King James Version 5. [Acts of the Apostles, 2:21](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/acts/2/21). King James Version 6. [Letter to the Ephesians, 4:8](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/ephesians/4/8). King James Version 7. [Book of Isaiah, 45:23; 6:1–10; 8:13; 49:6](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/isaiah/45/23). King James Version 8. [Letter to the Philippians, 2:10–11](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/philippians/2). King James Version 9. [Gospel of John, 12:41](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/12/41). King James Version 10. [First Letter of Peter, 3:15](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/1-peter/3/15). King James Version 11. [Book of Hosea, 11:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/hosea/11/1). King James Version 12. [Gospel of Matthew, 2:15](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/2/15). King James Version 13. [New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) of the Holy Scriptures, Romans 10:13 and Acts 2:21 (2013 revision)](https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/acts/2/#v44002021) (Study Edition. Both lines read “the name of Jehovah.” The Greek is the name of the Lord.) ## See Also - [Psalm 110: Who Is David’s Lord?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/psalm-110-who-is-davids-lord) — Psalm 110:1 is the LORD speaking to David’s lord, the Hebrew l’adoni, not the divine name. Verse 5 is Adonai. Jesus asks whose son the Messiah is, and the apostles quote the psalm of him. - [Did Jesus Exist Before He Was Born?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/did-jesus-exist-before-he-was-born) — The Church of God General Conference says Jesus came into existence at his conception. John 8:58, John 17:5, 1 Corinthians 10:4, and Hebrews 1:10 say the Son was already there. - [Is Eternal Generation in the Bible?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/eternal-generation-of-the-son) — The creed of 381 says the Son is begotten of the Father before all worlds, not made. Scripture calls him the only begotten, quotes Psalm 2:7, and says the Father has given the Son life in himself. The phrase “eternal generation” is the church’s, not a verse. - [Does “Jehovah” Belong in the New Testament?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/does-jehovah-belong-in-the-new-testament) — The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) uses the name Jehovah 237 times in the New Testament. The Study Edition’s note on Acts 7:60 says the Greek manuscripts read “Lord.” - [How Does the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) Change Verses About Jesus?](https://apologetics.wiki/jehovahs-witnesses/how-the-new-world-translation-changes-verses-about-jesus) — Full King James and New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) lines, with the Greek or Hebrew, a verdict on each verse, and the 237 uses of Jehovah in the New Testament.