Psalm 83:18 - Is Jesus the Most High?

Psalms 83:18 - That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth.-- American Standard Version.

It is being claimed that "Jehovah" in this verse is Jesus. Mormons believe that throughout the Old Testament that "Jehovah" is always Jesus, and "Jehovah" is never the Father of Jesus. We still have not found any good explanation of how they apply this assertion in Psalm 83:18, and many other scriptures where it is obvious that Jehovah is not Jesus. Jehovah is certainly shown to be the God of the Messiah in Micah 5:4, as well as Isaiah 61:1,2 (Compare with John 17:1,3; Ephesians 1:3). The default reasoning should be that Jesus is not his God, Jehovah.

Some trinitarians claim that "Jehovah" is Jesus in Psalm 83:18. Evidently what they would read into this verse is that Jehovah is three persons and that this verse "Jehovah" refers to their alleged "second person" of Jehovah, which they believe to be Jesus. They often incorrectly apply many scriptures which they claim confirm their trinitarian assertions, many of which we have already examined elsewhere.

Some oneness believers have also asserted that in Psalm 83:18, that this is Jesus, which according to them, Jesus is the God and Father of Jesus and that Jesus is the Holy Spirit of the Father.

Most of the scriptures wrongly thought to apply the name Jehovah to Jesus have already been examined on our websites.

In reality, we have no scriptural reason to imagine, assume, add to, and read into Psalm 83:18 that Jehovah in this verse is not the same one person/individual who is "Jehovah" in Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 9:7; 11:2,3; 61:1,2 and Micah 5:4. Jehovah is distinguished from being Jesus in all these verses. 

Mormons claim that Jesus never spoke of Jehovah as his Father. Actually, Jehovah of Isaiah 61:1,2, whom Jesus is prophetically depicted as referring to as "our God", is definitely the one whom Jesus addresses as "Father" in John 17:1, and whom he says is the "only true God" who sent him in John 17:3. Additionally, the testimony of Gabriel recorded in Luke 1:32 corresponds to Isaiah 9:7, distinguishing the Lord Jehovah -- the Most High -- from the one to whom the Lord Jehovah gives the throne of David. Jesus is the Son of the Most High as Gabriel stated; Jesus is not the Most High Jehovah of whom he is the Son.

Additionally, it is foretold in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 that the Messiah was to come in the name of Jehovah. Peter distinguishes Jehovah from Jesus in his application of this as recorded in Acts 3:13-26. This is reiterated in Psalm 118:16. Jesus applied this to himself as recorded in Matthew 23:39. Jesus said, in effect, that he did not come in his own name, but rather in the name of his Father who had sent him. (John 5:4,30,36,37) Isaiah 61:1,2 shows that it was the Lord Jehovah whom Jesus said is "our God" who sent him.

It is the one person who is identified in scripture as being Jehovah who has made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Ezekiel 34:23,24; Isaiah 61:1,2; Acts 2:36), and has exalted Jesus to the highest position in the universe, far above the angels, next to the only Most High.-- Acts 2:33,36; 5:31; Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 1:3,17-23; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 1:4,6; 1 Peter 3:22.

We do find in the Bible that Jesus is anointed [made christ, the anointed one] and sent by Jehovah, and thus that Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is distinguished from being Jesus. He is not Jehovah who thus anointed him, and who raised Jesus up as the prophet like Moses. It is Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who now speaks through His son. -- Exodus 3:14,15; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Psalm 2:26; 45:7; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 34:23,24; John 10:29; 17:1,3; Acts 2:23,36; 3:13-26; 4:27; 10:38; Hebrews 1:1.2.9.

We further find that in the Bible, Jesus is the savior of the world whom the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has sent. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Isaiah 61:1; Acts 3:13-26; John 3:17; 17:3; 1 John 4:9.10) Likewise, as Jehovah sent many saviors to Israel to deliver Israel (Nehemiah 9:27; Judges 2:16; 3:9-15; 6:13,14; 7:7; 8:22; 13:5; 2 Kings 13:5, 2 Samuel 3:18), so also Jehovah sent His Son to deliver us from sin. We have no scriptural reason to imagine and assume that the fact that Jehovah sent His Son to save us from sin would mean that Jesus is Jehovah.

The scriptures do reveal Jesus is the son of one person who is the Most High, Jehovah. Jesus is never spoken of as the "Most High"; he is not the only Most High Jehovah of whom he is the son. -- Genesis 14:22; Psalm 7:17; 83:18; 92:1; Luke 1:32; John 13:16.

"Most High" Scriptures

The following is a list of all Scriptures from the World English Bible translation that contain the phrase "Most High," demonstrating that the God of Jesus is the only "Most High," and Jesus is the Son of the Most High. Jesus is never called the "Most High", although Jesus is presented as the Son of the Most High. It is only used of the God and Father of Jesus, although Jesus is presented as the Son of the Most High.


The "Holy Name" is presented as "Yahweh" in the Old Testament of this version of the Bible.

Genesis 14:18 - Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.

Ellicott states concerning this verse."In Melchizedek we have a type of Christ (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 5:10; Hebrews 7:1-21)." Just as Melchizedek was priest of God Most High, so Jesus is the priest of God Most High. (Hebrews 2:17; 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:11-28) Thus, the default reasoning is that Jesus is not God Most High whom he serves as priest.

Genesis 14:19 - He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:

The expression "Blessed be Abram of God Most High" is speaking of Abram's being being blessed from, or by, God Most High. The thought of the Hebrew is that the blessing of Abram was to come from God Most High. Many translations do supply "by" rather than "of", or in some way make it understood that the blessing was to come from God Most High.

Abram here appears to be a type of those who put faith in Jesus. -- Galatians 3:9.  

Genesis 14:20 - and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Abram gave him a tenth of all. *** rest needs to be edited with comments.

Genesis 14:22 - Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,

Numbers 24:16 - He says, who hears the words of God, Knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

Deuteronomy 32:8 - When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, When he separated the children of men, He set the bounds of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel.

2 Samuel 22:14 - Yahweh thundered from heaven, The Most High uttered his voice.

Psalms 7:17 - I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.

Psalms 9:2 - I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, you Most High.

Psalms 18:13 - Yahweh also thundered in the sky, The Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.

Psalms 21:7 - For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the lovingkindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.

Psalms 46:4 - There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, The holy place of the tents of the Most High.

Psalms 47:2 - For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth.

Psalms 50:14 - Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

Psalms 57:2 - I cry out to God Most High, To God who accomplishes my requests for me.

Psalms 73:11 - They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

Psalms 77:10 - Then I thought, "I will appeal to this: The years of the right hand of the Most High."

Psalms 78:17 - Yet they still went on to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

Psalms 78:35 - They remembered that God was their rock, The Most High God their redeemer.

Psalms 78:56 - Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And didn't keep his testimonies;

Psalms 82:6 - I said, "You are gods, All of you are sons of the Most High.

Psalms 83:18 - That they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, Are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalms 87:5 - Yes, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one was born in her;" The Most High himself will establish her.

Psalms 91:1 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:9 - For you, Yahweh, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your habitation.

Psalms 92:1 - <> It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh, To sing praises to your name, Most High;

Psalms 97:9 - For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.

Psalms 107:11 - Because they rebelled against the words of God, And condemned the counsel of the Most High.

Isaiah 14:14 - I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.

Lamentations 3:35 - To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

Lamentations 3:38 - Doesn't evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?

Daniel 3:26 - Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, you servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth out of the midst of the fire.

Daniel 4:2 - It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.

Daniel 4:17 - The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

Daniel 4:24 - this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the king:

Daniel 4:25 - that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

Daniel 4:32 - and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

Daniel 4:34 - At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.

Daniel 5:18 - You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:

Daniel 5:21 - and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will.

Daniel 7:18 - But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Daniel 7:22 - until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Daniel 7:25 - He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

Daniel 7:27 - The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole the sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Hosea 7:16 - They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

Hosea 11:7 - My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, He certainly won't exalt them.

Mark 5:7 - and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don't torment me."

Luke 1:32 - He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David,

Luke 1:35 - The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one which is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:76 - And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, For you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,

Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

Luke 8:28 - When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torment me!"

Acts 7:48 - However, the Most High doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,

Acts 16:17 - The same, following after Paul and us, cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!"

Hebrews 7:1 - For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

Isaiah 42:8 - Does God Share His Glory as Most High With Jesus?

I am Jehovah; that is My name; and I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to engraved images. -- Isaiah 42:8 - Green's Literal.

For My sake, for My sake, I will act; for how is it defiled? And I will not give My glory to another.  -- Isaiah 48:11, Green's Literal.

Many often point to these scriptures as proof that Jesus is Jehovah, with the claim that Jesus has the glory of Jehovah, therefore he is Jehovah. But is such reasoning correct?

The scriptures show that in giving a glorious position to Jesus that Jehovah does not abdicate his glorious position for anyone, not even Jesus, nor does Jesus or anyone else share in the glory of the unique position of Most High over the universe. (1 Corinthians 15:27) In contrast, Jesus invites the saints to share his glory in joint-heirship. (See Romans 6:3-6; 8:17, 18; Col. 3:4; 1 John 3:2) Rather than finding the position of glory that Jehovah gives to Jesus as proof that Jesus is Jehovah, it rather proves that Jesus is not Jehovah.

The scripture in John 17:5 is usually presented as proof that Jesus had the same glorious position as his Father before coming to the earth. However, is that what Jesus said? "Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed." Read it again. No, there is nothing here about Jesus having the same or equal glory to the Father before coming to the earth. Rather, he does mention a glory he enjoyed when he was with his father before the world existed. He asks of the only true God that this glory be returned to him, which shows that (1) he did not have that glory while was in days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7); (2) the Father of Jesus is the source of the glory, which harmonizes with what Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 8:6.

We need to point out that the word glory carries various shades of meaning, and even the expression "glory of God" as shared with others does not necessarily mean equivalency with God. God does share his glory with creation in harmony with him in the sense of being in his likeness and image -- mankind fell short pf this glory when Adam sinned (Psalm 8:5; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19); yet there is nothing in the scriptures that says that Jesus shares God's exclusive glory as far as His Supremacy as the only Most High.

If one will just reason a little on John 17:5, we will see that what Jesus says here in no way could mean that Jesus is Jehovah, or that he is part of trinity. Whatever is meant by "glory" here, it should be apparent that Jesus did not possess this glory at the time that he spoke this prayer. If he possessed it at the time, then why did he need to ask for it to be restored to him? Yet our trinitarian neighbors would have us believe that Jesus held two levels of glory at once, that of God Almighty and that of a perfect human. This scripture contradicts that, for at the time Jesus said this, Jesus shows that he did not have the level of glory that he had before coming to the earth.

This brings up the different levels of glory. What would such a glory be that he did not have it at the time? The holy spirit reveals the answer to through Paul, when Paul speaks of two different kinds of glory in reference to the what kind of body the saints are raised with, one heavenly, spiritual, the other earthly, physical. (1 Corinthians 15:35-48) In general, Paul, speaking of the bodies we receive in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:35-38), mentions that there are two major classifications of bodies: heavenly and earthly. (1 Corinthians 15:40) And in the heavenly bodies, there are different degrees of glory, which he likens to the glory of the sun, moon and stars. (1 Corinthians 15:41) When may not know for sure that Paul had in mind in any application of the various degrees of glory that he mentions, such as the glory of the sun, moon, and each star differing in glory. More than likely, he is just illustrating that heavenly beings have bodies of differing glories, not that we should look for an application of each thing mentioned as applied to the bodies of spirit beings. Nevertheless, we could let the Sun represent the glorious body of Jehovah, and the moon to represent the glory of Jesus and his joint-heirs, and the stars to represent the glory of the angels, and possibly the seraphs and cherbus (assuming that these are indeed orders of spirit beings). Using this application, we can see that three shades of glory in the heavenly realm. But then he says that the stars also differ from each other in glory, showing that there are different levels of glory amongst these other spirit beings. 

Nevertheless, the earthly "glory of God" was enjoyed by the first man, before he sinned. Adam was not created with sin, so he did not fall short of this glory, not until he actually sinned. (Romans 3:23) The scriptures tell us that he was "crowned with glory." (Psalm 8:5) After sin entered the picture, all men condemned in Adam fall short of this glory (Romans 3:23) -- except that it was typically counted to them by faith -- until Jesus came. The whole human race was condemned in the sin of Adam, thus all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) But, while this is called "glory of God", it is glory of a human body, on the earthly plane of existence.

Then when Jesus left the glory he had with his Father, Paul says that Jesus divested himself, emptied himself, of the form of theos [might, power] that he had before coming to the earth, and took on the form of a bond-servant in the likeness of mankind, who was condemned in Adam.(Philippians 2:6,7; Romans 5:16,18; 8:3) Not that Jesus was sinful like the rest of mankind, but that he suffered like the rest of mankind, thus taking the condemnation of Adam [and the human race through Adam] upon himself that justice may be satisfied. -- Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; 1 John 2:2.

God did impregnate Mary by means of Hist holy spirit with the life of his Son, who willingly left the glory he had with his God in order to take on the human glory that was originally given to Adam, but which was lost due to sin. -- John 17:5; Psalm 8:5; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19; Hebrews 2:9.

Jesus' human body, however, was not prepared in the usual way, since the scriptures say that God prepared the body of Jesus, crowned with glory, so that he could be offered up in sacrifice. (Hebrews 2:9; 10:5,10) Jesus, therefore. did not share in the condemnation that was upon Adam, so that he did not fall short of the glory of God. He remained sinless even under severe trial, by which he condemned sin in the flesh.

Having been offered up in sacrifice, Jesus is no longer in the days of his flesh -- with the human glory (Hebrews 5:7), but has been highly exalted far above the angels, he "became a life-giving spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45), possessing not the earthly glory, but the heavenly glory.

In Matthew 16:27, Jesus refers to the Son of man coming "in the glory of his Father". (See also Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26) Many of our trinitarian neighbors would like for us to believe that he is Jehovah, since he comes in the glory of his Father. However, if taken in this manner, the expression would tend to make Jesus his own Father, something which trinitarians disclaim. However, like Jesus came in the name of Jehovah, his Father, coming in the glory of Jehovah his Father does not make him to be Jehovah. -- Deuteronomy 18:18,19; Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Mark 11:9,10; Luke 13:35; 19:38; John 5:43; 12:13; Please see 1 Samuel 25:9; Ezra 5:1; Esther 2:22; Micah 4:5; Jeremiah 20:9; 26:20; 44:16; Acts 4:18; 5:40; 9:27,28; James 5:10 for examples of others who spoke in the name of someone else.

We add here that the Bible does indicate that Adam had the glory of God also. This is implied in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." Additionally, we read in 1 Corinthians 11:7 "For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man." This also implies that the perfect man does have the glory of God. This glory, however, is on the earthly plane, not the glory of a heavenly body. (1 Corinthians 15:40) It is this glory that is referred to in Psalm 8:5: "For you have made him [man] a little lower than God, And crowned him with glory and honor." The first man, Adam, before he sinned, has this glory. Since Adam sinned, mankind has ever since fallen short of this glory. This is why in Hebrews 2:7 Paul tells us that mankind has not yet received the dominion as was originally given to man. (Genesis 1:28) However, Paul does tell us that we see that Jesus did come, being crowned with human glory, a little lower than the angels, that he might taste death for all. (Hebrews 2:9; see 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; Romans 5:15-19) Nevertheless, in John 17:5, Jesus is praying for a glory that he once had, but which he did not then possess. Jesus did not have two bodily glories while he was in the days of his flesh. (Hebrews 5:7) Thus, while Jesus was was in the days of his flesh, he did not have the glory he had when he was with his Father before the world existed, but he did have the sinless glory of God in a human body. -- 1 Corinthians 15:40.

We should also note that Jesus is never referred to in the Bible as the "Most High", and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is ALWAYS presented as one person, and never as more than one person.

We, therefore, see nothing in the argument that, in John 17:5,  Jesus claimed to share the glorious position that only belongs to Jehovah. There is no reason from any of the scriptures presented to assume and add to the scriptures the trinitarian story about three persons all who are one God, or that Jesus is Jehovah.

Links to Related Studies