Jehovah Nissi means "the LORD is my banner" and signifies that God Himself won the battle for Israel.
The name comes from Exodus 17, where Moses built an altar after Israel defeated the Amalekites. As long as Moses' hands were raised, Israel prevailed; when his arms dropped, the battle turned against them. Les Feldick emphasizes that God was in control and that it was Jehovah who won the battle.
Exodus 17:15 — This verse records Moses naming the altar Jehovah Nissi after the victory over Amalek.
In Exodus 17, Israel encountered their first opposition after coming out of Egypt when they were attacked by the Amalekites. As the battle raged, Israel prevailed while Moses held up his arms, but the battle went against them whenever his arms dropped. When Moses' arms became heavy, two men came alongside and held his arms up until sunset. Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD instructed Moses, 'Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.' Moses built an altar and called the name of it Jehovahnissi.
Les Feldick teaches that the name Jehovah Nissi, meaning 'He is our banner' or 'I am your banner,' was coined after Israel defeated the Amalekites in their first war after coming out of Egypt. He says that although God used the Israeli men to fight, it was Jehovah who actually won the battle. The providential pattern of the battle—Israel prevailing while Moses' arms were held up and losing when his arms dropped—showed that God was in control. When Moses grew weary, others helped hold his arms up, and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the sword. Moses then built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi. Les compares the banner to a present-day flag or marching flag, the rallying point that proclaimed Jehovah was the source of Israel's victory.
In Exodus 17, Israel faced the Amalekites after coming out of Egypt. While Moses held up his arms, Israel had the advantage; when his arms dropped, the battle turned against them. When Moses' arms became heavy, two men came alongside and held them up, and Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword. The LORD told Moses to write the event as a memorial and to rehearse it in Joshua's ears, promising to utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek. Moses then built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi. Les Feldick points out that God used the Israeli men, but God was the One who fought the battle and was in control.
Les explains that a banner in this context is what we would call a flag or a marching flag. Just as an army rallies around its flag, Israel rallied around Jehovah. The name Jehovah Nissi declared that their victory was not in their own strength but that Jehovah was their rallying point. It was Jehovah who won the battle and gave them the victory.
Les explains the providential nature of the battle: as long as Moses' arms were held up the battle went in Israel's favor, and when his arms dropped it went against them. This showed God's control. It was not Israel's military ability that secured the victory; it was Jehovah who fought the battle and was their banner.
Jehovah's Names for Israel
Les sets the context that Jehovah revealed Himself to Israel through covenant names that met every physical and spiritual need, which is why names like Jehovah Nissi appear throughout their history.
Jehovah Nissi as Israel's Banner
Les explicitly connects the name to the battle: 'the name Jehovah was coined Jehovah-Nissi, our banner. It was Jehovah who won the battle.'
The Banner of the Battle
Les teaches that God fought the battle and compares the banner to a flag or marching flag; he notes that Israel's success depended on Moses' raised arms.
First War After Egypt
Les recounts that this was Israel's first war after leaving Egypt, against the Amalekites, and that Israel won when Moses' hands were held up.
Meaning: 'I Am Your Banner'
Les says the name Jehovah Nissi means 'I am your banner' in the context of Exodus 17 after the Amalekites were defeated.
Scripture Read Aloud
Les reads the passage aloud, including the LORD's command to write a memorial and Moses building the altar and naming it Jehovah Nissi.
The 7 "I AM" Names of God — Old Testament to John's Gospel
Next one is in Judges 6.24, and it's the account of Gideon when he had defeated the armies that were about to destroy Israel. And after Gideon had destroyed the enemy in chapter 6, then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and he called it Jehovah Shalom. You all know what Shalom means, peace. And translated it's in the Hebrew, I am your peace. Meeting every need now of the nation of Israel.
The 7 "I AM" Names of God — Old Testament to John's Gospel
When Abraham realized that the Sovereign God provided the sacrifice in verse 14 of Genesis 22, Abraham called the name of that place, Jehovah Jireh. As it is said to this day, in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Jehovah Jireh meant, I am your provider. Remember Jehovah contracted is the I Am. I Am your provider, that's what Jireh means in the Hebrew.
Exodus 17:11: And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
This verse directly links Israel's success to the raised hand of Moses, setting up the name Jehovah Nissi.
Exodus 17:12: But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Aaron and Hur's support of Moses' hands explains how the battle was won, a detail Les recounts in his teaching.
Exodus 17:13: And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
This records the actual military outcome of the battle.
Exodus 17:14: And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
God commands a written memorial, connecting the victory to the LORD's promise against Amalek.
Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
This is the central verse: Moses names the altar Jehovah Nissi after the victory.
Exodus 17:16: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
The ongoing war with Amalek underscores why the name was significant in Israel's history.
Jehovah Nissi means 'the LORD is my banner' or 'I am your banner.' Les Feldick explains that a banner is like a flag or marching flag, and the name was given after Israel defeated the Amalekites because God was the one who won the battle.
It comes from Exodus 17, after the battle with the Amalekites. When Moses' arms were held up, Israel prevailed. After the victory, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovahnissi, identifying Jehovah as Israel's banner.
According to Exodus 17, Israel's battle turned in their favor while Moses' hands were raised. Les teaches that this showed God's control: God was the one who fought the battle and gave Israel the victory. When Moses grew tired, helpers held his hands up until sunset.
Watch the Teaching: Who is Melchizedek? Understanding the "Most High God" & His Names