To Jehovah (sic) Witnesses: Isn't the name 'Jehovah' an artificial name?

Question

The Masoretes, who from about the 6th to the 10th century worked to reproduce the original text of the Hebrew Bible, replaced the vowels of the name YHWH with the vowel signs of the Hebrew words Adonai or Elohim. Thus, the artificial name Jehovah (YeHoWaH) came into being. (Encyclopædia Britannica)

Answer 1

Quite True!

If the name Jehovah is so important, then why is it never used in the entire Greek New Testament? If men edited out the name of God, "YHWH" when they copied the New Testament, as only the Watchtower organization claims, then how can we have any confidence in any of the New Testament?

Did Jesus ever address him as Jehovah?

Or was he so wrong?

Answer 2

I am not a Jehovah's Witness but no - its not an artificial name

The opinion that the name Jahveh was adopted by the Jews from the Chanaanites, has been defended by von Bohlen (Genesis, 1835, p. civ), Von der Alm (Theol. Briefe, I, 1862, pp. 524-27), Colenso (The Pentateuch, V, 1865, pp. 269-84), Goldziher (Der Mythus bei den Hebräern, 1867, p. 327), but has been rejected by Kuenen ("De Godsdienst van Israel", I, Haarlem, 1869, pp. 379-401) and Baudissin (Studien, I, pp. 213-18). It is antecedently improbable that Jahveh, the irreconcilable enemy of the Chanaanites, should be originally a Chanaanite god.

It has been said by Vatke (Die Religion des Alten Test., 1835, p. 672) and J.G. Müller (Die Semiten in ihrem Verhältniss zu Chamiten und Japhetiten, 1872, p. 163) that the name Jahveh is of Indo-European origin. But the transition of the Sanscrit root, div—the Latin Jupiter-Jovis (Diovis), the Greek Zeus-Dios, the Indo-European Dyaus into the Hebrew form Jahveh has never been satisfactorily explained. Hitzig's contention (Vorlesungen über bibl. Theol., p. 38) that the Indo-Europeans furnished at least the idea contained in the name Jahveh, even if they did not originate the name itself, is without any value.

Answer 3

We ,as Jehovah's Witnesses, use "Jehovah" because it is the English name. I also know of other denominations using Jehovah as well.It is in the KJV bible.
& btw I have been around the congr for over 2 years & we are not sick.I notice your liitle *pun. the difference that I noticed between my past churches & this congregation is the congregation takes the word of God to heart & doesn't go against his teachings. people looking into it from the outside that still hold on to the "world" do not understand this.
Now I know that individuals from these other christendom churches has the willingness to serve God ,but are they willing to let go of earthly/worldly things to serve Jehovah God inthe correct biblical way?
The Jw's do. Sorry it is longwinded but clearing up things. have respect for others & we'll have respect for you.

Answer 4

It is true that the Almighty did not say, "Listen, thousands of years from now when a new language called English comes along, they can pronounce my name as 'Jehovah' and that's fine."

Instead, like with any and every personal name, different languages TRANSLATE personal names to fit their lingual tendencies. George becomes "Hor-hey" in Spanish or "Gay-org" in German and no one gets upset.

As another answer mentions, the same people who get all upset about translating the Hebrew name 'Yahweh' or 'Yehowah' into English as 'Jehovah' have absolutely no such qualms about translating the Hebrew name 'Yeshua' into English as 'Jesus'!

If you don't like the English translation, no one is telling you that you can't use the Hebrew original of the divine name. impersonal "God", just as it's not wrong to call one's offspring "Child". If we want a familiar and close relationship, however, it makes sense to use the personal name of someone we love. The Scriptures encourage us to use God's personal name.

The Hebrew name “Yahweh” (or “Yehowah”) does seem to accurately pronounce the divine name. Just as the Hebrew name “Yeshua” (or “Yehoshua”) is translated into “Jesus” in English, the Hebrew name “Yahweh” is translated into “Jehovah” in English.

Some argumentative persons will argue that the Hebrew name “Yahweh” must only be translated into English as “I am what I am”. Yet such troublemakers fail to explain why they do not translate the Hebrew name “Yeshua” into English as “Jehovah is Salvation” or “I am what I am is Salvation”, which of course their small-minded literalism must surely require with regard to the name we know as “Jesus”.

The important thing is to use God’s personal name in whatever language you speak, rather than insisting upon the impersonal! The name “Yahweh” is certainly preferable to the non-name “God” or “Lord”. If you speak English, feel free to use the name "Jehovah".

(Psalms 83:18) That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth

(John 17:26) [Jesus said] I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them

Answer 5

read ps 83 verse 18 it is even in the King James Bible. it is God's name. God is a title like prince or king. Jehovah God gave himself that name

Answer 6

no it is a nemonic for referring to what they think was god so its Ok, But it is good info. thanks. jews often used abrreviations for words. it saved ink and carving time and space on papyrus.
it was also a way to code stuff
its like LMAO in text speak or e-mail

either that or the encylcopedia brittannica is a tool of the devil

Answer 7

Yes and can you be so kind as to list all of your home addresses so I can knock on your door at the most inconvenient time to try and convert you to my religion?

Answer 8

i like the name: Yahveh Elohim

Answer 9

jehovah is gods name.it was even in earlier bibles.

Answer 10

Who gives a f*ck?...