Why did they change it?

Question

The first King James Bible has God's name Jehovah in Ps 83:18, but a newer version of the King James has removed it. Many other verses lack the name as well. Why did they change it from version to version? What's so wrong with God's name?

I'm asking abuot only the King James! It changed! Why?

Answer 1

Why do many Bible translations not use the personal name of God or use it only a few times?

The preface of the Revised Standard Version explains: "For two reasons the Committee has returned to the more familiar usage of the King James Version: (1) the word 'Jehovah' does not accurately represent any form of the Name ever used in Hebrew; and (2) the use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom he had to be distinguished, was discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church." (Thus their own view of what is appropriate has been relied on as the basis for removing from the Holy Bible the personal name of its Divine Author, whose name appears in the original Hebrew more often than any other name or any title. They admittedly follow the example of the adherents of Judaism, of whom Jesus said: "You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition."-Matt. 15:6.)

Translators who have felt obligated to include the personal name of God at least once or perhaps a few times in the main text, though not doing so every time it appears in Hebrew, have evidently followed the example of William Tyndale, who included the divine name in his translation of the Pentateuch published in 1530, thus breaking with the practice of leaving the name out altogether.

Which form of the divine name is correct-Jehovah or Yahweh?

No human today can be certain how it was originally pronounced in Hebrew. Why not? Biblical Hebrew was originally written with only consonants, no vowels. When the language was in everyday use, readers easily provided the proper vowels. In time, however, the Jews came to have the superstitious idea that it was wrong to say God's personal name out loud, so they used substitute expressions. Centuries later, Jewish scholars developed a system of points by which to indicate which vowels to use when reading ancient Hebrew, but they put the vowels for the substitute expressions around the four consonants representing the divine name. Thus the original pronunciation of the divine name was lost.

Many scholars favor the spelling "Yahweh," but it is uncertain and there is not agreement among them. On the other hand, "Jehovah" is the form of the name that is most readily recognized, because it has been used in English for centuries and preserves, equally with other forms, the four consonants of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton.

J. B. Rotherham, in The Emphasised Bible, used the form Yahweh throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. However, later in his Studies in the Psalms he used the form "Jehovah." He explained: "JEHOVAH-The employment of this English form of the Memorial name . . . in the present version of the Psalter does not arise from any misgiving as to the more correct pronunciation, as being Yahwéh; but solely from practical evidence personally selected of the desirability of keeping in touch with the public ear and eye in a matter of this kind, in which the principal thing is the easy recognition of the Divine name intended."-(London, 1911), p. 29.

After discussing various pronunciations, German professor Gustav Friedrich Oehler concluded: "From this point onward I use the word Jehovah, because, as a matter of fact, this name has now become more naturalized in our vocabulary, and cannot be supplanted."-Theologie des Alten Testaments, second edition (Stuttgart, 1882), p. 143.

Jesuit scholar Paul Joüon states: "In our translations, instead of the (hypothetical) form Yahweh, we have used the form Jéhovah . . . which is the conventional literary form used in French."-Grammaire de l'hébreu biblique (Rome, 1923), footnote on p. 49.

Most names change to some extent when transferred from one language to another. Jesus was born a Jew, and his name in Hebrew was perhaps pronounced Ye·shu´a', but the inspired writers of the Christian Scriptures did not hesitate to use the Greek form of the name, I·e·sous´. In most other languages the pronunciation is slightly different, but we freely use the form that is common in our tongue. The same is true of other Bible names. How, then, can we show proper respect for the One to whom the most important name of all belongs? Would it be by never speaking or writing his name because we do not know exactly how it was originally pronounced? Or, rather, would it be by using the pronunciation and spelling that are common in our language, while speaking well of its Owner and conducting ourselves as his worshipers in a manner that honors him?

Why is it important to know and use God's personal name?

Do you have a close relationship with anyone whose personal name you do not know? For people to whom God is nameless he is often merely an impersonal force, not a real person, not someone that they know and love and to whom they can speak from the heart in prayer. If they do pray, their prayers are merely a ritual, a formalistic repetition of memorized expressions.

True Christians have a commission from Jesus Christ to make disciples of people of all nations. When teaching these people, how would it be possible to identify the true God as different from the false gods of the nations? Only by using His personal name, as the Bible itself does.-Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 8:5, 6.

I know it's a lot, but I just kept finding more and more info. I'm a Jehovah's Witness and we have an excellent study aid "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" and it discusses this very question, you should try and get a copy! I hope this answered your question:)

Answer 2

In the first King James translation, Jehovah was used somewhat indiscriminately whenever a name for God appeared. Later it was considered that the "common man" could actually benefit from knowing many of the other names of God and so in some places it was changed out for the actual name that was used in the original Hebrew texts. Understand that these texts are AVAILABLE TODAY -- there is no mystery here. It was a translator's decision that was later rethought.

However, if you are actually a Jehovah's Witness masquerading with this common JW false premise, also understand that God has MANY names -- actually pretty much every noun in the Old Testament that begins or ends with the letters "el," as El means "of God." Incidentally, the FIRST name of God used is Elohim, which is the plural form of Eloa translated directly as, "Gods," but referencing the single deity of God Most High and thus immediately in Genesis exposing a singular, monotheistic God with more than one person, i.e. the Trinity doctrine so hotly contested by some.

If you want to really flip your noodle, go read Isaiah 9:6 and see as an unborn baby is prophesied to BE God Almighty, the Everlasting Father and a number of other names of God that were only ever used in reference to God Most High. Again, the Trinity doctrine found specifically in prophesies concerning the Messiah Y'shua.

Rebecca
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Answer 3

In actuality, the name of Jehovah could not be pronounced in the days the old testament was written. The original translators added vowels and made it pronounceable, but it was a terrible sin to even attempt to pronounce the name of the Hebrew god.

This is why there are so many poetic descriptions of that god instead of the use of the name.

Anytime you see the name Jehovah at all it was added later, because the characters being written about would have NEVER used the name. If modern translations are taking it out, it is more accurately reflecting the original writings/stories, not changing it for their own purposes.

Answer 4

Almighty Jehovah God has an enemy. That enemy is a powerful wicked spirit creature called Satan the Devil. Satan and his Satanic agents have worked for millenia to try to disrupt true worship and hide accurate knowledge about God, God's nature, and God's purposes for the future.

(2 Corinthians 4:4-6) The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers

(Philippians 2:14-15) In among a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world

(1 Timothy 6:3-5) If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
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Answer 5

That is why you should read the King James version only. The others are man's interpretation .

Answer 6

Many religious scholars agree that 'Jehovah' is a misprint from early sources; maybe King James have just realized his mistake.

Answer 7

I think that you are not supposed to use gods name. Besides the bible has undergone so many revisions and translation that it might have been different to begin with anyway.

Answer 8

and none of the king james bibles are vary good translation to start with...

Answer 9

http://www.av1611.org/biblecom.html

Answer 10

Man wrote all the bibles. what a stupid ***.