Which is correct?

Question

The original hebrew of Psalms 83:18 contains gods name (הוהי (YHWH) in Hebrew letters. In English, the common rendering is “Jehovah.”)

Some bible translations replace this with GOD or LORD. Others render it as Jehovah.

How do you think this should be translated? Please tell me which one you think is correct, and your view as to why it is correct.

Also why do you think many translators have replaced 'Jehovah' with 'god' or 'lord' in nearly 7000 different places in the Hebrew scriptures?

Thanks.

Answer 1

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.

It's not exactly wrong to call the Almighty by the 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.

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”, especially if you speak Hebrew. 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

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/na/index.htm

Answer 2

Jehovah is the English translation of the Hebrew Yahweh, meaning Lord or God. The hebrew word has been gradually replaced with the meaning Lord or God through gradual updating and new modernised versions of the bible. It still means the same thing. We may change the language, but we cannot change God's word or meaning.

Answer 3

It should be rendered YHWH.

That is the direct transliteration. Since there is the dispute over pronounceation (which Jehovah is blatantly wrong) the reader may pronounce it as he or she sees fit.

But I believe proper pronounceation is (approximately) Yahweh, based on the pronounceation of other names that contain YHW(-H), such as Yeshayahu (Isaiah) and Yermiyahu (Jeremiah).

Replacing the name YHWH with "Lord" came from the Jewish custom of using the word Adonai (lord) in place of the name for fear of violating the 3rd commandment. A custom born out of the interpretation that the commandment forbids erasing the name of YHWH, so it was considered better to never use it.

Additionally, you wrote the name backwards, as Hebrew is written from right to left.

Answer 4

In the Hebrew anywhere you see YHWH you will see GOD rather than God. GOD is YHWH in the Bible. You will also see LORD which is referring to YHWH. All the other references have different characteristic traits. GOD is the great I AM but you will find Lord as Adonai. You will see El Olam and etc. The Jews call him YAHWEH because they feel they should never utter his name YHWH because it is disrespectful.

Answer 5

It's a matter of translation from the original. Yhwh (or "Yahweh") is the Hebrew name, Jehovah is the Greek name, and God is the English name.

Answer 6

Read the introduction to the translation you are using. It explains why the translators chose to translate with the all caps LORD. But note: I have found at least one place that used "LORD" where the underlying Hebrew word was not the tetragrammaton.

Answer 7

It should be Jehova, it's probably been translated as an act to encompass mental constitution - when you name a God after the only way to say "God" in a language, it automatically becomes a singularity.

For example, imagine the Christian culture would've continued to use the Christian God's name of "Jehova" - it would be much easier for them to comprehend the difference between "Gods" of religions, and it would be extremely easy for them to understand that "Allah" is the word "God" in arabic, and not the name of some false diety. That would allow for their brains to proceed towards understanding that Islam is a branch of Judaism, just like Christianity is a branch of it as well.

But, by fine tuning the language, and forcing the word "God" to mean "The Christian God Jehova" it becomes much more difficult to communicate the differences to others, as it has to be established prior to communicado, which would only happen in an intelligent theological discussion - not in every day communication.

And thus, they keep intelligence from the lower eschelons of their soldiers.

Answer 8

I am amazed that people don't think it matters! How would you like to be called MAN or IT instead of your own personal name?

Just as our names have meanings, Jehovah's name has a meaning which is 'he causes to become'. It doesn't mean god - god is a title. Charles doesn't mean Prince, Tony doesn't mean Prime Minister.

By calling Jehovah (the accepted English) you are distingushing him from the vast number of deities out there. Who is he or to whom are you refering if you just call him God?

Isaiah 12:4 says 'call upon his name' and 'make his name known'.
Matthew 6:9 Jesus said 'let your name be sanctified'
Matthew 12:21 Jesus again said 'in his name nations will hope'
...and the list goes on - Jehovah wants his name used and proclaimed - he doesn't want to be refered to as 'God'.

This matters - use his personal name: Jehovah

Answer 9

Isaiah 26:4

Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 12-2

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Psalms 83-18

That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most high over all the earth.

Exodus 6-3

And I appeared unto
Abraham, unto Isaac: and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

God has more than one name he plainly tells us.

Answer 10

Look up the book Tretragramaton, it is an attempt by the cabbalists and numeroligists to decipher the meaning of YHWH.