pronunciation of bible names?

Question

many people refuse to use the name Jehovah as they say it is probably not the original pronunciation of the tetragrameton.

however, everyone is perfectly happy to go about using the modern pronunciations of every other name in the bible. Moses, Aaron, Abraham, Adam, Solomon, David, Peter, Paul, John etc. and of course, Jesus. the original pronunciation of nearly every name in the bible is lost, but we still use names to define the people apart.

isn't it hypocritical that people will give a name to every man who was recorded in the scriptures, but will dishonour God by only giving him titles? the lord's prayer tells us to pray for God's name to be sanctified. how can it be if it isn't used? it won't be the original pronunciation, but we can use the most likely pronunciation just as we do with everyone else in the bible.
even Jesus and other angels have been given names. so why not our God?

as for AT's comment, psalm 83:18 says, 'That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.' (NWT)

as for haggasitze's comment, the tetragrameton is found nearly 7000 times in the hebrew scriptures, used in speach by many different men and women. only as modern tradition in judaism, is the name of God secret

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

Firstly, Jehovah, just like all the other names is a descriptive title. It means 'He who creates in relation to his creation'.

Jesus, Joseph and Joshua all mean 'Jehovah saves'

Adam means 'Red Earth'

etc.
Almost all the names used in the bible were descriptive titles. Just like the native american indians and many other so-called primitive tribes used naming policies where a description was used as a name. So did the men of God. When Adam was given the privilidge of 'naming' the animals he named only the genus or type. Not the actual animals themselves.

Even the word Angel is a descriptive title denoting job not species. Angel in both hebrew and Greek means 'messenger'.

So, not using the 'name' of God? Not possible. Wether you call him God, Allah, Jehovah, El Shaddai, Elohim (Gods), El, whatever, you are still using his 'name'. It really isn't that important because God wants us to worship him not in name only, but in spirit and in truth (John 4:23 and 24).

We do this by receiving and operating both the truth and the spiritual gift he made available to us. Then the 'name' issue will not really come up.

Answer 3

The name of the Jewish God was secret and only known to a small number of priests, never to be spoken aloud.

Some christian sects still follow that rule in a fashion, others don't.

We actually do have a good idea how the biblical names were pronounced,because a lot of the old testament was also written down/translated into Greek, so that comparisons can be made between the ancient Hebrew and Greek spellings.

But if you don't want to take the word of an non-believer, feel free.

Answer 4

Yes, and I suppose you address England's Queen Elizabeth as "Lizzy." How rude! Did you call your mother and father "Harry" and "Betty?"

The name you want to use is Her "personal" name, not just another name for God as is Elohim, Adonai, HaShem, etc. etc. The reason no one knows how it's pronounced is because there are no vowels in Hebrew and Jews never spoke the Name. You might not know the correct Hebrew pronunciation of other names, but any Jew can tell you since they still read the original Hebrew from Torah scrolls three times a week.

Did you know that many (most?) of the Hebrew names are actually descriptions of the individual, i.e. Eve is "mother" or giver of life.

.

Answer 5

I won't use that name because it is too holy to be said by anyone besides the High Priest on Yom Kippur, and in any case, the pronnounciation of that name was hidden from most people, as opposed to other names.

Answer 6

The easiest way to distinguish a title from a name is add the word “the” in front of it.

The Lord, The Ancient of Days, The God, The Eternal One (Titles can be capitalized be cause they take the place of a name) Elohim, Adonai are also titles, because in Hebrew you can add the article ‘the’ in front of them.

Try adding “the” to Jesus, David, Ruth, and Jehovah. you can’t because they are names not titles.

Jehovah, Jesus, David, Moses, Aaron, Abraham are English names in lieu of their Hebrew names.

It was only after the Jews returned from Babylon did the idea start to develop that just saying Jehovah’s name was in violation of the first 3 Commandants, and that it could be only uttered at the temple.

It is not Jehovah’s Witnesses that say you should use Jehovah, please note what “Young’s” translation says:

Ps 83: 18And they know that Thou -- (Thy name [is] Jehovah -- by Thyself,) [Art] the Most High over all the earth!
Isaiah 43 :1And now, thus said Jehovah, Thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Fashioner, O Israel, Be not afraid, for I have redeemed thee, I have called on thy name -- thou [art] Mine. 10Ye [are] My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And My servant whom I have chosen, So that ye know and give credence to Me, And understand that I [am] He, Before Me there was no God formed, And after Me there is none. 11I -- I [am] Jehovah, And besides Me there is no saviour. 12I -- I declared, and saved, and proclaimed, And there is no stranger with you, And ye [are] My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I [am] God. 13Even from the day I [am] He, And there is no deliverer from My hand, I work, and who doth turn it back? 14Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: `For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And caused bars to descend -- all of them, And the Chaldeans, whose song [is] in the ships. 15I [am] Jehovah, your Holy One, Creator of Israel, your King.' 16Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path.

Joel 2: 27And ye have known that in the midst of Israel [am] I, And I [am] Jehovah your God, and there is none else, 32And it hath come to pass, Every one who calleth in the name of Jehovah is delivered, For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escape, As Jehovah hath said, And among the remnants whom Jehovah is calling!

Jehovah’s name in the Bible appears more times that the words Lord, God, and Jesus combined.

Answer 7

All of the names are titles. Jehovah is a title (the self existent one), Adam is a title (Mankind), almost all names in the bible are titles referring more to the individuals mission. I agree that we shouldn't be too concerned about pronunciation of them, but a title is not necessarily a name.

Answer 8

KJV Bible 1611 + 303 to an excepted translation and God's name is Jehovah.

The name Solomon built the temple for.

John 17:3; This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Gen.21:33; 22:14[Abraham and LORD God of Jesus];
Exo.6:3; 17:15[ Moses and LORD God of Jesus];
Judges 6:24[Gideon and LORD God of Jesus];
Psm.68:4; 83:18 [ David and LORD God of Jesus ];
Isa.12:2; 24:4[Isaiah and LORD God of Jesus];
John 17:1-26; Rev.14:1-6,7[Zion heirs and Lord God of Jesus];
Rev.3:12[Zion heirs and Jesus new name before his God];

Answer 9

people were named after those people in Scripture from when they were written down. To say that the pronunciation of names like Moses (moshe) Aaron (aharon) Abraham (abraaham) Solomon (sholomo) David (dovid)

is ridiculous. Please show me any proof of your claim.

Answer 10

I agree totally.
Jesus regularly used his father's name
Look at JOHN 5:43 & JOHN 10:25

It was clearly of crucial importance to Jesus, since he mentioned it repeatedly in his own prayers. On one occasion when he was praying publicly to God, he was heard to say: “Father, glorify your name!” And God himself answered: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” - JOHN 12:28, (quoted from The Jerusalem Bible.)

YHWH or Yahweh or Jehovah
We should direct our prayers to him by using his name.