Could the Jehovah's Witnesses explain the name Jah?

Question

I was told that by a local Witness that it meant Jehovah and that we all used his name without knowing it as in when we sing or say Halelujah. I asked did this mean that Elijah was in fact Jehovah but she did not answer me, she seemed flustered made her excuses and went on her way. I have seen her since but she seems to just shun me.

Answer 1

Hallelujah means:

"Praise (הַלְּלוּ) [the] LORD (יָהּ)or Jehovah") as the word LORD in cap letters is where they removed God's Name and replaced it.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2006/11/robertson_says.html

As for Elijah, it means "Yah is God", or Yahweh is God.

Witnesses, from childhood up, gain a much more thorough knowledge of the Bible than is common in the followers of Christendom, but it takes time to learn it all. This witness may not yet have as thorough a knowledge.

Answer 2

I am not a Jehovah's witness but will attempt to answer your question.

Jah comes from the Hebrew יָהּ = Yah. Jah (Yah) is often used as a shortened form of the name Jehovah¹ or Yahweh. Thus, the term Hallelujah would mean "Praise Jah."

In the original text of the Hebrew Bible, "Jah" occurs 26 times alone and 24 times in the term "Hallelujah."

There is of course no problem with a Christian using the word Jehovah, God, Lord or otherwise...

Hope this helps

JB

Answer 3

--Jah is an abbreviated name for Jehovah Gods' name, please note a reference to how this was discovered in ancient writings:

*** it-2 p. 7 Jehovah ***

The Codex Leningrad B 19A, of the 11th century C.E., vowel points the Tetragrammaton to read Yehwah´, Yehwih´, and Yeho·wah´. Ginsburg’s edition of the Masoretic text vowel points the divine name to read Yeho·wah´. (Ge 3:14, ftn) Hebrew scholars generally favor “Yahweh” as the most likely pronunciation. They point out that the abbreviated form of the name is Yah (Jah in the Latinized form), as at Psalm 89:8 and in the expression Ha·lelu-Yah´ (meaning “Praise Jah, you people!”). (Ps 104:35; 150:1, 6) Also, the forms Yehoh´, Yoh, Yah, and Ya´hu, found in the Hebrew spelling of the names Jehoshaphat, Joshaphat, Shephatiah, and others, can all be derived from Yahweh. Greek transliterations of the name by early Christian writers point in a somewhat similar direction with spellings such as I·a·be´ and I·a·ou·e´, which, as pronounced in Greek, resemble Yahweh. Still, there is by no means unanimity among scholars on the subject, some favoring yet other pronunciations, such as “Yahuwa,” “Yahuah,” or “Yehuah.

--Our sister, might have not had an answer for you, and might have been embarassed, or thought you could have just been argumentive--not that you were, but we have our bad days also. Sometimes many have made issues in a mocking way. I am sure by your question you were not doing that. Our feelings get in our way just like everybody else, at times.

--Thanks for your post so we could clear the matter up.

Answer 4

There is an answer to the reason and why the bible writers used this expression "Jah Jehovah" or "praise Jah you people" it has something to do with the HEBREW language and writing techniques- Jehovah is a name meaning causes to become as in a creator and the Jews new it to be GOD.

Answer 5

This so-called "questioner" has seemed to be intent on demeaning and denigrating Jehovah's Witnesses for some time. Perhaps it was his accusatory demeanor which made the 'local Jehovah's Witness' feel uncomfortable, rather than the simple question answerable by most any quality dictionary.

Following are links to a secular dictionary website which plainly demonstrates the truth regarding "Jah", "Elijah", and "Hallelujah".

The name "Jah" is a shortened form of "Jehovah".
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jah

The name "Elijah" literally means "My God is Jehovah".
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/elijah

The expression "Hallelujah" literally means "Praise Jehovah".
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hallelujah

Answer 6

'Hallelujah' is a poetic shortened form of Jehovah,the name of the most high God.(Ex.15:1,2)This abbreviated form is represented by the first half of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton(YHWH),that is,the letters yohdh and he',the tenth and fifth letters of the Hebrew alphabet respectively.
It basically means "Praise Jah you people!"
Elijah translates to "My God is Jehovah".
"Jehovah" is translated from the Hebrew Tetragrammaton which means "He Causes to Become".These four Hebrew letters are represented in many languages by the letters JHVH or YHWH.
No human today can be certain how it was originally pronounced in Hebrew,because 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.And in time 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.
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 Yeshua,but the inspired writers of the Christian Scriptures did not hesitate to use the Greek form of the name, Iesous'.In most other languages the pronunciation is slightly different,but we freely use the form that is common in our tongue.The is true of other Boble 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 pronounce?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?And that is what Jehovah's Witnesses do.They are proud to carry the name of the Universal Sovereign.

Answer 7

A poetic shortened form of Jehovah, the name of the Most High God. (Ex 15:1, 2) This abbreviated form is represented by the first half of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton הוהי (YHWH), that is, the letters yohdh (י) and he’ (ה), the tenth and fifth letters of the Hebrew alphabet respectively.

In point of time “Jah” could not have been a primitive form of the divine name used earlier than the Tetragrammaton itself.

The single syllable Jah is usually linked with the more moving emotions of praise and song, prayer and entreaty, and is generally found where the subject theme dwells upon a rejoicing over victory and deliverance, or where there is an acknowledgment of God’s mighty hand and power. Examples of this special usage are abundant. The phrase, “Praise Jah, you people!” (Hallelujah) appears as a doxology, that is, an expression of praise to God, in the Psalms, the first being at Psalm 104:35. In other psalms it may be at the beginning only (Ps 111, 112), occasionally within a psalm (135:3), sometimes at the end only (Ps 104, 105, 115-117), but often at both the beginning and the end (Ps 106, 113, 135, 146-150). In the book of Revelation heavenly personages repeatedly punctuate their praise of Jehovah with this expression.—Re 19:1-6.

The remaining instances where “Jah” appears also reflect exaltation in songs and petitions to Jehovah. There is the song of deliverance by Moses. (Ex 15:2) In those recorded by Isaiah a double emphasis is gained by combining both names, “Jah Jehovah.” (Isa 12:2; 26:4) Hezekiah, in his poetic exultation after being miraculously healed when close to death, expressed heightened feelings by repetition of Jah. (Isa 38:9, 11) The contrast is drawn between the dead, who cannot praise Jah, and those determined to live a life of praise to him. (Ps 115:17, 18; 118:17-19) Still other psalms display a prayerful appreciation for deliverance, protection, and correction.—Ps 94:12; 118:5, 14.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source
hallelujah
1535, from Heb. hallalu-yah "praise Jehovah," from hallalu, pl. imper. of hallel "to praise" also "song of praise," from hillel "he praised," of imitative origin, with primary sense being "to trill." Second element is yah, shortened form of Yahweh, name of God. Replaced variant formation alleluia (12c.).

Elijah was not Jehovah, no more than Hallelujah is Jehovah. Hallelujah means "praise Jehovah" And Elijah means "My God is Jehovah"

Answer 8

No I am not a Jehovah's Witness, but I know that Jehovah is the name of the God in the Old Testament you find a reference to it in these Bible references,
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?type=words&last=Jehovah&help=&wo=checked&search=Jehovah&iw=bible&tx=checked&af=checked&hw=checked&sw=checked&bw=1
From what I understand it was supposedly used more frequently that it is now, but that was replaced with Lord to avoid repetitious usage of God's name they replaced it with Lord. Whether that is accurate or not I do not know, but I do know that the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that.
As far as Hallelujah is concerned it means "Praise ye the Lord" and that being the case then you are referring to the God of the Old Testament any time you say "Hallelujah"
In John 8:56-59 you see not only Christ claiming that he is the God of the Old Testament (also called I AM), and the Jews reaction to the usage of that name. If you were to see those verses in the original language then you would see a difference in the usage that you see there and how we were to use those words in our normal conversation.

Answer 9

yes that is right. when you say Hallelujah, you are saying a short way of saying Jehovah. we also say Praise Jah for Jehovah

Answer 10

(Hal·le·lu′jah) “praise Jah, you people"

(E·li′jah) [My God Is Jehovah].

Take care :)