What do Jehovah's Witnesses think the Hebrew word 'abba' means? Do they deny there is a Hebrew word 'abba'?

Question

Why are the Jehovah's Witnesses so obsessed with the four letters JHVH or YHWH or LORD? Don't 99.9% of Bibles agree that YHWH or JHVH sound like the Hebrew for I AM that Christ identifies Himself with in John?

Answer 1

A reference work published by Jehovah's Witnesses reads thusly with regard to the word "abba":

[quote]
The word ’ab·ba’′ in Aramaic corresponds to the emphatic or definite form of ’av, literally meaning “the father,” or “O Father.” It was the intimate name used by children for their fathers and combines some of the intimacy of the English word “papa” while retaining the dignity of the word “father,” being both informal and yet respectful. It was, therefore, an endearing form of address rather than a title and was among the first words a child learned to speak.
[unquote]

Strong's notes that "abba" is "of Chaldee origin" (see Mark 14:36 footnote in many bibles). While technically the word was not Hebrew, many or most Hebrews were familiar with the term of endearment and by some definition the term eventually was a part of the Hebrew language.


True Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) are not obsessed with four letter words such as JHVH or YHWH or LORD. Instead, true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) imitate Christ is glorifying the Almighty Owner of the Divine Name.

(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


The theory that the Tetragrammaton ("YHWH") should be pronounced as "I AM" would seem to be unprecedented and poorly supported by the evidence.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/na/index.htm?article=diagram_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm

Answer 2

>Hebrew word 'abba' means?
Father

>Why are the Jehovah's Witnesses so obsessed with the four letters JHVH or YHWH or LORD?

YHWH is God's personal name in Hebrew.
JHVH is God's personal name in German.
LORD is what he is, Lord of all creation.

>I AM
Is not a name it is what he is, similar to LORD. God's name is not revealed until Ex 6:3.

>Christ identifies Himself with in John?
Christ only said he is older then Abraham. It was the Jews who accused Jesus as being a greater prophet then Abraham.

Answer 3

A lot more people than JWs know this to translated as Jehovah, but that you knew that, just as you already knew that Abba means Father, or a really good singing with more albums sales than any other group.

So why do you ask? You are looking to learn something useful to your life, so it must be to collect a few more anti-witness comments?

So why do you ask? Are you looking to learn something useful to your life, or is it just to collect a few more anti-witness comments?

Talk about obsessive. You must be in a real panic they may be right.

This kind of thing is getting old fast, so I this will be the last night I will be checking these. I have better things to be doing, like building a time out device for parents of young children, and a taxi cab that will travel sideways as well as forward and backward, using ball tires and maglev propulsion

Answer 4

The word ’ab·ba’′ in Aramaic corresponds to the emphatic or definite form of ’av, literally meaning “the father,” or “O Father.” It was the intimate name used by children for their fathers and combines some of the intimacy of the English word “papa” while retaining the dignity of the word “father,” being both informal and yet respectful. It was, therefore, an endearing form of address rather than a title and was among the first words a child learned to speak.

This Aramaic word appears three times in the Scriptures. It is always in transliterated form in the original Greek and usually is transliterated in English translations. Each time the term is followed immediately by the translation ho pa·ter′ in Greek, which literally means “the father” or, used as the vocative, “O Father.” In each case it is used with reference to the heavenly Father, Jehovah.

Mark records that Jesus used the term when praying to Jehovah God in Gethsemane shortly before his death, saying: “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.” (Mr 14:36) Here is the fervent appeal of a son to a beloved father, followed quickly by an assurance that, in any event, he would remain obedient.

The two other occurrences are in Paul’s letters, at Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6.

The English words “abbot” and “abbey” are both derived from the Aramaic ’ab·ba’′. Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, objected to the use of the title “abbot” as applied to the Catholic monks in his time and did so on the basis that it violated Jesus’ instructions at Matthew 23:9: “Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One.”

Answer 5

JHVH in English or YHWH in Hebrew is the name of God.

There is no "I am" and Neither Jehovah nor Jesus said that. The "I am" is a mistranslation to English.

Answer 6

"Abba" means "father"

"Don't 99.9% of Bibles agree that YHWH or JHVH sound like the Hebrew for I AM "

Not that I'm aware of.

Answer 7

Jehovah's witnesses believe that YHWH is translated YAHWEH from Hebrew. Though they cant be sure how it would be pronounced since Hebrew was originally written with only consonants and no vowels, their interpretation of it is the name Jehovah which they believe to be Gods personal name.

ABBA means father.

Answer 8

I agree with Papa bear in the fact that you're not interested what the JWs believe but just want to get some anti-JW comments.
You're another one of those who pat yourself on the back for making negative remarks against a group of people who, in my opinion, are good people who are doing a good job of spreading the word about God & Jesus.
Why don't you let go of all these negative thoughts and reflect Jesus in being more tolerant and accepting?

Answer 9

"Abba" means "Father." Jesus referred to Jehovah as "abba." This is in harmony with the Biblical truth that Jesus, the Son of God, and Jehovah, his Father, are separate individuals.

http://www.watchtower.org/

Answer 10

Abba is "Dad or Father" in Aramaic.

I think JWs are non or anti trinitarian so that Jesus/Yahshua called Him "Dad" would fit this well.