The God of the Israelites, revealed to Moses was four Hebrew consonants "YHWH" (Used in the Old Testament 6639 times) called the Tetragrammaton. After the exile (6th Century B.C.), and especially from the 3rd century BC on, Jews ceased to use the name Yahweh for two reasons. As Judaism became a universal religion through its proselytizing in the Greco-Roman world, the more common noun elohim, meaning "god," tended to replace Yahweh to demonstrate the universal sovereignty of Israel's God over all others. At the same time, the divine name was increasingly regarded as too sacred to be uttered; it was thus replaced vocally in the synagogue ritual by the Hebrew word Adonai ("My Lord"), which was translated as Kyrios ("Lord") in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament
2007-07-01 10:55:45 · 17 answers · asked by C R 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree totally with you..I feel it is much disrespt to call God by his first name..when one doesn't even know how to pronouce it correctly..It seems very disrespectful to me.
I would like to add that the JW's have also put the name Jehovah where it should be Lord, when referring to Jesus in their translation of the Bible..Their bible is translated to agree with their teachings..
They will quote you scholars who say their bible is one of the most accerate..but, if you reseach the scholars they quote..They seem to fail to quote other negative comments the same scholar has made about their translations..Also, they don't seem to include the fact that most of the scholars when I researched , had some very bad comments in regards to their translation. JW's really should do their own research..they should take everything that the WatchTower says to them as Truth..If they investagated their religion, as the Bible says to make sure of all things..They would be shocked and they would feel betrayed by the very ones they trust so much.
2007-07-01 11:53:43 · answer #1 · answered by Tom 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes it is proper. It is the common pronunciation in relatively modern times. Yahweh is correct and is also used in scripture, as is Jah. But written Hebrew didn't contain vowels so it's impossible to know with 100% certainty. If you think about it, if we're going to question whether or not Jehovah is an accurate representation of the Tetagramaton YHWH, we'd have to question the names of every single Hebrew mentioned by name in the Bible wouldn't we? David, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah and so on. The important thing is that we understand what his name means to us, respect it and live a life that brings Him honor.
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One more point. John vs. Juan. Both are the same name. Does that mean pronouncing it one of those two ways, as opposed to the other is wrong?
2007-07-01 18:08:52 · answer #2 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah: The personal name of the only true God. His own self-designation. Jehovah is the Creator and, rightfully, the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. “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.
Where is God’s name found in Bible translations that are commonly used today?
The New English Bible: The name Jehovah appears at Exodus 3:15; 6:3. See also Genesis 22:14; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24; Ezekiel 48:35. (But if this and other translations use “Jehovah” in several places, why not be consistent in using it at every place where the Tetragrammaton appears in the Hebrew text?)
Revised Standard Version: A footnote on Exodus 3:15 says: “The word LORD when spelled with capital letters, stands for the divine name, YHWH.”
Today’s English Version: A footnote on Exodus 6:3 states: “THE LORD: . . . Where the Hebrew text has Yahweh, traditionally transliterated as Jehovah, this translation employs LORD with capital letters, following a usage which is widespread in English versions.”
King James Version: The name Jehovah is found at Exodus 6:3; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; 26:4. See also Genesis 22:14; Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24.
American Standard Version: The name Jehovah is used consistently in the Hebrew Scriptures in this translation, beginning with Genesis 2:4.
Douay Version: A footnote on Exodus 6:3 says: “My name Adonai. The name, which is in the Hebrew text, is that most proper name of God, which signifieth his eternal, self-existing being, (Exod. 3, 14,) which the Jews out of reverence never pronounce; but, instead of it, whenever it occurs in the Bible, they read Adonai, which signifies the Lord; and, therefore, they put the points or vowels, which belong to the name Adonai, to the four letters of that other ineffable name, Jod, He, Vau, He. Hence some moderns have framed the name of Jehovah, unknown to all the ancients, whether Jews or Christians; for the true pronunciation of the name, which is in the Hebrew text, by long disuse is now quite lost.” (It is interesting that The Catholic Encyclopedia [1913, Vol. VIII, p. 329] states: “Jehovah, the proper name of God in the Old Testament; hence the Jews called it the name by excellence, the great name, the only name.”)
The Holy Bible translated by Ronald A. Knox: The name Yahweh is found in footnotes at Exodus 3:14 and 6:3.
The New American Bible: A footnote on Exodus 3:14 favors the form “Yahweh,” but the name does not appear in the main text of the translation. In the Saint Joseph Edition, see also the appendix Bible Dictionary under “Lord” and “Yahweh.”
The Jerusalem Bible: The Tetragrammaton is translated Yahweh, starting with its first occurrence, at Genesis 2:4.
New World Translation: The name Jehovah is used in both the Hebrew and the Christian Greek Scriptures in this translation, appearing 7,210 times.
An American Translation: At Exodus 3:15 and 6:3 the name Yahweh is used, followed by “the LORD” in brackets.
The Bible in Living English, S. T. Byington: The name Jehovah is used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
The ‘Holy Scriptures’ translated by J. N. Darby: The name Jehovah appears throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, also in many footnotes on Christian Greek Scripture texts, beginning with Matthew 1:20.
The Emphatic Diaglott, Benjamin Wilson: The name Jehovah is found at Matthew 21:9 and in 17 other places in this translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures.
The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text—A New Translation, Jewish Publication Society of America, Max Margolis editor-in-chief: At Exodus 6:3 the Hebrew Tetragrammaton appears in the English text.
The Holy Bible translated by Robert Young: The name Jehovah is found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures in this literal translation.
2007-07-01 20:09:04 · answer #3 · answered by amorromantico02 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Every lover of righteousness who reads the inspired Scriptures and who truly comes to “know” with understanding the full meaning of Jehovah’s name (Ps 9:9, 10; 91:14; Jer 16:21) has every reason, therefore, to love and bless that name (Ps 72:18-20; 119:132; Heb 6:10), praise and exalt it (Ps 7:17; Isa 25:1; Heb 13:15), fear and sanctify it (Ne 1:11; Mal 2:4-6; 3:16-18; Mt 6:9), trust in it (Ps 33:21; Pr 18:10), saying with the psalmist: “I will sing to Jehovah throughout my life; I will make melody to my God as long as I am. Let my musing about him be pleasurable. I, for my part, shall rejoice in Jehovah. The sinners will be finished off from the earth; and as for the wicked, they will be no longer. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise Jah, you people!”—Ps 104:33-35.
2007-07-01 19:55:10 · answer #4 · answered by gem 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good answers here... It's a language issue.
To show that Jehovah is the "proper name" of God, it must first be shown that the native language of God himself is Hebrew.
Well, good luck with that. Myself? I think the claim has about as much weight as when a Muslim insists that Allah really, originally spoke their derivative Arabic.
The same goes with "Jesus Christ", an English title which never existed until long, long after that Man was dead.
God is more properly addressed as "Father", and Jesus as... well, any number -- the Son of God, the Chosen, the Saver/Saviour, the Redeemer/Purchaser, the Lamb/Sacrifice...
2007-07-01 18:14:23 · answer #5 · answered by Bravo-Alpha 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Every language has it's own pronounciation of God's name.
"Jehovah" is the most common used name for God in the English language. Although many translations do not use the name in its entirity, it does contain God's name in human names, as was the norm in Bible times:
JEHOash
JEHOiakim
JEHOram
JEHOida
EliJAH
AbiJAH
These are all names found in the Bible. If a person were to insist on promouncing God's name Yahweh, it would make sense to change the above names as well. Also, Jesus' name would have to be pronounced "Yeshua", since that is likely the original pronounciation.
Names change from language to language. That does not mean that the person changes.
"That men may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." -Psalm 83:18
2007-07-01 18:01:05 · answer #6 · answered by johnusmaximus1 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
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 who asks us to use it. The Scriptures encourage us to use God's personal name.
The Hebrew name “Yahweh” (or “Yehowah”) also seems to be an honest form of 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/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20040122/
http://watchtower.org/e/19990208/article_03.htm
2007-07-01 23:49:43 · answer #7 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No JHWH is. You are right about the Adonai vowels(Masoretic and after) added to the Tetragrammaton. Jehovah is a mistaken tern but its use does not bother me at all.
2007-07-01 22:14:40 · answer #8 · answered by James O 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who cares if someone calls you "man"instead of your personal name.But in Jehovah's case it is different because he is the supreme creator.
2014-12-06 08:43:48 · answer #9 · answered by Rolando C I 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am is the name he gave to Moses...Jesus also called himself I am in the Garden of Gethsemane...
2007-07-01 20:49:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋