What language was the original Bible written in? Was the word Jehovah really taken out of it?

Question

My friend is studying to be a Jehovah Witness, and she told me that my Bible was wrong and that theirs was right because it was translated from the original Hebrew version. Just wondering...

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate you all answering my question; it's really affirming my own faith. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The New World Translation (the Bible primarily used by Jehovah's Witnesses), was translated from the oldest available manuscripts of the original writings.
If you use the original King James Version (not the New King James), the most obvious place to note where God's name was removed is Psalm 110:1. There you will see the word Lord twice. Once in all capital letters and once with a capital L and other letters in lower case. In most instances of the Hebrew scriptures (old testament), King James chose to designate Jehovah as GOD or LORD, in all capital letters. Jesus, was designated Lord or God.
The Greek scriptures (new testament) often quote from the earlier Hebrew scriptures. In these instances, The NWT, in keeping with Jesus words at John 17:26, use God's personal name as it occurred there.

Answer 2

The Old testamnet is written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The Hebrew word YHWH (no vowels are ever given to this word so the pronunciation is not clear) form the base for the name Jehovah and is found quite often in the Bible. If the JW's translated from the original Hebrew they would know that. Since they claim otherwise, one must question their validity.

The only way they could possibly say what they do, is if they assume that all Bibles are translated from the Vulgate, a Latin Translation produced by Jerome in the 5th cent. Here the will not find the word Jehovah since Jerome used another Greek word in its place.

Answer 3

Hi,I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.Your friend is only studying the Bible as you said.She is not totally correct in saying that other Bibles are 'wrong'.The NWT is probably the most accurate modern day translation available(many anti Jehovah's Witnesses of course would deny that).I have a few different translations which come in handy when arguments arise regarding various scriptures and their meaning.Even though there are many translations,the theme through them all is still the same;It is the vindication of Jehovah God's name and sovereignty and God's Kingdom and what it will do for mankind.It is just so unfortunate for most people that God's name has been taken out of virtually all modern day translations.That came about for a couple of reasons.Firstly the original writings were recorded in ancient Hebrew.And the Jews took God's commandment about 'not using the name of God in vain' to the extreme.They decided it safer not to use God's name at all!Secondly,ancient Hebrew did not contain vowels,only consonants and in time the original pronunciation of the divine name was lost.That is why the NWT is the only translation available today that has God's name back where it belongs- nearly 7000 times!

Answer 4

The original languages of the Bible were Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT)

The term "Jehovah" was invented by the Mazorites in the 1600's. If you take the name of God (YHWH), and the vowels for adonai, you get: Jehovah. Jehovah really is an amalgam or combination of words.

"Jehovah" is sometimes used in place of the name "Lord".The only Bible that uses this term is the KJV (which the JW's previously used) and the NWT (New World Translation which the JWs use now) which is an altered version of the Bible that omits every instance where the deity of Christ is mentioned among other things.

Answer 5

The Torah, the 5 books of Moses, were most likely written in Aramaic, not Hebrew. The Hebrew language came later on, during the Babylonian captivity, which is why Daniel is written partially in Aramaic and partially in Hebrew.
As for the Fathers name, it is NOT 'Jehovah', as there is no 'J' sound in YHWH, the Hebrew writing of the name. The 'J' sound came into our language around the 1500's. BTW the JW's KNOW that they are not calling Him by His true name, but do it anyway. They have a hard time admitting when they are wrong. Just look at all the false prophecies of Charles Taze Russell, their founder.
Tell your friend to get away from the JW's. If you want to study, study the Old Testament and New testament TOGETHER. They are one book, not two. Yahshua said you should have ONE TEACHER, and that was Him, and NO OTHER. Learn Yahshua's teaching, and you will have access to the Father as well, and understand Torah better.

Answer 6

The Ot was originally written in Hebrew and the NT in Greek with one book probably originally written in Aramaic.

The first Christians used the Greek translation of the OT scriptures called the Septuagint which is the Bible that Jesus quoted.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The New Testament, mostly Greek, some Aramaic. Jehovah was only one of the Names for God in the Old Testament. Some other translations read "The Lord will provide" or "The Lord of Peace." Depending on how it is used. Jehovah means Lord, but is usually connected with another word like Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Provides) or Jehovah-shalom (Lord of Peace). Hope this helps.

Answer 8

The Bible, as we know it, was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The claims of the JW's is where the error is, not with the Bible as it is commonly known. Those who don't know any better are their fodder for conversions. Consider that the oldest manuscripts available to translators now, the Dead Sea Scrolls being in that group show that what we now have is extremely accurate. Any disparities are of minor consequence and not worth making such claims for error about. A study of the JW bible, and even a KJV although I would prefer a NIV Bible will show that their bible is the one in error, not the Bible being used to compare theirs with. Make note, the JW's are called a "cult" with good reason. Their error is easily seen by someone trained in the Bible, but not by most people who are generally ignorant of the Bible. One primary point, the name "Jehovah", for God isn't worth calling a Bible, such as the KJV inaccurate. It is a point that is not worth introducing other error about. God doesn't really care if Jehovah is used or not, so long as His authority is made known, and relevant. Splitting hairs over a word is a foolish waste of time. If one really wants to know where a word truly belongs, then they need to get a good concordance, such as Strong's, and do word studies for those things that they are curious about.
Jehovah, versus Yahwey, or Jehovah Elohim, or any other of the translations of the Jewish renderings for God, or the Greek words for the same figure is a waste of time when there are much more important things to consider. If the true name of God is that important to your friend, then she needs to know that the JW's are no more accurate than anyone else because the vowels used in the letters of the Hebrew texts for the name of God is the invention of non-Jewish linguists. JW interpreters are no more right than anyone else. The Hebrews left out the letters that make the full name of God because in their way of thinking, it was wrong to fully set the name of God. That is why in a Jewish translation, the vowels are left out. So, your friend is following a course to error, not better enlightenment. Prayer, study, and a books on the culture of the time, as well as the best concordance that she can find will answer her questions, not a cult that doesn't believe in the Deity of Jesus to begin with.

Answer 9

Shes only partly correct. Moses wrote the beginning chapters in his native language which was Hebrew, as did most of the bible writers in the old. The newer would have been in Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew as the writers wrote according to that which was inspired by Holy spirit, in their own language.
You cannot read the bible as though it is a novel written by just one person. The bible is a collection of experiences, predictions, music/Psalms, Proverbs, all written over thousands of years by 44 different people.

Answer 10

The old testament was written in hebrew
The new testament was written in a dialect of aramaic with chaldee influences and also later some books in greek.

Your friend is not entirely wrong in that assertion. When the bible was translated to english most of the instances of the nameS of God were all translated into the words "God" and "Lord" (maybe a very few instances of "Jehovah"). But that is problematic because there was upwords of 50 names for God.

The difference is clear. If I say I like Cindy or if I say I love Cindy there is a connotational difference that is important. Now if I had written that in Hebrew and they translate them both as I Love Cindy, then that's a problem - because that isn't what was written.