The original pronunciation of YHWH was probably YaHWeH. This seems to be the case by examining Jewish names. Many names contain part of the divine name, i.e. yah, and by examing the vowels that they used to construct their names with the divine abbreviation attached, we can get a feel for how YWHW was originally pronounced. We conclude from the examining names such as Joshua, Jehoshaphat, Elijah, and even the word hallelujah (hallel=praise; yah=Yahweh), that YH was pronounced as yah. We also have evidence that Yahweh is probably the correct pronunciation from examining the Greek’s tranliteration of the divine name as iaoue or iabe.
2007-07-24 07:43:36 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Basically how can u justify calling God Jehovah?
2007-07-24 08:20:02 · update #1
How can you justify calling Jehoshaphat, Joshua, and Elijah by their 'English' names?
Why did you ask this question in English and not Hebrew?
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2007-07-25 11:35:46 · answer #1 · answered by TeeM 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hmm. Followup doesn't match title. Oh well.
If you look at the Hebrew "aleph-bet", you will not find any letter sounded like the English "J". In fact, very few other languages have that sound at all. The German "J" is pronounced like the consonantal English "Y", which is why the Hebrew letter "yodh" is often transliterated as either a "J" or a "Y".
Greek has two possible letters for the "Y" sound, "iota" and "upsilon". Iota (short "i") was the better choice because upsilon is somewhere between a long "i" and a "u". So it transliterates "yodh" as "iota". But they didn''t have "V" either, so either "beta" or "upsilon" had to substitute, and "H" only appears as a reverse apostrophe at the beginning of words. The Greek transliteration of "YHVH" softens into a bunch of vowels or is simply replaced by either "kurios" ("Lord") or "ego emi" ("I am"). Latin also had no distinct "J" or "V" (actually "I" and "U"), so they would have produced "IHVH".
But I'm still not sure what point you're trying to make.
2007-07-24 15:15:25 · answer #2 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First off, there is no J sound in Hebrew. Typically, in translation, anything starting with a yud, or a Y sounding sound, becomes a J.
Secondly, Yahweh is an incorrect pronunciation. Haven't you heard of the phrase "Lost in translation"? The way God's name was certainly lost -- Jews don't know how to pronounce it.
Yahweh may be the Greek pronunciation. Is it the true one? Maybe, maybe not.
Jehova, on the other hand, is a way of looking at the Hebrew lettering and applying vowels to it, and substituting a J for a Yuh sound, how like they did it for Jacob (Yakov), Joshua (Yehoshua), ect. Once again, another possibility, but there is no TRUE pronunciation. It is all guesswork.
2007-07-24 15:40:16 · answer #3 · answered by Mozes 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They placed the vowels from Adonai into YHVH, so as not to speak the ineffable name.
Remember! Only the High Priests of Israel were allowed to say that name, and only once a year before the Ark of the Covenant.
If the priest was impure, the Ark would incinerate him in an explosion.
People say "Jehovah" as not to offend Yahweh.
(and actually it was pronounced Yah-Heh-Vah-Hey, but you had to resonate each syllable)
***
Here's an extra tidbit:
Did you know the name for Jesus in Hebrew is just YHVH with the letter Shin thrown in the middle?
YHShVH = Yeshua = Jesus
Shin means "spirit"... thus "Jesus" means the "Spirit of God" or better the "Spirit of Yahweh".
Fun stuff!
2007-07-24 15:29:09 · answer #4 · answered by Hooded Voodoo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it would actually be YHVH... "W" was translated and brought about when the English language was brought about... (Not that Yaweh is wrong just not the original translation if that what you are going for...) The correct pronunciation would be: "Yahveh" of the way they pronounced it back then would be "Yah Hey Vay Hey" It's brought about by breath...Listen to your breath, this is its sound... It's uncontrollable to speak the Most Holy Name. Even to those who do not believe.
Study it a bit more... We could have a nice little discussion then, I love discussing His name.
But I am a bit confused about what you would like explained?
*EDIT* "Yehowah" was translated to "Iehouah"
then translated again to "Jehovah"
No justification needed.?..
2007-07-24 14:50:47 · answer #5 · answered by TRV 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually Yahweh in english is God's name Jehovah, and i believe that jesus was Yehoshua
2007-07-24 14:54:48 · answer #6 · answered by poopsywickle 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm failing to see your point.
I believe you when you say there is no J in Hebrew. I also believe you on that whole thing about letters and praise.
I just don't see what you want me to explain. Do tell, o wise Kip.
2007-07-24 14:47:18 · answer #7 · answered by James, Pet Guy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's the point.
My name isn't pronounced the way it is spelled either.
2007-07-24 14:47:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think they made it all up XD
why is it that only jewish people are god's people, know everything about god, etc. ,,, why didn't god come to china?
2007-07-24 14:49:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kip, did you break into my winery last night?
2007-07-24 15:34:13 · answer #10 · answered by FridaY 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋