How many people know why "God" is sometimes spelled G-d?

Question

It's use goes back many centuries.

Answer 1

We translate the name of God in English by using several different words. In Hebrew, the name YHWH (yahweh) was seen as the very name of God. It is far too holy to possibly pass through the unholy lips of human beings. Jews do NOT speak the name of God. It is seen as the highest form of disrespect to God. In Hebrew, a name isn't just something that you call someone -- it is seen as a destiny. A name was given to a child based upon their life situation, the circumstances of the birth, and so on. It wasn't just a name. YHWH was the name and the very holy character of God. Indeed, if God is holy, so is his name. The idea was moved into English. Some Christians do not type out the name of God either. Some Jews that speak English do the same. So, the "o" is taken out. The original purpose has been lost a bit though.

Answer 2

In Hebrew ("the holy tongue") that's a sin to declare or write maximum of God's names (he's have been given some) while no longer concerning prayer. There are different names used, which includes Hashem, that are ok to be stated or written. So on a similar time as those regulations do no longer certainly be conscious to English out of understand some Jews (no longer all) write G-d and others write Hashem (which will pass away some non Jews clueless).

Answer 3

Because the name of God

I AM

cannot be said by you and mean me

there is no one around you in your life that can come up in front of your face and say "I am" and mean you by that word "I"

did you understand that simple little logic?
ok so then now go figure
some ancient dude trying to explain to Jeff:
"You cannot say the name of my God only your own God can you say the name of"
Then say Jeff meets Jack and remembers what the holy man said and tells Jack that a Divinely inspired holy being told him that the name of God cannot be said and Jack says to Jeff "well then you just sinned cause you said the name "God"
but then over in the corner of the bar was this journalist
now see the journalist is very wise (more or less) and overhears
And he writes what sells
so he words it as
"It has come down to us from divine inspiration that one is sinful indeed if they use the name of "G-d"
and the journalist thinks he is very clever because he found a way to name without using the name that everyone has been using before he proclaimed it to the world to be a sin

and that is why has come to be the term JackShit
because Journalists seldom really know JackShit

Answer 4

Many Jews will not write the name of God. It isn't forbidden under Jewish law but having the written name defaced or erased in anyway is forbidden and many Jews will not write the name in case the paper it is written on is defaced by another person. Even though they writer did not deface the name of God they were still involved. Check out the link below for more inormation.

Answer 5

yeah, if you write the whole name, the only way you can get rid of the document then is to bury it.

but you got a point about it being the hebrew name of g-d, so why do we also do it for the english.

and the internet is a very interesting question which is still being debated. is this format so transitory that it doesn't matter? or because the posts are eventually removed, should we write g-d?

KAL i truly hope you are not Jewish. exploring messianic beliefs is christianity. so if you do go that way, i truly hope you call yourself a christian and not something else that makes no sense. just like you can't be christian if you deny christ, one who believes in christ is not jewish.

Answer 6

My dad was Christian, and mom was a Jew. All my relatives on mom's side of the family spell it G_d. Many Jews superstitiously will not write the name of God.

It us as if "His name is too holy" to be spoken by sinful man. If you never use His name, you can never take His name "in vain"!

Answer 7

Jewish Tradition, holding that HaShem is too sacred to write down. However, I've never understood why this was adopted to the English, when only the Tetragrammaton originally held such status.

Answer 8

I've been wondering this myself lately as I've been exploring messianic beliefs. I'm not sure about the exact reason but I suspect it has something to do with the third commandment (not to use God's name in vain). I remember hearing once that when the Jewish scribes wrote the name of God, that they were supposed to use a different writing instrument, change their clothing and make themselves "clean" before writing it...perhaps taking out the "o" allows them to bypass this ritual.

I've been trying to find scriptural references without success...but perhaps it has something to do with us not being worthy to write his name (is writing it a form of taking his name in vain?)...we can speak it, but when we write it, we're in a way, swearing on it and that's disrespectful. For example, if a person wanted to write something and then quote me, he or she would need to have access to something I had written...if he or she relied on something he or she thought I said, he or she could be wrong...perhaps misquoting God in writing is a serious offense?

I'm very interested in hearing your thoughts and the thoughts of others on this one!

Answer 9

It is a sign of respect or adherence. Some traditions think it would be blasfemy to even say or spell God's name. Therefore, it is redacted.

Answer 10

To the Jewish people, the name God is very holy and they feel that they are dishonouring Him by spelling it out.