Why do people use the word Jehovah when there's no such name in Hebrew?

Question

I've been told the Hebrew language, like Arabic, has no vowels. It's written only with consonants. The name of God in Hebrew was always written with 4 dots representing 4 consonants - YHWH.

Does Yahweh, then, mean "I am" in Hebrew?

If God doesn't have a name, why did God tell Abraham (?) to tell the people "I am" sent him?

If the JWs got the name of God wrong, one wonders what else they may have gotten wrong.

Line Dancer - All you're proving is the missionaries used the King James Bible to evangelize the Chinese, etc. Answer the question, please.

Answer 1

People who use the name "Jehovah" are generally not pretending to speak or write in Hebrew, but in English. If they were speaking Hebrew, they might say "Yehowah".


Of course, in writing, the proper and personal name of Almighty God is:
יהוה

Those four Hebrew characters are generally transliterated as "YHWH" (that is, each Hebrew character is directly replaced by a different character with the same sound in another language's character set).

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.

The name "Jehovah" was not fabricated "from whole cloth" (as it were). As speakers of English find it easier to say "Jesus" than "Yeheshua", so "Jehovah" seems to have originated as an honest attempt to pronounce "the Tetragrammaton".
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The bible teaches that a certain kind of person would disrespect the divine name.

(Psalm 74:18) The enemy himself has reproached, O Jehovah, And a senseless people have treated your name with disrespect.


The bible also teaches what would happen to those who refuse to use and honor the name of Jehovah.

(Malachi 2:2) If you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name," Jehovah of armies has said, "I shall also certainly send upon you the curse

(Psalm 83:16-18) Fill their faces with dishonor, That people may search for your name, O Jehovah. 17 O may they be ashamed and be disturbed for all times, And may they become abashed and perish; 18 That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

(Isaiah 52:5,6) The utterance of Jehovah, "and constantly, all day long, my name was being treated with disrespect. 6 For that reason my people will know my name


According to the bible, what must ALL people do with regard to Jehovah's name?

(Psalm 29:2) Ascribe to Jehovah the glory of his name.

(Psalm 86:8-9) There is none like you among the gods, O Jehovah, Neither are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations whom you have made will themselves come, And they will bow down before you, O Jehovah, And will give glory to your name.


The bible also teaches that there are real benefits for those who appropriately use the name Jehovah.

(Romans 10:13) Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved

(Acts 2:21) And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.

(Joel 2:32) And it must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe

(Malachi 3:16) And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name.

(Nehemiah 1:11) Jehovah, please, let your ear become attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take delight in fearing your name


Who can reasonably be called "a people for Jehovah's name"? What does the bible say about this people?

(Isaiah 43:12) There was among you no strange god. So you are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "and I am God.

(Zephaniah 3:9) I shall give to peoples the change to a pure language, in order for them all to call upon the name of Jehovah, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder.

(Micah 4:5) For all the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god; but we, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever.

(Isaiah 52:5-7) The utterance of Jehovah, "and constantly, all day long, my name was being treated with disrespect. 6 For that reason my people will know my name... 7 How comely upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, the one publishing peace, the one bringing good news of something better, the one publishing salvation

(Malachi 1:11) For from the sun’s rising even to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place sacrificial smoke will be made, a presentation will be made to my name, even a clean gift; because my name will be great among the nations," Jehovah of armies has said.


Here are some additional Scriptures that mention God's personal name. There are THOUSANDS MORE. Do any of these seem to imply that the name "Jehovah" is unimportant?

(Psalm 148:13) Let them praise the name of Jehovah, For his name alone is unreachably high.
(Micah 5:4) He will certainly stand and do shepherding in the strength of Jehovah, in the superiority of the name of Jehovah his God
(Psalm 9:10) And those knowing your name will trust in you, For you will certainly not leave those looking for you, O Jehovah.
(Psalm 34:3) O magnify Jehovah with me, YOU people, And let us exalt his name together.
(Zephaniah 3:12) A people humble and lowly, and they will actually take refuge in the name of Jehovah.
(Revelation 15:4) Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal?. . .
(Micah 6:8,9) And what is Jehovah asking... the person of practical wisdom will fear your name.
(Psalm 96:2) Sing to Jehovah, bless his name.
(Psalm 105:1) Give thanks to Jehovah, call upon his name, Make known among the peoples his dealings.
(Psalm 54:6) I shall laud your name, O Jehovah, for it is good.
(Micah 4:5) For all the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god; but we, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever.
(Psalm 118:26) Blessed be the One coming in the name of Jehovah
(Matthew 21:9) Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name!
(Matthew 23:39) Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name!
(Mark 11:9) Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name!
(Luke 13:35) Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name.
(John 12:13) Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name

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Answer 2

I just love this question and the very funny answer the JW's give which make no reference to the question in answering it. Since the name Jehovah NEVER was in ANY new testament writings nor was it even used as a name for God as it was a man made invention of the name. I wonder why they believe such a thing. I mean in the Hebrew the name was Jehovah so in the Greek the name would be Jehovah? The name Jesus is in Greek but his name in Hebrew would have been Yashua or even Joshua. Jesus never used the name Jehovah and always called his Father either the Father or God the Father, why? He followed the Law. He was not a high priest yet! When speaking with these witness about the NWT and their rules, they only preach these rules for the benefit of others, you don't expect them to follow them do you? Because the don't. They make up these rules and then break them at will, just to keep their doctrines intact. The NWT is the most bias and completely flawed translation and should not ever be considered a Bible of true Christians. It's a book in sheep's clothing but inside its a wolf. Again JW's there was never a new testamnet writing found that has the name Jehovah in it. So why not leave well enough alone instead of trying and doing the changes in the Bible? You have change the meanings of several verses because it fits with your doctrine. Why? Leave the Bible alone, it's the word of God, it does not need your changes or forced changes!

Answer 3

The name "Jehovah" is not an invention of Jehovah's Witnesses. The name was in use long before JW's came into existence. If your preferred Bible is the King James, you will find God's name as Jehovah four times. The verses are Ex. 6:3, Ps. 83:18, Isa. 12:2, and 26:4. Apparently, you were not aware of that, were you?

Why do you take issue with God's name being Jehovah? I would imagine that you have no trouble with names like "Jesus," "Joshua," "Jeremiah," "John," "Elijah," and "Josiah." Why is that?

The truth is, nobody knows for sure how the name of God was originally pronounced. Why not? Well, the first language used in writing the Bible was Hebrew, and when the Hebrew language was written down, the writers wrote only consonants—not vowels. Hence, when the inspired writers wrote God’s name, they naturally did the same thing and wrote only the consonants.

While ancient Hebrew was an everyday spoken language, this presented no problem. The pronunciation of the Name was familiar to the Israelites and when they saw it in writing they supplied the vowels without thinking (just as, for an English reader, the abbreviation “Ltd.” represents “Limited” and “bldg.” represents “building”).

In English, the accepted form of God's name is Jehovah. In other languages, it is written and pronounced slightly different.

Following are forms of the divine name in different languages, indicating international acceptance of the form Jehovah:

Awabakal - Yehóa

Bugotu - Jihova

Cantonese - Yehwowah

Danish - Jehova

Dutch - Jehovah

Efik - Jehovah

English - Jehovah

Fijian - Jiova

Finnish - Jehova

French - Jéhovah

Futuna - Ihova

German - Jehova

Hungarian - Jehova

Igbo - Jehova

Italian - Geova

Japanese - Ehoba

Maori - Ihowa

Motu - Iehova

Mwala-Malu - Jihova

Narrinyeri - Jehovah

Nembe - Jihova

Petats - Jihouva

Polish - Jehowa

Portuguese - Jeová

Romanian - Iehova

Samoan - Ieova

Sotho - Jehova

Spanish - Jehová

Swahili - Yehova

Swedish - Jehova

Tahitian - Iehova

Tagalog - Jehova

Tongan - Jihova

Venda - Yehova

Xhosa - uYehova

Yoruba - Jehofah

Zulu - uJehova

"Line Dancer - All you're proving is the missionaries used the King James Bible to evangelize the Chinese, etc. Answer the question, please."

People use God's name Jehovah because it is in the Bible. You answered your own question. And the King James Bible was not just used by missionaries. It was used in church services all over Europe. In Italy and Greece, God's name has been etched into churches and other buildings.

Let me ask you something? Why do people use the word "Jesus" when there is no such name in Hebrew? I smell a double standard here.

"If the JWs got the name of God wrong, one wonders what else they may have gotten wrong."

Did you understand anything that I said? Jehovah's Witnesses did make up the name. "Jehovah" has been around and in use for centuries before Jehovah's Witnesses ever existed.

"If God doesn't have a name, why did God tell Abraham (?) to tell the people "I am" sent him?"

What you said above is incorrect. God did not say those words to Abraham; he said them to Moses. Moses did know God's personal name, and it wasn't "I am." At Ex. 3:15, God said: "“This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name to time indefinite," NOT "I am."

The Jews knew God's name. Moses' mother's name, Jochebed, means "Glory of Jehovah."

"Does Yahweh, then, mean "I am" in Hebrew?"

No. "Jehovah” is translated from the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, הוהי, which means “He Causes to Become.” These four Hebrew letters are represented in many languages by the letters JHVH or YHWH.

"I am" is taken from the Hebrew word "Ehyéh."

The American Standard Version of 1901 did justice to the Divine name, rendering it “Jehovah” in every one of its 6,823 occurrences. Regarding their doing so, the translators of that version, among other things, stated in their preface: “This personal name, with its wealth of sacred associations, is now restored to the place in the sacred text to which it has an unquestionable claim.” Jehovah’s witnesses are in full agreement with that policy and therefore they have preferred the American Standard Version to the English King James Version.

Answer 4

Jehovah Donahue (Ado nay) Translated "God the Lord" or "the Lord God." "Meaning JEHOVAH (IS) THE LORD.
PS.68:20.> And unto God the Lord belong the issue from death. See also Ps 109:21: 140:7; 141:8
Hab. 3:19 > "The LORD GOD is my strength.

JEHOVAH "HE IS" "the Self-Existing One"
This is the most frequently used name (about 6,000 times) and is generally translated as "The LORD" and only occasionally as "Jehovah." "The spelling as used here was formed in a later time period by inserting vowels to the Hebrew form YHWH to Yahweh, transliterated to Jehovah.
It is used first in connection with Elohim in Gen. 2:4; "The LORD God (Jehovah Elohim)made
In the name Jehovah three periods of existence come together in one word: the past, the present, and the future- He that always was, that always is, and that ever is to come,as is interpreted in Revelation 1:4
This name parallels "Lord" as used of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Answer 5

If Jehovah was suppose to be hebrew you would be correct.


But since Jehovah is English it doesn't matter that it is not Hebrew.

I once openned my English dictionary and found, Jehovah, "the name of God in English"

I then turned to the "Y's" and guess what,

Yahweh wasn't listed. This threw me for a loop until I was remembered I was reading an English dictionary and not a Hebrew dictionary.

When you start speaking and writting Hebrew, then you can insist on using Yahweh.

.

Answer 6

while we don't have 100% certainty about God's name it is definitely not Jehovah.

Yahweh is probably as close as you're going to get. Probably has 99% certainty and I can live with that.

The Catholics use Yahweh in the "Jerusalem Bible" and the Baptists use it in the "Holman Christian Standard Bible". How can two such diverse groups agree on this if most of the evidence didn't point in this direction?

Answer 7

It was a German Catholic priest, centuries ago, who coined the modern phrase JWs now use. Considering how much hatred they have of all things Catholic, I'm astonished they're sticking with this one.

But I want to know why Jehovah's Witnesses call God 'Jehovah' when they cannot call him 'Abba - Father' as per Romans 8:15? Well, at least only 0.1% of them can do that. Only some 8,500 of them claim to have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children of God, and only those few know Romans 8 applies to them. That leaves 7 million+ poor souls who think there's some merit in making a big song and dance about using this word more than anyone else - as if that proved anything!

Answer 8

The Jeholvah witness church have change the name of God as Jehovah. This is the very reason that it is not a true religion but false with false pastor or minister.
The word YHWH is in Hebrew language.The prohibition made by this church is in Revelation which reads"
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
jtm

Answer 9

same way they come up with Yahweh. neither can tell you god's correct name because god does not have a name. the bible uses a place-holder for god's name as the jews thought it a sin to say god's name. they instead called him by a name that described him. to this day, no one knows the name of god.

Answer 10

That is a man-made name for God. They like to be " special God's people " by having many peculiar claims.

Jesus I the great I AM. He also is the Father God.

Answer 11

Jehovah is the (mis)translation and (mis)pronunciation in German. It's in err, however. The commonly accepted pronunciation is Yahweh (ya-way).