His Name is YEHOVAH
Who is the LORD?
So, let’s pose a question: If God’s personal name is YEHOVAH, why do most Bible translations translate YEHOVAH as “the LORD”?
The answer is straightforward. The most common translation of YEHOVAH is the ‘LORD’ because the translators chose to follow the traditions of man instead of the command of God.
Since the Hebrew Text was without vowels, it appears in the Text as YHVH (H3068 יְהֹוָה); and without vowels soon the pronouncement was lost. How could we know it is Yehovah and not “Yahweh” (YAH-way); others prefer “Yehowah,” “Yahuweh,” or “Yahawah”; still others argue for “Jehovah”?
The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHVH. There was no true J sound in ancient Hebrew. Even the Hebrew letter vav, which is transliterated as the W in YHWH is said to have originally had a pronunciation closer to V than the W of Jehovah.
Thou Shalt Swear By My Name
Yehovah in His wisdom commanded the Israelites to swear via His Name. If they vowed, they were to use His Name. Thus, His Name had to be used for such solemn acts. They weren’t usually forced to vow, but when they did, they had to use His Name:
Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear Yehovah thy God and serve Him. And thou shalt swear via His name.
Deuteronomy 10:20 Thou shalt fear Yehovah thy God. Thou shalt serve Him, and thou shalt cleave to Him. And thou shalt swear via His name.
Here are a few further thoughts:
(1) His name YHVH is used around 6519 times (in Strong’s Blue Letter Bible), and should be used, (not Lord, which is a title). Nehemia Gordon, a native Hebrew speaker, had dug this issue deeper and established His name as Yehovah:
a) The Name Yehovah Found 1015 Times in Ancient Hebrew Manuscripts | Hoshana Rabbah BlogHoshana Rabbah Blog b) (261) Nehemia Gordon: How to Pronounce YHWH in Hebrew The Awakening Report – YouTube
(2) The time when the Jew stopped and lost His name was around the time of Rabbi Haninah ben Teradion, (2nd century AD). During the Hadrianic persecutions decrees (following the Bar Kokhba revolt of AD 132-135) were promulgated imposing the most rigorous penalties on the observers of the Jewish law, and especially upon those who occupied themselves with the promulgation of that law. Nevertheless, Hananiah conscientiously followed his chosen profession; he convened public assemblies and taught Torah; and for this, he lost his life as a martyr.
(3) The LORD; one of the 134 changes to Adonai listed by EW Bullinger in Appendix 32 of The Companion Bible; it should be “The LORD (יְהוָ֨ה YHVH, Yehovah)” as in the original Text;
The official list given in the Massorah (§§ 107-15, Ginsburg’s edition) contains the 134.
Genesis 18:3,27,30,32; (Genesis 18:31? The context indicates that this verse should be included)
19:18; 20:4. Exodus 4:10,13; 5:22; 15:17; 34:9,9. Numbers 14:17.
Joshua 7:8. Judges 6:15; 13:8. 1Kings 3:10,15; 22:6. 2Kings 7:6; 19:23. Isaiah 3:17,18; 4:4; 6:1,8,11; 7:14,20; 8:7; 9:8,17; 10:12; 11:11; 21:6,8,16; 28:2; 29:13; 30:20; 37:24; 38:14,16; 49:14. Ezekiel 18:25,29; 21:13; 33:17,29. Amos 5:16; 7:7,8; 9:1. Zechariah 9:4. Micah 1:2. Malachi 1:12,14.
Psalm 2:4; 16:2; 22:19,30; 30:8; 35:3?(none), 35:17,22; 37:12; 38:9,15,22; 39:7; 40:17; 44:23; 51:15; 54:4; 55:9; 57:9; 59:11; 62:12; 66:18; 68:11,17,19,22,26,32; 73:20; 77:2,7; 78:65; 79:12; 86:3,4,5,8,9,12,15; 89:49,50; 90:1,17; 110:5; 130:2,3,6. Daniel 1:2; 9:3,4,7,9,15,16,17,19,19,19. Lamentations 1:14,15,15; 2:1,2,5,7,18,19,20; 3:31,36,37,58. Ezra 10:3. Nehemiah 1:11; 4:14. Job 28:28.
[There seems to be an error: that there is none in Psalm 35:3 but another change should be added to Genesis 18:31; the total changes remain at 134]
Joel Huan
The Mystery of Ephraim 