Evan Doan Supporter

This is one of the most important and yet least understood concepts in all of scripture. If one has a decent bible, it will be noticed that the word "LORD" is frequently spelled in all caps (and less frequently "GOD"), indicating what is commonly referred to as the Tetragrammaton (yod-hey-vav-hey in Hebrew). This occurs 4 times in the passages from Exodus quoted above. This is in contrast to "Lord" (not all caps), which translates the Hebrew word adonai, as well as "God" or "god," which translates the Hebrew word elohim.

In most Hebrew manuscripts that contain the vowel markings, one finds the vowel markings of adonai or elohim interpolated into the Tetragrammaton, as Rabbinic Jewish tradition teaches that our Creator's name is too holy to speak. However, this is in conflict with verses such as Exodus 9:16, quoted by Paul in Romans 9:17. Furthermore, Exodus 23:13 indicates that to not speak the name of a god is a sign of contempt.

But there are many instances in the ancient manuscripts where, apparently, the scribes neglected to substitute the vowel markings and instead employed vowel markings to spell out the Tetragrammaton as "Yehovah" (in Hebrew, the accent is on the last syllable for those interested in such things). This is a compound name derived from the past, present, and future tenses of the verb "to be" - hayah, hoveh, and yihyeh - in other words, his name "Yehovah" literally means, in Hebrew, he who always has been, who is, and who will always be.

One common misconception is that our Creator, Yehovah, has many names. However, it would be more accurate to state that he has many titles, but only one personal name that he personally states to be his name "to all generations" in Exodus 3:15.

The English name "Jesus" is in fact an anglicized form of the Latin version of the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua. Yeshua is, in turn, a shortened and contracted post-exilic form of the Hebrew name Yehoshua, which is a theophoric compound name of Yehovah + yoshia (Hebrew verb meaning to rescue/save/deliver). The man we know as Joshua the son of Nun in the OT actually has the exact same name in Hebrew.

So, even though we call him "God" as if that's his name (which is entirely appropriate, of course), "God" is in fact simply a title (again, entirely appropriate), whereas his one and only name is "Yehovah," meaning, again, "he who always has been, who is, and who will always be." See also Revelation 1:8.

I'd hate to step on anyone's toes, but it should also be noted that "Yahweh" has never been found in any Hebrew manuscript, either biblical or extra-biblical.

I hope this helps...

October 31 2018 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

If I am interpreting the question correctly, I would say that the Israelites would have regarded the name that God indicated for Himself to Moses as signifying that He was the ultimate source of all being and existence, from or by which everything in the universe derived or was created; and also that He was therefore eternal (having existed before anything else), and did not change over time.

In addition, with reference to the circumstances pertaining to God's appearance to Moses at that specific time and place, He also (as the source of all being) possessed control or power over any earthly entities (from individuals up to nations), and thus had the ability to free the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.

October 30 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report