Does anyone know the Hebrew name of God?
The truth of the matter is no one knows God's name.
The truth of the matter is no one knows God's name.
Jehovah Witnesses place a great important on the name "Jehovah". They believe the name Jehovah was lost over the centuries and God's true people will restore God's true name throughout the world before He returns.
May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18 NWT.
That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18 NKJV
NOTE: We can ask ourselves, do we call our earthy father by his first name? No we do not. How much more our Heavenly Father and that is why Jesus and His disciples and others never used the name Jehovah.
NO ONE KNOWS GOD'S TRUE NAME AND THAT IS A FACT.
What about the tetragrammaton?
May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18 NWT.
That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18 NKJV
NOTE: We can ask ourselves, do we call our earthy father by his first name? No we do not. How much more our Heavenly Father and that is why Jesus and His disciples and others never used the name Jehovah.
NO ONE KNOWS GOD'S TRUE NAME AND THAT IS A FACT.
What about the tetragrammaton?
The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHWH. 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 W than the V of Jehovah is
essentially a Germanic pronunciation of the Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH. It is the letters of the tetragrammaton, Latinized into JHVH, with vowels inserted. “Yahweh” or “Yehowah” is far more likely to be the correct pronunciation.
THE NAMES OF GOD
Does God have more than one name? Is Jehovah the only Divine Name by which God was known?
It is interesting to note what the Bible says:
Exodus 3:13 (RSV) “If.. they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them? God said to Moses,
‘I AM WHO I AM’. And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’.”
Exodus 6:2,3 NWT “And God went on to speak to Moses and to say to him: ‘I am Jehovah. And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah, I did not make myself known to them..”
The two above texts introduce us to three of God’s names.
In the Kingdom Interlinear (1969) p.15 mention is made of ten names of God:
“...he treats of the ten names of God and says:’ The ninth [name of God] is a tetragrammaton ...”
is said to have originally had a pronunciation closer to W than the V of Jehovah is
essentially a Germanic pronunciation of the Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH. It is the letters of the tetragrammaton, Latinized into JHVH, with vowels inserted. “Yahweh” or “Yehowah” is far more likely to be the correct pronunciation.
THE NAMES OF GOD
Does God have more than one name? Is Jehovah the only Divine Name by which God was known?
It is interesting to note what the Bible says:
Exodus 3:13 (RSV) “If.. they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them? God said to Moses,
‘I AM WHO I AM’. And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’.”
Exodus 6:2,3 NWT “And God went on to speak to Moses and to say to him: ‘I am Jehovah. And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah, I did not make myself known to them..”
The two above texts introduce us to three of God’s names.
In the Kingdom Interlinear (1969) p.15 mention is made of ten names of God:
“...he treats of the ten names of God and says:’ The ninth [name of God] is a tetragrammaton ...”
SOME NAMES OF GOD
The Hebrew names of people in the Old Testament were used to reveal their character and attributes. The same applied to God:
SHADDAI. = Almighty from the verb implying to display power.
YHWH. from the tetragrammaton. Translated as Yahweh, Jehovah, Yehowah etc. It is from the verb hayah and means “the Eternal One”, “the Self-existing One”
EH-YEH ASHER EH-YEH. This is usually translated I AM THAT I AM.
In Hebrew as in English, this name is a form of the verb “to be” and implies the possessor is the eternal, self-existing One.
ADONAI. It is usually translated Lord or Master and is used of a proprietor of property, the master of a household, a governor. It sets forth God’s lordship, ownership and right to obedience.
The emphasis the Watchtower Society places on Jehovah as the only Divine Name to be used is not supported by either the teaching of the Bible or the example of Jesus.
The Hebrew names of people in the Old Testament were used to reveal their character and attributes. The same applied to God:
SHADDAI. = Almighty from the verb implying to display power.
YHWH. from the tetragrammaton. Translated as Yahweh, Jehovah, Yehowah etc. It is from the verb hayah and means “the Eternal One”, “the Self-existing One”
EH-YEH ASHER EH-YEH. This is usually translated I AM THAT I AM.
In Hebrew as in English, this name is a form of the verb “to be” and implies the possessor is the eternal, self-existing One.
ADONAI. It is usually translated Lord or Master and is used of a proprietor of property, the master of a household, a governor. It sets forth God’s lordship, ownership and right to obedience.
The emphasis the Watchtower Society places on Jehovah as the only Divine Name to be used is not supported by either the teaching of the Bible or the example of Jesus.
EXAMPLE OF JESUS
When Jesus was on earth He had an excellent opportunity to teach His followers which Divine Name to use. How did He tell us to address God?
Matt. 6:9 “YOU must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens,...”
Luke 11:2 (NWT)”Then he said to them: ‘Whenever YOU pray, say, “Father,…”
How did He address God?:
John 17:11. Holy Father, watch over them…
John 17:25. Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you…
Jesus gave instructions for his followers to be baptized, keep His commandments etc. and even how to pray but He never told us to use the name Jehovah.
YAHWEH or JEHOVAH?
The exact pronunciation of the name is not known today. The Society admitted in the 1969 edition of The Kingdom Interlinear p. 23:
“While inclining to view the pronunciation ‘Yahweh’ as the more correct way, we have retained the form ‘Jehovah’ because of people’s familiarity with it since the 14th century.”
New World Bible Translation Committee, February 9, 1950, New York, N. Y.”
This is an amazing admission! If the name was so important why not use the more correct one and be known as Yahweh Witnesses? Why choose the one that has come to us from the dark ages and tradition?
When Jesus was on earth He had an excellent opportunity to teach His followers which Divine Name to use. How did He tell us to address God?
Matt. 6:9 “YOU must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens,...”
Luke 11:2 (NWT)”Then he said to them: ‘Whenever YOU pray, say, “Father,…”
How did He address God?:
John 17:11. Holy Father, watch over them…
John 17:25. Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you…
Jesus gave instructions for his followers to be baptized, keep His commandments etc. and even how to pray but He never told us to use the name Jehovah.
YAHWEH or JEHOVAH?
The exact pronunciation of the name is not known today. The Society admitted in the 1969 edition of The Kingdom Interlinear p. 23:
“While inclining to view the pronunciation ‘Yahweh’ as the more correct way, we have retained the form ‘Jehovah’ because of people’s familiarity with it since the 14th century.”
New World Bible Translation Committee, February 9, 1950, New York, N. Y.”
This is an amazing admission! If the name was so important why not use the more correct one and be known as Yahweh Witnesses? Why choose the one that has come to us from the dark ages and tradition?
CALLED BY HIS NAME
The expression in the Bible called by His name does not mean that a person, building or city takes the literal name of God as their own name, but rather that they live or function according to God’s will:
Isa. 43:6-7 “...my sons... and my daughters... everyone that is called by my name...”
Jer. 34:15, NWT “the house upon which my name has been called.”
Dan. 9:19 NWT “..your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people.”
Neither the Jews, the Temple or Jerusalem were literally called by His name.
THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
For Salvation:
Acts 4:12 NW “Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
The message is clear "no other name for salvation". See also:
John 20:30 NWT “have life by means of his (Jesus) name”
1John 5:13 NWT “... You have life everlasting, YOU who put YOUR faith in the name of the Son of God
The expression in the Bible called by His name does not mean that a person, building or city takes the literal name of God as their own name, but rather that they live or function according to God’s will:
Isa. 43:6-7 “...my sons... and my daughters... everyone that is called by my name...”
Jer. 34:15, NWT “the house upon which my name has been called.”
Dan. 9:19 NWT “..your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people.”
Neither the Jews, the Temple or Jerusalem were literally called by His name.
THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
For Salvation:
Acts 4:12 NW “Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
The message is clear "no other name for salvation". See also:
John 20:30 NWT “have life by means of his (Jesus) name”
1John 5:13 NWT “... You have life everlasting, YOU who put YOUR faith in the name of the Son of God
Also in Jesus name:
Luke 10:17. NWT. ...even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name.
Acts 5:28. NWT. strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name
Acts 5:40. NWT. ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name
Acts 5:41. NWT. they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.
Acts 8:12. NWT. ...the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ...
Acts 9:15. NWT. a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations...
Phil 2:9. NWT. ...gave him the name that is above every other name. (NOTE: The Watchtower added the word "other") See Below
Luke 10:17. NWT. ...even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name.
Acts 5:28. NWT. strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name
Acts 5:40. NWT. ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name
Acts 5:41. NWT. they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.
Acts 8:12. NWT. ...the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ...
Acts 9:15. NWT. a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations...
Phil 2:9. NWT. ...gave him the name that is above every other name. (NOTE: The Watchtower added the word "other") See Below
On the right is the first Watch Tower Bible printed in 1950 called:
"New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures"
Its intresting that the world other is has no [brackets] around it to show it was an added word that does not show in the Greek.
One the right is the 1984 NWT Bible,
On the right is the Watchtower online Bible:
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
Click here to see page online:
Click on link below to viisit the page on line
The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
Every Knee should bend in Heaven and on Earth:
Phil 2:10 NWT. in the name of Jesus every knee should bend... in heaven and on earth.. READ THE GREEK HERE:
For Witnessing:
Acts 1:8 NWT “...and YOU will be witnesses of me...”
Acts 8:12 NWT “Philip, who was declaring.. the name of Jesus Christ”
Acts 9:15 NWT “... (Paul)... a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations...”
For Everything:
Col. 3:17 NWT “... do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus...”
JESUS and JEHOVAH
Acts 1:8 NWT “...and YOU will be witnesses of me...”
Acts 8:12 NWT “Philip, who was declaring.. the name of Jesus Christ”
Acts 9:15 NWT “... (Paul)... a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations...”
For Everything:
Col. 3:17 NWT “... do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus...”
JESUS and JEHOVAH
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM (Hebrew: Ehyeh) hath sent me unto you.’” 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.’ Let God be True. 1946. Pg21. ( See photo copy below.)
The Greek speaking Jews and Gentiles called him "Jesus Messias" or "Jesus Christ". In either language it means "Jesus the Anointed"; the name Jesus or Jeshua is just the shortened form of the Hebrew name Jehoshua, meaning Jehovah is the Savior.”
Let God Be True (1952) Pg 31. ( Photo copy above.)
Bible study reveals that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is usually identified in the New Testament as Jesus. ( See study on "Jesus is Lord")
Ancient Hebrew was written without vowels.
Therefore, no one today can say for sure exactly how people of Bible times pronounced YHWH. Hence, uncertainty about the ancient pronunciation of God’s name is no reason for not using it. From the Watchtower web site: Click here:
The Watchtower admits no one today knows the ancient pronunciation of God’s name so they go by tradition only.
Below are quotes from their own Watchtower books:
Enemies: 1937: P24.
The Greek speaking Jews and Gentiles called him "Jesus Messias" or "Jesus Christ". In either language it means "Jesus the Anointed"; the name Jesus or Jeshua is just the shortened form of the Hebrew name Jehoshua, meaning Jehovah is the Savior.”
Let God Be True (1952) Pg 31. ( Photo copy above.)
Bible study reveals that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is usually identified in the New Testament as Jesus. ( See study on "Jesus is Lord")
Ancient Hebrew was written without vowels.
Therefore, no one today can say for sure exactly how people of Bible times pronounced YHWH. Hence, uncertainty about the ancient pronunciation of God’s name is no reason for not using it. From the Watchtower web site: Click here:
The Watchtower admits no one today knows the ancient pronunciation of God’s name so they go by tradition only.
Below are quotes from their own Watchtower books:
Enemies: 1937: P24.
The Divine Name that will endure forever. 1984. (Magazine below)
How is God’s name pronounced?
The truth is, nobody knows for sure how the name of God was originally pronounced...
Thus it is evident that the original pronunciation of God’s name is no longer known. Nor is it really important. If it were, then God himself would have made sure that it was preserved for us to use. Page 7
While many translators favour the pronunciation Yahweh, the New World Translation and also a number of other translations continue the use of the form Jehovah because of people’s familiarity with it for centuries… Is it, then, wrong to use a form like Yahweh? Not at all. Page 10,11.
Did Jesus followers in the first century use God’s name? They had been commanded by Jesus to make disciples of people of all nations.
Matthew 28:19-20. ( Note Bible saids: Baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.) Page 16.
1985 edition of the Kingdom Interlinear below.
Matthew 28:19-20. ( Note Bible saids: Baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.) Page 16.
1985 edition of the Kingdom Interlinear below.
While many are inclined to view the pronunciation “Yah-weh” as the more correct way, we have retained the form “Jehovah” because of people’s familiarity with it for centuries.
1985 edition of The Kingdom Interlinear p.12. ( See below.)
1969 edition of The Kingdom Interlinear below.
1985 edition of The Kingdom Interlinear p.12. ( See below.)
1969 edition of The Kingdom Interlinear below.
NOTE BELOW:
If like the Watchtower believes that the correct name of God is "Yah-weh" then why call God Jehovah. Would we call our earthy father a different name that was not his name?
If like the Watchtower believes that the correct name of God is "Yah-weh" then why call God Jehovah. Would we call our earthy father a different name that was not his name?