3 replies to this topic

[composer]

A quick question please.

On another Forum some one claimed -

The first occurance found of the word "yahweh" is in 1903. The first known occurance of the name Jehovah is almost a MILLINIUM ago.

Thanks

[Mark Taunton]

I suspect "Yahweh" as a transliteration of God's name into English goes back before 1903, but the exact date does not matter. "Jehovah" certainly has a long-standing tradition behind it (e.g. it appears in the 1611 King James translation), but again, that does not matter.

In Hebrew, the letters of God's name are yod, hey, waw and hey (equivalent to English Y, H, W, H - as in the topic title). Hebrew has no letter equivalent to the English J. For that reason it is clear that "Yahweh" is closer to the original form of God's name. Additionally, the form "Jehovah" is incorrect in respect of how the Hebrew language works. YHWH includes W (waw or vav) which can in different contexts be sounded as a W (or a V) or as an O, but never both at the same time. However in "Jehovah", there is both an O and a V sound, which breaks this rule. So "Jehovah" is definitely inaccurate as a rendering of God's name into English.

Of course, the important thing is that God's name itself first appears (as YHWH, or rather the equivalent Hebrew letters) thousands of years before English was ever spoken or written: Genesis 2:4.

Beyond those basic points, the form "Yahweh" can be supported with reference to the Hebrew word "ehyeh" - E (aleph) H (hey) Y (yod) H (hey) - to which it is related. "Ehyeh" is correctly translated as "I will be" in Exodus 3:12, where God talks about his name to Moses, but the AV translators were inconsistent with their own translation there, only two verses later. A more accurate rendering of 3:14 would be

And God said unto Moses, I will be who I will be: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'I will be' hath sent me unto you.

YHWH comes from EHYH by shifting from first person "I will" (aleph start) to third person "he will" (yod start) and by changing the 3rd letter yod to a waw, which introduces a sense of causing. (I can give more detail, but that's probably better done in a different section of this forum.) So the best way I currently know of representing what the name YHWH means in English is "He will (cause to) be".

Hoping that helps...

Edited by Mark Taunton, 29 December 2007 - 11:33 PM.

[composer]

Thanks for that, i have been researching again and came across the following -

http://www.truthseek.net/Yahweh.html

Thanks again

[jerzy]

The name of God

There are some who insist on naming God "Jehovah" or "Yahweh". Yet the most adamant state that these names were derived at by Jews in the second part of the first millennium.

Let us take a close look what does God tell us about this.

OT

Based on the OT scriptures there is no name given as such. Elohiym (from el) denotes might, power.

El - strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): - God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong.

We are told that God was not known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by any name

Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

The tetrograme YHWH or JHWH presents rather character and authority of God.

Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

It is often presented as "He makes it happen", "Creator, Provider, Judge and Savour", "I will be who I will be" or just "I will manifest myself in man".

That explains why God had no name the way we understand it today. The "name" became a distinguishing label. It was not so when the scriptures were penned. God had changed names according to the purpose. So He named Abram Saraj and Jacob according to their new commission.

Likewise children were named according to the circumstances or their purpose with Samuel as a good example.

NT

Likewise Jesus was named according to his purpose.

However, Jesus always called God "Father". This is not a name. Yet Jesus says that he manifested God's name

Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

Onoma - From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097; a "name" (literally or figuratively), (authority, character): - called, (+ sur-) name (-d).

G1097 ginosko - A prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as shown at left, with others not thus clearly expressed): - allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

It becomes obvious that Jesus didn't manifest any name of God but rather His authority and character.

Jesus has also made it clear that we too should call God "our Father"

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

This is a great privilege of being in an intimate relationship with God. Anyone attempting to call God by any name attempts to distance himself from that intimate relationship.

We need to ask ourselves these questions:
- would you call your father by his name?
- would you like if your child calls you by your name?

The conclusion

God has never given us to know Him according to our thinking. We must know that God is He who "makes things happen". We must also know that this absolute and sovereign Power in the world allowed His "true worshippers" to call Him "Father".

God bless