Is Jehovah the true name of God?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Hebrew is unusual because it does not have vowels. While God originally gave His name to be spoken and remembered, over time, people avoided saying it out of caution against using it improperly. Later, Jewish scholars devised a way to add vowel marks to the Hebrew letters to help people pronounce them. However, to keep people from saying God’s name, they scrambled the vowels on YHWH. That left translators with just the 4 Hebrew consonants. Today, we know those consonants as YHWH, which is a best-guess translation directly from Hebrew into English. Based on that, scholars believe YHWH was pronounced “Yahweh.” However, when one of the first English Bibles, the Kings James Bible, was made, it was based on Latin and German translations of the Hebrew. Because letters and sounds change as words move between languages, the KJV translators thought the letters were JHVH. Because of that and the popularity of the KJV, the word “Jehovah” entered into mainstream language. While it is highly unlikely that “Jehovah” is the correct pronunciation—Hebrew doesn’t have a “J” sound—the worship of YHWH is far more important than perfectly pronouncing His name.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God gave Moses His name in Exodus 3:15. “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” Though God gave His name to be remembered, Jews began to fear the misuse of His name and stopped saying it. Later, when they added vowel markers to the Old Testament—Hebrew doesn’t have vowel letters—they intentionally used the wrong ones for God’s name. This has left scholars trying to make educated guesses as to the original pronunciation.
• Today, the Hebrew word translated as “LORD” is known by the four English letters, YHWH. The likely pronunciation for those letters is “Yahweh.”
• However, originally, Hebrew was not translated directly into English. Instead, it went into Latin, then German, and finally English. As words move between languages, there is a natural shift in letters because different languages use letters and sounds differently. When it finally made it to English, the letters were JHVH. It is from those letters that the word “Jehovah” entered into use. Because it was how the King James Bible, one of the first English Bibles, translated God’s name, it has been popular ever since.
• However, most scholars today agree that YHWH is more accurate because it is a direct translation from Hebrew into English. While there is still some uncertainty, “Yahweh” (“Yah-way”) is probably the closest to the original pronunciation, though “Yahveh” (“Yah-vay”) also appears in scholarly works, particularly by Jewish authors.
• Because Hebrew does not have any words with a “J” sound, it is highly doubtful that “Jehovah” was the original pronunciation of God’s name. However, while desiring to be respectful to God, getting His name accurate is a minor point in Christianity.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament, written in Greek, does not use the Hebrew word YHWH. Additionally, when it quotes the Old Testament, it uses a completely different Greek word, kurios, which is a generic term meaning “lord” (for example, Romans 10:13). Because the New Testament authors did not use YHWH, it does not help us get a better idea of its pronunciation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

On the one hand, God is the single most important being in the universe, and we would never want to intentionally misuse His name (Deuteronomy 20:7). On the other hand, He never said that mispronouncing His name was sin. This makes sense because He desires a relationship with us. Just like we might unintentionally mispronounce a friend’s name because it is difficult for us to say, “Jehovah,” and possibly even “Yahweh,” is not a perfect pronunciation.

However, regardless of how we pronounce it, we are all referring to the true God. The fact that we are allowed to use His name is amazing!

Therefore, more important than getting the pronunciation right is making sure our relationship with Him is right. In order to have the type of personal relationship that the name YHWH implies, we must first be saved. This is because God is holy, and we all sin (Romans 3:10–18). However, in His humility, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in the place of sinners (John 3:16). Everyone who calls on Jesus’s name will be saved (Romans 10:13). Once saved, he or she then begins an eternal relationship with YHWH. No longer is he or she His enemy, but He makes him or her His child.

David talks about YHWH inclining His ear to those in relationship with Him (Psalm 116:1–2). This is the idea of God listening intently to His children’s needs, worries, and fears. For the believer, regardless of how it is pronounced, YHWH is a name of great comfort. That is, believers have a personal relationship with the eternal “I AM” (Exodus 3:14) who created the world (Genesis 1), knows us intimately (Psalm 139:1–4), and desires our eternal well-being (Romans 8:28–30).

UNDERSTAND

• “Jehovah” is not the original Hebrew name of God.
• The more accurate pronunciation is likely “Yahweh.”
• Scripture emphasizes honoring God's name and knowing Him personally, rather than saying it perfectly.

REFLECT

• What thoughts come to mind when you consider that God allows us to speak His name, even if we don’t pronounce it perfectly?
• How has your understanding of God's name and what it means shaped how you relate to Him personally?
• How does the idea of God being both holy and relational challenge or deepen your view of who He is?

ENGAGE

• What can the historical renderings of God's name teach us about the importance and limitations of translation?
• How might focusing on God's character, rather than exact pronunciation, influence the way we worship Him?
• What insights about God’s nature can we gain by studying how His name is revealed and used throughout Scripture?