Q&A: Jehovah or Yahweh Instead of God?
The names of God reveal His nature.
A. "Jehovah" is, according to Webster's Dictionary, "an erroneous rendering of the ineffable [inexpressible] name JHVH [or YHVH or YHWH] in the Hebrew scriptures." Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary adds:
"The divine name Yahweh is usually translated Lord in English versions of the Bible, because it became a practice in late Old Testament Judaism not to pronounce the sacred name YHWH, but to say instead 'my Lord' (Adonai)—a practice still used today in the synagogue. When the vowels of Adonai were attached to the consonants YHWH in the medieval period, the word Jehovah resulted. Today, many Christians use the word Yahweh, the more original pronunciation, not hesitating to name the divine name since Jesus taught believers to speak in a familiar way to God.
"The following are other names in honor of the Lord in the Old Testament that stem from the basic name of Yahweh:
"Jehovah-jireh—This name is translated as 'The-LORD-Will-Provide,' commemorating the provision of the ram in place of Isaac for Abraham's sacrifice (Gen:22:14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.).
"Jehovah-nissi—This name means 'The-LORD-Is-My-Banner,' in honor of God's defeat of the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15).
"Jehovah-shalom—This phrase means 'The-LORD-Is-Peace,' the name Gideon gave the altar which he built in Ophrah (Judg. 6:24).
"Jehovah-shammah—This phrase expresses the truth that 'The-LORD-Is-There,' referring to the city which the prophet Ezekiel saw in his vision (Ezek:48:35It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.).
"Jehovah-tsebaoth—This name, translated 'The-LORD-of-hosts,' was used in the days of David and the prophets, witnessing to God the Savior who is surrounded by His hosts of heavenly power (1 Sam:1:3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.).
"Jehovah Elohe Israel—This name means 'LORD-God-of-Israel,' and it appears in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the Psalms. Other names similar to this are Netsah Israel, 'The Strength of Israel' (1 Sam:15:29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.); and Abir Yisrael 'The Mighty One of Israel' (Is. 1:24)" (1986, "God, names of").
YHVH is but one of many names used for God in the Old Testament; its exact meaning, like its exact pronunciation, has been lost. Many other names, reflective of God's character or attributes, are found in the Scriptures. All are appropriate. One important name is "Elohim," which conveys "the sense of the one supreme being who is the only true God" (ibid.).
Jesus Christ used the commonly understood name for God, as did all of the writers of the Bible. (The original text of the Bible contains not only Hebrew and Greek, but also Aramaic and Chaldean.) We follow that example in our publications and our church services, using the commonly understood names for God in our languages, as well as those that refer to His character and attributes.
