יהוה, Yehovah, Jehovah, Yahuwah, Yahwah
Every place in our modern-day Bibles where we read the words “the LORD” or “GOD” in all capitals we can be sure that these words have been translated from the Hebrew letters יהוה or, reading right to left, “yod,” “hey” “vav” “hey”. This grouping of letters is known by many as the Tetragrammaton. It is the name of the Creator and ruler of the universe; I read His name as Yehovah.
“For thy Maker is thy ba’al (master), Yehovah (יהוה) of hosts is His name; And the Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God (Elohim, lawmaker and judge) of the whole earth.” Isa 54:5
“And Elohim spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I Yehovah (יהוה) I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as Elohim Almighty, but by My name Yehovah (יהוה) I was not known to them‘.” Exo 6:2-3
“Moreover Elohim said to Moses; ‘Thus you shall say to Israel’s seed {perversely know as “the children of Israel”]: ”Yehovah (יהוה), Elohim of your fathers, Elohim of Abraham, Elohim of Isaac, and Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'” Exo 3:15
“Yehovah (יהוה) is a man of war; Yehovah (יהוה) is His name.” Exo 15:3
“Thou shows loving-kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them – ”the Great, the Mighty Elohim, whose name is Yehovah (יהוה) of hosts.” Jer 32:18
Many consider the Creator’s name so holy that they refuse to say it for fear that it will become common and disrespected; and this is the reason why many Bibles use “the LORD” or “GOD” in its place. The problem now has become that very few people in this time, even know what the Creator’s name is. Most Jews will not say the name at all; and in its stead they will use the words “Ha Shem” or “Adoni”. Many others will quarrel over how the name is to be pronounced; some of the most common of these are Jehovah, Yehovah, Yahuwah and Yahweh. Some feel so strongly about their specific pronunciation that they may feel inclined to stop reading here. Please, hear this humble writer out. There is no desire here to alienate anyone but to bring together all who have circumcised their heart and desire to obey our Creator, both the Ezrach (the one born in the land) and the Ger (stranger) alike.
Words communicate thoughts or images in our minds; some are false images and some are true and faithful images, just like our Father in heaven is faithful. If we are going to develop faithful images to build our life on we will find a little here, and a little there and still a bit more over there and there, and there.
Yehovah (יהוה) – What He Say, He Will Do!
Let us take a long look at what the Creator says about himself. When all is completed, and the new heaven and earth has begun, He will always be known by these five words: “What Yehovah says, He does.
‘Then you shall know that I, Yehovah (יהוה), have spoken it and performed it,’ says Yehovah (יהוה). ” Eze 37:14
“Elohim is not a man, that He should lie, and a son of Adam, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Num 23:19
“Thou found his heart faithful before Thee, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites – to give it to his seed. Thou has performed thy words, for thou are righteous.” Neh 9:8
” ‘For I am Yehovah [יהוה]. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,’ says my Master, Elohim. ” Eze 12:25
“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says my Master, Yehovah (יהוה): “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the my Master, Yehovah (יהוה).’ ” Eze 12:28
“And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Yehovah (יהוה), have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, Yehovah (יהוה), have spoken and have done it.” Eze 17:24
“Can thy heart endure, or can thy hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with thee? I, Yehovah [יהוה], have spoken, and will do it.” Eze 22:14
“What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul.” Isa 38:15
“I Yehovah (יהוה) have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.” Num 14:35
“Remember the former things of old, for I am Elohim, and there is no other; I am Elohim, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” Isa 46:9-11
“The glory of Yehovah (יהוה) shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yehovah (יהוה) has spoken.” Isa 40:5
“Therefore say to Israel’s seed: ‘I am Yehovah (יהוה); I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your Elohim (lawmaker, judge). Then you shall know that I am Yehovah [יהוה], your Elohim who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am Yehovah (יהוה).’ ” Exo 6:6-8
And he did! In the Holy Scriptures our Creator finishes His thoughts, more than 162 times, with the words, “I am Yehovah (יהוה)!” This is His way of saying “Count on it!”
What He says, He will do! How we say His name is not nearly as important as what His name represents; He is faithful to all generations concerning what He has spoken. We must take all His words very seriously.
Yehovah’s peace to you all!
I was taught in my Christian doctrines and traditions of men, not to swear at all; but Numbers 31 makes it very clear that when we swear we use Yehovah’s name for the surety of the words we have sworn to; and, like Him, we must do what we say. We will see that even Yehovah swears by His own name.
“Thank you for the explanation of the Hebrew letters for the name of GOD or LORD.
I bought a metal plate recently with a hammered pattern and a picture of Moses on it blowing a shofar, and those exact letters on it. I have been looking for and inquiring about the meaning ever since.â€
Shalom, I thank the Father for you and those that bear the mark of truth and that of the Lamb.
Walt Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Shalom Michael,
You have found what I discovered 40 years ago. I started as a traditional pastor . . .
… (Seminary, graduate degree, 2 successful pastorates, appointed Director of a Spanish Bible School, emersion into the hierarchy of the established church, disillusionment, disgust, divorce, deep wilderness, aeronautical training, special contract with NASA, Moffett Field CA, ’81 Round-the-world flight in a single engine plane, airline career, manager, instructor, and captain retired from a B-727) . . .
… But through it all in 1990 I pleaded with the Lord to speak to me through His word. His response: “How can I if you don’t understand my language.” At almost 88, the past 30 years have been a journey of discovery as I plunged into my Hebrew studies with one year of formal study, and 29 years of self-study and research.
Discovering my Hebrew roots through Yehovah and His Son Yeshua, my spiritual journey from Political slavery to Promise Land freedom has been a greater adventure than any flight around the world.
I read and write constantly, with many notebooks now filled with insights and Hebrew discoveries. Those whom God has sent into my life have blessed me as I have been allowed to share and bless them.
Your journey has so many familiar mile-markers. At times, I thought I was reading my Biography. I will enjoy exploring your web site. To my amazement, WHAT A QUIET, ALMOST SECRET WORK YEHOVAH IS DOING in calling many into His Kingdom.
Thank you for your testimony. It will make more than just my day.
Shalom in His Name,
Capt Calvin Pitts (airline pilot, retired)