The Name of God
Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
What distinguishes the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from every other god or belief system? Some people could certainly talk for hours or even days about His characteristics and personality, but at the core, like everyone else, He is identified by His Name.
This was the reason for Moses’ question to Him at the burning bush.
Exo 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
The descendants of Jacob, Israel, had been living in Egypt for four generations. They were accustomed to Egypt’s pantheon of gods. There was Ra, Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amun, Thoth, Hathor, Anubis, Set, Bastet, and more. It was an appropriate question for Moses to ask God.
The fact that God simply replied with His Name is very telling. Think about that for a minute or two. When you do, you will come to know that you, me, and everyone else, need to know His Name.
Here is God’s response to Moses translated into English.
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.
Here it is in Hebrew. The I AM’s are in bold face.
Hebrew is written and read right to left, therefore אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה (Ehyeh asher Ehyeh) is translated I AM, THAT, I AM. Then again in the same sentence, we see אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה “Ehyeh” translated as I AM.
As with most names in Hebrew and other Eastern languages, a name is both a name and a description of some trait or character of the person. In this case, אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה “Ehyeh” is a verb (not a noun) and acts as a description of God stating that He exists and that He always exists in the present tense.
In our normal four-dimensional thinking, we think in terms of length, width, depth, and time with there being a past, present, and future.
God has no beginning and no end. He only exists in the present tense, therefore He fills all space, all time, and all dimensions with His Presence. Below is a simple representation. The yellow represents God.
Everything that exists anywhere in any dimension or time exists in Him. He created all things and all things exist in Him. He has no beginning and no end and everything that was, is, or will be exists within Him.
God fills all in all, therefore He is always, everywhere, and present in the present tense. For God, the past is now and the present is now and the future is now. He fills all time at once. Therefore His name means I AM.
The actual name of God that is used about 7000 times in the Old Testament is of course a noun. It consists of four consonants, יהוה (YHWH), and is referred to as the Tetragrammaton.
There is a linguistic connection between the verb אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה (Ehyeh) in Exodus 3:14 above and the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH) based on their shared root letters and the thematic concept of existence or being.
Both the verb אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה and the Tetragrammaton יהוה are derived from the Hebrew root היה (hayah), which means “to be” or “to exist.” The verb אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה is a specific form of the root, used in Exodus 3:14 when God reveals Himself to Moses at the burning bush. As stated above it can be translated as “I am” or “I will be” and conveys God’s eternal existence and presence.
While the exact linguistic connection between אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה and יהוה may be difficult to establish because of the 4000 to 4500-year gap between then and now, the fact that Moses wrote what God spoke to him at the burning bush ( אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה ) and then Moses used the Tetragrammaton ( יהוה ) consistently throughout the first five books of the Bible which he authored is sufficient proof of a direct connection.
We now understand a little bit of what His Name means. The pronunciation of His Name is the subject of the rest of this post.
The Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH)
The question is how do you pronounce יהוה ? The markings below the letters in the word אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה are vowel points. In Hebrew, vowel points or diacritical marks are used to indicate the vowel sounds associated with each letter. They provide additional information about the pronunciation of the word.
The problem with vowel points is that they were introduced into Hebrew somewhere around the 6th to 9th century CE. That is 2000 to 2500 years too late for our purpose.
To get to the correct answer we need other sources. The Hebrew scriptures themselves supply the answer to our quest.
Let’s start with the basic four letters in the Tetragrammaton יהוה . Hebrew is written right to left so the first letter is י yod and the second letter is ה hey. These two letters are pronounced Yah.
Yah occurs 50 times in the Bible. 24 of those times it occurs in the word Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, הַלְלוּיָהּ in Hebrew is pronounced [HAL] + [I] + [LOO] + [YAH] and has been in continuous use and pronounced that way throughout time. The last two letters are יה pronounced YAH.
Here is a list of a few names in the Bible that contain yah along with the correct spelling and pronunciation. (There are hundreds of examples.)
- Uriah, 2 Samuel 11:3, written אוּרִיָּה, Uriyya pronounced oo-ree-YAH, meaning “YHWH Is My Light”
- Ahijah, 1 Kings 11:29, written אֲחִיָּה, Ahiyya pronounced ah-hee-YAH, meaning “Yah Is My Brother”
- Zechariah, Zech 1:1, written זכריה, Zecharya pronounced zekh-a-re-YAH, meaning “Yah remembers”
- Obadiah, Obadiah 1:1, written עֹבַדְיָהּ, Ovadyah pronounced oh-vah-DYAH, meaning “servant of Yah”
Those four examples (there are hundreds more) prove the pronunciation of the first two consonants in the Tetragrammaton. They are ancient names and are still used and pronounced the same way today. Now we will use the same method to discover the correct pronunciation of the first three letters of the Tetragrammaton, יהו .
- Elijah – אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu) – pronounced eh-lee-YAH-hoo, meaning “My God is Yahuah”
- Isaiah – יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshayahu) – pronounced yeh-sha-YAH-hoo, meaning “Yahuah is salvation”
- Jeremiah – יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmeyahu) – pronounced yir-meh-YAH-hoo, meaning “Yahuah will uplift”
- Nehemiah – נְחֶמְיָהוּ (Nechemyah) – pronounced ne-khem-YAH-hoo, meaning “Yahuah comforts”
Again, there are many, many examples so there really is no debate. The names are both ancient and at the same time contemporary. The pronunciations are sure.
The last letter of the Tetragrammaton is the same as the second letter of the Tetragrammaton and carries the same -ah sound and so the correct pronunciation of יהוה is YA-HOO-AH, Yahuah.
I want to take this one step further. I am going to put forth the argument that if יהוה is not pronounced YA-HOO-AH, then Judah is not pronounced yah-hoo-DAH. (and good luck trying to convince all the Jews worldwide that they have been pronouncing their name wrong for the last 4500 years)
Let’s look at the scriptures and then I will explain.
Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Gen 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
The above scriptures are from the King James Version. The KJV and most English translations have followed the Hebrew tradition of removing the Name of God from the scriptures and substituting the word LORD in place of the Tetragrammaton יהוה which when properly translated is Yahuah.
The practice of removing the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) from the scriptures began during the Second Temple period in Judaism. This period corresponds roughly to the time between the Babylonian exile and the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (approximately 6th century BCE to 1st century CE).
This was in direct violation of their own law!
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
In every verse in your English Bible where you see the word LORD in capital letters, the name of God, יהוה, Yahuah has been removed, and the word LORD put in its place.
Well did Malachi write of the unfaithful Priests…
Mal 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
Mal 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Well did the Prophet Jeremiah say to the unfaithful prophets…
Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
Baal in Hebrew is LORD in English.
And yet the Bible publishers SHAMELESSLY continue.
There are some Bibles being published now with THE NAME OF GOD RESTORED. Look for one that uses Yahuah and read that one.
I have used the KJV in most of this website, up until now, because it is the most widely known translation. To eliminate as much confusion as possible for the reader, I have purposely waited until I wrote this post on the Name of God to change over. From now on I will only use Bible quotations from a translation that has the Name of God restored.
Let’s go back to the scriptures about the name of Judah and look at them with the Name of God restored and you will see what a difference it makes. The is from the Cepher Bible.
Gen 29:31 And when Yahuah saw that Le’ah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Gen 29:32 And Le’ah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Re’uven: for she said, Surely Yahuah has looked upon my affliction; now, therefore, my man will love me.
Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because Yahuah has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Shim`on.
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Now this time will my man be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Leviy.
Gen 29:35 And she conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, Now will I praise Yahuah: therefore she called his name Yahudah; and left bearing.
Yahu-dah literally means Yahuah be praised. Leah named her fourth son Yahudah יְהוּדָה . Yahudah is two Hebrew words combined to make one Hebrew word. Those two words are Yahuah, יהוה and yadah, יָדָה meaning “to praise” or “to give thanks”)
Yahuah and Yadah = Yahu+dah = Yahudah. יְהוּדָה = יהוה + יָדָה .
You literally cut the last letter off Yahuah, leaving Yahu, and then cut the first letter off yadah, leaving dah. Then combine them together to make יְהוּדָה which is Yahudah, Judah. Yahuah be praised.
So now, to be clear, if יהוה is not pronounced Yahuah, then Judah is not pronounced Yahudah.
Let’s take on the argument about the name of Yahuah not being known prior to the burning bush encounter by Moses. Exodus 6:3 is the verse in question.
Exo 6:2 And Elohiym spoke unto Mosheh, and said unto him, I am Yahuah:
Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto El־Avraham, unto El־Yitschaq, and unto El־Ya`aqov, by El Shaddai, but by my name Yahuah was I not known to them.
Exo 6:4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Kena`an, את the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
Exo 6:5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Yashar’el, whom the Mitsriym keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Yashar’el, I am Yahuah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitsriym, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
In verse 3 it says… but by my name Yahuah was I not known to them.
In Hebrew, this is lo nodati, “לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי” not known. Lo is the word not, and nodati is the word known.
Here is my contention and my only proof is circumstantial. I believe the word lo was added to the scriptures at the same time that they decided to remove the pronunciation of יהוה Yahuah from the scriptures. That was sometime around the 6th century BCE to the 1st century CE. I believe it was added to mislead the people. I believe it was added to justify their arrogant decision to make the name of God unpronounceable. They chose to make their own DOCTRINE that the name of God was too sacred to pronounce.
Well do the scriptures say…
Isa 29:13 Wherefore Yahuah said, Forasmuch, as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips, do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Mat 16:6 Then Yahusha said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Parashiym and of the Tsadoqiym.
Mat 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Parashiym and of the Tsadoqiym.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
I believe it should be correctly read …by my name Yahuah was I known to them.
I believe if this is not true then Yahudah, Judah, who was born and named some 300 years BEFORE Moses had his encounter with God at the burning bush, could not possibly have the name Yahudah. If Leah, Jacob’s wife, had never heard the name Yahuah, she in no way could have named her fourth son Yahudah.
I know that sounds circumstantial but it also cannot be refuted.
Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
What is Jesus’ name in Hebrew?
Unfortunately, the name of Jesus is mostly recorded in Greek. There are no ancient Hebrew scriptures I know of containing His Name.
The case for Yeshua is strong. It is commonly used in Messianic Churches. It is also generally accepted.
Universally accepted is that the name of Jesus is יהוה (Yahuah) is יָשַׁע (yasha) or Yahuah is salvation, alternatively, Yahuah saves.
By combining יהוה (YHWH) and יָשַׁע (yasha), you can form a name using the same mechanics as Leah used in forming the name Judah. Drop the last letter in יהוה forming יהו and then drop the first letter in יָשַׁע forming שַׁע . Combine the two words into one forming יְהוֹשֻׁעַ . This would be “Yahusha” יָהוּשָׁע, which combines the elements of “Yahu” from יהוה and “sha” from יָשַׁע. This name can be understood as “Yahu is salvation” or “Yahu saves,” similar to the meaning of the name Yeshua or Jesus.
Supporting this idea is the name of Joshua, the servant of Moses. Joshua was not his given name, Moses changed his name to Joshua.
The name of Joshua, the servant of Moses, in Hebrew is יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehushua) or (Yehoshua). This name is derived from the same root as the name Yeshua and carries the meaning of “Yahuah is salvation” or “Yahuah saves.” As you can see it is exactly the same Hebrew name as described above.
In traditional Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation, the name is often pronounced as “Yehoshua” with the “o” vowel sound after the first “h” (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ). In Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish traditions, it is more commonly pronounced as “Yehushua” with the “u” vowel sound after the first “h” (יְהוּשֻׁעַ).
Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites. Consequently, the name Yehushua became a common name in Israel.
I cannot give you a definitive answer on Jesus’ Hebrew name. Yeshua, Yahushua, or Yahusha is the best I can do. Personally, I am content with Yahusha but that’s just my choice.
This much I do know. God’s name that was known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was Yahuah. Therefore my opinion is that His son’s name is either Yahusha or Yahushua which in either case means Yahuah is salvation.