GOD'S Name

[tosca1]

Lately, there seems to be some confusions over God's names/titles, and the implication given is that God should be called by His "personal" name, that somehow referring to Him by His titles or other names, is not as good or as appropriate as using his personal name.

Just so to be clear: it is biblical to refer to God using His titles and other names, after all they have been given by God - referring to Himself in various roles or situations.

His personal name that He'd given to Abraham is.........I AM.

"Then Moses said to God, 'Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?' 14 And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you,'' (Exodus 3:13-14).




His name that is revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures is YHWH, which is the closest English equivalents to the Hebrew letters. The exact pronunciation is uncertain.

The vast majority of Hebrew and Christian scholars believe the name to be Yahweh, pronounced /ˈyä-wā/,
with Yehowah, pronounced /yi-ˈhō-və/, being the second most popular possibility.

What is the name of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the name of God? Are we supposed to use God’s personal name? Why does God use different names and titles for Himself?

www.gotquestions.org

Is Jehovah the true name of God?

The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHWH.
There was no true J sound in ancient Hebrew. Even the Hebrew letter vav, which is transliterated as the W in YHWH is said to have originally had a pronunciation closer to W than the V of Jehovah.
Jehovah is essentially a Germanic pronunciation of the Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH. It is the letters of the tetragrammaton, Latinized into JHVH, with vowels inserted. “Yahweh” or “Yehowah” is far more likely to be the correct pronunciation.

The form Jehovah, though, is very commonly used. It is used in the King James Version of the Bible (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 6:3; 17:15; Judges 6:24; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; 26:4). It is also used, and strenuously promoted by, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witnesses emphasize the use of Jehovah to the extent that any other name or title for God is viewed as borderline idolatry or outright heresy.


With all of that said, it is not crucial to the Christian faith for the proper pronunciation of YHWH to be known. Both the Old and New Testaments, inspired by God, use generic terms for “God” and “Lord,” including El, Elohim, and Adonai (Hebrew); and Theos and Kurios (Greek). If the authors of Scripture, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were allowed to use these terms, it is not wrong for us to refer to Him as “God” or “Lord,” either.

Is Jehovah the true name of God? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jehovah / Jehova the true name of God? How did using Jehovah as the name of God originate?

www.gotquestions.org

Therefore....................... let's not turn God's name into an issue.

 

[bluesmoke]

OK. 'I AM WHO I AM'. So, his name is 'Popeye'.

 

[tosca1]

Just so to show that it isn't a must to refer to God using His personal name:
Christ Himself had taught us how to pray to God....referring to God as FATHER.

ABBA.

 

[Daisy]

The Divine Name in the Hebrew Scriptures

The divine name in the ancient Hebrew letters used before the Babylonian exile

The divine name in the Hebrew letters used after the Babylonian exile
The divine name, represented by the four Hebrew consonants יהוה, appears nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. This translation renders those four letters, known as the Tetragrammaton, “Jehovah.” That name is by far the most frequently occurring name in the Bible. While the inspired writers refer to God by many titles and descriptive terms, such as “Almighty,” “Most High,” and “Lord,” the Tetragrammaton is the only personal name they use to identify God.
Jehovah God himself directed Bible writers to use his name. For example, he inspired the prophet Joel to write: “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” (Joel 2:32) And God caused one psalmist to write: “May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18) In fact, the divine name appears some 700 times in the book of Psalms alone—a book of poetic writings that were to be sung and recited by God’s people. Why, then, is God’s name missing from many Bible translations? Why does this translation use the form “Jehovah”? And what does the divine name, Jehovah, mean?

Excerpts from the Psalms in a Dead Sea Scroll dated to the first half of the first century C.E. The text is in the style of the Hebrew letters commonly used after the Babylonian exile, but the Tetragrammaton appears repeatedly in distinctive ancient Hebrew letters

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204#h=1:0

 

[Daisy]

Just so to show that it isn't a must to refer to God using His personal name:
Christ Himself had taught us how to pray to God....referring to God as FATHER.

ABBA.

Father is a title, not a personal name...

 

[Daisy]

Why is the name missing from many Bible translations? The reasons vary. Some feel that Almighty God does not need a unique name to identify him. Others appear to have been influenced by the Jewish tradition of avoiding the use of the name, perhaps out of fear of desecrating it. Still others believe that since no one can be sure of the exact pronunciation of God’s name, it is better just to use a title, such as “Lord” or “God.” Such objections, however, lack merit for the following reasons:

• Those who argue that Almighty God does not need a unique name ignore evidence that early copies of his Word, including those preserved from before the time of Christ, contain God’s personal name. As noted above, God directed that his name be included in his Word some 7,000 times. Obviously, he wants us to know and use his name.
• Translators who remove the name out of deference to Jewish tradition fail to recognize a key fact. While some Jewish scribes refused to pronounce the name, they did not remove it from their copies of the Bible. Ancient scrolls found in Qumran, near the Dead Sea, contain the name in many places. Some Bible translators hint that the divine name appeared in the original text by substituting the title “LORD” in capital letters. But the question remains, Why have these translators felt free to substitute or remove God’s name from the Bible when they acknowledge that it is found in the Bible text thousands of times? Who do they believe gave them authority to make such a change? Only they can say.
• Those who say that the divine name should not be used because it is not known exactly how to pronounce it will nevertheless freely use the name Jesus. However, Jesus’ first-century disciples said his name quite differently from the way most Christians do today. To Jewish Christians, the name Jesus was probably pronounced Ye·shuʹa‛. And the title “Christ” was Ma·shiʹach, or “Messiah.” Greek-speaking Christians called him I·e·sousʹ Khri·stosʹ, and Latin-speaking Christians Ieʹsus Chriʹstus. Under inspiration, the Greek translation of his name was recorded in the Bible, showing that first-century Christians followed the sensible course of using the form of the name common in their language. Similarly, the New World Bible Translation Committee feels that it is reasonable to use the form “Jehovah,” even though that rendering is not exactly the way the divine name would have been pronounced in ancient Hebrew.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204#h=1:0

 

[tosca1]

Father is a title, not a personal name...

It can be a name.

 

[Daisy]

It can be a name.

My earthly father has a name, as does my Heavenly Father...

 

[Praxas]

Lately, there seems to be some confusions over God's names/titles, and the implication given is that God should be called by His "personal" name, that somehow referring to Him by His titles or other names, is not as good or as appropriate as using his personal name.

Just so to be clear: it is biblical to refer to God using His titles and other names, after all they have been given by God - referring to Himself in various roles or situations.

His personal name that He'd given to Abraham is.........I AM.

"Then Moses said to God, 'Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?' 14 And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you,'' (Exodus 3:13-14).




His name that is revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures is YHWH, which is the closest English equivalents to the Hebrew letters. The exact pronunciation is uncertain.

The vast majority of Hebrew and Christian scholars believe the name to be Yahweh, pronounced /ˈyä-wā/,
with Yehowah, pronounced /yi-ˈhō-və/, being the second most popular possibility.

What is the name of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the name of God? Are we supposed to use God’s personal name? Why does God use different names and titles for Himself?

www.gotquestions.org

Is Jehovah the true name of God?

The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHWH.
There was no true J sound in ancient Hebrew. Even the Hebrew letter vav, which is transliterated as the W in YHWH is said to have originally had a pronunciation closer to W than the V of Jehovah.
Jehovah is essentially a Germanic pronunciation of the Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH. It is the letters of the tetragrammaton, Latinized into JHVH, with vowels inserted. “Yahweh” or “Yehowah” is far more likely to be the correct pronunciation.

The form Jehovah, though, is very commonly used. It is used in the King James Version of the Bible (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 6:3; 17:15; Judges 6:24; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; 26:4). It is also used, and strenuously promoted by, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witnesses emphasize the use of Jehovah to the extent that any other name or title for God is viewed as borderline idolatry or outright heresy.


With all of that said, it is not crucial to the Christian faith for the proper pronunciation of YHWH to be known. Both the Old and New Testaments, inspired by God, use generic terms for “God” and “Lord,” including El, Elohim, and Adonai (Hebrew); and Theos and Kurios (Greek). If the authors of Scripture, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were allowed to use these terms, it is not wrong for us to refer to Him as “God” or “Lord,” either.

Is Jehovah the true name of God? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jehovah / Jehova the true name of God? How did using Jehovah as the name of God originate?

www.gotquestions.org

Therefore....................... let's not turn God's name into an issue.

God's name is Chuck. Any other answer is lying, ignorance or sheer stupidity.

 

[tosca1]

The Divine Name in the Hebrew Scriptures

The divine name in the ancient Hebrew letters used before the Babylonian exile

The divine name in the Hebrew letters used after the Babylonian exile
The divine name, represented by the four Hebrew consonants יהוה, appears nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. This translation renders those four letters, known as the Tetragrammaton, “Jehovah.” That name is by far the most frequently occurring name in the Bible. While the inspired writers refer to God by many titles and descriptive terms, such as “Almighty,” “Most High,” and “Lord,” the Tetragrammaton is the only personal name they use to identify God.
Jehovah God himself directed Bible writers to use his name. For example, he inspired the prophet Joel to write: “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” (Joel 2:32) And God caused one psalmist to write: “May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18) In fact, the divine name appears some 700 times in the book of Psalms alone—a book of poetic writings that were to be sung and recited by God’s people. Why, then, is God’s name missing from many Bible translations? Why does this translation use the form “Jehovah”? And what does the divine name, Jehovah, mean?

Excerpts from the Psalms in a Dead Sea Scroll dated to the first half of the first century C.E. The text is in the style of the Hebrew letters commonly used after the Babylonian exile, but the Tetragrammaton appears repeatedly in distinctive ancient Hebrew letters

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204#h=1:0

Bottom line:

It's really not an issue however you want to address God. If you want to use Jehovah - I don't think there's anything wrong about that just as there's nothng wrong in addressing Him as Father (which I usually do when I talk to Him), or refer to Him as the God of Abraham, or as El Shaddai etc..,


It's making a non-issue and issue - that's what's wrong about this.

The implication that Christians are doing something wrong by not referring to Him as Jehovah is what's very unbiblical about it.
Btw....how come JW seems to be more focused in fault-finding.....even to the point of being anal about something like this?

My earthly father has a name, as does my Heavenly Father...

Then.....what's the problem?
Surely God knows when you address Him, right?

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

My earthly father has a name, as does my Heavenly Father...

You are trending dangerously close to sounding like a commercial....or an episode of The Simpsons.

 

[calamity]

Lately, there seems to be some confusions over God's names/titles, and the implication given is that God should be called by His "personal" name, that somehow referring to Him by His titles or other names, is not as good or as appropriate as using his personal name.

Just so to be clear: it is biblical to refer to God using His titles and other names, after all they have been given by God - referring to Himself in various roles or situations.

His personal name that He'd given to Abraham is.........I AM.

"Then Moses said to God, 'Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?' 14 And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you,'' (Exodus 3:13-14).




His name that is revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures is YHWH, which is the closest English equivalents to the Hebrew letters. The exact pronunciation is uncertain.

The vast majority of Hebrew and Christian scholars believe the name to be Yahweh, pronounced /ˈyä-wā/,
with Yehowah, pronounced /yi-ˈhō-və/, being the second most popular possibility.

What is the name of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the name of God? Are we supposed to use God’s personal name? Why does God use different names and titles for Himself?

www.gotquestions.org

Is Jehovah the true name of God?

The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHWH.
There was no true J sound in ancient Hebrew. Even the Hebrew letter vav, which is transliterated as the W in YHWH is said to have originally had a pronunciation closer to W than the V of Jehovah.
Jehovah is essentially a Germanic pronunciation of the Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew YHWH. It is the letters of the tetragrammaton, Latinized into JHVH, with vowels inserted. “Yahweh” or “Yehowah” is far more likely to be the correct pronunciation.

The form Jehovah, though, is very commonly used. It is used in the King James Version of the Bible (Genesis 22:14; Exodus 6:3; 17:15; Judges 6:24; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; 26:4). It is also used, and strenuously promoted by, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Jehovah’s Witnesses emphasize the use of Jehovah to the extent that any other name or title for God is viewed as borderline idolatry or outright heresy.


With all of that said, it is not crucial to the Christian faith for the proper pronunciation of YHWH to be known. Both the Old and New Testaments, inspired by God, use generic terms for “God” and “Lord,” including El, Elohim, and Adonai (Hebrew); and Theos and Kurios (Greek). If the authors of Scripture, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were allowed to use these terms, it is not wrong for us to refer to Him as “God” or “Lord,” either.

Is Jehovah the true name of God? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jehovah / Jehova the true name of God? How did using Jehovah as the name of God originate?

www.gotquestions.org

Therefore....................... let's not turn God's name into an issue.

He's imaginary. Call him whatever you like. Personally, I call it the god that does not exist.

 

[Daisy]

Bottom line:

It's really not an issue however you want to address God. If you want to use Jehovah - I don't think there's anything wrong about that just as there's nothng wrong in addressing Him as Father (which I usually do when I talk to Him), or refer to Him as the God of Abraham, or as El Shaddai etc..,


It's making a non-issue and issue - that's what's wrong about this.

The implication that Christians are doing something wrong by not referring to Him as Jehovah is what's very unbiblical about it.
Btw....how come JW seems to be more focused in fault-finding.....even to the point of being anal about something like this?





Then.....what's the problem?
Surely God knows when you address Him, right?

You're the one who started this thread so it must be a problem for you...I know my Heavenly Father's name and I use it...Jehovah...

 

[tosca1]

You're the one who started this thread so it must be a problem for you...I know my Heavenly Father's name and I use it...Jehovah...

Read the OP.

You brought up the name of God twice (as far as I can tell) in a topic that's not even related to it.

This thread is simply to give some BIBLICAL clarification so fellow Christians need not have to unnecessarily worry about addressing God with
His other names/titles. That, there's nothing wrong with that.

As I've said, I've called God, "Father," when I pray/talk to Him.....and I've had responses from Him. I talk to Him as I respectfully talk to a parent.

 

[Daisy]

Read the OP.

You brought up the name of God twice (as far as I can tell) in a topic that's not even related to it.

This thread is simply to give some BIBLICAL clarification so fellow Christians need not have to unnecessarily worry about addressing God with
His other names/titles. That, there's nothing wrong with that.

As I've said, I've called God, "Father," when I pray/talk to Him.....and I've had responses from Him. I talk to Him as I respectfully talk to a parent.

What is the meaning of the name Jehovah? In Hebrew, the name Jehovah comes from a verb that means “to become,” and a number of scholars feel that it reflects the causative form of that Hebrew verb. Thus, the understanding of the New World Bible Translation Committee is that God’s name means “He Causes to Become.” Scholars hold varying views, so we cannot be dogmatic about this meaning. However, this definition well fits Jehovah’s role as the Creator of all things and the Fulfiller of his purpose. He not only caused the physical universe and intelligent beings to exist, but as events unfold, he continues to cause his will and purpose to be realized.

Therefore, the meaning of the name Jehovah is not limited to the related verb found at Exodus 3:14, which reads: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become” or, “I Will Prove to Be What I Will Prove to Be.” In the strictest sense, those words do not fully define God’s name. Rather, they reveal an aspect of God’s personality, showing that he becomes what is needed in each circumstance to fulfill his purpose. So while the name Jehovah may include this idea, it is not limited to what he himself chooses to become. It also includes what he causes to happen with regard to his creation and the accomplishment of his purpose.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204#h=1:0

 

[Stealers Wheel]

"Then Moses said to God, 'Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?' 14 And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you,'' (Exodus 3:13-14).

This particular passage has always made me think.

Why are there names? Why do we have names? Obviously, we have names in order to differentiate between individuals.
The sons of Israel were always taught that there is but one God. Unfortunately, after several generations of living under Egyptian rule, they have come to accept that there were many Gods, as the Egyptians worshipped a pantheon of Gods, each having a unique name to differentiate them.

When God responds to Moses, he is pissed. You can hear it in his voice. He is saying in no uncertain terms "I HAVE NO NEED OF A NAME BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY GOD! I AM GOD!" He was speaking to the sons of Israel who should have informed Moses (he was raised in the Pharaoh's house, probably did not get a lot of Israel's history or religious traditions) that there was only one God, and didn't actually have a name up that point.

 

[tosca1]

What is the meaning of the name Jehovah? In Hebrew, the name Jehovah comes from a verb that means “to become,” and a number of scholars feel that it reflects the causative form of that Hebrew verb. Thus, the understanding of the New World Bible Translation Committee is that God’s name means “He Causes to Become.” Scholars hold varying views, so we cannot be dogmatic about this meaning. However, this definition well fits Jehovah’s role as the Creator of all things and the Fulfiller of his purpose. He not only caused the physical universe and intelligent beings to exist, but as events unfold, he continues to cause his will and purpose to be realized.

Therefore, the meaning of the name Jehovah is not limited to the related verb found at Exodus 3:14, which reads: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become” or, “I Will Prove to Be What I Will Prove to Be.” In the strictest sense, those words do not fully define God’s name. Rather, they reveal an aspect of God’s personality, showing that he becomes what is needed in each circumstance to fulfill his purpose. So while the name Jehovah may include this idea, it is not limited to what he himself chooses to become. It also includes what he causes to happen with regard to his creation and the accomplishment of his purpose.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204#h=1:0

Why do you need to explain, Elvira? Though there's an uncertainty as to the exact pronunciation of YHWH, I don't think there's anything wrong
if you wish to address God as Jehovah.

Nowhere in the Scriptures are we told to not say His name nor to make sure that we pronounce it exactly the way it should.
Surely God can tell if we are addressing Him, even if we don't say anything verbally. There is no issue.


The purpose for this thread is to just make this clarification:
it is biblical to refer to God using His titles and other names, after all they have been given by God.

 

[tosca1]

This particular passage has always made me think.

Why are there names? Why do we have names? Obviously, we have names in order to differentiate between individuals.
The sons of Israel were always taught that there is but one God. Unfortunately, after several generations of living under Egyptian rule, they have come to accept that there were many Gods, as the Egyptians worshipped a pantheon of Gods, each having a unique name to differentiate them.

When God responds to Moses, he is pissed. You can hear it in his voice. He is saying in no uncertain terms "I HAVE NO NEED OF A NAME BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY GOD! I AM GOD!" He was speaking to the sons of Israel who should have informed Moses (he was raised in the Pharaoh's house, probably did not get a lot of Israel's history or religious traditions) that there was only one God, and didn't actually have a name up that point.

That's an interesting way of looking at that passage. I can almost see what you mean - kinda hear the exasperation in His response to Moses.

 

[bluesmoke]

Just so to show that it isn't a must to refer to God using His personal name:
Christ Himself had taught us how to pray to God....referring to God as FATHER.

ABBA.

Can we call Him Dad?

 

[tosca1]

Can we call Him Dad?

The Biblical Meaning of “Abba,” and It’s Not Daddy



“Daddy” doesn’t have the bite of Abba.


It’s personal, which is part of the meaning, but that’s not the whole story.

Abba doesn’t mean “Daddy.”
Abba doesn’t mean “Dad.”
Abba means “Father, I will obey you.”



The two elements of Abba

1. Intimacy
2. Obedience

It’s the obedience part that we miss with equating it to just “Daddy.”



Abba means more…

Jesus uses Abba in prayer. Catch this: he uses it along with the regular Greek word for father, “pater.” That is, he says, “Abba, Father.” So, something is different about Abba, which Greek does not capture; that’s why Jesus employs his first tongue here.


Abba is heart language.


But Abba is not just a feeling word, but also a discipleship word.



Jesus’ use of “Abba”

Both elements are present in Mark’s account of Jesus’ passionate plea to God (Mark 14:35–36):

“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’” (NIV, 1984).

The Biblical Meaning of “Abba,” and It’s Not Daddy - Robert Chad Harrington

Contrary to popular belief, the Aramaic word "Abba" isn't the same as "Daddy." Assess key passages are you learn the biblical meaning.

himpublications.com

 

[tosca1]

I'm bringing this up again right here.....because......it's really note-worthy!

I'll stick with Jehovah God's explanation because there is no better one...

Why do you have to add "God" after Jehovah? How many Jehovahs are there besides God?

Isn't it understood that you refer to God when you say JEHOVAH?
Who else could it be if not the Abrahamic God?

 

[Daisy]

I'm bringing this up again right here.....because......it's really note-worthy!






Why do you have to add "God" after Jehovah? How many Jehovahs are there besides God?

Isn't it understood that you refer to God when you say JEHOVAH?
Who else could it be if not the Abrahamic God?

Because not everyone knows who Jehovah is or that God has a name...when I say Jehovah God, there will be no question...

 

[Valery]

Because not everyone knows who Jehovah is or that God has a name...when I say Jehovah God, there will be no question...

Where do you find those people? To me it sounds more like you're making sure everyone knows what kind of a Christian you portray yourself as.

 

[tosca1]

Because not everyone knows who Jehovah is or that God has a name...when I say Jehovah God, there will be no question...

....meh.

If you're worried about thsoe who don't know the name Jehovah..............................why not simply say, GOD?

When you SPECIFY Jehovah - the implication is that........................... there are other Gods!



Really, who among here doesn't know who we mean by Jehovah?

ESPECIALLY...................... when it's coming from you?

 

[bongsaway]

Howard is his name.

Our father who art in heaven, howard be thy name. Easy.