Tetragrammaton
The Tetragrammaton is the four-letter Hebrew-language theonym יהוה (transliterated as YHWH or YHVH), the name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The four Hebrew letters, written and read from right to left, are yod, he, vav, and he. The name may be derived from a verb that means ‘to be’, ‘to exist’, ‘to cause to become’, or ‘to come to pass’.
While there is no consensus about the structure and etymology of the name, the form Yahweh (with niqqud: יַהוֶה) is now almost universally accepted among Biblical and Semitic linguistics scholars, though the vocalization Jehovah continues to have wide usage, especially in Christian traditions. In modernity, Christianity is the only Abrahamic religion in which the Tetragrammaton is freely and openly pronounced.
The books of the Torah and the rest of the Hebrew Bible except Esther, Ecclesiastes, and (with a possible instance of יה (Jah) in verse 8:6) the Song of Songs contain this Hebrew name. Observant Jews and those who follow Talmudic Jewish traditions do not pronounce יהוה nor do they read aloud proposed transcription forms such as Yahweh or Yehovah; instead they replace it with a different term, whether in addressing or referring to the God of Israel.
Common substitutions in Hebrew are אֲדֹנָי (Adonai, lit. transl. ‘My Lords’, pluralis majestatis taken as singular) or אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, literally ‘gods’ but treated as singular when meaning “God”) in prayer, or הַשֵּׁם (HaShem, ‘The Name’) in everyday speech.
The tetragrammaton is the four-letter Hebrew name for God, written as YHWH (or YHVH) in consonants, and it is considered the personal and unique name of the God of Israel as revealed to Moses. The exact pronunciation was lost over time, leading to alternative pronunciations like Yahweh, the later rendering of Jehovah, or substitutions such as “Adonai” (Lord).
The Name and its Letters
- The Hebrew Letters: The tetragrammaton consists of four Hebrew letters: Yod, He, Vav, and He (י-ה-ו-ה).
- Consonants without Vowels: Ancient Hebrew was written without vowels, and while the consonants YHVH are clear, the original vowels were forgotten, making pronunciation uncertain.
- Meaning: The name is thought to be derived from the Hebrew root h-y-h (“to be”), and it is linked to God’s self-description to Moses as “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14).
Pronunciation and Substitutions
- Yahweh: Many scholars believe the most likely pronunciation of the tetragrammaton is Yahweh or something similar.
- Jehovah: The “Jehovah” pronunciation emerged in the 16th century due to a misunderstanding by a Christian scribe who combined the vowels of “Adonai” with the consonants of YHVH, leading to the incorrect form.
- Adonai and Ha-Shem: In Jewish tradition, to avoid speaking the holy name, readers would pronounce “Adonai” (meaning “my Lord”) or “Ha-Shem” (“the Name”) in its place.
The Importance of YHWH
- God’s Personal Name: The tetragrammaton is the unique, personal name of God, as demonstrated in Exodus 3:15, when God declared, “This is my name forever”.
- A Memorial: It is a name to be remembered and used in worship and prayer for all generations.
- Significance: YHWH is central to the theology of the Old Testament, representing God’s personal being and relationship with the people of Israel and Judah.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/tetragrammaton
[2] https://www.venicechurchofchrist.org/voice/understandingtetragrammaton/
[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/YHWH-tetragrammaton.html
[5] https://www.sefaria.org/topics/the-tetragrammaton
[6] https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/291248
[8] wikipedia/en/Tetragrammaton