THE NAME OF GOD

What is God's Name?

 

il lil'

 

(YHWH)

 

11Tetragrammaton11 (= 11[Name] of four letters")

- Names and their meanings are significant in the Bible.

 

- Some people even received new names with new meanings related to their life and purpose. E.g.: - - Avram/Avraham; Yaakov/Yisrael.

- How do we know this is God's name? Let's look at a few verses.

111am YHWH; that is my name. And I shall not give my glory to another, nor my praise to idols." (Isaiah 42:8)

Elements of this verse:

 

Name: illil' (YHWH) No glory to another No praise to idols

What is the connection?

'i)'1N:.i. i70 1i)'1 □i)l:;-tl:<'i)'1 □;;>'JJ'.lN,•;)'1 illil' '1 li?' •p-'1 1nNn-il::> ilwrr'1 □•;)'1 "TilJ 1r,iN·•1

:1"T l'l 'l;>T il!! □']lJ 'Y,l -il! □;;>"7.N,•m'] :J.j7l/

11And God said further to Moses, 'Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: 11YHWH, the God of your fathers - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you." This shall be my name forever, and my remembrance in every generation."' (Exodus 3:15 NJPS, modified)

Additional elements:

God of your fathers

Refers us to Genesis stories: this particular God Emphasizes the Name: YHWH

-'1v P.li) Yl.lµir'1:;r;1 □;;,•n.0 rn ·INY;llJ];l 1'<'1! ')1:( 0i"Tj7 ';) □1l,!hi7 DJ)"i)I DJ) lj]J;li)! □;;>1i)'1 illil' ')N, ';)

:Y-)1:.<i)

 

11For I, YHWH, am your God: you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not make yourselves unclean by any swarming thing that moves upon the earth." (Leviticus 11:44 NJPS, modified)

Practical implications of the Name?

food laws

"holiness": l.!Jl"Tj7 (qadosh) - "separated, set apart": God and people both

The name illil' (YHWH) appears 6,220 times in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). We've seen 3 verses, which already tell us the Name is somehow connected to:

1 - exclusive glory and praise;

 

2 - the patriarchs of Israel;

 

3 - being "set apart" and not eating certain animals.

illil' (YHWH)

So, what is this Name? How is it pronounced? What does it mean?

How can it convey such an array of understandings?

The Meaning of God's Name

* Very important admission: We don't know for sure! *

"The original pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton is a matter of speculation... The origin of the name YHWH is [also] a point of debate, although most scholars would agree that it originated as a verbal form. One problem with the verbal interpretation has been the explanation of the original root." (Matthew Suriano, Hebrew/Bible scholar at the University of Maryland, writing in the Encyclopedia of Hebrew Language and Linguistics)

Pronunciation unknown Grammatical form unclear

Original root (i.e., basic meaning) uncertain

Important to acknowledge these points first before discussing some theories

 

Theory 1; or, A Lesson in Quantum Superposition

 

According to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics (Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg): As long as one does not "look at" (measure) a particle or system, it exists in all possible states (locations, velocities, etc.) at the same time. Conducting a measurement, however, causes a "collapse" to just one possible state.

One of the most popular and plausible theories views God's Name in a similar way. In other words: The Name illil' (YHWH) expresses existence in all states, dimensions, and/or times simultaneously­ and if you try to define the meaning more specifically, you will end up reducing it to just one aspect

A similar idea: if you try to define/describe God at all, you only reduce the Deity to some limited distortion.

Let's see how this works. We already read Exod. 3:15 - "YHWH is my name forever." In the text that comes in response to a question from Moshe (Moses):

· --nr;i , D?'?N, 'JO? D?"ni:lN, •;j'7 Di)? 'JY)YJ ! '7 li?'' ·rr'7 i'Q ')] illiJ o•;:,·'7 ir'7 il\?iY.l l l'<''l

:Di)?N, lYJ ilY,l in -ilY

"Moses said to God, 'When I come to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they ask me, "What is His name?" what shall I say to them?"' (Exod. 3:13 NJPS)

However, before we get to "YHWH is my name forever," God gives a curiously different but seemingly related answer:

:0:>1'71'<•m70 il'ili'< '71'<10' •n'7 l1ll'<n j);) l1ll'<''I il'ili'< 101'< il'ili'< i10Y.l-'7i'< D1ii'7i'<l1ll'<''I

 

"And God said to Moses, 'Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh.' He continued, 'Thus shall you say to the Israelites, "Ehyeh sent me to you.""' (Exod. 3:14 NJPS)

Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh is usually translated as "I am that I am" or "I will be who I will be." So how does this expression connect to the divine name YHWH?

The Quantum Aspect

 

Ancient Hebrew did not have grammatical "tense" in the same way as most modern languages, but rather verb forms described as "aspects" (perfective or imperfective).

il'ili'< (ehyeh) is the first person singular conjugation of the imperfective (ongoing) aspect of the verb "to be." Hence, "I am being" or "I will be being" or even "I was being."

Since this verse seems to be intended as an explanation of the personal name of God - illil' (YHWH)

- some analysts view the meaning of YHWH as a "superposition" of past, present, and future states! In other words, God's Name refers to the One Who Was-ls-Will Be Continuously- the Being One, the Eternally Existent One.

This interpretation depends on reading the mysterious Name illil' (YHWH) as also derived, like ehyeh, from the root il'il < illil (hayah < older form hawah) "to be."

The Septuagint (LXX) Interpretation

More than 2,000 years ago, the translators of the LXX interpreted the passage in essentially this way.

Kal ElTIEV 6 0E6c; n:poc; Mwuo v'Eyw EiµL 6 wv· Kal Eln:Ev O(.iTwc; EPELc; TOLc; uto'i'.c; lopal)A·o WV an:fomAKEV µE n:poc; uµac;.

 

"And God spoke to Moses, saying, 'I am THE BEING [ONE]'; and he said, 'Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, "THE BEING has sent me to you.""' (Exod. 3:14 LXX; trans. Brenton

Greek 6 WV

(ho on)

"the being one"

(present active participle)

 

 

 

Being as a Quantum Force

 

In Hebrew "being" is not only static but also dynamic The same verb means both "to be" and "to become"

Thus, to sum up Theory 1 we could say that God's Name may be interpreted to mean: the eternally­ dynamically-being-one who IS in incomprehensible superposition of every kind

Makes sense; but depends on some uncertain linguistic assumptions.

 

Theory 2: The One Who Causes Being

 

"The vowel of the first syllable shows that the verb is used in the form of a future-present causative hiph'il, and must therefore mean 'He causes to be, He brings into existence."' (Louis F. Hartman, Professor of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures at the Catholic University of America, writing in the Encyclopedia Judaical

Theory 2 views the meaning of the Name as "the One Who Causes to Be" - i.e., the Creator of All.

Probably part of a longer expression that may have sounded similar to Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh (e.g., Yahweh-Asher-Yihweh, "He brings into existence whatever exists"). An alternative option: illil1 nlNJ. (YHWH tsevaot) "Creator of the hosts (of heaven)."

This theory is based on an interpretation of a "vowel" - but the vowels are speculative/uncertain. We have only the Hebrew consonants recorded in the earliest texts.

 

 

Other Theories

 

Many other theories have been proposed, based on comparison to similar Semitic or Ancient Near Eastern roots.

Egyptian 1-H W-H "the God-One" Akkadian (Babylonian) ia-u "Exalted"

Sumerian (Mesopotamian) ia-u "Seed of Life" Ugaritic (Northwest Semitic) hwy "the Speaker" Hebrew yadah "the Praised One"

Arabic hwy "the Passionate One"

 

Suggestion for further reading: G.H. Parke-Taylor, illil1 Yahweh: The Divine Name in the Bible (Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1975)

Pronouncing God's Name

 

 

111The LORD (YHWH) bless thee, and keep thee...' So, shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them." (Num. 6:24, 27 JPS)

The divine name used to be pronounced in the past, as may be inferred from Biblical and other evidence.

Attested (e.g.) in Egyptian hieroglyphics (Late Bronze Age, ca. 1200-500 BCE); Mesha Stele (Moabite, ca. 840 BCE); Lachish Ostraca (Hebrew, 6th c. BCE)

"And inasmuch as my lord said, 'Don't you know how to read a letter?' As YHWH lives - if anyone has ever tried to read me a letter! And as for every letter that comes to me, if I read it.") Lachish Ostraca, letter 3)

 

 

Substituting the Divine Name

 

At some point in history the use of God's name (written and spoken) changed to substitution.

 

Traditional Theory: around the period of the creation of LXX (3rd-2nd century BCE): Jews substituted Greek KUpLOc; (kyrios) "lord," corresponding to Hebrew 'JlN (adonai) "lord" (followed ever since in various ways)

Newer Theory (based on recent discoveries): this substitution of kyrios occurred only later, during Christian transmission of LXX (ca. 2nd century CE)

Also in the early Rabbinic period (ca. 2nd century CE), the Jewish sages forbad utterance of the name, judging it blasphemy worthy of death (Mishnah Sanhedrin 7.5) - except in the case of very special priestly utterances in the Temple; the Mishnah often writes 11 (VY) as substitute.

Substitution was carried forward via the Masoretic tradition (5th -10th centuries CE), which used alternative vowel paintings to obscure the real pronunciation.

The Masoretic text usually gives an unpronounceable combination:

This is presumed to be a semi-imitation of the vowels for the substitute word Adonai "Lord":

Occasionally the Masoretic text gives a third vowel, thus:

This is even closer to the vowel pattern of •tr (Adonai) "Lord," though still not identical.

If read at face value, this vowel pattern gives rise to the "Jehovah" theory (or in Nehemia Gordon's updated version, "Yehovah"). 

 

A different Gordon - the famous scholar of the Ancient Near East, Cyrus Gordon - proposed a different theory, which has been largely accepted. He believed that the vowels in the Masoretic ilFl'. and '.il! really were indicating that one should read Adonai as a substitute for YHWH. In other words, they had nothing at all to do with the real pronunciation of the Name itself.

Gordon pointed to passages such as Genesis 15, which have the combination •tr il!..', (Adonai YHWH) "Lord YHWH" - instead of the more common il!il'. o•;:f7 (YHWH Elohim) "YHWH God."

The Hebrew reading traditions are different depending on whether a given text has "Lord YHWH" or "YHWH God."

In the case of "Lord YHWH," instead of saying Adonai "Lord" twice, tradition says to instead read YHWH as Elohim "God." This is why many English translations use the 2 forms "LORD God" and "Lord GOD."

In the cases of "Lord YHWH," the Masoretic vowels given to YHWH match up fully with the expected substitute word Elohim:

On this basis, Gordon reasoned that the Masoretic tradition must have done something similar in the more common case as well, when the text gives ilJil'. □•;:'i'7 (YHWH Elohim) "YHWH God."

He proposed that the scribes truncated the first vowel (and usually dropped the second) in order to prevent people from accidentally starting to pronounce the real Name.

"Yahweh"?

 

The real Name might be "Yahweh" or at least begin with "Yah" (although that too cannot be proved). Hence the scribes distorted even the substitute vowels in order to prevent the possibility of pronouncing even the first syllable of the Name.

YeHWaH < YaHoWaH < Adonai Gordon's theory is complex but plausible; the main working theory.

Substitution, instead of Pronunciation or Translation

 

- This practice of replacing God's name with "LORD," "GOD," or other terms, such as Heaven or HaShem (lit. "the Name") continues until today in Orthodox Jewish practice and in Christian Bible versions.

- I.e.: Most Jews and Christians use a substitute word rather than attempting to pronounce or translate the Name.

Early Solutions (LXX

1. Earliest LXX fragments actually depict Gods name - illil' inPaleo-Hebrew script (Papyrus LXX Oxyrhynchus 3522, Oxford University Sackler Library, 1st c. CE/AD)

2. Codex Rescriptus Bybliothecae Ambrosiane 039 (9th century CE) uses the Greek letters mm (PIPI), presumably in imitation of the Hebrew illil' (looks similar)

 

Source: G. Gertoux, "The Use of the Name (YHWH) by Early Christians," p. 13

3. Greek Transliteration/ vocalization of God's name - Law (iao), here from Qumran fragment 4Q120 frg20 (1st century BCE)

Greek writings of the last 2,000 years contain more than 60 different utterable renderings of the sacred Name (acc. to P. Vasileiadis, "Aspects of Rendering the Sacred Tetragrammaton in Greek")

4. Same as Mishna's use of 11 (VY) - here in Paleo-Hebrew in Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1007 (LXX P.Oxy.Vll.1007, 3rd cent. CE)

5. Some manuscripts appear to leave blank spaces or dots [the letters having possibly been erased] - here Papyrus Rylands 458 (2nd century BCE)

6. The now-standard (Christian-transmitted) text uses KUpLOc; (kyrios) "lord" (or a 'nomina sacra' abbreviation of first and last letters). Here Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 656 (P. Oxy.lV 656, late 2nd - early 3rd century CE)

Sample verse: Kal Kouoav T v cpwv v KUpiou rn0 8rn0 n:Epmmo0vrnc; Ev T4J n:apa6Eio4,> TO 0ELALV0V, Kal EKpu rioav o TE Aoaµ Kal yuv m'.no0 an:o n:poown:ou KUpiou rn0 8rn0 EV µfo4,> rn0 UAOU rn0 n:apm5Eioou. (Gen. 3:8/9; LXX Rahlfs)

 

"And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the afternoon; and both Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God in the midst of the trees of the garden." (Trans. Brenton)

 

 

The Legacy of LXX Transmission

 

Most subsequent Bible translations (in virtually any language) use equivalents of KUpLOc; (kyrios) "lord," like the all-caps "LORD" in English. This is a "marked" translation of the Jewish and/or Christian Greek substitute for the Name of God.

Thus, very commonly we read "LORD God" for Hebrew illil' □'il7N (YHWH Elohim) "VHWH God."

The 1547 Constantinople Pentateuch - a kind of "new LXX" created by Byzantine Jews almost two millennia after the original LXX - also uses KupLOc; (kyrios) "lord."

Standard Translation Practice

 

"Et cum audissent vocem Domini Dei deambulantis in paradiso ad auram post meridiem..." (Genesis 3:8; Latin Vulgate)

"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..." (Genesis 3:8; NASB)

"1,1 yc11bIwa111,1 ro11oc rocnoAa 6ora, XOARLU,ero s pa10 so speMR npox11aAbl AHR ..." (Genesis 3:8; Russian Synodal)

"Und sie horten die Stimme Gottes, des HERRN, der im Garten wandelte beim Wehen des Abendwindes..." (Genesis 3:8; German Schlachter)

 

 

Some Alternative Translation Practices

 

"Alors ils entendirent la voix de l'Eternel Dieu, qui parcourait le jardin vers le soir..." (Genesis 3:8; French Segond)

"lls entendent la voix de IHVH-Adona'i Eloh1ms qui va dans le jardin au souffle du jour..." (Genesis 3:8; French Chouraqui)

"Da horten sie den Hall des Ewigen, Gottes, der beim Tageswind im Garten sich erging..." (Genesis 3:8; German Tur-Sinai)

"Y oyeron la voz de Jehova Dios que se paseaba en el huerto al aire del dfa..." (Genesis 3:8; Spanish Reina Valera)

 

 

Can we reconstruct the pronunciation of the Name of God, or is it lost?

 

There is no early Hebrew attestation; hence the necessary speculation.

Some ancient hearsay: Flavius Josephus (1st century CE) - "the Name of God "consists of four vowels"; in dire need the people were "calling upon the tremendous name of God" (Jewish War, Book V, 235, 438)

Clement of Alexandria (late 1st- early 2nd century CE): laouE (laoue) Theodoret of Cyrrhus (5th century CE): the Samaritans say la E (labe/lave)

 

 

Reconstruction Attempts

 

Jehovah - based on a double misunderstanding: of Hebrew pronunciation & Masoretic vocalization (more on this later)

Yahweh (or similar: Yaueh, etc.) - based on collection of extant evidence, including the ancient witnesses

Theophoric elements in names: Yo-, Yeho-, Yah, -Yah, -Yahu

 

The problem is that Hebrew vowels are mutable depending on the position of morpheme. They can drop out and change (e.g., Yah > Yeh). Moreover, we don't know whether the letters in God's name were true consonants or "helping vowels" (matres lectionis).

Yahweh is generally accepted as a "best guess," but it is also speculative and not a certain pronunciation of God's Name.

 

 

For Further Reading

 

Pavlos D. Vasileiadis, "Aspects of Rendering the Sacred Tetragrammaton in Greek"

Anthony Meyer, "The Divine Name in Early Judaism"

G. Gertoux, "The Use of the Name (YHWH) by Early Christians"

 

 

The Name of God in "NT"

 

"New Testament" texts (1st-century Jewish messianic writings) follow the Septuagint tradition.

 

The writers and/or editors of the "NT" follow the LXX in a vast number of language choices. E.g., Jewish-Greek translations: christos for "Messiah," nomos for "Torah" etc.

The texts as we have them today use kyrios (like standard LXX). It is unclear if original/earlier mss. had the Name of God in Hebrew letters or already used this substitution.

£1LoaaKaAE, rcoia EvrnM µEyaArJ Ev T4J v6µ4,1; 6 OE EQ)rJ auTQ· Ayarc ow; KUpLov Tov 8E6v aou Ev oAn Tfl KapOLQ'. aou Kal EV oA.n Tfl ljJuxn aou Kal EV oA.n Tfl OLaVOLQ'. aou·

"'Teacher, which is the great[est] commandment in the Law?' And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."' (Matthew 22:36- 37 NASB)

The Hebrew is: 7'il7N illil'- YHWH your God (Deut. 6:5; read today as Adonai Elohekha)

 

'lwavric; rn'i:c; Ema EKKAl']OLmc; rn'i:c; EV Tfl AoiQ'.· xapLc; uµTv Kal Eip vri area 6 WV KaL 6 v KaL 6 Epx6µEvoc;...

"John to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is coming..." (Rev. 1:4; YLT)

Is/ Was/ Will Be (all three 'states' or tenses together) and 6 wv (ho on) "The Being One" - as in LXX. The reference to God's name illil' (YHWH) follows the concept of dynamic, multidimensional being in all times and all places, as presented in LXX Exodus.

 

 

... Kal cmo 'lr,aoD XpLITTOU, 6 µaprnc; 6 mm6c;...

 

"...and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness..." (Rev. 1:5; YLT)

 

-'lr,aouc; (lesous) "Joshua, Jesus" follows LXX translation choice.

 

- XpLm6c; (christos) "anointed, Messiah" - follows the LXX translation choice.

 

- maT6c; (pistos) "faithful, reliable" - follows the LXX translation choice.

 

 

 

Kal vaov OUK Eioov EV auTfl· 6 yap KupLOc; 6 0Eoc; 6 navrnKpO'.TWp vaoc; auT c; EITTLV, Kal TO Apviov.

 

"And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple." (Rev. 21:22 NASB)

The same usage of "LORD God" as in (transmitted) LXX

Either modified around same time as LXX or practice already existed. Clearly the Name of God (YHWH) underlies such expressions.

Remember: "The Lord" in English Bible translations is only a translation of a Greek substitute for the Name of God, not a translation of the Name itself. This historical choice results in a loss of meaning.

 

 

Nomina sacra (abbreviations in Christian-transmitted mss.) Words considered worthy of special abbreviation, e.g.:

 

 

 

 

The Name of God in Rabbinic Tradition

 

"The avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH is generally ascribed to a sense of reverence. More precisely, it was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11) as meaning 'Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain,' whereas it really means, 'You shall not swear falsely by the name of YHWH your God' (JPS)." Matthew Suriano, Hebrew/Bible scholar at the University of Maryland (writing in the Encyclopedia of Hebrew Language and Linguistics)

- rabbinic notion of a "fence around the Torah"

 

- avoid even the possibility of transgression - to the point that the new restriction also becomes a 'law'

 

 

The Forbidden Name

 

Already mentioned: rabbinic prohibition on pronunciation, also some writing Masoretic tradition intentionally obscures pronunciation

Many different substitutes invented: HaShem; HaKadosh Baruch Hu; etc.

The process continues: now even EloKim, G-d, and other substitutes of substitutes!

 

 

 

Mysticism and Magic

 

Mystery surrounding the Name leads to many types of beliefs in its magical powers and various forms

Name of 4 letters; Name of 12 letters; Name of 42 letters; Great Name of 72 Names; etc.

Secret (esoteric) knowledge - Kabbalah

 

 

"After King Jannaeus, his wife Helene [Salome Alexandra, reigned 76-67 BCE] ruled over all Israel. In the Temple was to be found the Foundation Stone on which were engraven the letters of God's Ineffable Name. Whoever learned the secret of the Name and its use would be able to do whatever

he wished. Therefore, the Sages took measures so that no one should gain this knowledge. Lions of brass were bound to two iron pillars at the gate of the place of burnt offerings. Should anyone enter and learn the Name, when he left the lions would roar at him and immediately the valuable secret would be forgotten." (Toldot Yeshu, probably early medieval)

 

 

Portrayal of Yeshu[a] (Jesus)

 

"Yeshu came and learned the letters of the Name; he wrote them upon the parchment which he placed in an open cut on his thigh and then drew the flesh over the parchment. As he left, the lions roared, and he forgot the secret. But when he came to his house, he reopened the cut in his flesh with a knife and lifted out the writing. Then he remembered and obtained the use of the letters....

"The insurgents with him replied that if Yeshu was the Messiah he should give them a convincing sign. They, therefore, brought to him a lame man, who had never walked. Yeshu spoke over the man the letters of the Ineffable Name, and the leper was healed. Thereupon, they worshipped him as the Messiah, Son of the Highest." (Toidot Yeshu)

The text accepts & explains Yeshua's miracle-working ability.

The explanation relies on belief in the magical properties of a special ability to pronounce the secret Name.

 

 

Jewish Commentary on the Name

 

- Medieval Jewish philosophers/ exegetes treated YHWH as the sole personal Name of God; other names are instead descriptive titles

- This interpretation obviously still exerts a strong influence

 

- Seems appropriate; but also, somewhat speculative (YHWH itself might have originated in a descriptive phrase about the Creator)

- Modern Jewish thinkers have continued the tradition of reflection on the deep meaning of the Name: e.g., Mordecai Kaplan (Reconstructionist Judaism) interpreted the meaning as "The Power that makes for the fulfillment of all valid ideals"

 

 

Christian Parallels

 

- Medieval and modern Christian groups and related sects have also ascribed miraculous powers to pronouncing the Divine Name or a secret magical variant

- The "Sacred Name Movement" asserts the Name must be pronounced as "Yahweh" (otherwise prayer doesn't work?)

- "Jehovah's Witnesses" believe it is vital to pronounce the Name as "Jehovah" for worship

 

 

 

"Yahshua"

-Another theory stemming partly from "magical" views of the Name of God is that the name of Jesus was not lJIIV' (Yeshua) but illlVil' (Yahshuah) or lJIIVil' (Yahshua) or lJIIVlil' (Yahushua).

- Based on a mystical theology of meaning, not on any attested historical or linguistic evidence.

 

- By contrast, the name Veshua is attested dozens of times in Hebrew and Jewish-Greek.

 

 

 

"Vahshua" vs. "Veshua"

 

- The hypothetical name "Vahshua" is presumed to be a combination of i11 (Vah, part of YHWH) and

lJI (shua) or [in Renaissance occultism, 16th cent.] i11 (shuah)

 

- The second element could have a variety of meanings: "ample, broad, wealthy"; "be like, resemble"; "cry for help"; "independent, free"; perhaps "salvation, deliverance"; etc.

- This "name" is not found in any ancient sources at all

 

- The attested name "Veshua" comes from a root meaning "to save, deliver"

 

- A short form of 1J li11 (Yehoshua) "Joshua," meaning "VHWH is salvation"

 

- The short form 1J1 1 (Yeshua) occurs 29 times already in the Hebrew Bible, usually given in English as "Jeshua"

- Jewish-Greek sources transliterate/Hellenize 1J li11 (Yehoshua) and 1J1 1 (Yeshua) "Joshua, Jeshua, Jesus" as'lriooOc; (lesous) "Jesus, Joshua"

"rnl arroKpL8Elc;'lriooOc; 6 rnO Nauri 6 rrapEITTrJKW<; Mwuofi 6 EKEAEK-r6c;, EirrEv..."

 

"And Joshua (lesous) the son of Nun, Moses' chosen attendant, answered back, saying..." (Num. 11:28 LXX)

 

 

"lriooOc; EV T4J TIArJpwom A6yov EYEVETO KpL-r c; Ev loparJA."

"Jesus (lesous), in fulfilling the word, was made a judge in Israel." (1 Mace. 2:55 LXX)

 

- Here the reference is again to Joshua son of Nun, but translators generally give "Jesus" (a form of "Joshua")

- Jewish-Greek lesous = Hebrew Yehoshua, Yeshua = English Joshua, Jesus

 

 

 

"Bi Aoc; yEvfoEwc;'lriooO XPLornO utoO tiaulo utoO A paaµ."

 

"The book of origins of Jesus (lesous) the Messiah, son of David, son of Abraham." (Matt. 1:1)

 

- The name of Jesus of Nazareth is written in the same way in Jewish-Greek: 'lriooOc;(lesous) [often contracted]

- No reason to assume a Hebrew name other than Yehoshua/Veshua

 

 

 

The name 'lriooOc; (lesous) "Joshua, Jesus" was very common among Jews of the Second Temple period, when this Jesus was born (see R. HachIiIi, "Names and Nicknames of Jews in Second Temple Times")

The meaning of "salvation, deliverance" or "YHWH saves/delivers" fits well with Matthew 1:21: "You shall call his name lesous, for he will save his people from their sins."

 

 

Objections

 

"Sacred Name" proponents claim that "Jesus" is an "empty" (i.e., meaningless) name; however, one only has to trace it back to the Hebrew meaning (easily done)

John/Yokh. 5:43 says "I came in my Father's Name": some assert this means that the Messiah's own name must have included at least part of YHWH; however, even in English that is not the meaning of "in someone's name" [& Ye(ho)shua already connects to YHWH]

 

 

"Paleo" theories

 

For about the last 2,500 years, Hebrew has been written in a "square script" based on the Aramaic alphabet:

 

... Tli1"T;\::lN.

 

Previously Hebrew was written in a different script based on the Phoenician alphabet and known as "Paleo-Hebrew":

 

 

Phoenician alphabet derived from Egyptian hieroglyphs; hence letters have meanings.

 

 

 

YHWH in Paleo-Hebrew

 

- The Tetragrammaton (YHWH) looks like this in Paleo-Hebrew:

 

 

- The corresponding earlier meanings of the letters would be: Y yod - hand

H heh - window W waw-hook H heh - window

- Some interpret: "hand - look - nail - look!"

 

 

 

YHWH in Proto-Sinaitic

 

-Variation based on Proto-Sinaitic alphabet (Paleo-Canaanite? ca. 1850-1550 BCE/BC?)

 

- The corresponding meanings:

Y yod- hand

 

H heh - praise [or, behold?] W waw - fowl [or, nail?]

H heh - praise [or, behold?]

 

- Not clear if ever used for Hebrew

 

 

 

Issues to Consider

 

- Some find this "meaning pattern" -well, meaningful!

 

- On the other hand, significance for interpreting letters (as opposed to hieroglyphs) questionable or debatable

- Only a tiny percentage of the hieroglyphs preserved in the alphabets (1,000+ symbols vs. 22 letters)

 

 

 

 

 

Questions About Origins

 

 

"When God (Elohim) began to create heaven and earth..." (Gen. 1:1 NJPS)

 

 

"Such is the story of heaven and earth when they were created, in the day when the Lord (YHWH) God (Elohim) made earth and heaven." (Gen. 2:4 NJPS, modified)

Gen. 1- □'il7N (Elohim) "God"

Gen. 2 adds - illil' (YHWH) "Yahweh"

 

 

 

Documentary Hypothesis

 

A theory of text-critical analysis that sees four earlier 'sources' of the (composite, redacted) Torah: Yahwist

E Elohist

 

P Priestly

 

D Deuteronomic

 

The first occurrences of Elohim (E) and YHWH (J) in Gen. 1 & 2, respectively, already illustrate some reasons for this kind of theory (the classic hypothesis is only one version, has been revised).

Internal Biblical "Self-Criticism"?

 

 

:□'i." l 'F•llJI "T- il N.'7 illil' 'rl• \UI ·I

"God (Elohim) spoke to Moses and said to him, 'I am the Lord (YHWH). I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but I did not make Myself known to them by My name illil' (YHWH)."' (Exodus 6:2-3 NJPS)

- Emphasizes YHWH as "My name"

 

- Suggests different stages in terminology about this God

 

- Raises questions about composition of the text (similar to the documentary hypothesis much later)

 

 

 

Did Abraham know YHWH?

Dijn;i-'7 :1.),/i) l':;:).-1 '7wn') l'l iltlJl;l;l. il"'7i) □ il!i)-, Dij71)i)-,.l,I '7 cn•)-"T.l,I! :i3m 11.),JQY.l'?-:)1?,:'.l

:illil' D\!J::;t □T+ □ i'<lirl ilJ w, □ il .v-,  OlfY;liJ

"And he proceeded by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been formerly, between Bethel and Ai, the site of the altar that he had built there at first; and there Abram invoked the Lord (YHWH) by name." (Gen. 13:3-4 NJPS)

" ...and there Abram invoked the Lord (YHWH) by name." (Gen. 13:3-4 NJPS)

 

- The puzzling nature of this apparent contradiction in the Torah

 

- Did Abram/Abraham actually use a different name for God, but a later author/redactor added in YHWH? If so, why? (Is the text "updated" - i.e., to explain to later readers that this is the God he meant?)

 

 

Did God tell Abraham His Name?

 

 

Then He said to him, "I am YHWH who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to assign this land to you as a possession." (Gen. 15:7 NJPS, modified)

Sounds like the formula "I am YHWH who brought you out from the land of Egypt..." (in the period when this Name was known, acc. to Exodus)

What does this suggest about the composition of the text? dating? ancient records of direct discourse?

 

 

Interpretive Options

 

A) Accept existence of contradiction

 

B) Assert consistency; in which case must do one of the following:

- Reinterpret Exod. 6 (Abraham didn't know YHWH by that name> e.g., he knew that name but didn't know its meaning).

- Reinterpret Gen. 13, 15 (Abraham called on YHWH by name> e.g., he called 'on the name of' that particular God, but using the form he knew, not the Name).

- Recognizing the weaknesses of the above two proposals, find some alternative solution.

 

 

 

The "Self-Critical" View (A Third Option)

 

 

"And to Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh. It was then that men began to invoke YHWH by name." (Gen. 4:26 NJPS, modified)

Biblical texts point to the complexities of history and language Use of the Name YHWH clearly tied to Creation

YHWH as universal deity: Creator of All, and (potentially) known by all (even long before Abraham)

 

 

The Ancient Near Eastern Context

 

- Other people knew the name YHWH.

 

-Apparently early Hebrews didn't yet know it.

 

- The Name emphasizes this God's 'universality' as Creator of All.

 

- Many peoples had gods; the God of this people ("Hear, 0 Israel, YHWH is your God!11 claims a greater status.

- Thus, this Name encapsulates the message of Torah: the inextricable connection of YHWH to Israel and the universality and superiority of this particular God.

- Torah written as a presentation of this God, His Creation, and His people.

 

 

 

YHWH, the God of Canaan?

 

 

"For anyone who does such things is abhorrent to YHWH, and it is because of these abhorrent things that YHWH your God (Elohekha) is dispossessing them before you." (Deut. 18:12 NJPS, modified)

- YHWH drove out the Canaanites because of abhorrent practices.

 

- Had they not committed these practices; would they have been driven out?

 

- Concept of "defiling the land of YHWH"

 

- Does not seem strange from the perspective of Ancient Near Eastern conception of gods and peoples.

- Recall that other peoples of the region knew and used the Name YHWH (historical attestation).

So Who is YHWH?

 

- The importance of names in the Hebrew Bible (and why some changed - including God's?!?)

 

-A sign of how much we don't know! can't even be certain of origin, pronunciation, or meaning

 

- Yet reading even a few verses gives a sense of the depth of meaning inherent in the Name

 

- Creation: Ribbon Kol Ha-Olamim (Master of All Epochs/ Universes)

 

- Eternal Existence ("Being")

 

- Choosing the patriarchs, nation of Israel (self-identification)

 

- Uniqueness: separate/different from all other gods

 

- Therefore, requires His people to be separate/different from all other nations (e.g., food and other laws)

- Personal and national behavior evokes His strong response

 

 

"Oh, let us know, let us pursue knowing YHWH !" (Hosea 6:3) Homework: more than 6,200 extra usages of YHWH to check!

 

 

More on the Name YHWH...

 

Common Questions

 

What is the real pronunciation? What is the real meaning?

Can I know God without knowing God's Name?

If I know God's Name, does that mean I know God?

 

 

Some Clarifications

 

- More than 6,800 occurrences of illil' (YHWH) in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)

 

- This means thousands of additional opportunities to discover aspects of the Name not covered in this course!

- Different theories presented as education, not endorsement.

 

 

 

Moses and the Arabic Name of God

 

An Arabic Origin for YHWH?

 

Israel Knohl, Hebrew University: "YHWH: The Original Arabic Meaning of the Name" [available online]

 

- The name YHWH originates in Midian, and derives from the Arabic term for "love, desire, or passion"

- This meaning connects to the Biblical emphasis on YHWH as a God "jealous" of other "lovers" (e.g., Exod. 34:14)

 

 

Where is YHWH from?

 

"mountain of God"= Horeb, seemingly near Midian (Exod. 3:1) Midianites were a Proto-Arabian tribe (related to lshmaelites)

"Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the farthest end of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb."

 

 

Where is YHWH's land?

 

Egyptian records 14th cent. BCE: land [possibly in same general area] called Yehwa (related to YHWH? a god by that name?)

Israelite exposure to the Name YHWH seems to come from this location, in the Exodus period (through Moses)

 

 

Genesis vs Exodus

 

 

 

:Di) 'T:11/lil N.'7 i11i1' 'Y,l -1

"God (Elohim) spoke to Moses and said to him, 'I am the Lord (YHWH). I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but I did not make Myself known to them by My name illil' (YHWH).111 (Ex 6:2-3 NJPS)

 

 

" ...and there Abrm invoked the Lord (YHWH) by name." {Gen. 13:3-4 NJPS)

 

 

Then He said to him, "I am YHWH who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to assign this land to you as a possession." (Gen. 15:7 NJPS, modified)

 

 

Apparent contradiction/ paradox

 

Why does the text of Exodus say that Abraham didn't know the name YHWH if the text of Genesis implies that he did?

Did Abram/Abraham actually use a different name for God, but a later author/redactor added in YHWH? If so, why? (Is the text "updated" - i.e., to explain to later readers that this is the God he meant?)

Interpretive Options

 

A) Accept existence of contradiction

 

B) Assert consistency; in which case must do one of the following:

 

- Reinterpret Exod. 6 (Abraham didn't know YHWH by that name> e.g., he knew that name but didn't know its meaning).

- Reinterpret Gen. 13, 15 (Abraham called on YHWH by name> e.g., he called 'on the name of' that particular God, but using the form he knew, not the Name).

C} Find some alternative solution

 

 

Sample "Type B" Solutions

 

- YHWH = Active Being; this God had not yet revealed himself as a God of action, rather a provider and promiser (Gen.); but now would take action with signs, wonders, miracles (Exod.)

- YHWH = God of covenant faithfulness who redeems his people; this would happen in Exod.

 

 

 

The Aramaic Name of God Targum and Syriac Peshitta The Jewish Targumim

- Targum = Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible made by Jews in ancient times

 

- The targumim are midrashic in style (rather than literal)

 

- Use same substitution for YHWH as Mishnah (rabbinic influence):

 

11i1'7 n•11111-< 1-<'7 11 1n1U1

 

(Exod. 6:3)

 

 

 

The Syriac (Christian) Peshitta

 

Peshitta = Syriac Christian versions of "OT" and "NT" A type of Aramaic originating around Edessa (Turkey)

Translated (and/or merged with native "NT" traditions)

 

 

marya - r<.-c,,

 

marya ("lord, master") used only for YHWH?

Many such statements, e.g.: "The full determined form is marya, but in Syriac that is used only for the Lord God (i.e. the Tetragrammaton)" (CALexicon); "every place where the Tetragrammaton occurs in the OT the Peshitta translates it by marya" (Bloch)

In reality...

 

- commonly asserted- even in lexical - but not quite true

 

- R. B. Salters, "The Word for 'God' in the Peshitta of Koheleth" (Vetus Testamentum 1971): "Of the thirty-nine occurrences of 'el6h1m in Koheleth the Peshitta Version renders sixteen of them by marya' and twenty-three by 'alaha'."

 

 

 

"NT" Peshitta and Yeshua/Jesus

 

NT Peshitta uses marya for Yeshua/Jesus in 30 or so places Does this equal calling him YHWH?

More like "lord" - again a substitute for YHWH

For more info: upcoming IBC interview with Dr. George Kiraz, a leading scholar of Syriac

 

 

 

"God" (not the Name)

 

What about the Hebrew word(s) for "God"?

 

El-7N

Elim (pl.) - □'7N Eloah - ill7N

Elohim (pl./sing.)- □'il7N

(Aramaic) Elah - il7N

(Arabic) al-llah, Allah - <lill

 

 

What is a "God"?

 

El/Elohim/etc. generally refers to supernatural being

Sometimes perhaps "rulers," even humans who are "over" other humans

Ugaritic EL- also seems like proper name for Creator, chief of Canaanite pantheon (NW Semitic, close to Hebrew)

(could be course in itself!)

ELIM - □'71-<

:□1'7N. 1n:::i.illil1'7 ilYl'T' illil1'7 TW' j7nl!.l:::i. •n ')

 

"For who in the skies can be compared unto YHWH, who among the sons of might (bne Elim) can be likened unto the YHWH?" [Psalm 89:6/7]

- note existence of other beings and monolatry rather than strict "monotheism"

 

 

ELOHIM - □'il7N

:y1N.il nN.1 □'Yll!.lil nN. □'il'7N. N.1::1 n'l!.IN.1::1

 

"In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth..." [Genesis 1:1]

:□)'nJ.N □lllJl'J N'7 INJ. J.1j7Y.l □'l'J"Tn □llJ"'J' N'7 □1i1'7N i1'7N N'7 □'"Tl'J'7 lnJ.T'

They sacrificed unto demons, no-gods (lo Eloah), gods (Elohim) that they knew not, new gods that came up of late, which your fathers dreaded not. [Deut. 32:17)

 

 

ELOHIM as "spirit"?

 

 

"And the king said unto her: 'Be not afraid; for what seest thou?' And the woman said unto Saul: 'I see a godlike being (Elohim) coming up out of the earth." [1 Samuel 28:13)

- A start for further reading: Michael Heiser, "What is an Elohim?" [available online]

 

 

 

The Elephantine Names of Gods

 

The Elephantine Papyri

 

Elephantine (site in Egypt): Jewish colony of 5th cent. BCE Documents in Aramaic (among other languages found there) syncretic polytheism (YHWH with other gods)

refer to YHWH as "the God Yahu" (= first three letters: lil' < illil')

 

 

YHWH with other gods?

 

Elephantine papyri refer to Yahu and other gods Sometimes even mix the names together:

Anath-yahu (consort goddess?) Anath = old Canaanite goddess

Compare Deut. 12:30-31: "Do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How did those nations worship their gods? I too will follow those practices.' You shall not act thus toward YHWH your God..."

 

 

A Place for God's Name?

 

From same chapter (disregarded at Elephantine):

 

"Tear down their altars, smash their pillars, put their sacred posts to the fire, and cut down the

images of their gods, obliterating their name from that site. You shall not act thus toward YHWH your God but look only to the site that YHWH your God will choose amidst all your tribes as His habitation, to establish His name there. There you are to go..." (Deut. 12:3-5)