Origin of Yahweh – YHWH
In the original Hebrew, God’s name transliterates to YHWH. This is known as the tetragrammaton or the “four letters.” Because of the lack of vowels, Bible scholars are not sure how the tetragrammaton YHWH was pronounced.
About the 13th century the term “Jehovah” appeared when Christian scholars took the consonants of Yahweh and pronounced it with the vowels of “Adonai.” This resulted in the sound “Yahowah,” which has a Latinized spelling of “Jehovah.” “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them” (Exodus 6:3); “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth” (Psalms 83:18).
Origin of Yeshua
Yeshua is the true Hebrew name for the Messiah. In Hebrew, Yeshua means “Salvation.” The name Jesus is the Greek translation of that name. No one knows for sure the correct pronunciation of the Hebrew letters for Yahweh or Yeshua because it has been lost to the ages.
Knowing God’s name
To “know ” the name of God means more than mastering the pronunciation of the name. It means an actual living submission to the Creator. When Adam “knew” Eve (Genesis 4:1), that meant, he was tied to her in the bonds of marriage with all what that entails of duties, responsibilities and commitment (Genesis 2:24). “‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:5).
The religious leaders of Israel were fanatic about knowing the name of the Lord, yet they rejected the Messiah. Jesus rebuked them for their external religion, hypocrisy, and self-righteous wickedness. He said, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27; Also Matthew 23:13, 23-24). The Lord called them to change their ways but they did not head His calls. Sadly, most of the Pharisees let their zeal for the law overpower their love for the Lord and for their fellow men. And they finally killed Him (Matthew 27:20-22; Mark 15:13; Luke 23:21).
So, knowing the name of God as the religious leaders of Israel did, doesn’t mean much. But rather it is the obedience and faithfulness to the Lord that means everything. The devils know the real name of God (James 2:19) but do they submit to Him? No. Their knowledge may be intellectually right, but they remain demons nevertheless. No one would say now that theological correctness is enough. The knowledge that truly saves is the one that produces fruits of repentance (Luke 3:8).
Our Father in heaven
Jesus taught the believers to call the Lord “our Father” as seen in the Lord’s prayer (Mathew 6:9). This term of endearment shows a living submissive relationship between the Creator and His children. We may be unworthy to call Him as “Father,” but whenever we pray in sincerity He accepts us (Luke 15:21–24) and as His children
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
