How can we say God’s name in Hebrews?

To discuss how we can refer to God’s name in Hebrews, we need to explore the biblical context, cultural understanding, and theological implications surrounding the use of God’s name in both the Old and New Testaments.

Understanding God’s Name in Hebrew Scriptures

The Sacredness of God’s Name

In the Hebrew Scriptures, God’s name is considered sacred and treated with utmost reverence. The name of God, often referred to as the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), is so holy that it was not spoken aloud by the Jews. Instead, they used various titles and circumlocutions to refer to God.

• Exodus 3:14-15: “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”‘ Moreover God said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: “The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.”‘”

In this passage, God reveals His name to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM,” signifying His eternal and self-existing nature. The name YHWH (often rendered as Jehovah or Yahweh) is connected with God’s covenant relationship with Israel and is regarded as holy.

Use of Titles and Descriptions

Due to the sacredness of God’s name, Jewish tradition developed various titles and descriptions to refer to God reverently.

• Psalm 8:1:”O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!”

The psalmist uses the title “Lord” (Adonai) to refer to God, emphasizing His majesty and authority over creation.

• Psalm 29:1-2: “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Here, the psalmist encourages worship and praise to the Lord, reflecting the reverence due to His name.

The Pronunciation

In the original Hebrew, God’s real name transliterates to YHWH. This is known as the tetragrammaton (meaning “four letters”). The four letters that make up His name are found in Exodus 3:14.  However, there is no correct pronunciation for the name of God because the letters are only consonants, not vowels. 

So, we cannot tell what the “real” name of God is YAHWEH or YEHWAH or YAHWAH or YEHWEH, etc. Thus through the centuries, the correct pronunciation of YHWH was lost. But most scholars today believe that YHWH was probably pronounced Yahweh.

In early Judaism, the word YHWH was used as the Lord’s name. But, by the time of the Temple’s destruction in 70 A.D., the word was considered too holy to pronounce. The Jewish Mishnah (a book of early Jewish traditions) even states, “He who pronounces the Name with its own letters has no part in the world to come!”

Jewish scholars in the Middle Ages developed a system of symbols placed beneath and beside the consonants to indicate the missing vowels. YHWH is found more than 6,000 times in the Old Testament. Because it was thought that the divine name was too holy for a person to even pronounce at all, the word was substituted with “Adonai,” which means “Lord.” Thus, in many English Bible translations, YHWH is substituted with the word “LORD” in capital letters.

The vast majority of Jewish and Christian biblical scholars and linguists do not believe “Jehovah” to be the proper pronunciation of YHWH because 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. However, the form Jehovah, 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).

The Name of God in the New Testament and Hebrews

Continued Reverence in the New Testament

The New Testament continues the tradition of reverence for God’s name, though the use of specific names and titles varies.

• Matthew 6:9 (The Lord’s Prayer):”In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”

Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, emphasizing the holiness and reverence due to God’s name.

• Philippians 2:9-11:”Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The exaltation of Jesus and the confession of His Lordship underscore the significance of names and titles in Christian worship and theology.

Hebrews and the Name of God

The Epistle to the Hebrews, while not directly focusing on the name of God in the same way as the Old Testament, portrays Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s character and purpose.

• Hebrews 1:1-4:”God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

Jesus is presented as the Son through whom God has spoken definitively, emphasizing His superiority and the honor due to His name.

Knowing God’s Name Implies Submission to Him

Salvation is not in merely knowing what God’s holy name is. To “know” the Name of God means an actual living submission to Him as the Creator. When Adam “knew” Eve, that meant, he was tied himself to her in the bonds of marriage with all what that entails of duties, responsibilities and commitment.

The Jews claimed to know God’s name more than other people, yet they crucified the Son of God.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15: “…the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us.”

Knowing God’s name means walking in His path and doing His will.

Theological Implications of God’s Name

Revelation and Identity

The name of God in both Old and New Testaments serves as a revelation of His identity, character, and relationship with His people.

• John 17:6: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

Jesus speaks of manifesting God’s name to His disciples, indicating the revelation of God’s character through His Son.

Invocation and Worship

In Christian worship, the name of Jesus holds central importance, representing His authority and role as Savior and Lord.

• Acts 4:12: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

This verse underscores the exclusive role of Jesus’ name in salvation, highlighting its significance in Christian theology.

Contemporary Application

Respectful Use and Reverence

In contemporary Christian practice, reverence for God’s name is upheld through respectful language and worship practices.

• Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

This verse encourages believers to act and speak in accordance with the authority and honor of Jesus’ name.

Personal and Corporate Worship

The use of God’s name in personal prayer, corporate worship, and theological discourse reflects the biblical injunction to honor and glorify Him.

• Ephesians 5:20: “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thanksgiving and praise are offered in Jesus’ name, acknowledging His role as the mediator between God and humanity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the biblical understanding of God’s name, as depicted in the Old and New Testaments and reflected in the Epistle to the Hebrews, emphasizes reverence, respect, and the revelation of God’s character and purposes. While specific Hebrew names for God like YHWH are treated with exceptional reverence in Jewish tradition, the New Testament expands this reverence to include the exalted name of Jesus Christ, who embodies God’s ultimate revelation and salvation for humanity.

The Scriptures faithfully convey these theological truths, guiding believers to honor God’s name in submission, worship, prayer in everyday life. As Christians, we are called to recognize and proclaim the greatness of God’s name, reflecting His glory and authority in all that we do.

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