Our Heavenly Father’s Name Do We Need To Know It?
Do We Need To Use It? What Is It's Significance?
By Robert J Wells
MEMBER UNION OF TWO HOUSE
MESSIANIC CONGREGATIONS
[I freely received this excellent article some time ago and wish to freely share it here. T.A.H.]
The Almighty has a name. He wants His people to know His name. It is prophesied in Isaiah 52:6 "My people shall know my name."
The name of the Almighty has been covered up for centuries. It's never been lost - only covered up. I will prove to you in this study that the name of the Almighty is Yahweh according to many Bible scholars. I will also show you that it is His will that we call on His name exclusively. He does not want His name to be replaced by the titles "the LORD", or "GOD". There are many lords and many gods (1 Cor. 8:5).
Let's start this study by quoting from various Bible prefaces. I will quote only from the prefaces of translations that are not considered "Sacred Name Bibles".
From the preface to the Revised Standard Version of the scriptures: "While it is almost if not quite certain that the Name was originally pronounced "Yahweh", this pronunciation was not indicated when the Masoretes (Jewish scribes) added vowel signs to the Hebrew consonants. To the consonants YHWH, the Almighty's name, which had come to be regarded as too sacred to be pronounced, they added vowels indicating that in it's place should be read the Hebrew word Adonai, meaning "Lord". ...The form Jehovah is of late medieval origin; it is a combination of the consonants of the Divine Name and the vowels attached to it by the Masoretes, but belonging to an entirely different word. .... The word Jehovah does not accurately represent any form of the name ever used in Hebrew."
From the Revised English Bible - Introduction to the Old Testament: "The divine name (YHWH in Hebrew characters) was probably pronounced 'Yahweh', but the name was regarded as ineffable, too sacred to be pronounced. The Massoretes, therefore, wrote in the vowel signs of the alternative words adonai ('Lord') or elohim ('God') to warn readers to use one of these in its place. Where the divine name occurs in the Hebrew text, this has been signaled in The Revised English Bible by using capital letters for 'LORD' or 'GOD', a widely accepted practice." Obviously, the translators of the Revised English Bible went with the tradition that started with the Masoretes.
From the preface to the American Standard Version: "The change first proposed in the Appendix ---that which substitutes "Jehovah" for "LORD" and "GOD" (printed in small capitals) --- is one which will be unwelcome by many, because of the frequency and familiarity of the terms displaced. But the American Revisers, after a careful consideration, were brought to the unanimous conviction that a Jewish superstition, which regarded the Divine Name as too sacred to be uttered, ought no longer to dominate in the English or any other version of the Old Testament, as it fortunately does not in the numerous versions made by modern missionaries." The translators of the American Standard Version decided to brake away from the tradition started by the Masoretes, but they used an erroneous transliteration of the tetragrammaton. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses know that "Yahweh" is a more accurate transliteration!
Here's an amazing quote from the New World Bible Translation Committee of the Jehovah's Witnesses:
"While inclining to view the pronunciation Yahweh as the more correct way, we have retained the form "Jehovah" because of the people's familiarity with it since the 14th century." Wow! Back to the traditions of men!
From the preface to the American Revised Version, 1901: "In all cases where "LORD" or "GOD" represents an original Yahweh, small capitals are employed. Anyone, therefore, who desires to retain the flavor of the original text, has but to read Yahweh wherever he sees LORD or GOD."
It is plain to see from the above five quotes that the main reason that people substitute titles for the name of The Almighty is traditions of men. What did our Savior say about traditions of men? In Matthew 15:6b, speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, He said "Thus have ye made the commandment of [Yahweh] of none effect by your tradition." Remember we are talking about a tradition of men that was started by Hebrew scribes!
Let's look at the third commandment. Surely a commandment from The Almighty Himself would supersede any tradition of man! " Thou shalt not take the name of [Yahweh] thy [Elohim] in vain; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) First, what does it mean to "take the name of Yahweh"? The Hebrew word that is translated as "take" is the Hebrew word "nacah" (naw-saw'). It is Strong's number 5375, and means to lift up, to exalt, to bear, to carry. What does it mean to take His name "in vain"? The Hebrew word that is translated as "vain" is the Hebrew word "shav". It is Strong's number 7723, and it means emptiness, nothingness, vanity, worthlessness of conduct. Can you see the depth of meaning when you examine the Hebrew words? Now that we have a better handle on the meaning of these words, a paraphrased translation of this verse could be: "Thou shalt not bear the name of Yahweh thy Elohim if your conduct is worthless, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that carries His name and conducts himself in a worthless manner." We could also plug in the English word "exalt" instead of "bear". If you exalt the name of Yahweh yet conduct yourself in a worthless manner, you are a hypocrite! Could it be that the scribes who started the tradition of not pronouncing the name of The Almighty did not want to bear the name of Yahweh, or exalt the name of Yahweh because they feared being known as hypocrites? Along with bearing or exalting the name of Yahweh comes the responsibility of conducting yourself in a responsible manner with respect to the word of Yahweh.
Again, the preface to the + says: "In all cases where "LORD" or "GOD" represents an original Yahweh, small capitals are employed. Anyone, therefore, who desires to retain the flavor of the original text, has but to read Yahweh wherever he sees LORD or GOD."
To the best of my knowledge, the above statement holds true for most, if not all non-Sacred Name translations of the scriptures. With this fact in mind, we can easily put Yahweh’s name back in to any and all of the scriptures that it was originally taken from, and see what the Almighty Himself says about His name, in the written word.
So let's do just that, and attempt to get an inkling of what the scriptures say. Let's forget about traditions of men for now and simply restore the name of the Most High into some scriptures. Perhaps you may get a revelation of the importance of the name of The Almighty.
Isaiah 12:4. "And in that day shall you say, Give thanks to Yahweh, call upon His name, declare His doings among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted."
Psalm 113:3. "From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same Yahweh’s name is to be praised."
Psalm 99:3. "Let them praise Your great and terrible name: for it is holy." Note: the word "terrible" is better rendered "awesome". He is our mighty one, the true mighty one; but God or Lord is not His name. There are many lords and many gods (1 Cor. 8:5).
Our Savior said in Matt. 6:9 ... His name is holy. That's one reason we should know it and use it. More reasons:
Psalm 31:3. "For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore for your name's sake lead me and guide me."
Proverbs 18:10. "The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it, and is safe."
Psalm 20:1. "Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble; the name of the mighty one of Jacob set you up on high."
Malachi 4:2. "But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings;..." Note: the word "fear" is better rendered "revere".
Psalm 91:14. "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My name."
Malachi 3:16-17. "Then they that feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared Yahweh, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, says Yahweh of Hosts, even My own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him." It is important to even think upon His name!
Ezekiel 36:20-23. "And when they came to the nations, where they went, they profaned My holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Yahweh, and they have gone forth out of His land. But I had regard for My holy name, which the House of Israel had profaned among the nations, where they went. Therefore say to the House of Israel, In this manner says the Sovereign Yahweh: I do not this for your sake, O House of Israel, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in the middle of them; and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, says the Sovereign Yahweh, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." His name shall no longer be polluted or profaned. I do not believe it's because people no longer pronounce his name! It's because righteousness will be restored. Read this in context. His name will be restored and righteousness will be restored when the House of Judah and the House of Israel are reunited!
Isaiah 52:6. "Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that does speak; behold, it is I." Not maybe, but shall. If we are His people, we shall know His name.
Jeremiah 16:21. "Therefore, behold, I will cause them to know, this once will I cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is Yahweh."
Isaiah 42:8 "I am Yahweh, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to carved images."
Psalm 96:1-5. "Oh sing to Yahweh a new song: sing to Yahweh, all the earth. Sing to Yahweh, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all elohim (gods). For all the elohim of the peoples are idols; but Yahweh made the heavens."
Psalm 83:16-18. "Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek Your name, Oh Yahweh. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; yes, let them be confounded and perish; and they shall know that Your name is Yahweh alone, Most High over all the earth."
Exodus 3:15. "And Elohim said moreover to Moses, in this manner shall you say to the Children of Israel, Yahweh, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you: this is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations."
John 17:6,12. "I manifested Your name to the men whom You gave me out of the world: Yours they were, and You gave them to me; and they have kept Your word. verse 12: While I was with them, I kept them in Your name which You have given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled." This entire chapter is Yahshua, our Savior, praying to the Father.
It appears from this prayer that one of the things that the Father sent Yahshua to do was to declare the name of Yahweh to the people that the Father was calling. Apparently the name of Yahweh was already covered up by the time our Savior was born.
Psalm 22:22. "I will declare Your name to my brethren: In the middle of the Assembly I will praise you." If commonly used titles such as God or Lord was His name, why was it necessary to manifest and declare His name unto the brethren? Just think for a minute. Is His name important?
Deut. 28:9-10. "Yahweh will establish you for a holy people to Himself, as he has sworn to you; if you shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, and walk in His ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Yahweh; and they shall be afraid of you." Why will they see that we are called by the name of Yahweh? Verse 9, ..."if you shall keep the commandments..." We are known by the name Yahweh if we keep the commandments, because if we are keeping the third commandment, we will not bring Yahweh’s name to nought by substituting something else for it! There's more!
Rev. 3:7-12. "And to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things says He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the key of David, He that opens and no one shall shut, and that shuts, and none opens: I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which none can shut), that you have a little power, and did keep My word, and did not deny My name. Behold, I give of the synagogue of satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you did keep the word of my patience, I will also keep you from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. I come quickly: hold fast that which you have, that no one take your crown. He that overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he shall go out from there no more: and I will write upon him the name of my Elohim, and the name of the City of my Elohim, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my Elohim, and my own new name." I believe that Yahweh’s name is the seal of the Living Almighty One.
Rev. 7:2-4. "And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living Elohim: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, do not hurt the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our Elohim on their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the Children of Israel."
Rev. 14:1. "And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty-four thousand, having His name, and the name of His Father, written on their foreheads."
So, I believe it is very important to know His name and to use it. For only those who have His name in their foreheads will be sealed.