ELOHIM (GOD) HAS A PERSONAL NAME!

Titles like “God,” “Lord,” and “Creator” describe roles, but God’s unique personal name is יהוה (YHVH / Yehovah). This name appears about 6,825 times in the Hebrew Bible (Exodus 3:15; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 45:18), highlighting its significance.

Most Bible translations substitute the title “LORD” for God’s personal name, YHVH-Yehovah, obscuring the name he revealed to humanity.

While some argue his name should not be spoken, scripture distinguishes between not using and not misusing YHVH’s name (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 24:10-16).

The Torah contains commands requiring YHVH’s people to pronounce his name (Numbers 6:22-27; Deuteronomy 6:13). Yehovah means “The One Who Causes To Become,” emphasizing YHVH’s role as Creator.

The earliest whole appearance of YHVH with vowels e-o-a in the Leningrad Codex is Genesis 3:14. The use of YHVH’s name in many Israelite personal names, such as Yehonatan (“Yehovah has given,” Nehemiah 12:18), and the shortened form YAH (יָהּ) in phrases like “halelu Yah” (“Praise Yah,” Psalms 113:1), shows its continued importance. YHVH’s name guarantees his promises and purpose, as repeatedly declared in scripture: “You will have to know that I am YehovAH,” meaning “The One Who Causes To Become” (Ezekiel 37:13).

By Rabbi HaTzair M. Francisco Arbas