The Hebrew word for God, Elohim, El, etc. was written and pronounced as was even the Name, YHWH. Under a later piety YHWH came not to be written except when required and not pronounced. The Masoretes who were already speculating on the actual pronunciation of Hebrew in general by use of their pointing method did not apply it to the tetragammaton; it became traditional to point it for the susbstitute word to be spoken, either the name in Hebrew (haShem) or Arameic (Shema), or Adoni (Heb. my lords, a plural of majesty). It is the combination of the tetragrammaton and the pointing (vowels) of Adoni that gives the totally incorrect JeHoVaH.

All interesting stuff, but what's it to us Christians. We have been given "the Name" and we say it, with reverence, as St. Paul notes:

That is, "above every name."

The difference between the Tetragrammaton and any other name that God has revealed Himself by is that, to utter the Tetragrammaton "in a sentence" is to say, "I am God."

Think about, "YHWH, turn your face to me." It is to say, "I am God, so God, turn to me." In one sense, Christians are always praying through Jesus, and we mystically adopt the persona of Christ when we pray the Psalms. However, this kind of takes it to the next level.

Jesus' use of the Tetragrammaton as recorded by John is one of the reason He was crucified. He was crucified for blasphemy: that was the blasphemy (or would have been, if He weren't God).

To use the Tetragrammaton is to invoke not just divine grace in prayer but to invoke the Godhead itself.

God has given certain people (e.g., Moses and the other Biblical writers) permission to use His as His delegates, or in order to honor Him.

That is quite different from the name of Jesus, which means, "YHWH is my savior"

I don't believe that anyone has claimed to know precisely the meaning of YHWH; so tell me more.

Once again, I don't know the context or warrant for this claim, especially since what Jesus said in John's gospel is in Greek.



The most profound prayer for Christians is to say, and realize what we say, when we say, especially in the Liturgy, "Our Father."

God did not reveal more in the Old Covenant than what was revealed and perfected in the New by His Son.


You apparently don't believe or accept the plain words of St. Paul.