Is the Name of God "Yehovah" or "Yahweh"?

[Bruce.Leiter]

Respect. When I believed God's Name was "Jehovah", I used that. Later, I was taught "Yahweh" is the correct pronunciation. Nehemia Gordon has overwhelming evidence "Yehovah" is the correct pronunciation of YHWH that appears thousands of times in the OT and once as "Yehovah" in the Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew.

But I agree with one of your premises, that if someone uses the translation of a Name to refer to God in compound Unity, or Jesus, fully believing they are speaking of the God of the Bible and His Son, there is nothing wrong occurring. God knows they are speaking to Him, and He accepts that. I still pray in the name of Jesus, but on occasion say "Yeshua HaMashiach (יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ).

Are you speaking in tongues then, Alfred Persson?

 

[Alfred Persson]

Are you speaking in tongues then, Alfred Persson?

I asked God for the gift of Biblical Hebrew, Greek. Evidently, I'll receive those in His Kingdom.

 

[deepfaithpraise]

The claim made by Dr. Nehemia Gordon—that the pronunciation “Yehovah” is the true and original vocalization of the Tetragrammaton (יהוה) based on over 1,000 manuscript instances of this form—is not supported by the historical and linguistic consensus of Jewish and Semitic scholarship. The claim rests upon a misunderstanding of the function of vowel points in the Masoretic Text and a disregard for the linguistic development of Hebrew and the documented practice of scribal tradition.

First, it must be clarified that the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH) is written without vowels in the original Hebrew Bible. The vowel points found in the Masoretic manuscripts are not the original vowels of the divine name but are artificial diacritical marks added centuries later to guide pronunciation, often inserted to avoid pronouncing the name altogether.

The pronunciation “Yehovah” arises from the deliberate insertion of the vowel points for “Adonai” (אֲדֹנָי) or “Elohim” (אֱלֹהִים) into the consonants Y-H-W-H. This hybrid form was a scribal device to remind the reader to substitute “Adonai” or “Elohim” instead of attempting to vocalize the divine name, which was considered too sacred to pronounce aloud. This is confirmed by leading scholars such as Wilhelm Gesenius (Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar § 16 n. 2), who explains that the vowels in “Jehovah” are not the original vowels of the divine name, but those of a qere perpetuum substitution.

Furthermore, Dr. Gordon’s methodology is flawed because he treats these Masoretic forms as original rather than as editorial conventions. His team’s discovery of over a thousand instances of “Yehovah” with vowel points is not surprising, given that Masoretes systematically pointed the Tetragrammaton with the vowels of “Adonai” to avoid utterance of the name. These forms date no earlier than the 9th century A.D., well after the original vocalization of the divine name was lost.

On the contrary, the pronunciation “Yahweh” finds support from early Greek transliterations and from patristic sources. The Greek forms Ἰαβέ (Iabe) and Ἰαουέ (Iaoue) were preserved by Theodoret (5th century), Epiphanius (4th century), and Clement of Alexandria (2nd–3rd century), who recorded Jewish pronunciation traditions well before the vowel system of the Masoretes was developed. These forms reflect a two-syllable pronunciation with an initial Ya- and a final -weh, closely matching “Yahweh.”

Linguistically, the form “Yahweh” aligns with the morphology of Hebrew theophoric names (such as Yesha‘yahu, Yirmeyahu) and with the Hebrew verbal root הוה / היה (“to be”). Most scholars believe “Yahweh” derives from the causative imperfect form yahwī or yahweh, meaning “He causes to be,” consistent with the explanation given in Exodus 3:14, Ehyeh asher Ehyeh (“I AM that I AM”).

Gordon’s additional claim that “Yahweh” comes from pagan sources is likewise inaccurate. There is no credible evidence that the form “Yahweh” was derived from pagan deity names. On the contrary, the tetragrammaton was uniquely Israelite and stood in stark contrast to the polytheism of surrounding cultures. The claim of a pagan origin is speculative and does not appear in any serious academic linguistic or epigraphic work.

So-in short--

 The vowel points under יהוה producing “Yehovah” were never intended as the original pronunciation, but rather a protective mechanism by Jewish scribes to prevent vocalization of the name.

 The form “Yahweh” fits Hebrew linguistic morphology and reflects the meaning of the divine name in Exodus 3:14.
 The accusation that “Yahweh” is pagan lacks evidence and ignores the uniqueness of the Tetragrammaton in ancient Israelite religion.

For these reasons, while Dr. Gordon’s research may be sincere, the evidence he presents does not support “Yehovah” as the original pronunciation, nor does it invalidate “Yahweh” as the most likely reconstruction based on philology, history, and the witness of Second Temple and early Christian sources.

J.

---


Thanks for diving deep into this topic—it’s a real head-scratcher, isn’t it? I’ve been reflecting on the whole “Yehovah” vs. “Yahweh” discussion, and I appreciate how you’re unpacking the historical and linguistic pieces. From where I’m sitting, the debate over God’s divine name carries so much meaning, not just in how we say it but in how it shapes our walk with Him.

You make a strong point about the Masoretic vowel points being a later addition to guide readers away from pronouncing the Tetragrammaton. That scribal care to honor God’s holiness really strikes me—it’s like a reminder of how seriously they took reverence for His name. The “Yahweh” argument, with its roots in those early Greek transliterations and Hebrew morphology, does seem to carry weight, especially when you tie it to Exodus 3:14. That “I AM” statement feels like God revealing something so core to His eternal nature.

What I’d add is that these debates, while fascinating, can sometimes pull us from the heart of what God’s name invites us into—relationship and worship. Whether it’s “Yahweh” or “Yehovah,” the name points to a God who’s faithful and present. Historically, Jewish tradition leaned hard into protecting the name’s sanctity, and as Christians, we’re called to approach it with humility. Maybe the bigger lesson here is trusting that God’s truth shines through, even when our understanding of the details gets murky.

Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts—this is the kind of stuff that keeps us digging deeper!

 

[Hawkins]

From AI:
"Yahweh" and "Jehovah" are both Latinized transliterations of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the Hebrew name for God in the Old Testament. The key difference lies in the vowels used, as ancient Hebrew didn't have written vowels. "Yahweh" is a more accurate attempt to pronounce the name based on some historical interpretations, while "Jehovah" was a Latinization that used the vowels from the word "Adonai" (Lord).

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• YHWH (Tetragrammaton): This is the four-letter Hebrew name for God, written without vowels.
  
  
• • Yahweh: This is a transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, with the vowels added based on historical interpretations, commonly used by biblical scholars.
    
  • Jehovah: This is a Latinized version of the Tetragrammaton, where the vowels of "Adonai" were added to the Hebrew consonants. It's commonly used in Christian traditions.
    

In essence: While both "Yahweh" and "Jehovah" refer to the same divine name, "Yahweh" is considered a more accurate, scholarly pronunciation, while "Jehovah" is a more established, but potentially less accurate, Latinization.

 

[Beetow]

.
● 2Tim 2:14 . . Command them in God's name to stop quarreling over trifles.

In a Sean Connery movie titled "The Name Of The Rose" church dignitaries
assembled a meeting of the minds to reach a resolution on a theological question
which was: Did the Christ own the clothes that he wore or not?

Well, needless to say, the discussion turned into bickering wherein nothing was
resolved. Tempers flared, shouting ensued, feelings were hurt, and people were
alienated over the issue-- a rather superfluous issue at that.

Christians are often embroiled in arguments over things that in the grand scheme
of things have almost zero importance while all around them are weightier matters
begging their attention.

It's interesting that Paul didn't want Timothy's flock instructed to avoid quarreling
over trifles, rather, to stop. I can't help but wonder how many Christians think to
seek absolution for the sin of quarreling over trifles when they go to God in prayer.
_

 

[Alfred Persson]

From AI:
"Yahweh" and "Jehovah" are both Latinized transliterations of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the Hebrew name for God in the Old Testament. The key difference lies in the vowels used, as ancient Hebrew didn't have written vowels. "Yahweh" is a more accurate attempt to pronounce the name based on some historical interpretations, while "Jehovah" was a Latinization that used the vowels from the word "Adonai" (Lord).

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• YHWH (Tetragrammaton): This is the four-letter Hebrew name for God, written without vowels.
  
  
• • Yahweh: This is a transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, with the vowels added based on historical interpretations, commonly used by biblical scholars.
  • Jehovah: This is a Latinized version of the Tetragrammaton, where the vowels of "Adonai" were added to the Hebrew consonants. It's commonly used in Christian traditions.

In essence: While both "Yahweh" and "Jehovah" refer to the same divine name, "Yahweh" is considered a more accurate, scholarly pronunciation, while "Jehovah" is a more established, but potentially less accurate, Latinization.

Nehemia Gordon contradicts each point, proving the Yehovah is found in over 2,000 mss and cannot be vowels borrowed from Adonay. You should check it out:

Nehemia Gordon

Bible Scholar Dr. Nehemia Gordon is the host of "Hebrew Gospel Pearls", “Hebrew Voices”, "Torah Pearls" and Prophet Pearls". He has written two popular books on the Hebrew origins of Christianity: “The Hebrew Yeshua vs. The Greek Jesus” and “A Prayer to Our Father”. He is also the author of the...

www.youtube.com

I switched from "Yahweh" which isn't in any Hebrew mss, to Yehovah. I think the evidence for Yehovah is overwhelming.