God's name

[Hockeycowboy]

Weird that the Christian god's name is Yahweh/Jehovah (We don't really know since Hebrew doesn't have vowels, and the Y/J is interchangeable), yet he got named generic God.

Yes, isn’t it? It’s ultimately by design, although most probably won’t accept such an explanation. The Bible emphatically states the importance of using God’s Name YHWH (Yahweh / Jehovah), in texts like Proverbs 18:10 ; Joel 2:32 (see Romans 10:13); Malachi 3:16 ; etc. …. so losing the correct pronunciation was bad enough. But then later, to make matters worse, Christendom removes the Tetragrammaton, and replaces it with “LORD”. So texts like Psalms 110:1 become ambiguous. (Some translations don’t even bother Capitalizing all the letters. And Psalms 110:1 becomes completely ambiguous.)

Obviously an important Name to use & honor (it’s found in the Hebrew Bible over 6,800 times), but Christendom basically ignores it, rather putting Jesus in God’s place.

Unfortunately, the practice of removing God’s Name from Scripture, aided Christendom’s churches in their endeavors to elevate Jesus to God-status.

Sounds like something God’s enemy, the Devil, would promote.
https://biblehub.com/1_john/5-19.htm
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
—And—
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

That’s the “by design“ part I meant. -

 

[Soapy]

Yes, isn’t it? It’s ultimately by design, although most probably won’t accept such an explanation. The Bible emphatically states the importance of using God’s Name YHWH (Yahweh / Jehovah), in texts like Proverbs 18:10 ; Joel 2:32 (see Romans 10:13); Malachi 3:16 ; etc. …. so losing the correct pronunciation was bad enough. But then later, to make matters worse, Christendom removes the Tetragrammaton, and replaces it with “LORD”. So texts like Psalms 110:1 become ambiguous. (Some translations don’t even bother Capitalizing all the letters. And Psalms 110:1 becomes completely ambiguous.)

Obviously an important Name to use & honor (it’s found in the Hebrew Bible over 6,800 times), but Christendom basically ignores it, rather putting Jesus in God’s place.

Unfortunately, the practice of removing God’s Name from Scripture, aided Christendom’s churches in their endeavors to elevate Jesus to God-status.

Sounds like something God’s enemy, the Devil, would promote.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
—And—
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

That’s the “by design“ part I meant. -

Excellent. I have been preaching the same for a long time.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Excellent. I have been preaching the same for a long time.

Interesting! This is what Jehovah’s Witnesses teach. And have been for over 100 years (even when we were known as International Bible Students Association.)

Take care, my cousin.

 

[wizanda]

Why don't they call their god by his name instead of the generic term?

After 18 years of discussing theology with people, personally would prefer that people called God the 'Source of reality', and used a more generic specific term.

As half the arguments of what God is, and can be, I've heard over the years, is people are talking at cross purposes.

Beings that have a form, and character identity are often lower beings than the Source of reality, which creates all form, ideas, and all of our reality.

I believe the Bible is specifically speaking about a being that interacted with form (YHVH Eloh), then it references the Father, as the God Most High (El Elyon) as distinct, nameless, and above it.

In my opinion.

 

[Soapy]

Interesting! This is what Jehovah’s Witnesses teach. And have been for over 100 years (even when we were known as International Bible Students Association.)

Take care, my cousin.

Just to let you (and others) know: I am not a JW.

While certain of my views might sound like JW, be sure I disagree with much else they claim.

((But then …. Why should it be that JW are wrong (or right) about everything/anything … it is perfectly possible that certain things any religious belief claim can be true but which is dismissed because another belief system disagrees with it!!!
Even a trinitarian creed begins by declaring ‘The Father’ as the ‘Creator of all things’… but which then goes awry by claiming that it was ‘Jesus who created all things’ … clearly false in the second claim unless they were to claim that ‘Jesus’ is ‘the Father’…. Something they missed as an opportunity(?) to harden their belief wherein Jesus says: ‘I, and the Father, are one’ — notice that Trinitarians deny that Jesus is the Father BY THEIR OWN CREED! ))

 

[syo]

How many religions call their god "God?" I can only think of Christianity. Why don't they call their god by his name instead of the generic term? Is it because they think he's the only one, so any talk of "God" automatically refers to theirs?

''God'' is a powerful word, that's why people utter it.

 

[Aupmanyav]

''God'' is a powerful word, that's why people utter it.

Really? What happens? Mountains move? Rivers change their course?

 

[pearl]

How many religions call their god "God?" I can only think of Christianity. Why don't they call their god by his name instead of the generic term? Is it because they think he's the only one, so any talk of "God" automatically refers to theirs?

When you name someone does it imply you have some power to do so?

 

[Sand Dancer]

When you name someone does it imply you have some power to do so?

Well, someone has to name them.

 

[idea]

When you name someone does it imply you have some power to do so?

So much discussion around names recently - people who request her/she, others he/him, and others they/them. I suppose we are named by our parents, some keep their name, others do not.
My kids call me mom, my husband calls me wife, my students call me prof, my colleagues call me Dr.

I personally do not subscribe to a male/female God, so when asked pray to "Loving God" - not father, not mother, nit brother/sister/grandparent - neutral without attachments to any religious denomination, the important part being love. I have not had any complaints so far, let each use the name which best captures their own beliefs.

I do take offense when God is used for personal gain - God's cleaning store, God's towing service, God's church... No, your church is NOT "God's church"... I would not want my name slapped on anything that wasn't from me. If my kids tried "Mom said that...." when I did NOT say that - they are in trouble ... The church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints? No - they are not the Jehovah's church. Jesus was not his name (Roman's added the 'us' ending for more masculine name much later). Cheap sales technique - to claim you are associated with someone or something you are not.

 

[Ella S.]

The Stoics referred to Jupiter as "DEVS" and Zeus as "Θεός" both of which translate as "God."

 

[Soapy]

The Stoics referred to Jupiter as "DEVS" and Zeus as "Θεός" both of which translate as "God."

‘God’ is just a world common TITLE for a worshipped Deity. Virtually all religions who imagine a worshipful deity now refer to it using the common title of ‘God’ which, itself, is of Germanic origin!! Which tells that religious beliefs such as Hebrews, Israelites, Greeks, Egyptians, philistines, moabites…etc., did not use the title ‘God’ but it has merely been used as such by translators for our common view point.

The Christian ‘God’ is not offended by the use of the title ‘God’ in a flippant manner. The offence is caused only if the reference is to His NAME (‘Yahweh’).

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Isaiah42:8, BibleHub.com....

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.

American Standard Version
I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I AM LORD JEHOVAH, and this is My Name, and my honor I shall not give to another, neither my praise to carved things



At https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/42/ New World Translation says...
“I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else, Nor my praise to graven images.r”

2001Translation.com has enlightening information, too.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

Can anyone really be sure exactly what God's name is? All we have are things that someone wrote centuries ago and gave their idea what to call God. Were they correct? I suspect that if God has a name, it is something that no human mouth can utter. So we do our best.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

Isaiah42:8, BibleHub.com....

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.

American Standard Version
I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I AM LORD JEHOVAH, and this is My Name, and my honor I shall not give to another, neither my praise to carved things



At https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/isaiah/42/ New World Translation says...
“I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else, Nor my praise to graven images.r”

2001Translation.com has enlightening information, too.

Don't forget the King James version. Probably on of the best. "I am the LORD, that is my name." Anyone can translate a verse a different way. That does not make it right. Jehovah and Yahweh are just someone's translation. Not necessarily correct.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Don't forget the King James version. Probably on of the best. "I am the LORD, that is my name." Anyone can translate a verse a different way. That does not make it right. Jehovah and Yahweh are just someone's translation. Not necessarily correct.

I appreciate your POV, but the fact is, LORD is not a name.
It’s a title, that applied to King David, really to anyone in a position of authority.

In Scriptures like Psalms 8:9 & Psalms 110:1, the meanings are made ambiguous by not differentiating.

IMO.

Take care, my cousin.

 

[Soapy]

I appreciate your POV, but the fact is, LORD is not a name.
It’s a title, that applied to King David, really to anyone in a position of authority.

In Scriptures like Psalms 8:9 & Psalms 110:1, the meanings are made ambiguous by not differentiating.

IMO.

Take care, my cousin.

Indeed.

‘LORD’, presented in all capitals, is not even a title. It is a substitute word used by the scripture translators who refused to use the NAME (YHWH) that the Gospel ‘God’ gave to Moses and the Israelites.

The Israelites (let’s just say ‘Jews’) used to using the NAME of their God to swear an oath, it started to be used disrespectfully , which, as you can imagine, brought the power of the name into disrepute. It no longer could be used but, in case they brought retribution in themselves by misusing the name of God, they stopped pronouncing the name. Instead they would only write it. Somehow, I don’t know when, Scripture TRANSLATORS refused to even write the name of God because they claimed they could not pronounce the name (Hebrew words are verbally transmitted so the lack of speaking the name lost pronunciation). Since the translators were trinitarian, they purposely used a substitute word that caused confusion to the world but hardened their desire to call Jesus ‘God’ due to Jesus also being called ‘Lord’ (only for letter capitalised). However, any true seeker of truth can discern the difference between ‘LORD’ (the substitute for ‘YHWH’) and ‘Lord’ (a title used of anyone in a position of authority). Just check the reference ‘Lord YHWH’. Certainly it could not be translated as ‘Lord LORD’, could it? However, determined trinity-based persons will purposely read to a congregation the word ‘LORD’ as though it was ‘Lord’ or writers will (and can be accidentally) write ‘LORD’ as ‘Lord’ and thus propagate the falsehood.

And just look at how JW’s are treated when they rightly tried to restore the name of God (‘YHWH’) into a translation of the scriptures. I am not JW but I do say that not EVERYTHING that JW claim is false and restoration of the name of God goes a long way to restoring one aspect of truth:::: of course Satan doesn’t like that and seeks to destroy the restoration by, for instance, misleading JW’s into wrongful scripture or beliefs which are clearly wrong and thus bringing disrepute into all aspects of JW belief, including of course, the correct aspects!!!!!!

 

[pearl]

And just look at how JW’s are treated when they rightly tried to restore the name of God (‘YHWH’) into a translation of the scriptures

It was not a correct translation but a transliteration.

 

[Bird123]

How many religions call their god "God?" I can only think of Christianity. Why don't they call their god by his name instead of the generic term? Is it because they think he's the only one, so any talk of "God" automatically refers to theirs?

God actually does not have a name. Spiritually no one has a name. Everyone already knows who everyone is. On the other hand, in this physical world we use language. Names are used ,such as God, in order to supply a frame of reference. It really doesn't matter what name you use for God as long as others know who you refer to. I see no problem for anyone to use the generic when it comes to language.

That's what I see. It's very clear!!

 

[Soapy]

It was not a correct translation but a transliteration.

There is nothing wrong with trying to speak an unknown name (or word) if the gesture is pure and reverent.

Does anyone baulk at saying ‘Jesus’? Jesus is an invented ‘name’. The Hebrew name of the son of Mary is EQUIVALENT to that of JOSHUA. The two names have exactly the same meaning since they are in fact the exact same names… (duh!!).

So why is it sinful to say, ‘Jehovah’, or ‘Yahweh’, since it is now unknown how to exactly say the Hebrew name ‘YHWH’. In fact, since there was no letter ‘Y’ in Hebrew lettering, we can’t even know EXACTLY what it is.

BUT… there is no reason not to try to use it if the TRANSLITERATION is REVERENT.

Nearly all languages have modifications to names we use. Even pronunciation. Portuguese say ‘Jesus’ as ‘Jaysuis’… general English say ‘Jeezus’ - does that diminish the power of the name of the son of God? No!!! Are either pronunciations irreverent?