what does ineffable mean to you?

  • Thread starter KittenofMelchisedek
  • Start date
  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Mar 4, 2013
7,761
107
0
#22
I know we are adopted and can freely come to God, through the blood of Christ. We can call on God, as children to our Father. I personally wouldn't call my father by his first name. This is not to be condemning, quite the contrary. I would love to know, as I see many on here have peace to talk about God using the name Yahweh, why is or isn't it ok in peoples minds. What I had been taught, and thank you all ahead of time for correcting me if I'm wrong, is that in the Hebrew the 4 letter name of God was unpronounceable, and considered to be ineffable. There are legends of people or spirits speaking the name and blasting off into outer space (yes I know, I'm exaggerating). I'm not saying you are wrong if you say it, just curious why you do, if you do, and if you back it up with scripture or just say it cuz you want to or did God tell you it was ok or if anyone has any thoughts that might aid my understanding.
The word ineffable is not in the KJV that I use the most. It means incapable of being expressed in words alone.

Isaiah 55:6-11 (KJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
[SUP]11 [/SUP]So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Unfathomable are God's ways.

In capable of being fathomed or sounded; to deep to be measured.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#23
Sep 10, 2013
1,428
19
0
#24
Well please be a bit more specific because I thought I did answer? Probably I misunderstood what you were asking?
Wasn`t Yahweh`s name known before Jesus?
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#25
Wasn`t Yahweh`s name known before Jesus?
Yes, and that was the verse I quoted, Yahshua the Messiah making the Name of Father Yahweh known.

Yahweh;s Name was know even by Adam and Eve as shown in prior post.
 
Sep 10, 2013
1,428
19
0
#26
Yes, and that was the verse I quoted, Yahshua the Messiah making the Name of Father Yahweh known.

Yahweh;s Name was know even by Adam and Eve as shown in prior post.
If the name "Yahweh" was already known it makes no sense to say that Jesus Christ made the name "Yahweh" known.
God revealed Himself as being "YHWH" to Moses (Exodus 3,14).
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#27
If the name "Yahweh" was already known it makes no sense to say that Jesus Christ made the name "Yahweh" known.
God revealed Himself as being "YHWH" to Moses (Exodus 3,14).
That quote is Yahshua the Messiah making Yahweh's Name known

I disagree, on a surface level that is like saying since the prophet Isayah spoke the truth Messiah didnt need to, or since Messiah spoke the truth Shaul didnt need to. ON a deeper level we can look at a prophecy of Enoch, 7 crystaly clear instances of a body of water and 7 black instances of a body of water, also in which the 7 lamp lampstand represents.

So Abel invokes the Name of Yahweh, abel is killed and none invoke the Name of Yahweh, and then this happens:

Genesis 4:26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. It was then that the Name of Yahweh began to be invoked again."

Now we have Abraham praying with the Name of Yahweh:

Genesis 12:8 And he went from there to the hill east of Beth El, and he pitched his tent there; Beth El was to the west of him, and Ai was to the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh, and there he prayed with the Name of Yahweh."

Yet at 400 years of Egyptian slavery the Hebrew people did not know Yahweh's Name, thus it was revealed to Mosheh:

Exodus 3:13-15, "Then Mosheh said to Yahweh; Suppose I go to the children of Israyl, and say to them: The Almighty Father of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me; What is His Name? Then what shall I tell them? Then Yahweh said to Mosheh: I am Who I am. And He said: This is what you are to say to the children of Israyl; YAHWEH has sent me to you. Yahweh also said to Mosheh: This also shall you say to the children of Israyl; YAHWEH, the Heavenly Father of your fathers, the Mighty One of Abraham, the Mighty One of Isaac, and the Mighty One of Yaaqob, has sent me to you. THIS IS MY NAME FOREVER-- and this is MY MEMORIAL: the Name by which I am to be remembered by, from generation to generation, for all generations."

Then we have the Psalmist declaring Yahweh;s Name:

Psalm 22:22, "I will declare Your Name to My brothers! In the midst of the congregation I will give You praise!"

Then the Pharisees put a ban on Yahweh's Name and it is not spoken, and when it is men are taken to trial over it:

the origin of the ban on the Name of the Most High: Yahweh

Talmud - Mas. Sotah 38a
Another [Baraitha] taught: ‘On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel’ — with the use of
the Shem Hameforash.15 You say that it means with the Tetragrammaton; but perhaps that is not so and a substituted name was used!16 There is a text to say: So shall they put My name17 — My name which is unique to Me. It is possible to think that [the Shem Hameforash was also used] in places outside the Temple; but it is stated here, ‘So shall they put My name’ and elsewhere it is stated: To put His name there18 — as in this latter passage it denotes in the Temple so also in the former passage it denotes in the Temple. R. Joshiah says: [This deduction] is unnecessary; behold it states: In every place where I cause My name to be remembered I will come unto thee.19 Can it enter your mind that every place is intended?20 But the text must be transposed thus: In every place where I will come unto thee and bless thee will I cause My name to be remembered; and where will I come unto thee and bless thee? In the Temple; there, in the Temple, will I cause My name to be remembered. Another [Baraitha] teaches: ‘On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel’ — I have here only the children of Israel; whence is it that proselytes, women and enfranchised slaves [are included]? There is a text to state, Ye shall say unto them21 — i.e., to all of them.

Talmud - Mas. Sanhedrin 56a
THE WHOLE DAY [OF THE TRIAL] THE WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED BY MEANS OF A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE DIVINE NAME, THUS, ‘MAY JOSE SMITE JOSE.’1 WHEN THE TRIAL WAS FINISHED, THE ACCUSED WAS NOT EXECUTED ON THIS EVIDENCE, BUT ALL PERSONS WERE REMOVED [FROM COURT], AND THE CHIEF WITNESS WAS TOLD, ‘STATE LITERALLY WHAT YOU HEARD. THEREUPON HE DID SO, [USING THE DIVINE NAME]. THE JUDGES THEN AROSE AND RENT THEIR GARMENTS, WHICH RENT WAS NOT TO BE RESEWN. THE SECOND WITNESS STATED; I TOO HAVE HEARD THUS’ [BUT NOT UTTERING THE DIVINE NAME], AND THE THIRD SAYS: ‘I TOO HEARD THUS’.
GEMARA. It has been taught: [The blasphemer is not punished] unless he ‘blesses’ the Name, by the Name2 From the verse, How shall I curse [Ekkob]5 whom God hath not cursed;6 whilst the formal prohibition is contained in the verse, thou shalt not revile God.7 But perhaps it means ‘to pierce,’8 as it is written, [So Jehoiada the priest took a chest,] and bored [wa-yikkob]9 a hole in the lid of it,10 the formal injunction against this being the verses, Ye shall destroy the names of them [idols] out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God?11 — The Name must be ‘blessed’ by the Name, which is absent here. But perhaps the text refers to the putting of two slips of parchment, each bearing the Divine Name, together, and piercing them both? — In that case one Name is pierced after the other.12 But perhaps it prohibits the engraving of the Divine Name on the Point of a knife and piercing therewith [the Divine Name written on a slip of parchment]? — In that case, the point of the knife pierces, not the Divine Name. But perhaps it refers to the pronunciation of the ineffable Name, as it is written, And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed [nikkebu]13 by their names;14 the formal prohibition being contained in the verse, Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God?15 — Firstly, the Name must be ‘blessed’ by the Name, which is absent here; and secondly, it is a prohibition in the form of a positive command, which is not deemed to be a prohibition at all.16 An alternative answer is this: The Writ saith, [And the Israelitish woman's son] blasphemed wa-yikkob17 [and cursed],18 proving that blasphemy [nokeb] denotes cursing. But perhaps it teaches that both offences must be perpetrated?19 You cannot think so, because it is written, Bring forth him that hath cursed,20 and not ‘him that hath blasphemed and cursed’, proving that one offence only is alluded to. Our Rabbis taught: [Any man that curseth his God, shall bear his sin.21 It would have been sufficient to say],

Then Yahshua the Messiah comes along and throws all the man made religious traditions in the trash and manifests Yahweh's Name:


Yahchanan (John) 17:6, "I have manifested; made openly known, Your Name to the men that You gave Me out of the world. They were yours, and You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your Word."

Mattithyah 15:2-3, "Why do Your disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat. But He answered, and said to them: And why do you transgress the Laws of Yahweh by your traditions?"

Then during the dark ages Yahweh's Name is not taught, because of persecution of the Catholic Chruch, and while His Name is know in modern times it is shunned still, by the denominations small and large:

No 'Yahweh' in songs, prayers at Catholic Masses, Vatican rules

(LINK)
CNS STORY: No 'Yahweh' in songs, prayers at Catholic Masses, Vatican rules

Revelation 13:6, "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against Yahweh, to blaspheme His Name..."

Revelation 13:3, "...and all the world followed, after the beast."

I will not do this, concering evey matter, and since this thread is about the Name of the MOST HIGH, I will proclaim His Name. AND I INVITE ALL WHO PRAISE AND WORSHIP YAHWEH TO DO SO WITH ME!

praise and glory to Father Yahweh the standard of perfection! halleluYAHWEH!
:rolleyes:
 
P

phil112

Guest
#28
Hizikyah, I Am That I Am is a description, not a name. That isn't a proper noun. He didn't tell Moses His name, He said " Thus shalt thou say[SUP] [/SUP]unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
 
K

KittenofMelchisedek

Guest
#29
Some interesting ideas all around.

What I was taught about Hebrew culture, which may or may not be accurate at all, was that a name was more a reputation than a word you call someone by.
If we take the name as you call someone by, Jesus manifested the name of God by his actions.
If you look at reputation, it's about an agreement that's made. Like two men shaking hands, giving their word. God says numerous times that we will swear by his name. I always took that to be fulfilled by our future righteousness.

But scripture can almost always (I say always, but don't want a debate about it) be looked at/understood/applied/whatever on 4 different levels. So we have the name as a word to call someone, the name as the persons reputation, the name as it applies to an oath, and the essential aspect or most apparent aspect of a person (guess what Judy Miller's dad does for a living).

My only problem is that I don't understand on a worldly level, why Hebrew was only written with consonants and then the Rabbi's apparently took the tradition in another direction....I think the oral traditions were maybe supposed to be the vowels. You can't discount the oral torah, as the penteteuch may not have survived without the annual communal recitation thereof....so how do we determine how to pronounce it? Is it just common sense? Or did I miss it when Hizikyah related how not to pronounce it?

I got a pm from someone who apparently thinks God is a woman, so our discussion is proving fruitful! YAY =)
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#30
Hizikyah, I Am That I Am is a description, not a name. That isn't a proper noun. He didn't tell Moses His name, He said " Thus shalt thou sayunto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
I agree I AM is a description, but is the 6,823+ times YHWH is used as the Name of the Creator in the "OT" is wrong?

Isayah 42:8, "I am Yahweh, that is MY NAME; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images."
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#31
Some interesting ideas all around.

What I was taught about Hebrew culture, which may or may not be accurate at all, was that a name was more a reputation than a word you call someone by.
If we take the name as you call someone by, Jesus manifested the name of God by his actions.
If you look at reputation, it's about an agreement that's made. Like two men shaking hands, giving their word. God says numerous times that we will swear by his name. I always took that to be fulfilled by our future righteousness.

But scripture can almost always (I say always, but don't want a debate about it) be looked at/understood/applied/whatever on 4 different levels. So we have the name as a word to call someone, the name as the persons reputation, the name as it applies to an oath, and the essential aspect or most apparent aspect of a person (guess what Judy Miller's dad does for a living).

My only problem is that I don't understand on a worldly level, why Hebrew was only written with consonants and then the Rabbi's apparently took the tradition in another direction....I think the oral traditions were maybe supposed to be the vowels. You can't discount the oral torah, as the penteteuch may not have survived without the annual communal recitation thereof....so how do we determine how to pronounce it? Is it just common sense? Or did I miss it when Hizikyah related how not to pronounce it?

I got a pm from someone who apparently thinks God is a woman, so our discussion is proving fruitful! YAY =)
As far as pronounciation goes IMO, is a personal journey, there are many beliefs.

I think the most 2 likely ways to pronounce YHWH is Yahweh or Yahuah.

Clearly I think Yahweh is correct.

I agree that a Name is much more than simply a word, definitely carries a special meaning!

Exodus 34:5-7, "Then Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name of YAHWEH. Yahweh passed in front of him, and proclaimed: YAHWEH, YAHWEH Almighty, merciful and compassionate, longsuffering, and abounding in righteousness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; but by no means leaving unpunished those who are guilty; Who visits the sin of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation."
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#32
I know we are adopted and can freely come to God, through the blood of Christ. We can call on God, as children to our Father. I personally wouldn't call my father by his first name. This is not to be condemning, quite the contrary. I would love to know, as I see many on here have peace to talk about God using the name Yahweh, why is or isn't it ok in peoples minds. What I had been taught, and thank you all ahead of time for correcting me if I'm wrong, is that in the Hebrew the 4 letter name of God was unpronounceable, and considered to be ineffable. There are legends of people or spirits speaking the name and blasting off into outer space (yes I know, I'm exaggerating). I'm not saying you are wrong if you say it, just curious why you do, if you do, and if you back it up with scripture or just say it cuz you want to or did God tell you it was ok or if anyone has any thoughts that might aid my understanding.
Why lend any credence to such things? I think the Word of God should trump tradition and legends.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#34
Another piece of evidence of the Pharisee/Rabbinical ban on the Name of the Most High, ....YAHWEH!

Talmud - Mas. Yoma 39b
His brethren [that year] the priests forbore to mention the Ineffable Name in pronouncing the [priestly] blessing.4 Our Rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [‘For the Lord’] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap become white;

This is in DIRECT disobedience to the Command of Yahweh:

Numbers 6:23-27, "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying; This is how you are to bless the children of Israyl. Say to them; YAHWEH BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. YAHWEH MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE MERCIFUL TO YOU. YAHWEH LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU, AND GIVE YOU PEACE. So they will put MY NAME on the children of Israyl, and I will bless them."
 
Nov 2, 2013
1,380
6
0
#35
You become God of the spirit. You are the LORD GOD. Starting in gen chapter 2 after the 7 days of creation. We become creators. It has been ours from the beginning of humanity. You must be of God first and put off the LORD. The LORD is the minister of all evil in our world. The LORD has corrupted our spirit. It is ours to reside over. "Go do they walk" in perfection. Remember God's love it will rebuild the kingdom of God.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#36
You become God of the spirit. You are the LORD GOD. Starting in gen chapter 2 after the 7 days of creation. We become creators. It has been ours from the beginning of humanity. You must be of God first and put off the LORD. The LORD is the minister of all evil in our world. The LORD has corrupted our spirit. It is ours to reside over. "Go do they walk" in perfection. Remember God's love it will rebuild the kingdom of God.
Whatever nonsense you believe, it's not biblical.
 
K

KittenofMelchisedek

Guest
#37
jag1977 -what you said is sinful in that it is intentionally confusing. How dare you come and throw around thelemic ideals, intentionally being a stumbling block. If you want to talk about divine mathematics you can PM me or go talk to a Rabbi or a Rosecrucian or something.
 
P

phil112

Guest
#38
I agree I AM is a description, but is the 6,823+ times YHWH is used as the Name of the Creator in the "OT" is wrong?

Isayah 42:8, "I am the Lord, that is MY NAME; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images."
Fixed it for you. The hebrew is Yhovah, which is from hayah.

Clearly you are trying to be too literal with the scripture. And, by the way, it is Isaiah.
He called Himself God, also. If it is literal, as you want it to be, you should call him "the Lord", now wouldn't you? He did say that was His name, after all.

Isaiah 42:5-6 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: [SUP] [/SUP]I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

The thing is, this is semantics. There is no profit in it. Perhaps, if you wish to discuss it further, you might address post #9 and tell me where I erred there. Since I depend on the bible as the ultimate authority in any discussion, you will be unable to prove anything to me by your use of oral tradition.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#39
jag1977 -what you said is sinful in that it is intentionally confusing. How dare you come and throw around thelemic ideals, intentionally being a stumbling block. If you want to talk about divine mathematics you can PM me or go talk to a Rabbi or a Rosecrucian or something.
I just checked his profile, he's not a Christian.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#40
Fixed it for you. The hebrew is Yhovah, which is from hayah.

Clearly you are trying to be too literal with the scripture. And, by the way, it is Isaiah.
He called Himself God, also. If it is literal, as you want it to be, you should call him "the Lord", now wouldn't you? He did say that was His name, after all.

Isaiah 42:5-6 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

The thing is, this is semantics. There is no profit in it. Perhaps, if you wish to discuss it further, you might address post #9 and tell me where I erred there. Since I depend on the bible as the ultimate authority in any discussion, you will be unable to prove anything to me by your use of oral tradition.
So you took the liberty of changind my post in your quote, great integrity. Ohh, and you added Rabbinical takanot.......

Yahovah is using vowel points that were added by masorites.

To say we dont understand how to pronounce YHWH is well, like saying we dont understand how to pronounce any Hebrew word.

To say that YHWH is not the Creators Name is nonsense, He says many times His name IS INDEED YHWH. Will another Name be revealed in the kingdom, it may be so, until then I will do as Yahweh says.

If you really trust Scripture then you would listen to this:

Isayah 42:8, "I am Yahweh, that is MY NAME; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.
However you feel YHWH is pronounced is up to what you believe, I know how it is pronounced.

Telling, you say Yhovah and then talk about oral tradition........
 
Last edited: