Why is God's Name NOT in the Bible?

  • 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.

JeffA

Minstrel
Mar 31, 2022
360
72
28
Perhaps next time I pray, I'll say, "Hey, You!," now that I don't know His name!
I wonder if He'll know that I'm talking to Him?
You do know that don't intend that you should do that.
This is a funny response. Thanks.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,272
4,963
113
This is all well and good but these are all descriptors, not names,
However, the passages you are quoting from scripture (Isaiah and Malachi) have bad translations.
Both of these Prophets wrote "YHWH" where you have quoted "the Lord".
Yeah the name is Jesus who is the lord “ I am “ was pre cursor to show Christ when he came and all that he is

yhwh is not pronounceable one has to add letters to make it so Gods name , the lords name is very clear in the Bible

“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

sort of my point of quoting this

“but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

is to show that yhwh , is behind a veil that was never pronounceable God was hiding his name until he later declared it in Christ.

“Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the Old Testament is always pointing to Christ Jesus the lord , he was revealed when the time came. Gods name is Jesus or “ yeshua”

YHWH is not a pronounceable word they added letters to make it so and we then do the same in English . They didn’t speak it because it wasn’t possible to pronounce it is now though since his name has been declared in the gospel

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s why the apostles were always exalting Jesus name and baptizing people into his name

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Of your looking through a veil as he’s keeping his name hidden “ yhwh” if your looking when his name is manifest and revealed to all mankind “ Jesus “

he is the great I Am was the point of the prior post , his name is Jesus and it’s the only name in all creation whereby any man can be saved or know God

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

yhwh can’t save anyone , Jesus can because it’s the name of the only savior And Lord God
 

Rhomphaeam

Active member
Dec 14, 2021
768
203
43
England
www.nblc.church
I have no illusions that what I personally believe is correct. In fact, I'm sure that aspects of my belief will surely change.
I have one rock of belief in Jesus Christ, the manifestation of God on earth, who, through pure Love, paid the penalty of death that I have surely earned in my life.

One day I was praying and meditating about where my life was heading.

A million trickling streams of water came into my head and said these exact words:
"If you need me, I will help you"

and now, here I am.
Can I ask how your opening comment in this thread supports your now stated ambition? And to be clear in my asking - I read your comment on another thread here:

I agree. Amen. I retired last year and have found myself focusing on getting nearer to God. My son and I are the music program for 2 different churches.

I'm just discussing doctrine. I have no worries about my own salvation.

There are some questions that should be answered like; Why did they take God's name out of the Bible 6800 times and replace it with "the Lord". He wants his NAME known. It is YHWH (not YHVH) and is pronounced Yahuah. It's odd that it was replace throughout the Bible.

It's stuff like that making me think there are dark forces at work in the world.
@#98

That previous comment (your sixth comment on this forum) broadly supports your concern for deception - as I have quoted - yet this thread is predicated to interrogating believers. And that precept is also upheld in your sixth comment (as cited) yet it also forms the opening comment of this thread in the last paragraph.

You have implied in other comments that your OP question is academic - and then you have given that a phonological (linguistic derivation of the spoken word) meaning. You used a phonetic sense of the Tetragrammaton - which you say can only be understood as a spoken name. And you even have your own dial as to what that spoken name would look like as a transliterated Hebrew spoken expression.

Further, it would seem that you are here to hear from the Lord.

I have to say that if you want to hear from the Lord then this way of asking is not likely to produce such an outcome. By which I mean that the Lord does not settle one's personal need for a sense of direction by asking us to examine the church. The ability of Satan to deceive is not uncovered until we ourselves are first uncovered before God.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
"The Gods Must Be Crazy".

It was filmed in South Africa and Namibia, and starred a member of the San people, who are colloquially known as "Bushmen".
Yep thats it😃😃😃
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
so nobody can speak strictly on an academic level any more?
This thread is not about the big picture. I'll be in the middle of the big picture singing his praise tonight and then again in the morning.
I will be preached to, as well, both tonight and tomorrow. But not here.

Don't get me wrong. I love you, as well. soften your heart a little.
Brother Jeff - we miss so much thru online words - if we were together we would be singing and praising together in Him.
 

Amanuensis

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2021
1,457
460
83
This is all well and good but these are all descriptors, not names,
However, the passages you are quoting from scripture (Isaiah and Malachi) have bad translations.
Both of these Prophets wrote "YHWH" where you have quoted "the Lord".
No they didn't. The Prophets wrote the Hebrew letters as in the image below. Not YHWH. So let's get this right.

That is a transliteration. Technically it is a tetragrammaton consisting of the sequence of consonants Yod, Heh, Waw, and Heh, which were written in Hebrew and were
8e3118b772a6a5a80284acb070c0fe45.png
So what they wrote were those letters.

As to why Hebrew scholars have not chosen to use the name you have suggested is because it would be inaccurate. It would be interpretive. And if you want to understand why you are going to need to take a few years of ancient Hebrew, or read from those who are expert in both ancient Hebrew and also in the manuscripts in extant.

The most accurate word you could come up for an English translation would be YHWH. And then after this what you have done is to create your own version of the word with vowels added (or one you have found from another writer who presents their case for it, which has added vowels to sound out their theory of how the word should be pronounced.)

This is the same idea behind all other attempts to pronounce it.

No one knows how it was pronounced. Adding vowels and guessing is just adding vowels and guessing and no one can prove that theirs is the ancient one. They just have strong opinions and when they think their version is the right one but all other Hebrew scholars are wrong, and they can't even read and write ancient Hebrew, it should be shocking that anyone would take them seriously.

That is just ignorant cult like behavior.

There was the rule of the Jews during the second temple period to not say the name because of the commandment to not take the Lord's name in vain. This resulted in notations for the public reader to read in place of YHWH on scrolls. Elohim.

It is understood that his name was given as YHWH to Moses as the I AM which is an interpretation of the name such that YHWH means the God who is All in All, or The Only One True I AM. So I AM is indeed what YHWH may have meant. It gets deep and as many times as I have read about it in commentaries I still can't articulate it without pulling them out and re reading them again.

I have a problem with anyone who insists on a particular pronunciation of YHWH including Yahweh. It just cannot be known and therefore it is really wrong to insist on a pronunciation and declare everyone else as wrong.

Seriously. If all the experts of ancient Hebrew, translations, textual manuscripts, ancient Jewish rabbinical writings conclude that the Hebrew letters Yod, Heh, Waw, and Heh pronunciation is unknown why would someone try and insist that it be pronounced their opinionated way?
 
P

pottersclay

Guest

Thought this is kinda intresting. Now please bare in mind this saint here is very excited to share so it makes it funny too.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,677
13,134
113
In ancient Hebrew, Moses is Mashah, "God Saves".
is it tho? in Hebrew 'El' is the etymological stem for 'god' and that is not present in the name Moses / Mosheh
as in 'El-i-Jah' = the Lord is God = Jah is God

i've read it's close to the Egyptian for 'son' or 'child' ((messes -- compare Ra-messes = son of the sun))
and Mashah means 'to draw' i.e. to pull water from a well, according to Strong's #4871


hmm



there are a lot of 'christian mythos' out there -- common stories that simply have no basis in reality. like the 'camel through the eye of the needle' supposedly meaning a certain gate that camels would have to shed their baggage and stoop to go through... there is zero archaeological or even Talmudic evidence for this. it seems to just be an imaginary explanation that made enough sense for lots of people to keep repeating it, and then since someone's grandmother told them, well, it must be true?


we have to be a little careful when we go googling, you know.

no harm, no foul :)
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
56,015
26,143
113
is it tho? in Hebrew 'El' is the etymological stem for 'god' and that is not present in the name Moses / Mosheh
as in 'El-i-Jah' = the Lord is God = Jah is God


i've read it's close to the Egyptian for 'son' or 'child' ((messes -- compare Ra-messes = son of the sun))
and Mashah means 'to draw' i.e. to pull water from a well, according to Strong's #4871


hmm



there are a lot of 'christian mythos' out there -- common stories that simply have no basis in reality. like the 'camel through the eye of the needle' supposedly meaning a certain gate that camels would have to shed their baggage and stoop to go through... there is zero archaeological or even Talmudic evidence for this. it seems to just be an imaginary explanation that made enough sense for lots of people to keep repeating it, and then since someone's grandmother told them, well, it must be true?

we have to be a little careful when we go googling, you know.
no harm, no foul :)
I have heard that it easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle if you grease the camel first :unsure:;):giggle:
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,677
13,134
113
You can refer to God by any of his titles and it is totally appropriate.
I put forward, though, that we should at least know and acknowledge his Name.
I think he expressed that desire enough in scripture.

But If God refers to Himself as ...God...Lord....I AM...etc...should it not be common sense that all is ok?

Again I am looking for a point which justifies this discourse. Otherwise, we are just spinning wheels here. After all, proper orientation says we must stay focused on God's challenge of spreading His saving word through repentance, baptism and righteous living for eternal salvation.

Blessings to the concentrated Christian.
the Bible does not say all are evangelists.
Peter says it is through knowledge of Him that everything needed for a godly life is added to us, and that grace and peace are multiplied to us. Jesus says knowing God = eternal life.
therefore discussions among the consecrated just for the sake of increasing knowledge are wise, and good, in my understanding.
not everything has to be a plan for the next big-tent-revival in order to be worthwhile :)


it is worthwhile to me to examine why God chose to give us the Tetragrammaton in scripture instead of a clear pronunciation, why the true historical pronunciation of this name is either lost to history or hidden among devout orthodox Jews who dare not speak it.

the facts are that Christians guess and that Jews, at least to Gentiles who ask, say 'it is unknown' and dare not speak or even write it.
why those are the facts, is worth delving into. why God wills that these are the facts in our present age.


did Christ speak the name aloud?
to me that is a worthwhile question.
it has nothing to do with evangelism. it has much to do with wisdom, and with the development of the saints, growing in the knowledge of Him. to me, those things are necessary. my calling is not evangelism; my calling is to minister among those who already have come to faith, to strengthen them.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,677
13,134
113
"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Keep your focus on Jesus/Yeshua/Yashua HaMashiach because we are speaking English right now - HE alone has the Name above all names in ALL languages upon the face of the earth.

Do not fall into the trap of religion believing that you must use the correct spelling of the original language to glorify God.
Do not make the name YHWH an intellectual achievement that presumably denotes greater understanding in the SPIRIT.
The more we learn the greater the blessing if it is submitted unto Christ for His Glory.

Yashua Ha Mashiach , Jesus the Christ who is the Elohim Word from the Beginning.

You said that you want to better understand the 'Trinity' - if this is true then study the format YHWH laid out in His Word for us to follow Beginning in Genesis.
ALL Truth originates from Genesis = Foundation for ALL Truth to follow/built upon.

God's Name, for us to know and call upon is found here: Exodus 3:14-15

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel:
‘The Lord Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you.
This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’

His Name to ALL Generations = FOREVER has been given to us = Exodus 3:14-15
Abraham - FATHER of nations = Genesis 22:1-19 , Galatians 3:13-29 , Revelation 5:6-11
Isaac - only begotten SON of the FATHER = Genesis 21:12 , Romans 9:1-9
Jacob - Holy Spirit = Genesis chapter 28 - Read it

Elohim would later confirm this when HE came to earth = Gospel of John and Acts
that's the thing, bro

Exodus 3:13-14 says to tell Israel, "I AM" if they ask for His name.
then v. 15 says "
YHWH" and says 'His name forever & memorial to all generations'


it is certainly not a thing necessary to comprehend fully in order to be saved, but this is no simple matter.
what does "
I AM" mean -- current Jewish thinking says it should rather be translated, "I WILL BE" but there is dissension among scholars; the tense and text isn't clear about how the exact understanding should be. it could be 'I AM' or it could be 'I WILL BE' or something else. it's indistinct in the grammar. the tense could mean a couple different things depending on contextual interpretation.


is I AM or is YHWH supposed to be the name forever? the memorial for generations?
with either one there is doubt -- is it "
AM" or "WILL BE" or "MAY BE" ? what are the vowels in the Tetragrammaton? how is it pronounced?


the real question is why has God purposed that His name is not clear? why is the grammar not definitive? why does the Hebrew not have vowels, so that it cannot be known for certain how it is spoken or even spelled?


there is a GREAT mystery here. we need to approach this with awe! we do not know it!
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
56,015
26,143
113
In your world one cannot have a concentrated view? Crazy.

Who said the Bible was being quoted?

A back door way to be critical...is obvious and is a leftist approach.
Yes, your criticism was obvious. But the term is not Biblical, so suggesting I study the Bible to find it was asinine.

Though I understand why you did it.

And continue to do so.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,677
13,134
113
I wonder if it ever occurred to the Jews to simply not take YHVH's name in vain rather than playing all kinds of word games.
that really is funny bro
&
dude i know you were making a little humor to lighten our hearts, but you point out something deep here

most people just think this means 'don't say goddamn' or use so-called 'vulgar' words.
but it is much more than that.

we ought to meditate on the question, what does it really mean to 'take God's name' in vanity?



((considers starting separate thread))
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
that's the thing, bro

Exodus 3:13-14 says to tell Israel, "I AM" if they ask for His name.
then 15 says "YHWH" and says 'His name forever & memorial to all generations'


it is certainly not a thing necessary to comprehend fully in order to be saved, but this is no simple matter.
what does "I AM" mean -- current Jewish thinking says it should rather be translated, "I WILL BE" but there is dissension among scholars; the tense and text isn't clear about how the exact understanding should be. it could be 'I AM' or it could be 'I WILL BE' or something else. it's indistinct.


is I AM or is YHWH supposed to be the name forever? the memorial for generations?
with either one there is doubt -- is it "AM" or "WILL BE" or "MAY BE" ? what are the vowels in the Tetragrammaton? how is it pronounced?


the real question is why has God purposed that His name is not clear? why is the grammar not definitive? why does the Hebrew not have vowels, so that it cannot be known for certain how it is spoken or even spelled?


there is a GREAT mystery here. we need to approach this with awe! we do not know it!
Hi Brother, i always enjoy your posts and the word we share in our hearts.

imho - i do not see IAM as His Name but as a declaration of His Eternal Being = that we humans can not understand this without Him giving us a PICTURE to see with.
Therefore in the Wisdom of Elohim, He prepared the Foundation of Truth for Moses mind(and those will hear) in a PICTURE by what comes next:
His Name:
“Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the Elohim of your fathers—
Elohim of Abraham (Father of nations)
Elohim of Isaac (only begotten Son)
Elohim of Jacob (Ruach HaKodesh = Holy Spirit = Israel is Born)
—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.


the Apostle John understood this and is the 'revealing' he penned in the Gospel of John
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,677
13,134
113
@BenAvraham is a Messianic Jewish Rabbi member who is fluent in Hebrew. He'll post a teaching every week or so.
I find him interesting and a great story teller. Seems to be a really nice guy!
i follow him on facebook too.
i've never actually gotten into a conversation with him, tho


thanks for tagging him -- Mem & our elder JaumeJ are native Hebrew-speakers, too - and @oldhermit & @Angela53510 are well educated in languages ((forgive me if i've forgotten anyone else who frequents the forum -- what happened; did we lose our dear brother MarkR?))
 
O

Oblio

Guest
Bible study would absorb such questioning.
Then we’d be truly prepared for the next life, since we’d have nothing to lose, no more cares of this world standing in the way.
Pre-trib would be in one corner of the room, post-trib would be in the other, and I guess mid-trib would be...where else, in the middle!
 
O

Oblio

Guest
i follow him on facebook too.
i've never actually gotten into a conversation with him, tho


thanks for tagging him -- Mem & our elder JaumeJ are native Hebrew-speakers, too - and @oldhermit & @Angela53510 are well educated in languages ((forgive me if i've forgotten anyone else who frequents the forum -- what happened; did we lose our dear brother MarkR?))
Ben connected me with a Messianic congregation in my area. Maybe I'll get out. I can't walk very good. I didn't know he was on FB...thanks! I don't know MarkR.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,272
4,963
113
that's the thing, bro

Exodus 3:13-14 says to tell Israel, "I AM" if they ask for His name.
then v. 15 says "
YHWH" and says 'His name forever & memorial to all generations'


it is certainly not a thing necessary to comprehend fully in order to be saved, but this is no simple matter.
what does "
I AM" mean -- current Jewish thinking says it should rather be translated, "I WILL BE" but there is dissension among scholars; the tense and text isn't clear about how the exact understanding should be. it could be 'I AM' or it could be 'I WILL BE' or something else. it's indistinct in the grammar. the tense could mean a couple different things depending on contextual interpretation.


is I AM or is YHWH supposed to be the name forever? the memorial for generations?
with either one there is doubt -- is it "
AM" or "WILL BE" or "MAY BE" ? what are the vowels in the Tetragrammaton? how is it pronounced?


the real question is why has God purposed that His name is not clear? why is the grammar not definitive? why does the Hebrew not have vowels, so that it cannot be known for certain how it is spoken or even spelled?


there is a GREAT mystery here. we need to approach this with awe! we do not know it!
Brother the Old Testament and it’s mysteries are revealed in the New Testament and it’s revelations

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters

. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him;… In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

….He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-5, 10, 12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬



I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬


we do know because of the gospel , they didn’t know because it was behind the veil the veil is torn and removed now.

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20:28-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we how the one name is of all three aspects of the one God ?

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The name of the father the son ( word made flesh ) and the Holy Ghost in one , is Jesus the lord. The gospel is revealing the mysteries of the Old Testament.