God Has a Name (YHWH) (Ezekiel 38:23)

THE REVEALED NAME OF GOD

YHWH

« I will certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah »

(Ezekiel 38:23)

There is no mystery, the Name of God, Jehovah (YHWH) is widely revealed by the fact that the letters of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), are “Matres Lectionis”

According this text it is clear that God wants his Name, Jehovah (YHWH), to be known and revealed. Jesus Christ, the Son of Jehovah God, has made known the name of his Father: « Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again » (John 12:28). « I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them » (John 17:26). In the model prayer, the very first request made to God is about His Name: « Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified » (Matthew 6:9). In this model prayer, the requests are , are by order of priority. We must consider the Divine Name, Jehovah, as sacred, and we must use it in our personal relationship with Him, but also in the ministry of the Word (Bible), the preaching the Good News, and in the biblical teaching (Matthew 24:14; 28:19,20).

(Jesus Christ taught us that we should only pray to his Father, Jehovah God)

Some people will say that Jesus Christ did not use the name of Jehovah as part of his teaching, nor even in his prayers, in the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). This does not mean that he did not pronounce the Divine Name. For example, when he went to the synagogue of Nazareth to tell that he had been anointed by his Father to perform his earthly ministry, it is written: « He then went to Nazʹa·reth, where he had been brought up, and according to his custom on the Sabbath day, he entered the synagogue and stood up to read. So the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him, and he opened the scroll and found the place where it was written: “Jehovah’s spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones away free, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable year.” With that he rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were intently fixed on him. Then he began to say to them: “Today this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled » (Luke 4: 16-21). Jesus Christ read from Isaiah 61:1, with the Divine Name, Jehovah. That means that Jesus Christ did not hesitate to use the Divine Name, Jehovah, as part of a public Bible reading.

The Divine Name YHWH is pronounced as it is written

Y=i H= (expired silent h (e)) W=ou H (final)=a

YHW = IOUA matres lectionis Hebrew (vowel/consonant letters)

YHWH=IEOUA (commonly vocalized as « Jehovah »)

Some people think that the pronunciation of the Divine Name has been lost and that we are no longer able to use it with the exact vocalization. In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38:23, it is written that God will make his Name known in the worldwide part of the earth, especially at the time of the great tribulation. Therefore, God has been taking care of his Name in order to keep it known, particularly in his Word, the Bible. Some historical and technical information, regarding the Divine Name, are based on a book entitled, « A History of the Divine Name » – (L’Harmattan (French edition)), written by Mister Gerard Gertoux, a Hebrew scholars. This information concerning the Divine Name is supported by several hundred references as historical sources. The introduction of this book, on pages 9 and 10 summarizes very well all of this historical research work concerning the Divine Name. There is no mystery:

« First of all, the writing of the name of God is not a problem: it is the name of four letters YHWH, called the Tetragrammaton. How to pronounce such a Name? The dictionaries or encyclopedias indicate that « Yahweh » is an uncertain vocalisation, and that « Jehovah » is a barbarism from misreading, unbelievable as it may seem, this last statement is deliberately false, but this gross error was denounced by Hebrew scolars of all religions, including the support of the Vatican (Congregation of Propaganda), but without result.

This name YHWH is read without difficulty because it is pronounced as it is written, or « according to its letters », to quote the expression of the Talmud. In fact, until 70 AD, the high priests read the blessing of Numbers 6:24-27, in the Atonement Day, the Yom Kippur by pronouncing the Name, YHWH, according to his letters, that is to say as it is written. In fact, this name is even the easiest to read of the entire Bible since it has four vowels, as Flavius Josephus wrote it. The question of knowing which vowels were used to read YHWH is absurd, because the Masoretic vowels did not appear until at least the sixth century AD. Before that, the Hebrew names were vocalized through the three letters Y, W, H, as the writings of Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) have largely confirmed. The letter Y was read I (or Ê), letter W: Û (or O) and the letter H: A at the end of the words. For example, YH is read IA. YHWDH is read literally IHUDA (Judah). If the name did not have any vowels, then the vowel « a » was inserted; thus YSHQ is read: ISaHaQ (Isaac), YRWSLYM: IRÛSaLIM (Jerusalem); etc. The name YHWH was read IHUA (Ioua). To better hear the letter H (almost inaudible), we could add a « e » mute. So the name YHWDH that can be read literally IH-Û-DA, becomes I-eH-Û-DA, the exact equivalent of the Hebrew name Yehuda . This slight improvement gives for the Name YHWH the pronunciation I-Eh-Û-A (Ieoua), the equivalent of the Masoretic punctuation YeHoWaH. This coincidence is remarkable and providential if one believes that God has watched over his Name (Visibly unbeknownst to the copyists) » (« History of the Divine Name » pages 9 and 10). We will have the opportunity to come back to other convergent information on the vocalisation of the Divine Name, Jehovah, by an examination of the Hebrew and Aramaic « theophoric » biblical names (with the tetragrammaton, partially (YH) or in its entirety (YHWH)).

What should be the best vocalization of the Divine Name YHWH?

According to the introduction to this book, the two theophoric names containing the entire Tetragrammaton, namely YHWDH (Judah (son of Jacob and name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel)), are pronounced I-U-D-A or I-Eh-U-D-A. Regarding the name of Jesus, YHSW, it is vocalized Yehoshua. Thus, based on the vocalization of these two theophoric names, we understand that the Tetragrammaton YHWH is vocalized as follows: Iouah or Ieouah.

However, there is a certain ambiguity in the author’s writing that needs clarification. Here is what is written: “This slight improvement gives for the Name YHWH the pronunciation I-Eh-Û-A (Ieoua), the equivalent of the Masoretic punctuation YeHoWaH”. Taken out of the context, this sentence might suggest that the current vocalization “Jehovah” is the result of the Masoretic vowel points. However, according to what is written throughout this book and summarized above (corroborated by scholars of the past), this is absolutely not the case. The vowel points indicate the pronunciation of the letters YWH (the middle H being silent), namely IOA, or Ye(I)hou(O)ah(A). Thus, the “W” of the Tetragrammaton should not be pronounced like a “V” but like a “U” or “OU”. Therefore, Yehowah should be read phonetically as Yeouah. It is therefore evident that the current vocalization of the Divine Name, « Jehovah », is doubly inaccurate by the insertion of the « J » which should be replaced by an I or Y and of the « v » (corresponding to the W) which should be read phonetically « ou ».

The conclusion of this book « A HISTORY OF THE DIVINE NAME », confirms a vocalisation of the Name (Ioua), discovered hundreds of years ago by the Spanish monk Raymond Martin in his book (Pujio fidei (Dagger of the faith (1278))). He himself had drawn his sources on the writings of R. Moseh Ben Maymon (Maimonides), in « The Guide of the Lost » chapters 60-64, Part 1, relating to the Name. Another scholar named Porchetus de Salvaticis (1303), like Raymond Martin, used the same vocalisation of the Name.

Given this adjustment in the vocalization of the Divine Name, the question is: what should we do? As we understood earlier, the vocalization of the Name of the Son of God as « Jesus » is inaccurate and should be pronounced Yehoshua. However, in the context of public teaching, it makes more sense to continue vocalizing it as it has been for centuries, so that people know who it refers to as the Son of God. The same applies to the Divine Name of the Heavenly Father; it has been vocalized for centuries as « Jehovah ». Regarding the use of the Divine Name, discernment is necessary, keeping in mind that it must be associated with the Heavenly Father. Perhaps the teacher, in a public setting, will use the Divine Name in its most familiar form, while in other circumstances, within the context of their personal relationship with God, they will use the vocalization that seems most accurate to him. What is true for the Heavenly Father, is also true for his Son.

There are four main methods of finding the vocalisation of the Name, and the vocalisation of Biblical names

1 – The method of etymology: the name is identified with its etymology (when it exists). It is the most uncertain method because it considers that the etymology is systematically scientific and equivalent to the spiritual etymology or spiritual message (which is not always the case (see explanations above)) .

2 – The method of reading letters which demonstrates that the Name (YHWH) can be read by itself. It consists of the three basic letters (consonants/vowels (YHW) (Matres Lectionis)), allowing its reading (The letter Y is read I (or Ê), letter W: Û (or O) and the letter H: A to the end of the words)) (See explanations above).

3 – The method of the witnesses: It consists of examining the vowels used for the Hebrew names translated into Greek, in the text of the Septuagint (The Bible translated from Hebrew to Greek (2nd century BC)). For example: Abraham is written in the Septuagint, Abraam. Jesus: Iesous. Noah: Noé. Israel: Israel. Judah: Iouda. Moses: Môusès. Jerusalem: Iérousalèm.

4 – The onomastic method is the study of the Hebrew names which contain the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), or partially (YH). Names with the Tetragrammaton (wholly or partially), are « theophoric » names. This is the most reliable method: « This last method is the most reliable because the names are very stable over time, often much more than the words of the language themselves. The biblical names are somehow a memory sounds of the past or « phonograms ». In addition, the Hebrew language was, despite some variations, very stable over a long period of time, for example, the Hebrew letters of El Amarna dating from the 14th century BC can still be understood by a modern Israeli. So one can reconstruct a name with a very high confidence rate if the name to be found is preserved in several other names, and in this respect the divine name is extremely favored, since it was integrated into hundreds of biblical names, the only difficulty being to avoid confusing the great name YHWH (Jeremiah 44: 26) with the little YH (Psalms 68: 4) » (A history of the Name page 45) (YHWH: Yeouah; YH: Yah (diminutive of the Name).

From the scientific etymology of a name to its spiritual meaning

In the Bible, a Hebrew or Aramaic name has an intrinsic etymological meaning that anyone understanding these languages can understand. However, to this scientific etymology is added a biblical spiritual significance (or message), that explains the meaning of this name, its authority, its mission. Take several known examples:

– Jesus: Scientific etymology: Yeshua or Yehoshua in Hebrew means « Yeouah is salvation ». The message or spiritual meaning of his name: « he will save his people from their sins » (Matthew 1:21).

– Noah: Scientific etymology: Rest. The spiritual meaning of his name: consolation: « This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that Jehovah has cursed » (Genesis 5:29).

– Israel: Scientific etymology: Struggle with God. The Spiritual Meaning of His Name: Fight and persevere with God and with men: « you have contended with God and with men and you have at last prevailed » (Genesis 32:28).

– Barnabas (name of Aramaic origin): Scientific etymology: Son of prophecy. The spiritual meaning of his name: Son of consolation: « So Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barʹna·bas (which means, when translated, “Son of Comfort”) » (Acts 4:36).

Here is the explanation found in « A History of the Divine Name » (page 41), regarding the discrepancies between the scientific etymology of a name and its spiritual meaning or biblical message:

« We can note the « chasm » separating these two kinds of etymologies: Rather than trying to make them coincide, we must remember that the explanation of these differences is always the same: the purpose of the Biblical definitions is to give above all, a religious message. Besides, what would be the point of explaining to a Hebrew the meaning of a Hebrew name? Thus, it is obvious to a Hebrew that the name Noah scientifically means « rest »; however the verse of Genesis 5:29 tells us that this « rest » will biblically mean « he will comfort », because Noah was going to play a consoling prophetic role « .

Some people think that Jehovah’s statement concerning his Name, « I Will Become What I Choose to Become », is to be considered as a scientific etymology of the Name, allowing at the same time a more exact vocalization of it (Exodus 3:14). This interpretation has two major obstacles:

1 – The Name itself, Yeouah (YHWH), has no proven Hebrew scientific etymology. What seems logical: To say that the proper Name Yeouah (YHWH), would have a scientific etymology would be an anachronism that would suggest that the Hebrew language would have preceded the existence of the Divine Name. Now this Name is closely associated with an everlasting God who had no beginning (Genesis 1: 1)… Moreover, according to the inspired statements of the Apostle Paul, it does not seem that in the heavens one speaks Hebrew (1 Corinthians 13: 1 « tongues of angels »). It is more logical to think that the Hebrew language would be built around the Name, even allowing the children to vocalize it in all simplicity (It is pronounced according to its letters to use the expression of the Talmud, consisting of the three consonants/vowels of base for reading (YHW) (Matres Lecionis)): « »Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them: “Yes. Did you never read this, ‘Out of the mouth of children and infants, you have brought forth praise’? » » (Matthew 21:16 compare with 11:25).

2 – The context of the book of Exodus shows that the Israelites knew the name of the God of their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), and therefore its vocalisation was known. The answer of God « I Will Become What I Choose to Become », is not a scientific etymology of his Name (which would have helped Moses to better vocalize the Name), but rather a spiritual message regarding the « Memorial » of his Name (Exodus 3:15).

Conclusion on the vocalisation of the divine Name

« Outside the Masoretic vocalisation, there are several methods of finding the pronunciation of a name in the first century AD. However, biblical etymology (which is actually religious teaching), can not be used for this purpose.In the case of the Tetragrammaton, these three methods successively give the three pronunciations, Iaô (Witnesses method: comparison with the names of the Septuagint), Yehowah (onomastic method: comparison with theophoric names), Ihûa (method of reading letters), The examination of the historical context has made it possible to explain the discrepancy in Iaô, because at that time the Hebrew substitute YHW, or his Aramaic counterpart YW, was still widely used among the Jews. (…) Thus, there is a good agreement between the two pronunciations Yehowah and Ihûa, as satisfactory as * Yehudah and Ihuda (Judah), * Yésûa’ et Isûa’ (Jésus), etc. In view of this concordance, ** unanimity on vocalisation should have been easy to obtain! » (A History of the Name page 54).

« I Will Become What I Choose to Become »

(Exodus 3:14)

The answer often gives the meaning of the question or what it implicitly suggests. Regarding identity of Yeouah (YHWH )(commonly vocalized as « Jehovah »), Moses asks what he must say to his Israelite brothers:

« But Moses said to the true God: “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your forefathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I say to them?” » (Exodus 3:13).

The question seems strange because it would suggest that the Israelites would have forgotten the proper Name of the God of their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), after 215 years in Egypt. But from the context of the book of Exodus, the Israelites feared and knew the name of Yeouah (YHWH ). For example, more than eighty years earlier, concerning the Hebrew midwives who refused to kill male newborns on the order of Pharaoh, the story adds that they feared Jehovah (Exodus 4:17). Moses himself knew Yeouah (YHWH ), the God of his ancestors (Hebrews 11:23-28). Therefore, the exact vocalisation was not a problem.

To understand, implicitly, the meaning of the two questions of Moses, it is necessary to examine the definition of the Hebrew word « shem » (שֵׁם), translated by « name »: « a primitive word [perhaps rather from H7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064]; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:— base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report » (Strong’s Corcondance (H8034)). Given God’s response (from the biblical context), and the definition of « shem » (name), we understand that this is the name with its memorial of past actions that was to constitute his reputation:

« So God said to Moses: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” And he added: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘I Will Become has sent me to you.’” Then God said once more to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation » (Exodus 3:14,15).

The last part of God’s answer makes it possible to understand the implication of the question of Moses: « I am to be remembered from generation to generation ». The question « what is your name? » Should be understood in the following manner, « What is your « name », the « memorial » of its past actions connected to your name ». And his answer, « I Will Become What I Choose to Become » is to be put in perspective to the idea that the Israelites and probably Moses, had regarding the name of the gods: To each god his name, connected with his miraculous power. The « I Will Become What I Choose to Become », also implies, that Moses wanted to know what to say about the miraculous power attached to God’s Name.

Thus, when Yeouah (YHWH ) God speaks of his Name as a « Memorial », it means that the question of Moses concerning the Name was: What will I say to the Israelites concerning the power of your Name and the extraordinary actions attached to this Name (As Memorial of past actions)? The question of Moses, regarding the Divine Name is inscribed on the capacity of action of the True God, who resides in the power of his Name. Nevertheless, Jehovah’s response is very subtle: In Egypt, every god had a name attached to a very precise miraculous power of action. Thus, in his answer, « I Will Become What I Choose to Become », Jehovah does not want human intelligence to lock his Name only in one miraculous ability. In the account of Exodus 4:1-9, it is written that Jehovah did four miracles, showing his capacity for creation by turning the staff of Moses into a serpent, and making it become a staff. Also, by making the hand of Moses to have leprosy (destruction) and after, healing it (recreation). Through these two series of two miracles, God illustrated his all mightiness, and therefore only his extraordinary actions would reveal the memorial of his name. « I Will Become What I Choose to Become », it is the action undertaken by God that would give the spiritual meaning to his Name, of Who « He is ».

« And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved »

(Joel 2: 32)

« At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name » (Malachi 3:16).

Our relationship with Yeouah (YHWH ) is spiritual (not magical): « However, there is a difference in size between the Hebrews and other peoples regarding the conception of the name of a divinity: In the peoples of antiquity, invoking the name of the God forces him to act, it is a magical conception of the name, whereas among the Hebrews the invocation of the name of God is only a supplication and not an incantation (1 Kings 8:33,34). For example, in his dialogue with Jesus, Satan quoted Psalm 91:11,12 in the sense of an obligation to God, the magical conception of prayer (analogous to the lamp of Aladdin). Jesus corrected this erroneous conception (Matthew 4: 6,7) » (« A History of the Divine Name « (page 57)).

The Bible shows that a magical conception of the Name is spiritually dangerous. Shortly before his ascension to heaven, Jesus Christ had said that his Father had transferred to him all the authority in connection to his Name: « All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth » (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, all Christians who sought (and even now) the help of God, should do so in the name of Christ. However, what is applicable to the Divine Name, Yeouah (YHWH ), also applies to the Name of Christ, Jesus (Yehoshouah): do not use it magically, wanting to force God to act (by vocalising His Name magically). Here is what happened on one occasion, written in the book of Acts (Bible):

« But some of the Jews who traveled around casting out demons also tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits; they would say: “I solemnly charge you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Now there were seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceʹva doing this. But in answer the wicked spirit said to them: “I know Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul; but who are you?” At that the man with the wicked spirit leaped on them, overpowered them one after the other, and prevailed against them, so that they fled naked and wounded out of that house. This became known to all, both the Jews and the Greeks who lived in Ephʹe·sus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus went on being magnified » (Acts 19:13-17). It is obvious that these Jews, who were doing the job of driving out demons, using the name of Jesus in a magical way, without having faith in him, were punished.

To invoke the name of Yeouah (YHWH ) means that we must love Him (Matthew 22: 37-40), to have faith in Him, and in His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16,36; 17: 3; Hebrews 11: 6). To invoke the Name of Jehovah through His Son Jesus Christ will enable us to survive the great tribulation and obtain the everlasting life: « This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ » (John 17:3, Revelation 7: 9-17).

The Divine Name, YHWH, belongs to God

It is important to remember this simple yet significant idea: the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah), belongs to God alone, and therefore, He gives it to whomever He wills. Of course, many people around the world have theophoric names that partially, and generally do, contain a diminutive of the Divine Name at birth. However, the spiritual purpose of this biblical meditation’s title does not concern these common situations, but rather a deeper understanding of the spiritual significance of the Divine Name YHWH (Yehouah) belonging to the Heavenly Father.

The Divine Name YHWH (Yehouah) represents the glory of God. It represents God’s reputation through the extraordinary actions He undertakes, so that the meaning of His name is determined by the action He performs: « I Will Become What I Choose to Become » (Exodus 3:14). His plan revolves around the Divine Name YHWH (Yehouah), as is evident in the prayer of Jesus Christ, in John 17: “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:11,12). Jesus Christ acted “on account of your own name (God’s name)”. “Simeon has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name” (Acts 15:14). This text expresses a similar idea, showing that God has a people “for his name,” thus the meaning of his Name revolves around his will. Incidentally, and this idea will be examined later, God has a people « for » his name, not a people that « bears » his name. The name Israel, representing God’s people in biblical times, did not contain the Tetragrammaton, so it did not « bear » the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah).

In the same prayer, Jesus Christ showed that knowing the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah), means associating it with the love God shows toward his heavenly and earthly creatures: “I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them” (John 17:26). “Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). To know God is both to know his Name and to understand the record of his actions, which allow us to know that God is love.

While the Divine Name YHWH (Yehouah) is known as to be renowned with the record of his many actions, it also symbolizes his authority. In Exodus, we read that God informed them that he would send an angel ahead of his people, the nation of Israel: “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you on the way and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Pay attention to him, and obey his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, because my name is in him” (Exodus 23:20,21). God did not directly mention the angel’s name, but rather that his name contained the Divine Name, representing the authority of God conferred upon that angel.

Later, Jesus Christ (Yeshua), who literally bore the Divine Name in his name given by God at his birth, would inherit God’s authority: « She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus (Yeshua) » (Matthew 1:21). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus Christ said: « Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth” » (Matthew 28:18). This means that when God gives his Name, it is to him that he gives the right to exercise his authority (or a part of it). Therefore, remembering that the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah), belongs to God, means that he gives it to the one he chooses to exercise his authority (in this example, it was Jesus Christ, his Son). This means that no religious group can appropriate the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah), without God’s permission, for the purpose of exercising any authority over the people of God (Acts 15:14).

The friends and the enemies of the Divine Name, YHWH

« You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes up His name in a worthless way »

(Exodus 20:7)

How, throughout human history, have some, individually or in groups, behaved or are behaving as friends of the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah), while others are behaving as enemies? This examination will be based primarily on biblical and historical facts, presented in a very simplified manner (readers interested in the subject may wish to conduct more in-depth personal research).

The topic can be introduced by a statement of Christ, made during his last prayer to his Heavenly Father (at the end of the Passover with his apostles): “I have made your name manifest to the men whom you gave me out of the world. (…) I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them” (John 17:6, 26). Thus, the friends of the Divine Name YHWH (Yehouah), like Jesus Christ, make God’s Name known to those they teach or with whom they share the Good News (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20). Furthermore, Jesus Christ showed that the name of his Heavenly Father is sacred, holy, and set apart, and this is the meaning of the request expressed in the Model Prayer: « let your name be sanctified », that is, to be considered by each of us as holy, sacred, and set apart, and to use it in a way that reveres and reveals it to our neighbor.

On the other hand, the enemies of the Divine Name are more concerned with obscuring or concealing it. For example, they claim that its pronunciation has been lost over the centuries (which is false), and therefore, in case of doubt, it is not appropriate to pronounce it in its most familiar form (Jehovah). Others believe that the Name is so holy that it should not be pronounced, but rather replaced by titles such as God, the Eternal, Lord, or Adonai (in Hebrew). Some translators of the Bible have deliberately removed the Divine Name YHWH (Yehouah), replacing it with titles such as the Eternal, the Lord, which nevertheless appears approximately seven thousand times in the Bible. Still others have a more esoteric relationship with the Divine Name, surrounding it with mysteries that only initiates people are able to understand. All these approaches are contrary to what Jesus Christ did, in revealing the Divine Name. The pagan teaching of the Trinity largely contributed to the obscuring of the Divine Name by confusing the Heavenly Father with his Son. Within the context of Christian religious services, some who believe in the Trinity pray using the title of Lord, without it being clear whether they are praying to God, the Heavenly Father, or his Son.

Some will say that Jesus Christ did not use God’s Name, YHWH, in his teachings, nor even in his prayers, in the four Gospels. This does not mean that he did not pronounce the Divine Name. For example, when he went to the synagogue in Nazareth to announce that he had been anointed by his Father to carry out his earthly ministry, it is written in Luke (4:16-21), which Jesus Christ read, from Isaiah 61:1, containing the Divine Name, YHWH (vocalized in this Bible translation as « Jehovah »). This means that he did not hesitate to use the Divine Name, YHWH, in a public Bible reading.

Furthermore, the fact that the Gospels contain no biblical passages showing Jesus Christ directly using the Divine Name (YHWH) (except in the context of his public reading in Nazareth) could be explained by his direct filial relationship with his Heavenly Father. Indeed, in a father-son relationship, a child will call their father or mother « Dad » or « Mom, » or simply « Father. » They will not call their father by his name, but by his title of « Father »: « And he said: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want » » (Mark 14:36). The expression « Abba » has an Aramaic origin; it means « Father » in a very affectionate term. Within the context of this special relationship with his Heavenly Father, it is understandable that he will not systematically call Him by His Name, but rather with an expression that is both respectful and affectionate. The apostle Paul explained this close relationship between the Son of God (on earth) and the Heavenly Father, calling Him Abba, Father, and not directly or systematically by the Divine Name, YHWH (Yehouah or Jehovah) (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).

The Divine Name, YHWH, and Jehovah’s Witnesses

This Christian community, for those unfamiliar with it, currently comprises 9 million people worldwide, organized into approximately 100,000 congregations. However, these congregations are not autonomous in terms of spiritual authority, biblical teaching, or even financially. This authority over them is exercised globally, from the United States, by a group of people called the Governing Body. This group of men is supported by an organization (which they consider to be God’s), to use their own term, which is nothing less than a multinational corporation called the Watch Tower Society, also known as J.W.ORG (JW = Jehovah’s Witnesses), a logo emblazoned on the facade of each of their meeting halls (Kingdom Halls) and Assembly Halls. The Governing Body’s control over the 100,000 congregations is achieved through the decentralization of approximately 170 worldwide branch offices. The national authority of these branches is relayed by « District Overseers » who supervise the work of « Circuit Overseers », who in turn watch the work of the elders (or administrators) of the congregations (the overseer who is directly in connection between the different worldwide branch offices, is called the « Zone Servant ». This overseer supervises the financial management of the national branch offices).

In summary, you can see from this simple explanation that the Christians in the 100,000 congregations, which could be entirely autonomous spiritually, in biblical teaching, and financially on a local level, are under the direct authority of the Governing Body, which is in fact dependent on the organizational structure of the Watch Tower Society, also known as J.W.ORG. The Christians of this religious organization, scattered throughout the world, do not submit directly to the authority of Christ, but to the authority of the Governing Body and the Watch Tower Society, also known as J.W.ORG, which clearly influences their decisions and stands between them and God. This is not in accordance with what is written in the Bible: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

By reading Apocalypse (Revelation) chapters 2 and 3 regarding Christ’s messages to the seven congregations, glorified Jesus Christ is addressing to the local administrators (the angels or messengers), the congregations, and not a globalized human organization. In the explanations that follow, it is important to distinguish between the actions of the local Christians in these (100,000) congregations, who can, for the most part, prove to be sincere and faithful to God, his Son, and the Word of God, the Bible, on the one hand, and the actions of those who hold this globalized authority, located primarily not in heaven, where Christ is, but in the United States and its numerous national branch offices. Let us return to the main theme, namely, their connection to the Divine Name, YHWH, vocalized as Jehovah.

This global Christian community has been called Jehovah’s Witnesses since the 1930s. Before that, they were known as Bible Students. This religious group has made the Divine Name known worldwide, which in itself, is a very good thing. As it is written in the Bible, God the Heavenly Father wants that his name be known worldwide: “May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18).

These Christians have made the Divine Name, Jehovah, known primarily in two ways: through worldwide preaching and their translation of the Bible, the New World Translation. Their preaching now takes place in almost every country, with approximately one hundred thousand Christian congregations scattered throughout the world, comprising about nine million Christians. The main strength of the New World Translation is that it has restored the Divine Name YHWH in its most familiar form, Jehovah. Furthermore, this translation is a fine work of scholarship, pleasant to read because, in addition to restoring the Divine Name, it is written in modern, contemporary languages—that is, languages free of archaisms or old words that are not always easy to understand for a modern Bible reader. In the reference Bible (Rbi8), there are numerous annotations linked to the Divine Name.

Mainly through these two aspects—preaching the Good News with a Bible translation that restored the Divine Name to its proper place—the thousands of local Christian congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses have acted with great sincerity as true friends of the Divine Name, Jehovah. Furthermore, these Christians have courageously endured persecution in many countries, some even unto death, during World War II and the Cold War behind the Iron Curtain and in many other countries. Their integrity has brought glory to God and his Name. God will grant them, through Christ, the resurrection promised in the Scriptures (John 5:28, 29). Therefore, the following observations do not directly concern these Christians, most of whom are sincere and faithful to God and Christ and devoted to the Word of God, but rather to the Governing Body and this globalized American organization that rules them with an iron fist. Doctrinal decisions are made in the United States. Consequently, their use of the Divine Name is linked to their way of teaching the Bible.

Regarding the religious name of this Christian community, « Jehovah’s Witness », which is based on the Bible, the problem is that it is not actually in accordance with the Bible. The religious name is based on a bible quote in the book of Isaiah: « You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen’ » (Isaiah 43:10). In its immediate context, this was a circumstantial statement that did not require the Israelites of that time to be designated as such. For example, in Apocalypse (Revelation) 2:13, Jesus Christ designated Antipas, a disciple who died as martyr, as « faithful witness ». This was a circumstantial designation that did not imply that all of Christ’s disciples should be called « Jesus’s Witnesses » or « Jesus’s Faithful Witnesses »…

Furthermore, this designation is not in accordance with what is written in Acts: “It was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians” (Acts 11:26). Jehovah’s Witnesses should refer to themselves as Christians, without this designation, which is not in accordance with the divine providence mentioned in Acts (11:26). Hence the title of this Bible study: the Divine Name belongs to God, and therefore, it is not for a religious group to appropriate it and then claim that a people bear His Name. In Acts 15:14, it is written that God has a people “for” His name, not a people bearing His name.

With the expansion of the internet and the sudden increase in the number of Christians (Jehovah’s Witnesses), from one to two million worldwide in the 1960s and 1970s, to seven, eight, and currently nine million between the 1980s and 2000s, the atmosphere in local congregations has truly changed. An older generation has been replaced by a younger one, more readily using internet tools. The advent of the internet, among other things, has accentuated the autocracy of the globalized American administration of over one hundred thousand congregations scattered around the world, by the Watch Tower Society, also known as J.W.ORG. What does this have to do with the Divine Name?

Let’s take a very simplified look at the history. In the years before the advent of the internet, the Governing Body, which oversaw all one hundred thousand congregations of this religious group worldwide, was very discreet. Members of local congregations barely knew them, so it can be said that the administration of the congregations was largely local. The concept of a global organization, although it existed, was rarely discussed because, in fact, it had very little impact on the local administration of the congregation.

The emergence and rise of the internet completely transformed the administration of local Christian congregations, centralizing it globally through the creation of not only a website (J.W.ORG) but also an online television channel (JW. Broadcasting). Members of the world committee, and the members of the Governing Body, who were previously little known, began appearing regularly on television in local congregations. Subsequently, the concept of a (globalized) organization has been emphasized. This organization, which operates like a multinational corporation with approximately 170 branches, has come to call itself « God’s organization, » including local congregations (instead of « the people of God »). The religious title « Jehovah’s Witness » (JW) has become the brand name for both the website and their online television channel.

The question is this: What does God think when he sees this religious organization using his Name YHWH, Jehovah, to promote not only Kingdom interests but also financial and real estate interests that currently amount to billions of dollars in assets, whereas when he sent his own Son to earth, he had nothing? “But Jesus said to him: “Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head’” (Luke 9:58). This is where the verse from Exodus 20:7 (mentioned above) becomes particularly relevant: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave unpunished the one who takes up His name in a worthless way” (Exodus 20:7). Clearly, there is a radical shift in the way this global organization is using the Divine Name. We will now look at a specific example which will constitute the conclusion of this biblical exposition on the Divine Name.

As explained above, this religious organization has truly appropriated the Divine Name, not only through its name as a group in the 1930s, but also, more recently, by stamping the J.W.ORG (Jehovah Witnesses = JW) logo on most of the meeting halls of its 100,000 local congregations. The logo of the American multinational, J.W.ORG, has, so to speak, replaced the former Watch Tower name for the general public. The point is that for every decision made by the global committee, the Governing Body and this worldwide organization, they use the Divine Name, implying that God is in charge and that He is responsible for the decisions they make, good and bad, and that is serious… Here is a concrete example illustrating the gravity of this situation in relation to the inappropriate use of the Divine Name.

In 2023, a member of the Governing Body named Jeffrey Winder made a Bible talk, in the Annual Meeting, October 2023? on JW Broadcasting entitled “How Does the Light Grow Brighter?”, based on Proverbs 4:18. In the excerpt quoted below, he said something quite shocking, pronouncing the Divine Name, Jehovah, three times:

Annual meeting, October 2023. Jeffrey Winder. “How the light gets brighter” (Proverbs 4:18)

“So, this is what we know from the Scriptures, and from our own experience as well about how the light gets brighter in modern times. It comes about by means of the holy spirit, through his channel of the faithful and discreet slave, he reveals it gradually and at a time that it is needed.

“Well, knowing this then, we are not embarrassed about adjustments that are made. Nor is an apology needed for not getting it exactly right previously. We understand this is how Jehovah operates. He reveals matters gradually when is needed. And also, the governing body is neither inspired nor infallible. And so, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. The brothers do the best they can with what they have and what they understand at the time. But are happy if Jehovah sees fit to clarify matters. And then that can be shared with the brotherhood. And when that happens, we understand that it is because it is Jehovah’s time for that to happens. And we eagerly accept that” (End of Quote).

He said: « Nor is an apology needed for not getting it exactly right previously ». Why? He indirectly implies, in the second part of the excerpt, that Jehovah is responsible for their erroneous decisions. Since they are not responsible for these bad decisions because it is Jehovah who decides to correct them in a timely manner. So, they are not obligated to apologize for the serious consequences this had among the Christian brothers and sisters. These statements are all the more shocking given that they were made shortly after the global Covid-19 pandemic, during which the Governing Body clearly coerced all one hundred thousand congregations into being injected with the experimental products marketed by P.f.i.z.e.r, M.o.d.e.r.n.a, and A.s.t.r.a.Z.e.n.e.c.a. These decisions caused side effects in the form of serious chronic illnesses and numerous deaths within the congregations (For more information, see VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (www.vaers.hhs.gov))). In conclusion, here is what God’s response to the above statements might be:

« The Rock, perfect is his activity,

For all his ways are justice.

A God of faithfulness who is never unjust;

Righteous and upright is he.

⁵ They are the ones who have acted corruptly.

They are not his children, the defect is their own.

They are a crooked and twisted generation!

⁶ Is this the way that you should treat Jehovah,

O foolish and unwise people?

Is he not your Father who caused your existence,

The One who made you and firmly established you?

⁷ Remember the days of old;