The Pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton

The Pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton
John D. Keyser
Early in the second century A.D., after the last of the apostles had died, the falling away from the true Christian faith foretold by Jesus and his followers began in earnest. Pagan philosophies and doctrines infiltrated the congregation of believers; sects and divisions arose, and the original purity of faith corrupted. And God's Name ceased to be used.
In time, however, God's Name came back into use. In 1278 it appeared in Latin in the work Pugio fidei (Dagger of Faith), by Raymundus Martini, a Spanish monk. He used the spelling YOHOUA. Soon after, in 1303, Porchetus de Salvaticis completed a work called Victoria Porcheti adversus impios Hebraeos (Porchutus' Victory Against the Ungodly Hebrews). In this he, too, mentioned God's Name -- spelling it variously IOHOUAH, IOHOUA and IHOUAH. Then, in 1518, Petrus Galatinus published a work entitled De arcanis catholicae veritatis (Concerning Secrets of the Universal Truth) in which he spells God's Name IEHOUA.
The Name first appeared in an English Bible in 1530, when William Tyndale published a translation of the first five books of the Bible. In this he included the Name of God, usually spelled IEHOUAH, in several verses, and in a note to this edition he wrote: "IEHOVAH is God's Name...Moreover as oft as thou seeist LORD in great letters (except there be any error in the printing) it is in Hebrew IEHOVAH."
In succeeding centuries Bible translators went in one of two directions: Some avoided any use of God's Name, while others used it extensively in the Hebrew Scriptures, but had a difference of opinion regarding which form to use -- either YEHOVAH or YAHWEH.
Most Bible Dictionaries, today, say the Sacred Name (or the "Tetragrammaton") should be pronounced "YAHWEH," with a "W" sound at the end of the name or title. However, the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia declares unequivocally of this ancient name or title of God
"YAHVEH. 1. The Word. Yahveh is the MOST PROBABLE TRANSLITERATION of the ANCIENT HEBREW NAME OF GOD. It is frequently, especially among GERMAN scholars, written Jahweh, Jahveh, Jahve or Yahweh; BUT THESE FORMS CALL EI- THER FOR THE GERMAN PRONUNCIATION OF J AS Y, OR OF W AS V, OR BOTH. The oldest traditions as to the pronunciation of the name YAHVEH are found in the Church fathers. Of these, Clement of Alexandria (about 215 C.E.; Stromata 5, 6:34Z0 writes Iasuai = Iaove [Yahveh], while Theodoret (about 386-457 C.E. . . . ) gives IaBe [Yahbeh] as the Samaritan pronunciation and 'Ia [Yah] as that of the Jews (cf. also Epiphanius, Adversus haereticos 40:5, who also has IaBe). The earliest post-Biblical Hebrew reading of the name known to us is YHVH, which is found in an old incantation bowl from the 6th or 7th century C.E. (Montgomery, J.A., in Museum Journal of the University of Pennsylvania, 1910, pp.28-30). This was evidently VOCALIZED AS YAHBEH. . ." (p.584).
YAHVEH and YAHBEH sound very similar, almost the same exact sound. YAHWEH, with the typical English "w" sound, is quite different. "V" and "B" are both explosive consonants, formed by closing the teeth to the lips, or the lips together. However, the English "W" sound is formed by merely closing the lips part way and blowing through them as you vocalize. Thus the "V" and "B" sounds are much more explosive, powerful, caused by a build up of pressure against the teeth and/or lips.
The Askenazi Jews, who migrated through Russia and Europe, and settled in Germany and other regions of Europe, tend to use the letter "V" for the final consonant of God's name. When many commentaries, or authors, refer to "YAHWEH," we need to remember that they have been heavily influenced by the German "W" which sounds like an English "V." The "W" should be pronounced as a "V," just as in the word "Volkswagen," which in German is literally, "Volks- VAGON." Says the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, once again:
"In the light of these facts, it is clear that the first syllable of the name was Ya-, and the only possible uncertainty attaches to the second syllable. Was the name originally Yah, Yahu, Yaho or Yahveh? If the original pronunciation was Yahveh, then Yahu is most eas- ily explained as a contraction . . . In this case the old for Yahveh and the new for Yahu continued side by side. If Yah or Yahu was original, then YAHVEH is a later theologiz- ing expansion.
"However, the reading YHVH is very old, being found in line 18 of the Moabite Stone, the inscription of King Mesha of Moab, written in the 9th century B.C.E. This goes far to establishing the priority of the FOUR-LETTERED NAME (Tetragrammaton). It is the oldest known datable independent occurrence of the divine name. . . . Unfortunately, the Moabite form, being unvocalized, gives us no help in pronunciation. The prevailing opinion is in favor of the reading YAHVEH . . ." (The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, "Yahveh," p.584-585)
In another article, "God, Names of," this same authority goes on to elaborate on the names of God as found in the Scriptures. We read:
"The Tetragrammaton or Four-Lettered Name [YHVH], which occurs 6,823 times, is by far the most frequent name of God in the Bible. It is now pronounced Adonai; but the church father Theodoret records that the Samaritans pronounced it IaBe, and Origen transcribes it as Iae, BOTH POINTING TO AN ORIGINAL VOCALIZATION YAHVEH" (p.6).
Another authority on this question, The Torah: A Modern Commentary, edited by W. Gunther Plaut, and published by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, New York, tells us more about this name of God. Commenting on the pronunciation of the name, it says:
"A large literature exists which deals with the proper pronunciation of the Name as well as its etymology, and much of this is of a highly technical nature. The following represents a brief summary:
"VOCALIZATION. How the Name was originally vocalized is no longer certain. Its pro- nunciation was in time restricted to the Temple service, then to the High Priest intoning it on the Day of Atonement, and after the destruction of the Temple it received a substitute pronunciation both for the reading of Scripture and for its use in prayer.
"The Masoretes who vocalized the Hebrew texts took the vowels from the word Adonai and put them with YHVH to remind the reader not to pronounce the Name but to substitute Adonai. . . .
"OVERWHELMING SCHOLARLY OPINION HOLDS THAT YHVH WAS IN MOSES' TIME PRONOUNCED YAHVEH. There is also a shorter form of the Name, Yah, which may represent the original form from which YAHVEH was expanded or may, contrariwise, be a contraction of the longer ascription. . . ." (p.425-426).
While the above quotations resolve the "v " versus the "W" question, they are in error regarding the FIRST PART (YAH) of God's Name.
There are many "Sacred Names" groups who argue for this or that "correct" pronunciation of the Name, and stridently insist that one use the form they have convinced themselves is correct. Most of these groups prefer the pronunciation YAHWEH, and indeed, this vocalization has the support of most of the scholars -- as we have seen above. Others argue for such possibilities as YEHOAH, YAHUWEH or YAHUEH, YAHUWAH or YAHUVAH, YAHVAH, or YAHWAH, etc. The list just goes on and on.
As you can see from these examples (and the quotes above) not only is there disagreement as to whether the third letter of God's Name should be represented as a "V" or a "W," but the proper vowels are also in dispute.
Much of this confusion arises because of a lack of knowledge of basic Hebrew grammar, as well as the history and development of modern Hebrew. Unfortunately, even among those who do understand the technical problems involved there is often basic disagreement.
If it is your understanding that the four Hebrew letters (Yod He Vav He) represent four vowels (rather than four consonants) then the Name is best represented by the four sounds I-A-U-E or ee-ah-oo-eh. If you pronounce these rapidly you will get the combined sound in English. This appears to agree with the 1st-century Jewish historian Josephus, with the Greek transliterations, and also with the 500 BC Murashu text. It would, therefore, be written in English as YAHUEH -- not strictly YAHWEH, which is the consonantal form. The big problem with this proposal is the question of MEANING! These four sounds mean NOTHING in Hebrew, and they lose their connection with the verb hayah, "to be," upon which the Divine Name is based. Hebrew students all know that names are supposed to carry meaning -- how much more the case with the very Name of God!
The combination YE-HO-AH makes much better grammatical sense. In Hebrew "YE" represents the future or imperfect of the verb "to be," "HO" represents the present, while "AH" represents the past. In other words, this form of God's Name would have specific meaning and not be merely a repetition of vowel sounds. Quite literally YEHOAH means "shall/is/was" -- that is, the Eternal, the Ever-living One who will be, is and always was. This is WHY the pronunciation YEHOAH is preferable, or even the more popular form, YEHOVAH, since it clearly reflects this profound meaning. YAH would then be the contracted or shortened form of this full Name, taking the first and last sounds together.
Regardless of what you read in other publications, it is simply NOT TRUE that YEHOVAH is a corrupt and mistaken reading of the massoretic vowel pointing taken from "'adonai." Nor is it an "evil name," as some have ignorantly charged, based on the Hebrew term hovah, which means "ruin" or "disaster." This Hebrew word hovah is from hayah -- which can also mean to "happen." It has no grammatical connection to the Divine Name. The name YEHOAH -- or if one prefers, the more well known for YEHOVAH -- therefore best represents God's Name in English.
The misunderstandings about God the Father's Name have also inflicted the correct name for Jesus. The Hebrew name for Jesus is YEHOSHUA, or the shortened form YESHUA -- not YAHSHUA as so many mistakenly think. The form YAHSHUA is impossible in Hebrew and completely ignores the second syllable -- represented by the letter "vav." This is a very common name in Hebrew and there is no doubt whatsoever about how to write or pronounce it. It is built from the Divine Name YEHOAH. The first two syllables, YEHO, are common in many Biblical names (Yehoshaphat, Yehoiakim). These three letters or syllables in Hebrew simply CANNOT be represented by YAH. Yah in Hebrew is Yod He, while the letters of the Sacred Name, reflected in such compounds, are Yod He Vav. The "Vav" must have its common vowel sound in this form -- it cannot be silent or ignored.
Judging by the available evidence at hand, it seems most probable and likely that the correct pronunciation of the divine name represented by the Tetragrammaton, YHVH, is simply YEHOVAH or YEHOAH, and not the "Yahweh" that so many today amongst the "Holy Names" sects insist upon using. One such sect, in Texas, has now even discarded the name "Yahweh," and instead simply refers to God as "Ha Shem," meaning, "The Name" -- just as many Orthodox and Conservative Jews do, also, today, because they are fearful of misusing the Divine Name.
However, the truth is that God WANTS us to use His Name -- properly, reverently, and worshipfully. It is not a name which we should cringe before, in terror and fear. It is a name by which we should REVERENCE AND WORSHIP the Most High God! Therefore, we should not be afraid to speak the name of God, and to use it, so long as we are very respectful. However, we should always and only use it with respect, reverence, and love -- in true worship.
We should avoid false names, or weak imitations, and strive to remain as faithful to the original Name as we possibly can, with the knowledge we have today. This means, if we use the Tetragrammaton, in worship, or speech, we should use YEHOVAH or YEHOAH .
As an important fact to remember, there is no letter "w" in the Hebrew language. The correct pronunciation of the Hebrew letter "vav" is just as it appears -- the "v" sound in English. I suspect that the reason the Jewish people don't make an issue of the fact that scholars often spell the name of God "Yahweh" is that since it is a wrong pronunciation -- an incorrect name -- that they believe its common usage by many does not "profane" the name of God as the misuse of the correct name and pronunciation would. Therefore, many would just as soon leave the Gentile world in ignorance, rather than give them the correct name, lest they pervert, misuse, abuse, and desecrate the holy Name.
However, I believe it is important to understand this point of truth, and that it is not wrong for us to USE the name of God, today, in worship and adoration of the Divine Creator and Holy One of Israel. Names are important in God's eyes, and He put in man the desire to identify people and things by means of names. Would it be consistent for the Creator of all things to leave Himself nameless? I think not. However, we should not abuse this knowledge, or begin to take God's name for granted. Nor should we use it "in vain," or to no good use or purpose (Exodus 20:7).
A "name" expresses the character, qualities, and intrinsic nature of a person or individual. God's Names tell us just who and what He is, and define for us His very character and nature. It is, therefore, very important that we should know them, and use them. God's Name represents WHO AND WHAT HE IS -- not a magical "potion" to perform magical "tricks." Notes The Illustrated Bible Dictionary:
A study of the word 'name' in the O[ld] T[estament] reveals how much it means in Hebrew. The name is no mere label, but is significant of the real personality of him to whom it be- longs (Vol. 1, p.572).
Let us therefore worship the Most High God, YEHOVAH, as He Himself directs and commands. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
"Praise YEHOVAH! Praise, O servants of YEHOVAH, praise the NAME of YEHOVAH! Blessed be the NAME of YEHOVAH from this time forth and forevermore! From the ris- ing of the sun to its going down YEHOVAH's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:1-3)).
"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: Praise YEHOVAH, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is ex- alted" (Isaiah 12:2-4).
"I am YEHOVAH, that is My name" (Isa.42:8). "As for our redeemer, YEHOVAH of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel" (Isa.47:4). "But I am YEHOVAH your God, Who divided the sea whose waved roared -- YEHOVAH of hosts is His name" (Isa.51:15). "Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks: behold, it is I" (Isa.52:6). "Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to YEHOVAH, to serve him, and to love the name of YEHOVAH, to be his servants -- every one who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant -- even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer" (Isa.56:6-7).
"For whoever calls upon the name of the YEHOVAH shall be saved" (Rom.10:13). "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of YEHOVAH shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the YEHOVAH has said, among the remnant whom YEHOVAH calls" (Joel 2:32).