Lexical Summary Yhvh: the proper name of the God of Israel Original Word: יְהוָֹהTransliteration: Yhvh Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-vaw') Part of Speech: Proper Name Short Definition: the proper name of the God of Israel Meaning: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Strong's Concordance Jehovah, the Lord From hayah; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God -- Jehovah, the Lord. Compare Yahh, Yhovih. see HEBREW hayah see HEBREW Yahh see HEBREW Yhovih Brown-Driver-Briggs H3068. Yhvh יהוהc. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה proper name, of deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel — (1 יְהוָֺה ᵑ0C518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהוִֺה305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים), in the combinations יהוה אדני & אדני יהוה (see אֲדֹנֶי), and with preposition מֵיהוָֺה לַיהוָֺה, בַּיהוָֺה, (Qr מֵאדֹנָי לַאדֹנָי, בַּאדֹנָי,), do not give the original form. ᵐ5 and other Vrss follow the Qr. On the basis of Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 24:11 יהוה was regarded as a nomen ineffabile (see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jews הַשֵּׁם and by the Samaritans שׁימא. The pronunciation Jehovah was unknown until 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus; but it was contested by Le Mercier, J. Drusius, and L. Capellus, as against grammatical and historical propriety (compare Bö§ 88). The traditional Ἰαβέ of Theodoret and Epiphanius, the יְהוֺֿ יָֿהוּ, of compound proper name and the contracted form יָהּ all favour יַהְוֶךְ (compare יַהֲלֹמ֑וּן Psalm 74:6; תַּהֲרוּ Isaiah 33:11), see LagSym i.14 BaudStudien i.179 ff.; DrStud.Bib.i.1 ff. For Jeve see StaZAW 1881, 346 Deib.1882, 173 f. & Gn. Excurs. ii. 2 on literature of interpretations see NesEg.67 Drl.c. — Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph`il of היה (=היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver (compare חַוָּה Genesis 3:20) Schr HSch; giver of existence, creator, Kue Tiele; he who brings to pass (so already Le Clerc),performer of his promises, Lag, NesEg.88 (but NesEg.91 inclines to Qal as RSBrit. & For. Ev. Rev see below); or from היה he who causes to fall, rain or lightning RSOTJC.ed.1, 423; om.ed.2, 245, compare WeSkizzen iii.175; 'Fäller,' destroying foes, StaG.i.429 (dubiously). But most take it as Qal of הוה (= היה); the one who is: i.e. the absolute and unchangeable one, Ri; the existing, ever living, as self-consistent and unchangeable, Di; or the one ever coming into manifestation as the God of redemption, De Oehl; compare also RSBrit. & For. Ev. Rev. 1876, he will be it, i.e all that his servants look for (compare Ewinfr), he will approve himself (give evidence of being, assert his being Drl.c.17)). **Theories of non-Hebrew or non-Semitic origin, opposed (in their older forms) by BauRel. i. 181 ff. (see especially 230); DlPa 162 ff. claimed Babylonian origin for יהו, against this Kuenational Religions, etc., Note iv (Eng. Trans. 329 ff.) JastrJBL xiil {1894}, 103 f. compare HptBAS i. 170 N; DlBabel u. Bibel, 46 f., 73 f. makes same claim for יהוה, against this see especially HirschZAW xxiil {1903}, 355 ff. ZimKATS. 465 ff.; SpiegelbZMG:liii {1899}, 633 ff. proposes (improbable) Egyptian etymology for יהוה; further discussions see in KöEB NAMES, § 112 and n.3. 'Jehovah' found in Jacob (? Johannes) Wessel († 1480), according to SchwThLZ, 1905, col. 612. I. יהוה is not used by E in Genesis, but is given Exodus 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb, and is explained thus : עִמָּ֑ךְ אֶהְיֶה I shall be with thee (3:12), which is then implied in אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה I shall be the one who will be it 3:14a (i.e: with thee 3:12) and then compressed into אֶהְיֶה 3:14b (i.e. with thee 3:12), which then is given in the nominal form יהוה He who will be it 3:15 (i.e. with thee 3:12). compare EwBTh ii. 337, 338 RSl.c., Proph. 385 ff. Other interpretations are: I am he who I am, i.e. it is no concern of yours (Le Clerc LagPsalt.Hieron.156); I am (this is my name), inasmuch as I am (אֲשֶׁר = כִּי; AE JDMich WeJD Th xxi, 540 = compare Hexateuch 72); Di and others I am who I am, he who is essentially unnameable, inexplicable, — E uses יהוה sparingly by the side of אלהים and האלהים in his subsequent narrative. The Ephraimitic writers in Judges Samuel Kings use it in similar proportions. P abstains from the use of יהוה until he gives an account of its revelation to Moses 6:3; but subsequently uses it freely. He gives no explanation of its meaning. He represents that שַׁדַּי אֵל was the God of the patriarchs. J uses יהוה from the beginning of his narrative, possibly explaining it, Genesis 21:83 by עולם אל, the evergreen tamarisk being a symbol of the ever-living God; compare De Genesis 21:33. Elsewhere יהוה is the common divine name in pre-exilic writers, but in post-exilic writers gradually falls into disuse, and is supplanted by אלהים and אדני. In Job it is used 31 t. in prose parts, and Job 12:9 (a proverb); not elsewhere in the poem. Chronicles apart from his sources prefers אלהים and האלהים. Daniel uses יהוה only in chap. 9 (7 t.); Ecclesiastes not at all. In the Elohistic group of Psalm 42-83 it is used 39 t. (see אלהים) . It occurs as the name of Israel's God MI18. It is doubtful whether it was used by other branches of the Shemitic family, compare COT Genesis 2:4b DlPa 158 ff. DrStud. Bib. i. 7 ff. II. 1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D; a. with אֱלֹהֶיךָ in the Ten Words Exodus 20:2-12 (5 t.) = Deuteronomy 5:6-16; in the law of worship of J E, Exodus 23:19; 34:24, 26; in D 234 t.; Joshua 1:9, 17; 9:9, 24 (D2); elsewhere Genesis 27:20; Exodus 15:26 (JE), Judges 6:26; Samuel & Kings 20 t.; 1 Chronicles 11:2; 22:11-12, 2 Chronicles 9:8 (twice in verse); 16:7; Isaiah 7:11; 37:4 (twice in verse); 41:13; 43:3; 51:15; 55:5; Jeremiah 40:2 + (3t.); Hosea 12:10; 13:4; 14:2; Amos 9:15; Psalm 81:11. b. with אֱלֹהֵיכֶם in D 46 t.; D228t.; H 15 t.; P 15 t.; elsewhere Exodus 23:25 (E); 8:24; 10:8, 16, 17 (JE); Judges 6:10; 1 Samuel 12:12, 14; 2 Kings 17:39; 23:21; 1 Chronicles 22:18 + (10 t. Chronicles) Psalm 76:12; Jeremiah 13:16 + (5 t.) Ezekiel 20:5, 7, 19, 20; Joel 2:13 + (6 t.) Zechariah 6:15. c. with אֱלֹהֵינוּ in D 23 t.; in D25t.; Exodus 8:6 (JE) 3:18; 5:3; 8:22; 8:23; 10:25-26, (E) Judges 11:24; 1 Samuel 7:8; 1 Kings 8:57, 59, 61, 65; 2 Kings 18:22; 19:10 = Isaiah 36:7; 37:20; 1 Chronicles 13:2 + (15 t. Chronicles) Micah 4:5; 7:17; Isaiah 26:13; Jeremiah 3:22 + (17 t.) Psalm 20:8; 90:17 (?;Baer אֲדנָֹי); 94:23; 99:5; 99:8; 99:9 (twice in verse); 105:7; 106:47; 113:5; 122:9; 123:2; Daniel 9:10, 13, 14. d. with אֱלֹהֵיהֶם Exodus 10:7 (J) 29:46 (twice in verse); Leviticus 26:44 (P) Judges 3:7; 8:34; 1 Samuel 12:9; 1 Kings 9:9; 2 Kings 17:7, 9, 14, 16, 19; 18:12; 2 Chronicles 31:6; 33:17; 34:33; Nehemiah 9:3 (twice in verse); 9:4; Jeremiah 3:21; 22:9; 30:9; 43:1 (twice in verse); 50:4; Ezekiel 28:26; 34:30; 39:22, 28; Hosea 1:7; 3:5; 7:10; Zephaniah 2:7; Haggai 1:12 (twice in verse); Zechariah 9:16; 10:6. e. with אֱלֹהָיו Numbers 23:21 (E) Exodus 32:11 (J) Leviticus 4:22 (P) Deuteronomy 17:19; 18:7; 1 Samuel 30:6; 1 Kings 5:17; 11:4; 15:3-4, 2 Kings 5:11; 16:2; 2 Chronicles 1:1 13t. Chronicles; Micah 5:3; Jeremiah 7:28; Psalm 33:12; 144:15; 146:5; Jonah 2:2. f. with אֱלֹהַי Numbers 22:18 (JE) Deuteronomy 4:5; 18:16; 26:14; Joshua 14:8-9, 2 Samuel 24:24; 1 Kings 3:7; 5:18; 1 Kings 5:19; 8:28; 17:20-21, 1 Chronicles 21:17; 22:7; 2 Chronicles 2:3; 6:19; Ezra 7:28; 9:5; Psalm 7:2; 7:4; 13:4; 18:29; 30:3; Psalm 30:13; 35:24; 40:6; 104:1; 109:26; Isaiah 25:1; Jeremiah 31:18; Daniel 9:4, 20; Jonah 2:7; Habakkuk 1:12; Zechariah 11:4; 13:9; 14:5. g. with אֱלֹהַיִךְ Isaiah 60:9; Jeremiah 2:17, 19; 3:13; Micah 7:10; Zephaniah 3:17. h. with אלהים, probably always due to later editors, or to a Qr which has crept into the text Genesis 2:4b — 3:23 (J, 20 t. either אלהים inserted by RP as Di De; or יהוה inserted by J in an older source); Exodus 9:30 (J, but not in ⅏ ᵐ5; Samaritan יהוה אדני; possibly ᵑ0 from earlier Qr, & ⅏ from later Qr); 2 Samuel 7:22, 25 (יהוה אדני ᵐ5 and 1 Chronicles 17:20-23 only יהוה); 17:16-17, (but 2 Samuel 7:18-19, יהוה אדני) 1 Chronicles 28:20; 29:1; 2 Chronicles 1:9; 6:41 (twice in verse); 6:42; 26:18 (but in the original Psalm 132:8 stood יהוה (so ℌ), or else no divine name); 72:18 (the late doxology) 84:12 (but it makes the line too long); Jonah 4:6. For the combinations with other divine names see those names. 2 the phrase יהוה אֲנִי is noteworthy: — a. after אמר either alone Exodus 6:2, 29 (P) or before relative and other clauses: Genesis 28:13 (J) 15:7 (R) Exodus 6:6 (P) with אלהיכם Judges 6:10; Ezekiel 20:5. b. after כי ידע (α) Exodus 7:17; 8:18; 10:2 (J); 7:5; 14:4, 18 (P); 1 Kings 20:13, 28; Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 6:7 48t. Ezekiel; (β) with אלהיכם Exodus 6:7; 16:12; Deuteronomy 29:5 (P) Exodus 20:20; Joel 4:17; (γ) with אלהיהם 29:46 (P) Ezekiel 28:26; 34:30; 39:22, 28; (δ) before relative and other clauses Isaiah 45:3; 49:23, 26; 60:16; Ezekiel 7:9; 17:24; 21:10; 22:22; 35:12; 36:36; (ε) with various forms of קדשׁ Exodus 31:13 (P) Ezekiel 20:12; 37:28; 39:7; (ζ) with דברתי 5:13; 17:21, compare י אני אשׁר ׳יֵדְעוּ 20:26. c. after כִּי in various combinations Leviticus 11:44-45, Numbers 35:34 (P), Leviticus 20:7, 26; 21:8, 15, 23; 22:16; 24:22; 25:17; 26:1, 44 (all H); Exodus 15:26 (R) Isaiah 41:13; 43:3; 61:8; Jeremiah 9:23; Ezekiel 12:25; 21:4; Zechariah 10:6; Malachi 3:6. d. emphatic Exodus 6:8; 12:12; Leviticus 26:2, 45; Numbers 3:13, 41, 45 (all P); Leviticus 18:5-6, 21; 19:12, 14, 16, 18, 28, 30, 32, 37; 21:12; 22:2-3, 8, 30, 31, 33 (all H) Isaiah 43:15; with אלהיהם Exodus 29:46; with אלהיךָ Isaiah 48:17; with אלהיכם Leviticus 23:43; 25:38, 55; Numbers 10:10; 15:41 (twice in verse) (P) Leviticus 18:2, 4, 30; 19:2-3, 4, 10, 25, 31, 34, 36; 20:24; 23:22; 26:13 (all H) Ezekiel 20:7, 19; Joel 2:27; with מְקַדֵּשׁ Leviticus 20:8; 22:9, 32 (H), with דברתי Numbers 14:35 (P) Ezekiel 5:15 + (11 t. Ezekiel); with clauses Isaiah 27:3; 41:4, 17; 42:6, 8; 45:5-6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 21; 60:22; Jeremiah 17:10; 32:27; Ezekiel 14:4, 7, 9; 34:24; יהוה אָנֹכִי is used in the Ten Words Exodus 20:2, 5 = Deuteronomy 5:6, 9 cited Psalm 81:11; Hosea 12:10; 13:4; elsewhere only Exodus 4:11 (J) Isaiah 43:11; 44:24; 51:15. 3 יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh יראה יהוה Genesis 22:14 (J); נסי יהוה Exodus 17:15 (E) שׁלים יהוה Judges 6:24 צדקנו יהוה Jeremiah 33:16 (compare 23:6 where it is applied to the Messiah); שָׁ֑מָּה יהוה Ezekiel 48:35. — On combinations such as ׳י צְבָאוֺת י, ׳הַר etc., see צָבָא הַר,, etc. Note. — BonkZAW 1891, 126 ff. seems to shew that as prefix, in compare proper name, יְהוֺ is the oldest and the latest form and that יוֺ is intermediate, belonging to the earlier post-exilic period until the time of Chronicles; occasional copyists' mistakes being taken into the account. ׳יְהוֺ proper name compounded with, see below יהוה above. יהוה proper name, of deity, see below הוה. ׳יו = ׳יְהוֺ proper name compounded with, see below יהוה above: — namely יוֺתָם יוֺרָם, יוֺקִים, יוֺעָשׁ, יוֺעֵד, יוֺיָרִיב, יוֺיָקִים, יוֺיָכִין, יוֺאָשׁ, יוֺאֵל, יוֺאָחָז, יוֺאָח, יוֺאָב,, etc. |