We all know that we do not know the correct pronunciation of the name of God. Over 6000 times, the Tetragrammaton is mentioned in the OT. Yet for some reason, most Bibles do not use the name Jehovah or Yahweh but a few times. Some people scoff at "Jehovah". Others view it as meaningless. Anyone that was ever a Jehovah's Witness knows that there is greater emphasis put on the name "Jehovah" than anything else........What's your view on the name "Jehovah"?
JEHOVAH
by minimus 81 Replies latest watchtower bible
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integ
I think it's the wrong pronounciation.
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Gretchen956
I totally don't think her name is Jehovah at all.
Gretchen
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AlanF
"Jehovah" is merely the English equivalent of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, YHWH or JHVH, whichever you prefer. Obviously to any ex-JW, it's the name of the God of the Old Testament. Equally obviously, no one knows the exact Hebrew pronunication, although I think that some pretty good educated guesses can be made.
JWs put far too much emphasis on their use of this name, in the opinion of many Christians. I think it has become a sort of semi-magical talisman for them. They're taught to call out "Jehovah! Jehovah!" when they get in a dangerous situation, as if mere utterance of magic words will somehow save them.
Assuming that there really is a God named Jehovah, the fact that he allowed the New Testament to come down to us without containing any use of the name proves that he isn't all that concerned that Christians use it -- which completely blows away the raison d'etre (reason for being) for Jehovah's Witnesses.
AlanF
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minimus
Why do you think Bibles either carry the name 1 time or 4 times? Or none at all? Or as the AV-----over 6000 times? Why only put LORD GOD?
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La Capra
YHVH, or at least those letters are as close to the Hebrews letters we can get in our letters. It shows up a lot, it just was never intended to be pronounced, except by the high priest in the inner temple. We know how practically everything else was pronounced because the ORAL tradition carried it down until someone had the sense to start using vowels. In my limited Hebrew training, I can see from those four letters, if other Hebrew pronunciation rules apply, there are probably TWO syllables. My rabbi told me that scholars of Hebrew and the Jewish bible consider the pronunciation "jehovah" to be a comical, farsical rendition. Kind of like some posters here use the phrase "paradise erf" (I love that one) or "jehoober" (another funny one). Some scholars say that because when YHVH appears in prayers it is uttered "adonai" that the vowel sounds in "adonai" were what was used for the vowels in Jehovah (not quite, from my view), by whomever began using that pronunciation (not the Jewish scholars, that's for sure). For me, I find it that name, or any singular name, too limiting to address all that is encomassed by the notion of a singular, all powerful, sovereign of the universe. I have always wondered why JWs don't wear little gold engravings of the tetragrammaton on necklaces. My mom used to have a little window decal of it that she put in our car window. Shoshana
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Simon
I've stopped using "Jehovah" ... sometimes I use "Jeboobah" (in the over the top District Assembly voice for comedy) or (more accurately for me):
"my (ex) imaginary friend"
I am an atheist so arguing over the real pronunciation of a name of a being that does exist is only of accedemic interest to me.
About the only thing that's certain is that "Jehovah" isn't it.
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freedom96
I think we have no business trying to call God by his name. A bit disrespectful. Regardless of how you try to pronounce it.
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minimus
Since I believe in God, I have no real issue with "Jehovah". But I still don't have an answer as to why Bible versions took the name out.
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Phil
I believe the org was not always called JW. After they wrote their own Bible they replaced most of the godlike words to Jehovah simply to have a maximum exposure of the word Jehovah (as part of the organizations name). Part of the brain washing technique.
