What's in a Name? Pt. 1 (was RE: Yahweh)

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I have done quite a bit of research concerning the names of God in the Old
Testament.  In response to the question about "Yahweh," I submit this brief
essay that I wrote some time ago.  Because of the length of the essay, I
will send it in two parts.  I sincerely hope that this blesses someone.

Your brother in our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Bro. Kirk

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What's in a Name?
Written by Kirk Van Ooteghem

        The selection of names has become an arbitrary process for the age
in which we live.  Most people choose a name for their newborn children on
the basis of whether or not the name sounds unique or pleasant with little
or no consideration for the origin or meaning of the name.  As a result,
people often consult a list or book of names with the hopes of finding one
that is ascetically appealing.  This, however, has not always been the
case.
        In Bible times, the choice of a name was much more significant than
it is today.  People chose names for many important reasons.  A name could
have been prophetic in nature (as in the case of Abraham, which means
father of a multitude), indicate an unusual or unique circumstance
surrounding a child's birth (as in the case of Moses, which means drawn
from the water), or describe the nature, personality, or characteristics of
an individual.  Following the latter tradition, the various names for God
in the Old Testament often describe aspects or qualities of the character
and personality of God.  For example, the designations El, Elohim, Eloah,
and Elah (all various forms and derivatives of the Hebrew word, EL) are all
translated "God" in our King James Version.  El simply means "strength,
mighty, or almighty"; all of which certainly describe some of the
characteristics of our God.
        In addition to the names described above (and others which will not
be discussed in this article), there is one other prominent name for God
used in the Old Testament.  The name Yahweh (or Jehovah, in English) is a
proper name for God and has been translated in our King James Version as
both "Lord" and "God."  The name Yahweh was of the utmost importance to
Jews in the Old Testament, as well as to Jews today, because it is the
proper name that God Himself chose to reveal his redemptive nature and plan
to mankind.  As doctrinal theologian David K. Bernard points out, Yahweh is
the "unique name by which the one true God distinguished Himself ... from
all other gods (Isa 42.8)."   As one respected Bible dictionary points out,
"the Jews considered God and His divine name as one, and equally holy."
The most basic translation for the name Yahweh is simply "I AM."  The name
"I AM," when used in reference to God, is significant because it denotes
the eternal self-existence of God which is inextricably linked to His
ultimate, eternal power and authority.  This is the idea expressed in the
philosophical designations of God as the "uncaused cause" and the "prime
mover."
        According to the practice and tradition of Old Testament Jews, as
well as the writers of the New Testament when quoting the "Law and the
Prophets" the name Yahweh is the one and only proper name for God and,
therefore, deserves the utmost respect.  Extreme caution was utilized
whenever using this name for God.  For example, the name Yahweh was not
permitted to be uttered or even written for fear of violating the third
commandment concerning using the Lord's name in vain.  As a result, ancient
scribes would use only four Hebrew letters (which can be transliterated
into the English letters YHWH or JHVH) to designate the proper name for God
without actually having to write the name.  Another common practice was to
substitute the proper name Yahweh with the more generic terms Adon and
Adonai (in the Hebrew) and Kurios (in the Greek) all of which are
translated "Lord" in the King James Version.  Yet another frequent practice
was to simply refer to Yahweh as "Hassem," which is Aramaic for "The Name."
In fact, the original pronunciation of the sacred name for God has been
lost over the centuries and millennia since the practice of speaking and
writing the name has been forbidden throughout the ages.  Indeed, the
common pronunciations, Yahweh and Jehovah, are merely guesses as to how the
name was actually pronounced.
        Although the name Yahweh is indeed the sacred name that God used in
the Old Testament to reveal His redemptive nature to his people, there is
yet another name for God which is even more sacred and holy.  The Jews of
the Old Testament did not know this name, although their prophets
prophesied concerning the "new name" for Isaiah 62.2 states, "And the
Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou
shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."
Zechariah 14.9 reinforces the same concept with the prophetic words, "And
the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one
LORD, and his name one."
        Along with the Apostles, we believe that JESUS is the divine,
sacred, holy name of the one and only true God of the universe.
Tragically, the true meaning and significance of the name of Jesus has been
all but lost and forgotten, except to those who make a concerted effort to
learn more about the Lord and become closer to Him.  The diligent and
sincere student of the Holy Scriptures realizes that the name of Jesus is
the divine climax to the predestined plan of God to progressively reveal
His name to his people as an integral part of providing mercy, grace,
redemption, atonement, and salvation for fallen man.

To be continued...

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*                                    *
*        Kirk Van Ooteghem           *
*        University Libraries        *
*        Ball State University       *
*        00kmvanooteg@bsu.edu        *
*        vanoo@ecicnet.org           *
*                                    *
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