The Tetragrammaton

The tetragrammaton (meaning 'four lettered word') is the personal name of the Creator in Hebrew - pronounced Ya-HOO-eh. This name seen above in both ancient and modern forms, can be represented in English by the letters YHWH, YHVH, or in vowel form - IAUE. Transliterated it is best spelt either Yahueh or Yahuweh. Other less accurate spellings commonly used are: Yahweh, Yahveh, Yahwah, Yehowah, Jehovah.

Tradition has incorrectly forbidden the use (pronunciation) of this name. Yes, the third command forbids misusing it (Shemot/Ex. 20:7), but a simple reading of the Scriptures testifiies that this was NOT understood as preventing it's proper use. It was used by the ancients not only in worship - prayers, songs, etc - but also in everyday speech when reference was being made to the true Mighty One. YHWH's own statement regarding His Name is this: "I am YHWH, that is My Name, and My esteem I do not give to another, nor My praise to idols." (Yesha/Isaiah 42:8). The names commonly used in reference to the Creator today, such as "G*d" and "L*rd" are the names of pagan mighty ones - idols - we should avoid their use. Read also Shemot/Ex. 3:13-15.

This publication also uses Yahusha or Yahushua (pronounced Ya-hoo-sha’), which is the correct name of the Messiah, the Son of YHWH, commonly, though incorrectly, called "Jesus." Yahusha means "YHWH Saves." 'Yahu' is an abbreviated form of the tetragrammaton, the first three letters - YHW.  The 'sha' or 'shua' comes from 'yeshuah' - salvation. The name "Yeshua" or "Y'shua" commonly being used by the Messianic movement today, while being an abbreviation of Yahusha, fails to give proper credit to the Father - YHWH. It is a name that was born out of the error of avoiding the use of the tetragrammaton.


Further reading:

The Name of G-d John Steed

The Key to the Key of Knowledge Bill Buton