|
The Hebrew word
Jehovah is translated into "LORD" (all capitals) in the King James Bible
to distinguish it from the Hebrew word Adonai, which is translated into
"Lord" (only the L capitalized). The name Jehovah is the most often used
name of God in the Old Testament and is used more than 6800 times
beginning in Genesis 2:4.
Gen 2:4
4 These are the
generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in
the day that the LORD (Jehovah) God (Elohim) made the earth and the
heavens,
(KJV)
In it's first instance it is used as a
compound name (Jehovah-Elohim) and continues to be used in this manner
through the remainder of the second and third chapters of Genesis. The
notable exception to this is in the account of "The Temptation" where
Elohim alone is used.
The name Jehovah is
taken from the Hebrew word havah, which is a verb meaning "to be" or
"being". It is closely related to another Hebrew verb chavah, meaning
"to live" or "life". Therefore, when we read the name Jehovah, we should
think of God as the "Being who is life and possesses eternal existence".
Isa 43:10-12
10 Ye are my
witnesses, saith the LORD (Jehovah), and my servant whom I have chosen:
that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me
there was no God (Elohim) formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the
LORD (Jehovah); and beside me there is no saviour.
12 I have declared,
and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among
you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD (Jehovah), that I am
God (Elohim).
(KJV)
When Moses asked God what name to use to
tell the Children of Israel who sent him, God said "I Am that I Am…"
(more closely translated "I will be that I will be"). The ultimate and
underlying meaning of the name Jehovah. When God wanted to make a
special revelation of Himself, He used the name Jehovah and said "…this
is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
(Exodus 3:15)
Another attribute of the name Jehovah can
be derived from its usage in the Old Testament. It is Jehovah-Elohim
(The Eternally Living Almighty One) who created Man in His image. It is
Jehovah who sent sinful Man out of The Garden of Eden. It is Jehovah who
rained fiery judgement on Sodom and Gamorrah. It is also Jehovah who
said "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."
(Exodus 32:33) Thus we can see that Jehovah is "Living Righteousness".
The name Jehovah was so Holy and righteous to the Children of Israel,
they refused to utter it. Even to this day, orthodox Jews substitute the
word Adonai or a word meaning "The Name" for Jehovah.
Finally, we see in other Old Testament
Scripture that, even though Jehovah is righteous and must punish sin,
Jehovah is grieved at the misery of His people.
Judg 10:16
Isa 63:9
9 In all their
affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them:
in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and
carried them all the days of old.
(KJV)
So we can conclude that Jehovah is "The
Eternally Existent Righteous and Loving Being". |
