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"Master" or "Sir"). It has also led Christians The pronunciation of the Divine Name is
for centuries to confuse the notion of the Mes- uncertain. Many scholars prefer YAHWEH.
siah, who is called Lord or Master (adon), Despite what you read in most reference books,
with the Divine Name, YHVH. The Messiah is there is good evidence for the pronunciation
"YHVH's anointed one," the Davidic King, and YEHOVAH, or perhaps, YEHOAH, which
certainly the prime agent of YHVH, but never then becomes YAH in shortened form (com-
to be confused with YHVH Himself (see pare the name Joshua or Yehoshua in Hebrew,
Psalms 2:2; 110:1; cf. Acts 4:24-27). which means "YHVH's salvation," and is built
from the Divine Name, see Numbers 13:16).
The important point here is that God reveals Precisely how to pronounce this Name is not so
Himself by Name, and not by just any name, but important as its meaning, with the recognition
by this awesome Sacred Name which belongs that it is a personal Name, revealed by God
only to Him. There is a great difference be- Himself to Moses. YHVH is the One God who
tween saying "I am the LORD" and "I am Was, and Is, and always Will Be. This can be
YHVH." The latter is personal and direct. It said of no other Being in the Universe. In writ-
immediately calls forth the absolutely unique ing I prefer to use the letters themselves,
and singular understanding of the One true God. YHVH, without vowels, avoiding controver-
Notice above, in the quotations from Isaiah, sies over pronunciation, but calling immediate
how God uses this Name constantly, in the first attention to the use of the actual Name, rather
person, "I am YHVH, there is none besides than a title or description of God. In speaking I
Me." The Scriptures speak of "calling upon the either follow the orthodox Jewish practice of
Name YHVH" which conveys a completely un- using "HaShem," which always reminds one
related meaning, when mistranslated "calling that the actual Name of God is intended, or I
upon the name of the LORD" (Joel 2:32). use the pronunciation "Yehovah," if the setting
There are many so-called gods and "lords" is appropriate.
upon whom people call. We hear constant talk
of "the Lord" this and "the Lord" that. One must Many in the so-called "Sacred name" move-
ask, just WHO is this "Lord?" What is His ment insist on pronouncing the Divine Name,
Name? Notice Jeremiah 33:2-3 with this in though they differ from group to group as to
mind: what is the correct pronunciation. Some would
claim that one can not even call upon the true
Thus says YHVH who made the earth, God without saying the Name correctly. Often
YHVH who formed it to establish it, YHVH one group will damn another to Hell, or accuse
is His Name, "Call to Me, and I will answer them of worshipping "another God" over dif-
you, and I will tell you great and mighty ferences of a letter or syllable in pronunciation.
things, which you do not know." This borders on superstition and magic!

What an extraordinary declaration and The Name is vitally important, but such dis-
promise, spoken directly in the first person by putes are misguided and divisive. It is an his-
the Eternal God Himself! To literally "call torical fact that by suppressing the
upon YHVH" leads one into an intimate rela- pronunciation of the Divine Name while they
tionship with the very Creator God. We will were in Exile, the Jewish people have pre-
explore below just what is involved in such a served it from profanation by the Gentiles, who
turn to God. call upon "the Lord" but have no idea of God's
Name. This was certainly in the Providence of
God, and perhaps even according to His

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