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"A large literature exists which deals with the proper pronunciation of the Name as well
as its etymology, and much of this is of a highly technical nature. The following repre-
sents a brief summary:

"VOCALIZATION. How the Name was originally vocalized is no longer certain. Its pro-
nunciation was in time restricted to the Temple service, then to the High Priest intoning it
on the Day of Atonement, and after the destruction of the Temple it received a sub-
stitute pronunciation both for the reading of Scripture and for its use in prayer.

"The Masoretes who vocalized the Hebrew texts took the vowels from the word Adonai
and put them with YHVH to remind the reader not to pronounce the Name but to substi-
tute Adonai. . . .

"Overwhelming scholarly opinion holds that YHVH was in Moses' time pronounced
Yahveh. There is also a shorter form of the Name, Yah, which may represent the original
form from which YAHVEH was expanded or may, contrariwise, be a contraction of the
longer ascription. . . ." (p.425-426).

While the above quotations resolve the "V" versus the "W" question, they are in error re-
garding the FIRST PART (YAH) of God's Name.

There are many "Sacred Names" groups who argue for this or that "correct" pronunciation
of the Name, and stridently insist that one use the form they have convinced themselves is correct.
Most of these groups prefer the pronunciation YAHWEH, and indeed, this vocalization has the
support of most of the scholars -- as we have seen above. Others argue for such possibilities as
YEHOAH, YAHUWEH or YAHUEH, YAHUWAH or YAHUVAH, YAHVAH, or YAHWAH,
etc. The list just goes on and on.

As you can see from these examples (and the quotes above) not only is there disagreement
as to whether the third letter of God's Name should be represented as a "V" or a "W," but the
proper vowels are also in dispute.

Much of this confusion arises because of a lack of knowledge of basic Hebrew grammar,
as well as the history and development of modern Hebrew. Unfortunately, even among those who
do understand the technical problems involved there is often basic disagreement.

If it is your understanding that the four Hebrew letters (Yod He Vav He) represent four
vowels (rather than four consonants) then the Name is best represented by the four sounds I-A-U-E
or ee-ah-oo-eh. If you pronounce these rapidly you will get the combined sound in English. This
appears to agree with the 1st-century Jewish historian Josephus, with the Greek transliterations,
and also with the 500 BC Murashu text. It would, therefore, be written in English as YAHUEH --
not strictly YAHWEH, which is the consonantal form. The big problem with this proposal is the
question of MEANING! These four sounds mean NOTHING in Hebrew, and they lose their con-
nection with the verb hayah, "to be," upon which the Divine Name is based. Hebrew students all
know that names are supposed to carry meaning -- how much more the case with the very Name of
God!

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