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Commentary on Bible
Translations' Prefaces in Reference to Our Creator's Name, YHWH
And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
YHWH, Elohim
of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you:
this is My name for ever, and this is
My memorial unto all generations. [Exodus
3:15]
Most all of the Bible translations have chosen to replace the name
"YHWH" (Yahweh) with a title or name of their choice. The following is a commentary on the various prefaces and introductions which explain their
reasoning for replacing His name, YHWH, to something else and not according to what is
written in the text of Scripture.
Before we begin it must be understood that our English bibles are not the original language in which scriptures were written. We often run into people
who don't understand this very basic principle. But it is totally true. The King James Version was not the first English translation but the first major translation and was
created approximately 1600 years after Yahushua lived.
The pattern in this study is as follows:
Quotes from a translation's preface.
Comments.
Highlights for emphasis (within quotes and comments)
New International Version - Preface
"In regard to the divine name YHWH, commonly referred to as the
Tetragrammaton, the translators adopted the device used in most English versions... "
Comment: This statement runs true in the majority of modern English translations.
The primary reasoning for replacing the name YHWH with something else is
"a device used in most" versions, namely, "tradition".
In other words, "As long as everyone else does it, it must be
okay".
"...of rendering that name as "LORD" in capital letters to distinguish it
from adonai, another Hebrew word rendered "Lord" for which small letters are used."
Comment: We can see already that replacing the name "YHWH" with "The LORD"
presents a major problem and this would be that the Hebrew word
"adonai" means "lord" as well. So what to do? Their solution is to make the "adonai"
in small letters (i.e. "lord" or "Lord") and where the name YHWH exists, they'll put capital
letters (i.e. "LORD").
Many people who read the Scriptures do not know this. Is that adding or
taking from the Scriptures? Yes, taking away from them.
"Wherever the two names stand together in the Old Testament as a compound
name for God, they are rendered "Sovereign LORD."
Comment: Now we see that a second problem pops up. Sometimes the Hebrew reads "Adonai
YHWH". This should be rendered by "their logic" above as "Lord LORD".
So they come up with yet another phrase to overcome this problem. Amazing what people will do to serve tradition and reject what YHWH has
caused to be placed in
Scriptures.
Today's English Version - Preface
"Following an ancient
tradition, "begun by the first translation of the Hebrew
Scriptures (the Septuagint) and followed by the vast majority of English translations, the distinctive Hebrew name for God (usually
transliterated Jehovah or Yahweh), is in this translation represented by "LORD." When
Adonai, normally translated "Lord," is followed by Yahweh, the combination is rendered by the phrase "Sovereign LORD."
Comment: The Septuagint is the Hebrew Scriptures (known to Christians as
"The Old Testament") in the Greek language. How accurate is the Septuagint
to the Hebrew is another subject we will not address in this study. The point
is, once again, tradition is the reason. So the "Today's English Version" uses the same renderings as the
NIV. All on the basis of following others and not what is written in the Hebrew text.
Revised English Bible - Introduction to the Old Testament
"The divine name (YHWH in Hebrew characters) was probably pronounced
'Yahweh',..."
Comment: One excuse some use for not keeping YHWH
as His name in the text is that they
aren't sure His name is really pronounced "Yahweh". This is because if a translator ever
admitted that His name was definitely pronounced "Yahweh", they would have to answer for why they
have not translated it as such.
Not much motivation to seek nor acknowledge truth there, is it?
Perhaps they really do not want to know His name and how it is
pronounced.
"... but the name was regarded as ineffable, too sacred to be pronounced."
Comment: Yes, He name is sacred, set apart. The "Ineffable
Name Doctrine" was the doctrine that got this whole idea started.
(Ineffable meaning "unspeakable, too great for words.)
But the prophet Jeremiah wrote:
"Pour out Thy fury upon the heathen that know Thee not, and upon the families that call not on Thy name..." [Jeremiah 10:25a]
And the prophet Joel wrote:
"And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name YHWH shall be delivered..." [Joel 2:32a]
How can anyone call on His name if it is hidden away by superstitious doctrines?
"The Massoretes, therefore, wrote in
the vowel signs of the alternative words
adonai ('lord') or elohim ('god') to warn readers to use one of these in its place."
Comment: Thanks to the Massoretes who copied and preserved the Hebrew
Scriptures from
scroll to scroll down through the ages. They added 'vowel signs/points' to the Hebrew text (which was
all consonants) so the language would be preserved. But when they came to the name of YHWH,
they inserted alternative vowel points so that the reader would not speak the name of
YHWH but say "adonai" (lord) instead. So we can see that through the ages,
there has been a conspiracy to hide the name of our Father Almighty despite what
He says in His word about how we should praise, exalt, bless, love, teach,
preach, anoint, assemble, believe, give thanks, honor and call on His name,
YHWH.
"Where the divine name occurs in the Hebrew text, this has been
signaled in The Revised English Bible by using capital letters for 'LORD' or 'GOD',
a widely accepted practice."
Comment: Since it is "widely accepted", it must be truth and acceptable to
do, no?
Not according to the teacher (rabbi) Yahushua. He said the way to life is a narrow way.
"Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." [Matt 7:14]
American Standard Version - Preface
"I. The change first proposed in the Appendix --- that which
substitutes "Jehovah"
for "LORD" and "GOD" (printed in small capitals) --- is one which will be unwelcome
by many, because of the frequency and familiarity of the terms displaced. But the
American Revisers, after a careful consideration, were brought to the unanimous conviction that a
Jewish superstition, which regarded the Divine Name as too
sacred to be uttered, ought no longer to dominate in the English or any other version of the Old Testament, as it fortunately does not in the numerous versions
made by modern missionaries. "
Comment: Now with some reservation
we would almost have to admire those who translated the American Standard 1901 version. They at least tried to restore some truth
even though they knew it would be unwelcome and reject the ridiculous tradition of hiding and substituting the name of
YHWH from the common
reader and hearer. But then as we read on...
"This Memorial Name, explained in Ex. iii. 14,15 and emphasized as such over and
over in the original text of the Old Testament, designates God as the Personal God,
as the covenant God, the God of Revelation, the Deliverer, the Friend of his people;
---not merely the abstractly "Eternal One" of many French translations, but the ever
living Helper of those who are in trouble. This personal name, with its wealth of
sacred associations, is now restored to the place in the sacred text to which it has an
unquestionable claim."
Comment: Sounds great so far. They can see that the Scriptures do place importance on His
name over and over and over. Have you reader noticed that? But if you read the
American Standard Version you will see that they
insert the false name "Jehova"* rendering that was used a total of 4 times in the King
James Version (Exodus 6:4; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:4). But most every scholar knows that "Jehovah" is
not His name. (see *What about
Jehova?")
Revised Standard Version - Preface
"A major departure from the practice of the American Standard Version
is the
rendering of the Divine Name, the "Tetragrammaton."
Comment: Now here is the preface that stirs things up the most. The Revised Standard Version translators have chosen not only to depart from the practice of the ASV translators who at least understood the importance of His name. Not only this, but the RSV translator go on to condemn them (ASV translators) as well, instead of furthering the truth. Read on.
"The American Standard Version used the term "Jehovah"; the King James Version had employed this in four places, but everywhere else, except in three cases where it was employed as part of a proper name, used the English word LORD (or in certain cases GOD) printed in capitals. The present revision returns to the procedure of the King James Version, which follows the precedent of the ancient Greek and Latin translators and the long established practice in the reading of the Hebrew scriptures in the synagogue."
Comment: It is in one way justified in that the ASV chose the name "Jehovah" instead of "Yahweh". But then they go to this "long standing tradition" routine again. We are not sure why they cannot see where Yahushua told the Scribes and Pharisees:
"He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." [Mark 7:9]
"While it is almost if not quite certain
that the Name was originally pronounced
Yahweh,..."
Comment: Again, they wouldn't dare admit of what they are totally certain
of.
However, what is totally certain is that His name is not pronounced "The Lord".
"(While it is almost if not quite certain that the Name was originally pronounced
"Yahweh",)...this pronunciation was not indicated when the Masoretes added vowel signs to the consonantal Hebrew text."
Comment: Of course not, they favored traditions of men by adding vowel points.
"To the four consonants YHWH of the Name, which had come to be regarded
as
too sacred to be pronounced, they attached vowel signs indicating that in its place
should be read the Hebrew word Adonai meaning "Lord" (or Elohim meaning "God").
The ancient Greek translators substituted the word Kyrios (Lord) for the Name. The
Vulgate likewise used the Latin word Dominus. The form "Jehovah" is of late
medieval origin; it is a combination of the consonants of the Divine Name and the
vowels attached to it by the Masoretes but belonging to an entirely different word.
The sound of Y is represented by J and the sound of W by V, as in Latin."
Comment: They even share how this idea of substituting His name got started.
To "had come to be regarded as too sacred", tells us that it was not
so all along. It amazes us that some will be readily to accept a tradition
started by the Jewish tradition
but they will ignore the Jew's examples of keeping the Torah/Law of YHWH.
How convenient.
"For two reasons the Committee has returned to the more familiar usage of the
King James Version: (1) the word "Jehovah" does not accurately present any form of the Name ever used in Hebrew; and..."
Comment: Notice how they conveniently forget to mention why they reject the name
"Yahweh" in their "reasons". They also support that
"Jehovah" is not the right name. How do they know that
"Jehovah" is not correct unless they know what
is correct?
"...(2) the use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other
gods from whom He had to be distinguished, was discontinued in Judaism before the
Christian era and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian
Church."
Comment: Who are they to decide what is appropriate for one's faith? Their job is to translate and transliterate, not decide what we are to believe. This statement is a sad commentary of how far some have gone from the Scriptures. Not only do they say why they have chosen to replace His Holy Name, YHWH, with a title of their choosing but they also state that "use of any proper name...is entirely inappropriate". Amazing. Who introduced the name of our Creator? Was it not YHWH Himself? Is YHWH also "entirely inappropriate" of placing His name in Scriptures way over 5000 times? Are they saying indeed that the One whom they claim to worship is "entirely inappropriate" for placing His name there? Why have a different substitution for the name "YHWH" in each language? Would it not be more "universal" to use one name, YHWH?
YHWH says through his prophet:
"For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles..." [Mal 1:11a]
Comment: Why have translators falsified our Creator's name?
New Open Bible (New King James Version) - Word study on Exodus 3:15
"Exodus 3 records one of the greatest revelations in the Old
Testament: the personal name of God. (The words translated God
in our Bible [El, Elohim, Eloah] are not names, but the standard vocabulary
for the Deity and even for false gods.
"God told Moses His plan to use him in delivering the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, and Moses had asked whom He should tell the people had sent him.
God answered Moses: "I AM WHO I AM." He told Moses to tell them the "I AM" had sent him, "the LORD God." "I AM" and "LORD" are both probably
derived from the Hebrew verb to be (hayah) because God is the ever-present One, "the Eternal" (Moffatt translation)."
"Many people are puzzled that in this and many other passages some Bibles read LORD in all capitals (e.g. KJV, NKJV, NIV), some read "Jehovah"
(e.g. ASV, DARBY), and some read "Yahweh" (Jerusalem Bible). Why such a radical
difference? Do the manuscripts vary that much? No, not at all."
"Because the name of God is so important---Jews devoutly refer to Him as "the Name"
(ha Shem) ---it is well worth exploring this revelation in some detail. It is merely a
question of a Jewish tradition and how various Christian Scholars handle that
tradition."
"In the Ten Commandments, God forbids taking His name "in vain". That is, we should
not bear false witness in oaths and probably should avoid using profanity, as well.
In their great fear of violating this command, devout Hebrews went beyond the
law, and when they read the Hebrew Scriptures aloud they would read the word Lord
(Adonai) whenever they saw the four letters (YHWH, or traditionally JHVH in Latin
pronunciation) that spelled out God's revealed covenant name. This was the sacred
name by which He had committed Himself to Israel as a nation."
"The most ancient copies of the Hebrew text were written in consonants only."
"As the language became less and less used, scholars (call Masoretes) added little dots and dashes called "vowel points" to indicate how the text was to be pronounced. Oddly enough, they put the vowels that go with the word Adonai together with the sacred four letter name (called "tetragrammaton") to guide the readers to say Adonai loud in synagogue services."
Comment: Now there is a worthy word study.
Even though they followed the NKJV traditions and forsook the idea of keeping
His Name in the text, whoever wrote this word study is very frank about what actually is taking place.
Their reference to "many passages", in actuality is over 5,000 of
them. About pronunciation, actually some of the Hebrew letters act as semi-vowels or vowel-letters, as any good book on Hebrew grammar will tell you.
"Jehovah" - This is the origin of the name "Jehovah". It is actually a hybrid name, combining the
vowels of Adonai with the consonants of YHWH into JeHoVaH or YeHoWaH (the "a" of Adonai is changed for reasons of Hebrew pronunciation). The people who
produced this name were medieval Christian Hebrew Scholars; the Jews never
acknowledged such a name. The defense of this Christian hybrid is the same as the
defense of the Jewish avoidance of pronouncing the name---tradition!"
Comment: No surprise there. (The "!"
after "tradition" was not added.)
"There are many lovely hymns and paraphrases of the Psalms that use this name,
so it would be a loss to eliminate it from our Christian vocabulary."
"The poetical form of Jehovah is Jah."
"Yahweh - It is very likely that the name was pronounced very much like
"Yahweh". Comparisons with transliterations of the name into other alphabets from very ancient times
confirm this. The best argument for the spelling is that it is probably the historically
accurate."
Comment: Thank you!
"However, the RSV's 1952 introduction explained its reason for rejecting "YHWH"
in the translation. It said that it lacks devotional qualities for English-speaking
Christians. It is true that many names beginning with "Y" seem odd to our culture
(all the names in English --- including Jesus---were pronounced with a Y sound, in the original, as in
"hallelu-Yah")."
Comment: Just totally amazing. Are you getting this?
"LORD - Most recent major English Bibles, dissatisfied with both Jehovah and
Yahweh, have retained the KJV's LORD (the 1901 text read Jehovah.)"
Comment: But more likely YHWH is certainly dissatisfied with them.
They have failed to take in account something very important and dear to
Him, His name.
The following is a summary of the excuses that they have used for their refusing
to insert the true name YHWH.
"It's used in most English versions."
"We're following an ancient tradition."
"The word "Jehovah" does not accurately present any form of the Name ever
used in Hebrew."
"Use of any proper name...is entirely inappropriate."
"It lacks devotional qualities."
Among all these reasons, is there not something missing here?
YES, it is something that they have gone over painstakingly word for word. Something called THE WORD OF YHWH. Not once did they quote a scripture to back up their excuses.
We have heard the excuses, now let's see what YHWH's word has to say about His
Name:
(all Scriptures from the RNKJV, (click
here to read the Restored Name King James Version online)
And call ye on the name of your elohim (god), and I will call on the name of YHWH: and the elohim that answereth by fire, let him be elohim. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. [1 Kings 18:24]
Now let us touch on something ironic here. If you have not read this story at Mount Carmel, go to your Scriptures and read it now. This is the prophet EliYah [Eli = my El, Yah = short form of YHWH; Yah is my EL (Mighty One)] speaking these words. He said "call ye on the name of your elohim, and I will call on the name YHWH". What was the name of their elohim? It was Baal. What is amazing here is that one of the meanings of the Hebrew word "Baal" is "lord"! What is sad is that the English translators retained the name and pronunciation (transliterated) of the god/idol "Baal" in Hebrew but rejected to transliterate the name of the true Mighty One of the Scriptures, YHWH.
Just consider the following verse, three verse prior to the one above. Notice how clear it is when the names and titles are restored to Hebrew instead of replacing them.
And EliYah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if YHWH be Elohim, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. [1 kings 18:21]
It would have been interesting if the English translators would translated ALL the words, and not translated some and transliterated others, and followed through with consistency with their replacement of names. The verse would have read:
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if "lord", then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. [1 kings 18:21]
It would have been confusing, would it not? That is why they had to come up with the idea of capitalizing the replacement names and titles in reference to YHWH. Understand that in the Hebrew manuscripts there is not such a thing as capitalizing YHWH's or any name.
Here is Brown's Driver/Briggs Lexicon on this Hebrew name of "Baal".
01168 Ba`al {bah'-al}
the same as 01167; TWOT - 262a
AV - Baal 62, Baalim 18; 80
Baal = "lord"
n pr m
1) supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites
2) a Reubenite
3) the son of Jehiel and grandfather of Saul
n pr loc
4) a town of Simeon, probably identical to Baalath-beer
YHWH continues:
I am YHWH: that is my name:
and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. [Isaiah 42:8]
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to
give glory unto my name, saith YHWH of hosts, I will even send a curse
upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already,
because ye do not lay it to heart. [Malachi 2:2]
O give thanks unto YHWH; call
upon his name: make known His deeds among the people. [Psalms 105:1]
I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and
will call upon the name of YHWH. [Psalms 116:17]
And in that day shall ye say, Praise YHWH, call
upon his name, declare His doings among the people, make
mention that his name is exalted.
[Isaiah 12:4]
And I will bring the third part through the
fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is
tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I
will say, It is my people: and they shall say, YHWH is my Elohim. [Zechariah 13:9]
In conclusion it is very evident that YHWH's name is important to Him but it apparently was not important to those who have translated His word throughout the centuries. Therefore we must make every effort when we see His name substituted in our Scriptures to restore them back as we read them. We cannot change what has already been done but we can zealously return and search for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Shalom.
