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"MY HOLY NAME"
'Do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your God. I am YHWH' (YaHWeH).
(Lev 19:12)
His Holy Name Ignored!
By your servant, Dan Baxley
www.servantsofyahshua.com
www.yahshuaservant.com
Email: [email protected]
Why is the Divine Name of our God ignored? It is found in certain translation, like
the Jerusalem Bible, but ignore by nearly every other translation. Is it
important? Should we be concerned? What about our Savior's Name? When
considering verses like Acts 4:12 shouldn't we be concerned?
The name has not been lost – His Holy Name has been ignored! But not for long!
It seems right to go to some of the expert sources in regard to the use and abuse, or
lack of use, of the Holy Name of our Creator, and the Name given to our Savior at
His birth. By going to the source of “excuses” containing the reasoning for non-
use of so important an Identity it is my hope you will be supplied with the material
you need and may quote from as authority from the translators themselves. You
may not like some of the material quoted, as if they had any authority in the first
place, but the singleness of mind can be seen from one to the other and in this we
do see a kind of "inspiration", but not from our Heavenly Father.
Why would He want to erase the Name of His son? He wouldn't of course, but
there is another that would. Why would He allow it? I don't have all the answers
but anyone taking his or her bible study serious will soon discover He has not
hidden His Name and ther are well over 7000 references to His and the Name of
His son, it has been the translators that has substituted a different name or title
under the inspiration of another. We are children of the light, not of the darkness,
and it is for us to uncover His Divine Name, a certain "key" to helping unlock
some of the hard things to be understood. This would be my guess as to why our
Creator and Savior has allowed this covering up, to keep certain understanding of
scripture in the shadows until we approach the end of the ages -- this, of course, is
only my guess.
It is my pleasure to present to you the reasoning given by the translators for
hiding, substitution, ignoring, and ultimately profaning the Holy Name of our
Creator. This, then, leads to the covering up of our Saviors Name, a Name by
which we must be “saved”. Uncover the Divine Name of the God of the Old
Testament and you will easily uncover the Name of the Savior, and Name
proclaiming salvation. Please consider the following material carefully.
* * *
New International Version (NIV) 1985 – Preface, xii, 5th paragraph: “In regard
to the divine name YHWH, commonly referred to as the Tetragrammaton,
the translators adopted the device used in most English versions of
rendering the name as “LORD” in capital letters to distinguish it from
Adonai, another Hebrew word rendered “lord”, for which small letters are
used. Wherever the two names stand together in the Old Testament as a
compound name of God, they are rendered “Sovereign LORD”
“Because for most readers today the phrase “the LORD of hosts” and
“God of hosts” have little meaning, this version renders them “the LORD
Almighty” and “God Almighty.”
Insight on the Scriptures – Volume 2, Correct Pronunciation of the Divine
Name – “Jehovah’ is the best known English pronunciation of the divine
name, although “Yahweh” is favored by most Hebrew Scholars. The oldest
Hebrew manuscripts present the name in the form of four consonants,
commonly call the Tetragrammaton (from Greek te-tra-, meaning “four,”
and gram’ma, “letter”). These four letters (written from right to left) are
and may be transliterated into English as YHWH (or, JHVH)
(note: and this if from a Jehovah’s Witness source book – they are a witness against
themselves)
The New Jerusalem Bible – 1984 – General Editor’s Forward – “It has
seemed wise to retain the spelling of the proper names traditional in
English-speaking lands. Many names in biblical Hebrew have a meaning:
for instance ‘Adonijah’ means ‘My Lord is Yah” (Yahweh). Others are
given a meaning by a more or less forced pun. Many of these meanings are
given in the footnotes. In the rendering of Hebrew words in the footnotes,
etc., a more modern system of transliteration is , however, used, thus
enabling the reader to come closer to the original sounds. This is often
important for onomatopoeia and to understand how textual corruption has
occurred.”
(Note: onomatopoeia – “the formation of a word by imitating the natural
sound associated with the object of action involved; echoism.” – Webster’s
New World Dictionary) also (The formation or use of words such as
buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or
actions they refer to.[Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from
onomatopoios, coiner of names : onoma, onomat-, name -- American
Heritage Talking Dictionary) This is pronounced as follows -- on - o -
mat - o - pe - yah)
The Bible Speaks of His Holy Name: “MY HOLY NAME”!
Ezekiel 36:21 But I had pity for My Holy Name, which the house of Israel had
profaned among the nations where they went. (My note: "profaned", that is made
“useless”, made of non-effect, discarded, abused by neglect under the guise of
holiness)
Ezekiel 39:7 And I will make My Holy Name known in the midst of My people
Israel. And I will not let them profane My Holy Name any more. And the nations
shall know that I am LORD (YHWH), the Holy One in Israel. (My note: this is
after the “restoration” of Israel’s physical resurrection. By “restoring" The Name
in (brackets ( ) )you will see how the translators used substitution, not translation
nor transliteration abandoning all rules governing the "phonetics" of a word or
Name – to make it sound as it originally does in another language – reproducing
that sound in another language. The term LORD in no way sounds like or comes
close to defining our Creator.
Ezekiel 20:39 And you, O house of Israel, so says the Lord Jehovah (YHWH):
Every man go and serve his idols, and do so from now on if you will not listen to
Me. But never again defile My Holy Name with your gifts and with your idols.
(Ezekiel 36:2) So says the Lord (YHWH): Because the enemy has said against you,
Aha! Even the old high places have become a possession to us.
(Ezekiel 39:25) Therefore so says the Lord (YHWH): And I will return the
captivity of Jacob, and will have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and will be
jealous for My Holy Name;
(Ezekiel 43:8) In their setting of their doorstep by My threshold, and their
doorpost by My doorpost; and the wall between Me and them, they have even
defiled My Holy Name by their abominations which they have done. And I have
consumed them in My anger.
(Psalms 33:21) For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we trust in His Holy
Name.
(Psalms 105:3) Glory in His Holy Name; let the heart of those who seek Jehovah
(YHWH) rejoice.
(Psalms 106:47) Save us, O Jehovah (O' YHWH) our God, and gather us from
among the nations, to give thanks to Your Holy Name and to triumph in Your
praise.
(Psalms 145:21) My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah (YHWH); and let all
flesh bless His Holy Name forever and ever.
(Ezekiel 36:22) Therefore say to the house of Israel, So says the Lord Jehovah
(YHWH): I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's
sake, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
(Psalms 106:8) Nevertheless he saved them for His Name's sake, that He might
make His mighty power to be known.
(Psalms 148:13) Let them praise the name of the LORD (YHWH): for his name
alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
* * *
The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text, 1965 – Preface, page vi –
“Personal pronouns referring to Deity have been capitalized. As an aid to
clearness direct discourse has been indicated by quotations marks. In the
prophetical writings, where the speech of the prophet imperceptibly glides into the
words of the Deity, and in the legal portions of the Pentateuch, it has been thought
best to use quotation marks sparingly. Although the spelling of proper names in
the English Bible in many instances deviates somewhat from an accurate
representation of the Hebrew, it has nevertheless been deemed wise, owing to the
familiarity of Hebrew names in their usual English form, generally to retain the
current spelling. (This preface is dated September 27, 1916) TANAKH The Holy Scriptures (“The Jewish Bible”) 1985 – Exodus 3:15 concerning the use of “The
LORD, the God of your fathers” -- note c – “The name YHWH (traditionally read Adonai “the LORD”)
is here associated with the root hayah “to be” (note: The Tanakh makes no mention of the usage of the Tetragrammaton in its “Preface” but it
can be seen from the note concerning the Name being revealed to Moses is “YHWH” and that
they reproduce this name in their translation as “LORD”, as do virtually all English
translations. In the original Hebrew they use the substitute, “Adonai” which is the equivalent of
the title “Lord”. By their translation they continue to follow the same tradition of “profaning”
the Name by substitution – making it of little use by lack of use)
What happens when the two forms of our Creator’s Name come together?
Example: YaH YaHweh (YH YHWH). Following the Christian translators
example (already quoted) it would be rendered, “LORD Almighty”, or “Almighty
LORD”. The following Scriptural quote is from The Jewish Publication Society’s,
TANAKH The Holy Scriptures and is an example of how the Jewish translators
handled this occurrence:
Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD for ever and ever, For in Yah the LORD (YHWH) you have an
everlasting Rock. (my note: YH YHWH, is rendered Yah the LORD, or Yah the YHWH.
Following the example of the Christian translators as the Christian translators follow the Jewish
scribes use of Adonai, or “Lord” in place of His Holy Name. We see each pointing the finger at
the others before them – the excuse – “We are only following the traditions of those before us, of
our fathers, they say)
* * *
New Century Version 1993 – Preface, xviii – “Following the tradition of other English version,
the New Century Version indicates the divine name YHWH, the Tetragrammaton, by putting LORD, and
sometimes GOD, in capital letters. This is to distinguish it from Adonai, another Hebrew word that is
translated Lord.” (Isaiah 47:4) As for Our Redeemer, the LORD (YHWH) is His name, the Holy One of Israel.
(Exodus 3:15) God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD (YHWH), the God of
your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.'
This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to
generation.
(Exodus 6:3) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God
Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH (YHWH) was I not known to them. KJV
(note: KJV Bibles have a notation in the center reference column: “Heb. YHWH, and referred to
by Hebrews as Adonay, that is, the LORD”)
New American Standard Bible, Preface (ix), Principles of Translation – “The Proper Name of
God in the Old Testament: In the scriptures, the name of God is most significant and understandably so.
It is inconceivable to think of spiritual matters without a proper designation for the Supreme Deity. Thus
the most common name for deity is God, a translation of the Hebrew Elohim The normal word for Master
is Lord, a rendering of Adonai. There is yet another name which is particularly assigned to God as His
special or proper name, that is, the four letters YHWH (Exodus 3:14 and Isaiah 42:8) This name has not
been pronounced by the Jews because of reverence for the great sacredness of the divine name.
Therefore, it was consistently pronounced and translated LORD. The only exception to this translation of
YHWH is when it occurs in immediate proximity to the word Lord, that is Adonai. In that case it is
regularly translated GOD in order to avoid confusion.” (Isaiah 42:8) I am the LORD (YHWH): that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither
my praise to graven images.
New Living Translation 1996, Introduction to – The Rendering of Divine Names: “ All
appearances of ‘el, ‘elohim or ‘eloah have been translated “God,” except where the context
demands the translation “god(s).” We have rendered the tetragrammaton (YHWH) consistently
as “the LORD,” utilizing a form with small capitals that is common among English translations.
This also distinguishes it from the name ‘adonai, which we render “Lord.” When ‘adonai and
YHWH appear in conjunction, we have rendered it “Sovereign LORD.” This also distinguishes
‘;adonai YHWH from cases where YHWH appears with ‘elohim, which is rendered LORD
GOD.” When YH (the short form of YHWH) and YHWH appear together, we have rendered it
“LORD GOD.” The Hebrew word ‘adon is rendered “lord,” or “master,” or sometimes “sir.”
* * *
We see the various translations witnessing against themselves in following the
Jewish practice of substitution. It is interesting to note from the remark in the
Preface of the Masoretic Bible that due to the familiarity of the English renderings
of the divine names to continue this practice, using the English translators as their
excuse to doing the same – something they had been doing all along – following
the English translators example? Really? No, they had been practicing this art of
“cover-up” for centuries.
Let us reason: First, the religious leaders of the Hebrews refuse to use the
Name of their God, saying it is too sacred to pronounce so they substitute a
“title”. The Gentiles of the English speaking world follow suit using they
substitute the title, Adonai, translated “Lord” or “LORD” in place of the
divine Name of the Creator God. Then the Jewish (Hebrew) scholars point
the finger at the Gentile English translators and say they are only following
their practice.
Second, if the Gentile scholars have turned the divine name into another
name, “LORD”, and name no mistake, they do indeed call this a name, then
they all, Jews and Gentile scholars are pronouncing the name God. Put
another way, if the divine name has been discarded (profaned, treated as
worthless, abandoned, and mistreated) for another name, then they have
made a name for themselves that would then be divine. Not that it would
truly be divine but by their very nature of usage would have substituted
another name and if this is to refer to the Creator of all things than it too
must be sacred.
(Jeremiah 16:21) Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause
them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD
(YHWH).
The New Oxford Annotated Bible, and New Revised Standard Version 1994 – To
the Reader (xiii) – “Careful readers will notice that here and there in the Old Testament the word
LORD (or in certain cases GOD) is printed in capital letters. This represents the traditional
manner in English versions of rendering the Divine Name, the “Tetragrammaton” , following the
precedent of the ancient Greek and Latin translators and the long established practice in the
reading of the Hebrew Scriptures in the synagogue. 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 sounds to the consonantal Hebrew text. To the four consonants YHWH
of the Name, which had come to be regarded as too sacred to be pronounced, they attached the
vowel signs indicating that in its place should be read the Hebrew word Adonai meaning “Lord”
(or Elohim meaning “God”). Ancient Greek translators employed the word Kyrios (“Lord”) for
the Name. The Vulgate likewise used the Latin word Dominus (“Lord”). 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 abut belonging to an entirely different word. Although the
American Standard Version (1901) had used “Jehovah” to render the Tetragrammaton (the sound
of Y being represented by J and the sound of W by V, as in Latin), for two reasons the
Committees that produced the RSV and the NRSV returned to the more familiar usage of the
King James Version. (1) The word “Jehovah” does not accurately represent any form of the
Name ever used in Hebrew. (2) The use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though
there were other gods from whom the true God had to be distinguished, began to be discontinued
in Judaism before the Christian era and is inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian
Church” (Psalms 105:1) O give thanks unto the LORD (YHWH); call upon his name: make known his deeds
among the people.
(Isaiah 12:4) And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD (YHWH), call upon his name, declare his
doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
“Call upon His Name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that
His Name is exalted”
Do we see this today? Do the preachers of Christianity do this today? How about
the Jewish religion, are they doing this? Remember, this was addressed to them
specifically but instead of “exulting His Name” they spend a lot of time hiding it,
profaning it by lack of use, making it useless by not using it. And the Christians,
what about them? Certainly we see many teaching about the Creation and
speaking of the Bible and of the God of the Bible but virtually no one in the
Christian community are calling upon His Name, let alone “making mention of His
Name” – no the vast majority of the Christian Community around the world call on
“another name”, a name that is not His, believing the lie. But don’t worry --
YaHshua is going to make His Name Great. Our Heavenly Father has glorified
His name in our Savior YaHshua and will glorify it again. John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. Ezekiel 12:15 And they shall know that I am the LORD (YHWH), when I shall scatter them among the
nations, and disperse them in the countries. KJV Ezekiel 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them
pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD (YHWH), the Holy One
in Israel. KJV
Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give
my glory unto another.
A time is coming when He will “glorify” His Name again. There is much more to
say on this subject and deserves a separate study. For now I would like to present
another source concerning the misuse, and abuse, the profaning, if you will, of His
Holy Name. This next source is from a recognized scholar in biblical language and
I would venture to say that nearly every scholar in the business of bible translation
will have this translation in their library as well as many ministers, preachers and
teacher.
email: dan@ servantsofyahshua.com or [email protected] at
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The Emphasized Bible, by Joseph Bryant Rotherham, 1974 -- Introduction, pages
22 - 24 ---