YHWH (Hebrew: ٰ�ո�) is the sacred four-letter name of God, known as the Tetragrammaton (Greek: “four letters”). This is the most holy and personal name by which God reveals Himself in covenant relationship with His people. With 449 occurrences in Torah and 6,828 in the entire Hebrew Bible, it represents the foundational revelation of divine character.

Etymology and Meaning

Derivation from “To Be”

YHWH is likely derived from the Hebrew root hayah (Ըٸ�), meaning “to be” or “to exist”:

  • First person: Ehyeh (“I Am”) - God’s self-description
  • Third person: YHWH (“He Is/He Causes to Be”) - Human reference to God
  • Causative meaning: “He who brings into being” or “He causes to be”

The Burning Bush Revelation (Exo 3#13-15)

The definitive explanation comes from God’s revelation to Moses:

“Moses said to Elohim, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ Elohim said to Moses, ‘Ehyeh asher Ehyeh’ [I Am who I Am]. And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “Ehyeh has sent me to you.”’ Elohim also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.’”

Theological Significance

Divine Self-Existence

YHWH reveals God’s absolute existence and independence:

  • Self-sustaining being: God exists by His own nature
  • Eternal existence: Without beginning or end
  • Immutable nature: Unchanging in character and purposes
  • Source of all being: The ground of existence for all creation

Covenant Faithfulness

YHWH is the covenant name emphasizing relational commitment:

  • Personal relationship: God makes Himself known intimately
  • Covenant loyalty: Faithful to promises across generations
  • Redemptive character: The God who saves and delivers
  • Exclusive relationship: Israel’s unique covenant partner

Divine Attributes Revealed Through YHWH

Mercy and Justice (Exo 34#6-7)

The famous “thirteen attributes” revelation:

“YHWH, YHWH, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…”

Holiness and Otherness

  • Transcendent: Above and beyond creation
  • Holy: Completely separate from sin and evil
  • Awesome: Inspiring reverent fear and worship

Immanence and Presence

  • Dwelling with people: Tabernacle/Temple presence
  • Active in history: Intervening in human affairs
  • Accessible: Available to those who seek Him

Pronunciation and Tradition

Jewish Tradition

In Jewish practice, YHWH is considered too sacred to pronounce:

  • Substitute reading: “Adonai” (My Lord) when reading Scripture
  • Written forms: Often written as “G-d” or represented with dots
  • Oral tradition: Original pronunciation preserved in some traditions
  • Modern usage: “HaShem” (The Name) in everyday speech

Scholarly Consensus

Biblical scholarship generally accepts “Yahweh” as the original pronunciation based on:

  • Ancient transliterations: Greek and Latin sources
  • Comparative linguistics: Related Semitic languages
  • Theophoric names: Biblical names incorporating YHWH
  • Historical evidence: Early church fathers’ testimonies

Christian Practice

Christian traditions vary in handling the divine name:

  • Traditional: “LORD” (small capitals) in most translations
  • Sacred Name movement: Advocates using “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”
  • Liturgical sensitivity: Increasing awareness of Jewish sensibilities

Biblical Usage Patterns

Literary Distribution

YHWH appears throughout Torah with significant patterns:

  • Genesis: 165 times, establishing covenant relationship
  • Exodus: 398 times, demonstrating saving power
  • Leviticus: 311 times, emphasizing holiness and law
  • Numbers: 396 times, showing faithfulness in wilderness
  • Deuteronomy: 548 times, renewing covenant promises

Contextual Usage

Creation and Providence (Gen 2#4)

First appearance in context of creation’s completion and divine rest.

Covenant Promises (Gen 12#1, Gen 15#1)

YHWH makes and confirms promises to Abraham.

Deliverance and Salvation (Exo 6#6-8)

The Exodus reveals YHWH as redeemer and savior.

Law and Holiness (Lev 19#2)

YHWH gives law and calls people to holiness.

Worship and Sacrifice (Lev 1#1)

YHWH establishes acceptable worship.

Compound Forms

YHWH frequently appears in combination with other divine titles:

YHWH Elohim (ٰ�ո� бܹԴ��)

“YHWH God” - Combining personal and universal aspects

YHWH Sabaoth (ٰ�ո� �Ѹ�չ�)

“YHWH of Hosts” - God as commander of heavenly armies

YHWH Jireh (ٰ�ո� ٴ�ж�)

“YHWH will provide” - (Abraham‘s designation after ram provision)

YHWH Nissi (ٰ�ո� �ᴼ�)

“YHWH is my banner” - (Moses’ altar name after Amalek victory)

Cross-References

  • Ehyeh - “I Am” - God’s self-designation at burning bush
  • Elohim - Generic term for God, often paired with YHWH
  • Adonai - “My Lord” - Traditional substitute for YHWH
  • El Shaddai - “God Almighty” - Patriarchal name revealed to become YHWH

Key Revelations

  • Burning Bush (Exo 3) - Initial revelation to Moses
  • Sinai Theophany (Exo 19-20) - Covenant law-giving
  • Golden Calf Aftermath (Exo 34) - Mercy and justice attributes
  • Tabernacle Glory (Exo 40) - Divine presence dwelling

Covenant Partners

  • Abraham - Covenant establishment
  • Isaac - Covenant confirmation
  • Jacob - Covenant continuation
  • Moses - Covenant law-giving
  • Israel - Covenant people

Theological Themes

Textual and Archaeological Evidence

Ancient Inscriptions

  • Mesha Stele (840 BCE) - Early extra-biblical reference
  • Arad Ostraca - Hebrew inscriptions with YHWH
  • Lachish Letters - Pre-exilic Hebrew correspondence

Manuscript Tradition

  • Masoretic Text - Careful preservation with vowel points
  • Dead Sea Scrolls - Ancient Hebrew manuscripts
  • Septuagint - Greek translation using Kyrios (Lord)

Modern Relevance

Theological Implications

YHWH reveals fundamental truths about God’s nature:

  • Personal deity: God is not impersonal force but relational being
  • Covenant faithfulness: Reliable across time and circumstance
  • Moral character: Perfect in justice, mercy, and truth
  • Exclusive worship: Deserves undivided loyalty and devotion

Practical Applications

  • Trust in divine faithfulness: YHWH keeps promises
  • Reverence in worship: Sacred name demands proper honor
  • Confidence in salvation: The God who delivered Israel saves today
  • Holiness in living: Called to reflect divine character

Interfaith Sensitivity

Modern usage requires awareness of:

  • Jewish reverence for the sacred name
  • Christian translation traditions
  • Academic scholarly conventions
  • Respectful interfaith dialogue

YHWH stands as the supreme revelation of God’s character - the eternal, self-existent, covenant-keeping God who makes Himself known personally to His people while remaining transcendently holy and absolutely faithful.