Hebrew Word Study – The Name – Hashem השם Hei Shin Mem
Genesis 3:13-14: “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? (14) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
As a Hebrew teacher, I am often criticized by some Christians for not using the proper name for God which they say is YHWH. If you will look closely at the word YHWH you will notice a problem with this word when it comes to putting it into an audible voice. There are no vowels and it is impossible to speak a word without a vowel. So, I would like to respond by asking; “Well, how do you pronounce His name? Do you say Yahoah, Yehoah, Yihoah, Yahoeh, Yehoeh etc. There are many possible combinations to the pronunciation. The usual response I get is that there is some Dr. so and so who has done an extensive study on this and he knows the proper pronunciation of YHWH. Until you show me that study, I will just relegate that little bit of knowledge to urban legend. Scholars for sake of clarity have agreed to refer to YHWH as yahway just so they can pronounce it with understanding among themselves. None will say that it is absolutely the correct pronunciation.
These enlightened Christians persist saying it is insulting God to use the name Jehovah when His name is really YHWH and then they add: “How do you feel when someone mispronounces your name? Do you not feel insulted?” My response to that is a simple “No, I don’t” People mispronounce my name all the time it doesn’t bother me. If they say mispronounce my name to mock me, then yes that bothers me. I hardly think the bulk of Christianity who call him Jehovah are mocking Him. Jehovah is simply an attempt to pronounce YHWH. They simply take the vowels from the word Adonai (Lord) and put them with YHWH. Ok, so they use a “J” rather than a “Y” but if you criticize that then I personally would consider your pride over how enlightenment and studied you are is a greater sin than the misuse of a letter.
But, let’s take this a step back even further. Does God really have a name? To name something is to describe and define it. But is not God indescribable and undefinable? In essence, God has no name. He is infinite and cannot be given any titles or descriptions. Only in light of creation and God becoming involved with His own thought of a physical world and descending within it creating a relationship with us can he assume a description. But He only has names or descriptions of various behavioral patterns that would be ascribed to His influence in our lives. Such descriptions would be Creator, Judge, the Merciful one, etc. In other words, each name is a different manner in which we experience God’s presence in our lives. In the Midrash Exodus 3:6, we read: “You want to know My Name? I am called according to my actions.”
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
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In Exodus 3 Moses asks God what he should tell the people if they ask for God’s name. The word name in Hebrew is shem which means the type of behavior one sees in someone. The significance of Moses’s question is; “How do I respond if they say: ‘If God had has seen the suffering of His people in Egypt, has heard their cries and knows their pain there where has He been for the last eighty-six years when we have been suffering under this tyrant in Egypt? What name is He now assuming?” Note God does not say YHWH but “Eheyeh ‘asher Eheyeh – “I am that I am” YHWH which means I am, I was and I will be. But God tells Moses to say that ‘Eheyeh has sent Him. This name identifies Himself to Moses and to Israel and the one who is the assumption of Being and Existence.
But God is also identified as Havayah which is showing His assumption of compassion. He is also identified as Elohim which describes His assumption of justice. These are not names like you sign on a check or to ratify a document as we use names today they are only descriptions of Divine Attributes.
In Classic Judaism we have ten divine names.
- Ketter Desire
- Chochman Wisdom
- Binah Understanding
- Chessed Kindness
- Gevurah Mighty
- Tifferet Compassion
- Netzach Victory
- Hod Glory
- Yesod Foundation
- Malchut Royalty.
I know, they are not the names are familiar with and have tattooed on your arm, but don’t remove the tattoo as there are many other descriptions of God such as Jehovah Jireh- God is my provider – Jehovah Rapha, God is my healer, and El Elyon – Most High God to name just a few.
If we are talking names of God he either has no name or many names, but not just one name. You cannot assign just one name to the Almighty God of the Universe (which is just another name).
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Once read a commentary where was listed 600 names or reference to the attributes of G-D I’ll just call Him G-D like I called my father Dad!!!🙌
I like the name Yahweh. Don’t care that everyone else wants to use another name or description. To me, the LORD is a title and not the person Yahweh really is. I’m not a scholar nor do I care to argue about such things. Yahweh speaks to me of the heart and person of God, the One I commune with. Not disagreeing with anyone here, just sharing my personal take after 50 years of being a follower of Yahweh/Yeshua. Praise Yahweh! (or whatever name works for you)
Yod, Hey,Vav,Hey: “YHVH/YaHuAh: is “short ” for : the absolute Essence as in the ( only) Creator/ “the Almighty (One).”
Excellent word study Chaim. Our God indeed is greater than His name and yet our Awesome God in three persons trinity relates to our personal and individual needs through the magnificent and electrifying names as He reveals to us in the scriptures. As scripture keeps unfolding we behold our Loving Merciful and just and God of judgment and punishment for the wicked rejecting and refusing Gods only provision for our sin debt His appointed Messiah Jesus! Gods redemption story revealed to us through His actions and His names!
But He only has names or descriptions of various behavioral patterns that would be ascribed to His influence in our lives.
As I ponder the attributes of God that moves like the wind or personifies Himself in a manner that soothes my inner turmoil, I think of Love. John tried to personify it in John 10 as the Good Shepherd. I am thankful He is the I AM in my life as Good.
Dear Brother Chaim, Today is tuesday the 22nd of 2022. As I was reading from your book Aramaic Word Study, let your corner light shine: I realized that out of all the people I hear preach and teach, you were the First and only teacher who teaches Aramaic and make it simple enough even for me! Now when I get commercials for the hebrew language like on youtube, I have No desire to get caught up in them. I see Abba’s flame burning brighter and brighter like a backdraft in a fire. Thank you for all the prayer and study time(and I know it is a LOT) you put into these words of Jesus. One day when we are talking in heaven, maybe you could tell me why it seems the Jews completely ignore aramaic?
Thank you
The text is mistaken sir. Exodus 3 not Genesis 3.
Thank you for this exposition. I have sometime ago taught that the name YHWH is not actual name but a description.
Respectfully Chaim Bentorah, there’s a typo when Genesis chapter 3 was given instead of Exodus chapter 3.
Proverbs 30:4 “ Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name and what is his sons name, surely you know!”
Isaiah 52:6a “ Therefore My people will know My name;…”
Psalm 68:4 “ Sing to God! Sing praises to His name.
Exalt Him who rides on the clouds—
His name is IAH! And rejoice before Him”
IsaIAH- salvation is IAH
JeremIAH- appointed by IAH
HezekIAH- IAH gives strength
IAHSHA- IAH Saves or Salvation
Hallelu IAH!
Exodus 3:14. “ And God said to Moses, “AHIAH ashar AHIAH” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘AHIAH has sent me to you”
The original Aramaic in Hebrew had no letter “ Y “
, it was an “ I “
This is before any Vowel points were added to make the person read what they wanted them to read , hiding the name!
Letter letter “J” used in Jesus and Jehovah did not come into existence in until the 1600’s
If we do not believe His name is important, why did he give us the third commandment telling us not to bring it to nothing. The easiest way to bring it to nothing is not using it when we pray and read the Bible or using another title or name.
And there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved except the true Hebrew/Arabic name of IAHSHA. We are to praise, love, revere, fear, trust his name!
Exodus 23:13. .”And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.
So why would we continue to use the word “god” derived from me teutonic pagan idols name got/gott. The title “lord” from the mid- 13th century
Derive from the medieval ‘ Ward of the loaf‘ and a title give them to Paul McCartney and Elton John?
There is so much more to say. Blessings to you and your family! Shalom.
I think our relationship has a lot to do with a name we give to another. I give my coworkers pet names like Whack A Mole, Lead Foot, Teddy Bear, Johnny P, etc. When I speak of the One who sent Moses I use my buddy name “Hey God” what’s up today, or God you are amazing why didn’t I think of that. Expression and emotion goes a long way in relationships. So I would say God is just my everyday buddy name for my best friend. Great word study Chaim!
Irene, our God and Lord is known through His Triune being. I think not dismissing the trinity. Our salvation is predicated on the Trinitarian belief that is not an addition. It is indeed biblical Christianity! Never dismiss the trinity otherwise you no longer have biblical Christianity. The triune God all have roles and purposes to play in each believers salvation.
So that dismisses trinity
Thank you for sharing
Sir,shalom,What about the name of Jesus,there is no other name that is given under heaven by which men can b,,is it not a greater revelation of the His name?
This brought me immense clarity.
Thank you
Love this. I fully agree with you. I recently had a Christian demand we should not call the Lord, ‘ Jesus’ but we should call Him exactly the name the Father gave Him Yeshua. I disagreed. I’m not Jewish and although I do often say Yeshua and have many beautiful messianic songs of praise, I still use the name of Jesus just as much.
We too can have many names such nicknames from close friends, we can often have acquaintances that have different culture and language that mispronounce our name and we never get offended.
We find it so heart melting when young toddlers in the family mispronounce our name and I truly believe God the Father feels the same with us; His children.
Christians can so easily slip into religion and forget Who God truly is.
Christians are already in a religion…. “lol”
Would it be correct to that God has titles but not names?
Shalom Chaim, thank-you for your excellent commentary. To reiterate using “Hashem” for G-d, I urge all believers in Jesus/Yeshua to not offend religious Jews by trying to pronounce “YHWH” as Yahway or Jehovah, but instead call him “Hashem” (The Name) out of reverence and respect.
Apostle Paul and Timothy confirmed this also about Jesus/Yeshua, by calling Him “The Name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9ff; see also Acts 4:12).
Though the Semitic language did not use vowels, phonetic pronunciations of words varied. For example, in the Semitic language the consonants “TRR” (read right to left as “RRT”) were pronounced by the ancient Hebrews as “ARaRaT” (biblical Ararat) and as “URaRTu” by the ancient peoples in what became ancient Armenia. As you likely know, until 1922, Mt. Ararat was part of historic Armenia for many centuries and continues to be the Republic of Armenia’s national symbol.