Yahweh

Sometimes this name is spelt as Jehovah. There are two reasons for the alternatives. One is that Hebrew words only contain consonants and the vowel sounds are provided by the speaker. The consonants are YHWH. In Yahweh, two vowels have been inserted and in Jehovah three vowels have been inserted. For many centuries, the Jews refused to pronounce this name, usually substituting another word for Lord in its place. This has resulted in no one knowing for certain how to pronounce this divine name, although scholars believe that Yahweh is the most likely.

What does this name mean? It points to God as the self-existent Lord who brings everything else into existence. So he is the source of life. In addition, this name focuses on his transcendence, the fact that he is infinitely above his creation. It was by this name that he introduced himself to Moses in Exodus 3:15. Yet although he is so great, he informed Moses that he intended to be with his people, to have an ongoing relationship with them. Yahweh is therefore the God of the covenant who makes demands of his people and makes promises to them.

Connected to those details about Yahweh is that he does not change in his character. He is the same constantly. This is not surprising because he cannot improve. He is completely perfect, unable to increase in his infinite attributes. If he could do so, it would mean that he is not perfect at the moment. This is why we know that he is totally faithful to his promises, each of which is located within his covenant arrangement. But he is also faithful to his warnings.

The name Jesus is the English rendering of the Greek translation of Yeshua, which means Yahweh the Saviour. Jesus is Yahweh, the self-existent Creator, the Source of life, the transcendent Son, the One who will be with his people forever. He became a man in order to bring salvation to us. As our Saviour and Lord, he requires us to trust in him, obey his commands and experience his promises.