The Truth About The Father's Name
Mark Twain once wrote that "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." The wisdom of a father is an unmatched wealth of experience and advice.
It is interesting that people with devoted dads usually have an easy time relating to God the Father. "Daddy" is a title that lovingly describes relationship. Earthly fathers may be named Jerry or Tom, but does the Heavenly Father have a name? People sing "blessed be the name of the Lord" yet seldom know the identity of this blessed name. The Son's name is clear and many are familiar with the Holy Spirit. What about the Father?
A careful reading of Exodus 3 reveals more than just the story of a burning bush. Here, one can learn the true name of the Father. At the burning bush, Moses learns that the Almighty wants to use him to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. It's been many years since Moses left Egypt and he's doubtful the people will even accept him as the legitimate deliverer sent from above. For the people to follow him, Moses needs a miracle. He needs a higher authority to vouch for him.
Here on Mt. Horeb the Almighty passes before Moses and "the LORD said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." Here in Exodus 3:15 the LORD reveals His name as the four Hebrew lettered tetragramatron yod-hey-vav-hey or "YHWH." Some pronounce this name as "Yahweh" or "Yahuah."
Throughout the Bible, YHWH is used over 6,000 times exclusively as the name of the Father. This name is usually explained in the preface or introduction of most Bibles and hidden behind translator's techniques. The King James Version capitalizes the words "LORD" or "GOD" in an effort to alert the reader that "YHWH" is the Hebrew word behind the English. The KJV sometimes uses the poetic form of "Jah" to reference the mighty name of YHWH. This can be seen in Psalm 68:4. YHWH says emphatically in Exodus 3 that "this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." This name was not intended to be hidden by scribes and translators; rather YHWH Himself gave it to man as a sign of His existence and as a means of personal relationship.
Traditionally, this name is not used by observant Jewish people as many believe the name is too holy to be uttered. Judaism has replaced the sacred name with "Adonai" or "HaShem." Christianity as well has ignored the name of YHWH by substituting generic terms like "God" in English or "Dios" in Spanish. These words are not specific to the deity of the Bible and can easily reference Allah or Buddha. Using such replacement terms is in direct opposition to Isaiah 42:8 which states, ""I am YHWH, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another."
One can say the true name of YHWH in prayer, praise, study, and witnessing. By using the Sacred Name a believer can experience the power of spiritual intimacy. The Father's name is not God or Billy Bob, it is "YHWH."
By Daniel Randleman at Emet (truth) Ministries
Mark Twain once wrote that "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." The wisdom of a father is an unmatched wealth of experience and advice.
It is interesting that people with devoted dads usually have an easy time relating to God the Father. "Daddy" is a title that lovingly describes relationship. Earthly fathers may be named Jerry or Tom, but does the Heavenly Father have a name? People sing "blessed be the name of the Lord" yet seldom know the identity of this blessed name. The Son's name is clear and many are familiar with the Holy Spirit. What about the Father?
A careful reading of Exodus 3 reveals more than just the story of a burning bush. Here, one can learn the true name of the Father. At the burning bush, Moses learns that the Almighty wants to use him to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. It's been many years since Moses left Egypt and he's doubtful the people will even accept him as the legitimate deliverer sent from above. For the people to follow him, Moses needs a miracle. He needs a higher authority to vouch for him.
Here on Mt. Horeb the Almighty passes before Moses and "the LORD said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." Here in Exodus 3:15 the LORD reveals His name as the four Hebrew lettered tetragramatron yod-hey-vav-hey or "YHWH." Some pronounce this name as "Yahweh" or "Yahuah."
Throughout the Bible, YHWH is used over 6,000 times exclusively as the name of the Father. This name is usually explained in the preface or introduction of most Bibles and hidden behind translator's techniques. The King James Version capitalizes the words "LORD" or "GOD" in an effort to alert the reader that "YHWH" is the Hebrew word behind the English. The KJV sometimes uses the poetic form of "Jah" to reference the mighty name of YHWH. This can be seen in Psalm 68:4. YHWH says emphatically in Exodus 3 that "this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." This name was not intended to be hidden by scribes and translators; rather YHWH Himself gave it to man as a sign of His existence and as a means of personal relationship.
Traditionally, this name is not used by observant Jewish people as many believe the name is too holy to be uttered. Judaism has replaced the sacred name with "Adonai" or "HaShem." Christianity as well has ignored the name of YHWH by substituting generic terms like "God" in English or "Dios" in Spanish. These words are not specific to the deity of the Bible and can easily reference Allah or Buddha. Using such replacement terms is in direct opposition to Isaiah 42:8 which states, ""I am YHWH, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another."
One can say the true name of YHWH in prayer, praise, study, and witnessing. By using the Sacred Name a believer can experience the power of spiritual intimacy. The Father's name is not God or Billy Bob, it is "YHWH."
By Daniel Randleman at Emet (truth) Ministries
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