There is much confusion and uncertainty about how to pronounce the Most High’s Sacred Name YHWH (because that is the way the enemy wants it). Read how the Sacred Name was covered up and therefore the pronunciation of it.

Like others who went looking for the pronunciation of YHWH, we thought that there must be a good reason that the Church is not speaking the Name as either “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” since both are pretty commonly known, for example because of some lack of proof. Because after all, you are not holding His Name sacred if you forget it from non-use. And if He didn’t want us using it, He wouldn’t have given it to us. (Read here about how YHWH has told us to declare His Name.)

So just as others have, we went digging and found several different pronunciations. Unlike most in the Restored Name movement, we did not publish the first viable pronunciation we found which has in our opinion created more confusion. Instead, each time we thought we found the right answer, we continued on until the truest path had been proven out. Granted there may be more information out there, but we feel that historical record has established the answer as clearly as it can to date.

It’s Not Jehovah

Before the Restored Name Movement, there were only two pronunciations that were being considered: “Yahweh” and “Jehovah”. Most learned people who have looked into both of these pronunciations have determined “Jehovah” not to be a legitimate option, due to the following:

• there was no ”J” or “V” in Paleo-Hebrew at the time YHWH gave His Name to Moses around 1350 BC. In those days, ”J” and “V” would have had the sounds of “Y” and “W” respectively, which would make the pronunciation more like Yehowah, which is basically “Yahweh” with different vowels.
• In Paleo-Hebrew, the language the Sacred Name was given in, there would not have been a vowel where the second vowel is in Yehowah. Instead, there would be a ‘ and it may have been a glottal stop.

Due to these two factors alone, “Jehovah” and “Yehowah” (and any 3 syllable form thereof) are ruled out.

• The only reason that “Yehowah” is even in consideration is because of a few instances of a spare dot where it shouldn’t be in the Leningrad Codex (1008 AD) and Aleppo Codex (920 AD). Out of thousands of instances of YHWH in the codices, there were a few that had a vowel point for the second vowel position, while all of the rest have it absent. But because of this dot, many have conjectured it was a vowel point that is the real vowel that was supposed to be removed to hide the Sacred Name but wasn’t¹. And hence they think the pronunciation of YHWH is “Yehowah”. But this is the only source for this pronunciation and therefore must be ruled out since there is no second witness to it. (Deut. 19:15, Matt. 18:16, John 8:17, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Tim 5:19, Heb. 10:28)
• It is also known that the entire confusion over the pronunciation of YHWH is because of the Jewish leadership themselves, due to instituting the Ineffable Name Doctrine, made it forbidden to pronounce YHWH’s Name, despite what it says in the Bible to do, which made the pronunciation lost. So why would anyone trust them to freely divulge it again?
  Since it was customary for the Jewish scribes to substitute the Name of YHWH with other words, if they ever were to write the Sacred Name, they would have hidden the true pronunciation, to prevent people from speaking it. Therefore, it can be concluded that the vowels that were put in place by them are most likely not the correct vowels to pronounce YHWH’s Name.

Further argument against the pronunciation “Yehowah”:

• The codices were not based on Paleo-Hebrew and they were the vehicle that was the first time that vowel points were used. They were part of the Masora system that was instituted around ~900 AD (approximately the same age as the Leningrad Codex), so this was a new invention of that time period and has little to do with how the language was spoken in 1350 BC.
• Vowel points, a part of the Masoretic system of writing, which are an invention of the Masoretic Jewish leadership, a belief system has its basis in Babylonian Talmud beliefs, not the Hebrew Torah. They also do not even use the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet which the Sacred Name come to us from, but use the Aramaic Square script that they also got from Babylon. With all of this, the Jewish leadership demonstrates they have no problem with changing their religion for outside influences, so we can be assured that there is no reason to think “Yehowah” could be the correct pronunciation from the Paleo-Hebrew that was used from 2000 years before. And why should we trust that any part of it is correct? Should we trust a source that is the very reason we have the debate about the pronunciation at all? It was the Jewish leadership who made it illegal to pronounce The Most High’s Name, so why should we trust that they would even give the world the correct pronunciation?
• And shall we not forget that it was also the Jewish leadership that condemned The Savior to death? With all of this, due to the reasons listed above, there is literally no reason to trust them at all on this topic.
• We do not feel we have to continue and make an argument as to why the “e” and “a” combination of vowels which would make the pronunciation “Yehwah”, is not correct either, even though we could, as our next argument for the pronunciation “Yahweh” will demonstrate it sufficiently.

“Yahweh”

For the very reasons that the pronunciation cannot be “Jehovah”, we can attest that the pronunciation CAN BE “Yahweh”.

1. The historical practice of theophoric naming in the Jewish community (which has continued without pause even to today) is a clear testament to the first part of YHWH which is Yah (Yahu is the Aramaic version). There is literally hundreds of names and thousands of years that this practice has been used for, not just by Judaism. And Yah appears in dozens if not more names in Jewish history, including today.
   Jeremi-Yah
2. We also know that in the Paleo-Hebrew language, the second syllable is silent and replaced by an apostrophe ‘.
3. We also know that ”J” and “V” were “Y” and “W” respectfully in Paleo-Hebrew.

So that really only leaves the remaining vowel to uncover. But there are several credible historical sources that bear witness to each other as to the pronunciation that allow us to confirm it.

Sources That Corroborate The “Yahweh” Pronunciation

There is a reason that the predominant pronunciation that is known across the world currently for YHWH is “Yahweh”. There is a reason it has stuck. It is because even amongst the Jews who profess to not say it, there is “talk” from their circles that the pronunciation is “Yahweh”. No matter how much they try to proport that they do not speak the Sacred Name of YHWH, this does not change the fact that they know the pronunciation but do not freely share this knowledge with outsiders. But when speaking of the High Priest role on Yom Kippur, they seem happy to share that he speaks the Sacred Name in the Holy of Holies of the temple and even how they pronounce it despite it being a “secret”. Many Jewish writers also proport that the Sacred Name is spoken during the Priestly Blessing that is spoken in front of the congregation, though silently.¹ And the pronunciation is always stated as being, “Yahveh”, which is the modern way of saying “Yahweh” as the Paleo-Hebrews would have said it.

Samaritans

The Samaritans are of the only Hebrew people to have constantly been in the land of Palestine since entering it in the 14^th century BC. They are also the only ones to hold true to what was laid out in the Torah and nothing else and not support any Talmudic or Masoretic additions.

• Many historical publications state the Samaritan pronunciation of YHWH was “Yahweh”
• From interviews with the Samaritan High Priest, that was published in the Journal of Biblical Literature, it was confirmed that the pronunciation of YHWH is “Yahweh”.

Greek Sources

The most compelling is what comes from recorded writings in the Greek language.  They recorded the Sacred Name using all vowels, as “Iaoue” (“Yahweh”), which preserved the pronunciation such that there could be no doubt about it, and completely solves the problem.

• Clement² preserved the Name of YHWH as “Iaoue”, the Greek transliteration for “Yahweh”, in the Catena on the Pentateuch at Turin attested by Nicetas of Heraclea as well as several publications referencing it. ¹
• Theodoret and Epiphanius² are also noted as having written this as well, although translators who were trying to keep to the format of the four-letter Tetragram of YHWH shortened it to “Iaou”
• The Greek Magical Papyri³ from 100 BC, can be referenced for this purpose, as a historical record of the names of known deities at that time. It identifies several variations of the Greek spelling / transliteration of YHWH:
  – “Iao” (“Yah” in Paleo-Hebrew/ “Yaho” or “Yahu” in Aramaic) appears 92 times along with it stating this is the Jewish deity;
  – “Iaoai” (“Yahweh”) appears 5 times
  – “Iaoa” (“Yahwah”) appears once

Iaoue – A Greek Miracle?

You may notice that this transliteration “Iaoue” contains all 5 vowel sounds a, e, i, o, and u, but pronounces “Yahweh” perfectly. This seems quite miraculous, as if it was an inspired design within this language when it was needed most. YHWH, being the Creator of language and therefore writing systems, it makes sense that He would provide His people what they need and provide a means to preserve His Name forever. Halleluyah!

Roots Back to Abraham

There is one other interesting key to the pronunciation of YHWH as “Yahweh” that is the oldest of them all. The Bible stated that Abraham was nomadic, from the region of Ur but not Sumerian. And in that day the nomadic people in the region near Ur, were known as Amorite which was just a term used for nomadic people in the region. The language of the Amorite people is among the oldest Semitic languages known besides Akkadian and new discoveries about it are being made everyday. In Amorite, the word for “He is/exists” or “He causes to exist” is “Yahwi”. This can be correlated to the root in Paleo-Hebrew of YHWH which is “to be/exist”. ⁴

Back to The Beginning

We went searching and ended up right where we started, with “Yahweh” being the most likely pronunciation of YHWH; but much better off because now we can move forward with confidence professing His Sacred Name without fear or hesitancy.

But there is a lingering question: if we had the pronunciation all along, why isn’t the “Church” using it?

Note the Bible says there will be punishment for church leaders who denied the use of The Most High’s name.

“And now O priests this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My Name, ” says YHWH, ” I will send a curse upon you” (Malachi 2:2)

“How long do the prophets delight to prophesy lies, even prophesying the deceit of their own heart? Think they to cause my people to forget my Name by their dreams, which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their forefathers have forgotten my Name for Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:25-27)

We must recognize that there have been forces to try to cover up the pronunciation, because there is power in speaking the Name, and the enemy doesn’t want us to have that power. So we must make our best effort to be obedient and dedicated to YHWH to speak it as best as we can. Just because you may feel that we do not know the pronunciation definitively does not mean you can use any old word to refer to The Most High. Just as the Great Commandment says to “love YHWH with all of our heart, spirit, mind and strength”(Deut. 6:5), so we must seek His Name with all of our heart, spirit, mind and strength as well, praying for understanding and direction, and then use your best judgment based on what you feel is right in your spirit.

It is time to look long and hard at what being spiritually one body is. It should not be a means to divide but should unite us in the love of our Creator, as we are all His children and should be partakers of His salvation. And if we do not embody love for each other, we do not have His Spirit in us.

Conclusion:

However you decide to pronounce The Most High’s name, I advise you to at least adhere to two things:

1. DO NOT USE THE WORD “GOD” EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!! for any reason because YHWH says “”Do not remember the name of other mighty ones, nor let it be heard from your mouth.” (Exodus 23:13).
   Read why here

2. DO use the Most High’s Sacred Name in the best way you know how, so you can be counted amongst the obedient”

“I will bring forth Those who love My Sacred Name. I will seat them upon sky-thrones. There will they dazzle timelessly, For YHWH judged them obedient.“  (1 Enoch 103:2,3; 1 Enoch 108:13)

“So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who revere YHWH and who meditate on His Name.“ (Malachi 3:16)

Making an effort will go along way. Try using the vowels we have provided proof for. As long as you are seeking Him and the truth of His Name, your effort will be counted and will be remembered by Him.

~

We hope this message has blessed you.

If you have received value from this message, please consider donating to this ministry, so we can reach others. Thank you for your support.

Reference:

• Shattering The Conspiracy of Silence. Nehemia Gordon. 2012.
  https://brightmorningstar.org/ineffable-name/#more-786
• – Stromata V, VI, 34-35. Clement. 2^nd century AD.
  – The Catena On The Pentateuch. Nicetas, Bishop of Heraclea, 2nd century. Published In Latin By Francis Zephyrus.
• Bible Studies by Dr. G. Adolf Deissman. Translated by Alexander Grieve, M.A., D. Phil. T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1901.
• The Greek Papyri in Translation including The Demotic Spells. Edited by Hans Dieter Betz. The University of Chicago Press, 1986.
• Fleming, Daniel E. (2020). Yahweh before Israel: Glimpses of History in a Divine Name. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-83507-7. p. 176.