The term "Tetragrammaton" refers to the four Hebrew letters יהוה (YHWH) that represent the divine name of God in the Hebrew Bible. This name is considered the most sacred and ineffable name of God, often translated as "LORD" in many English Bible versions, including the Berean Standard Bible . The Tetragrammaton appears over 6,800 times in the Old Testament, underscoring its significance in the biblical text.

Etymology and Pronunciation

The Tetragrammaton is derived from the Hebrew root הוה (hwh), which is related to the verb "to be." This connection is evident in God's self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:14, where God declares, "I AM WHO I AM" . The exact pronunciation of YHWH has been lost over time due to the Jewish tradition of not vocalizing the name to avoid misuse, as instructed in the Third Commandment (Exodus 20:7). Instead, Jews often substitute "Adonai" (Lord) or "HaShem" (The Name) when reading the Scriptures aloud.

Theological Significance

The Tetragrammaton is central to understanding the nature and character of God as revealed in the Bible. It emphasizes God's eternal existence, self-sufficiency, and unchanging nature. The name YHWH is associated with God's covenantal relationship with Israel, highlighting His faithfulness and commitment to His people. In Genesis 2:4, the Tetragrammaton is used in conjunction with Elohim, indicating the personal and relational aspect of God as Creator.

Usage in Scripture

The Tetragrammaton is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. It is often found in narratives, laws, prophecies, and poetry, reflecting different aspects of God's interaction with humanity. For example, in Deuteronomy 6:4, the Shema declares, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" , affirming the monotheistic belief central to Israel's faith.

In the Psalms, the Tetragrammaton is frequently invoked in prayers and praises, as seen in Psalm 23:1, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" . The prophets also use the Tetragrammaton to convey messages of judgment and hope, as in Isaiah 42:8, "I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols" .

Translation and Interpretation

The translation of the Tetragrammaton has been a subject of debate among scholars and translators. In most English Bibles, including the BSB, it is rendered as "LORD" in all capital letters to distinguish it from "Adonai," which is translated as "Lord." Some translations, like the Jerusalem Bible, use "Yahweh," an attempt to approximate the original pronunciation.

The interpretation of the Tetragrammaton also varies among different theological traditions. While some emphasize its role in revealing God's transcendence and immanence, others focus on its covenantal implications and the assurance of God's presence and guidance.

New Testament Considerations

In the New Testament, the Tetragrammaton does not appear directly, as the text is primarily written in Greek. However, the divine name's significance is echoed in the titles and attributes ascribed to Jesus Christ, who is identified with the LORD of the Old Testament. For instance, in John 8:58, Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" , linking Himself to the "I AM" of Exodus 3:14.

The Tetragrammaton remains a profound and mysterious aspect of biblical theology, inviting believers to contemplate the majesty and mystery of the God who reveals Himself as YHWH.(n.) The mystic number four, which was often symbolized to represent the Deity, whose name was expressed by four letters among some ancient nations; as, the Hebrew JeHoVaH, Greek qeo`s, Latin deus, etc.

Book ix. On Jerusalem and Her Enemies
... Exodus: and they made a golden girdle and above it wrote, as he had said, in letters
forming the sacred sign of the Lord, that is, the tetragrammaton name of ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/book ix on jerusalem and.htm

Whether this Name, He who Is, is the Most Proper Name of God?
... intended by the name, this name "God" is more proper, as it is imposed to signify
the divine nature; and still more proper is the Tetragrammaton, imposed to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether this name he who.htm

Whether this Name "God" is Communicable?
... accordingly as He is considered as "this something," that name would be absolutely
incommunicable; as, for instance, perhaps the Tetragrammaton among the Hebrew ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether this name god is 2.htm

The Septuagint as a Version.
... consideration. It will be remembered that the newly discovered fragments of
Aquila present the Tetragrammaton in archaic letters [686] . ...
/.../chapter v the septuagint as.htm

Later Greek Versions.
... (5) The Tetragrammaton is not transliterated, but written in Hebrew letters, and
the characters are of the archaic type ( , not yhvh); cf. Orig. ...
/.../chapter ii later greek versions.htm

Index ii.
... Targum, the Babylonian, 3. Taylor, C., 33, 41, 67, 271, 286, 527. Tertullian, 9,
284, 351. Tetragrammaton, the, 39 f., 320, 327. Tetrapla, the, 65 ff., 73, 113 ...
/.../an introduction to the old testament in greek additional notes/index ii.htm

Philo of Alexandria, the Rabbis, and the Gospels - the Final ...
... 2. [198] Hammejuchad, appropriatum;' hammephorash, expositum,' separatum,'
the tetragrammaton,' or four-lettered name, {hebrew}. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv philo of alexandria.htm

From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus.
... That mystic name which is called the Tetragrammaton, by which alone they who had
access to the Holy of Holies were protected, is pronounced Jehovah, which means ...
/.../who is the rich man that shall be saved/i from the latin translation of.htm

Tetragrammaton (1 Occurrence)
... JeHoVaH, Greek qeo`s, Latin deus, etc. Multi-Version Concordance Tetragrammaton
(1 Occurrence). Exodus 6:3 and I appeared unto Abraham ...
/t/tetragrammaton.htm - 6k

Adonai (1 Occurrence)
... Lord," and signifying, from its derivation, "sovereignty." Its vowels are found
in the Massoretic Text with the unpronounceable tetragrammaton YHWH; and when ...
/a/adonai.htm - 7k

Tetrarch (5 Occurrences)

/t/tetrarch.htm - 9k

Names (133 Occurrences)
... Its most significant service in Massoretic Text is the use of its vowels to point
the unpronounceable tetragrammaton YHWH, indicating that the word " 'Adhonay ...
/n/names.htm - 101k

Pentateuch
... On this view the word 'Elohim ("God") is characteristic of one principal source
and the Tetragrammaton, ie the divine name YHWH represented by the "LORD" or ...
/p/pentateuch.htm - 77k

Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)
... merely an appellative title such as Lord [adonai]) by which God revealed himself
to the ancient Hebrews (Exodus 6:2, 3). This name, the Tetragrammaton of the ...
/j/jehovah.htm - 38k

Tethered (1 Occurrence)

/t/tethered.htm - 6k

Daleth (1 Occurrence)
... With the apostrophe it is sometimes used as abbreviation for the tetragrammaton.
For name, etc., see ALPHABET. Multi-Version Concordance Daleth (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/daleth.htm - 7k

Charm (5 Occurrences)
... that the witch of Endor raised Samuel from the dead by the recitation of some magical
formula (1 Samuel 28:7). The uttering of the tetragrammaton (YHWH) was at ...
/c/charm.htm - 14k

What is YHWH? What is the tetragrammaton? | GotQuestions.org

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Tetragrammaton: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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