jehovah.help
Close-up of large letters carved in relief on a grey stone wall
  1. Home
  2. Lexicon
  3. The Name
Section · 35 entries

The Name

What the four Hebrew letters mean, how they became Jehovah, Yahweh and LORD in English, and how the name is said.

JehovahExodus 3:13
What does the name Jehovah mean?
The name is built on the Hebrew verb ‘to be’, given to Moses at the burning bush and printed as Jehovah throughout the ASV. What the name says about who God is.
Four forms of the Name (YHWH, Yahweh, Jehovah, LORD)Psalm 83:18
YHWH, Yahweh, Jehovah, LORD: the four forms explained
Four spellings, one name. What the consonants YHWH are, where Yahweh and Jehovah come from, and why most English Bibles print LORD in small capitals instead.
Exodus 3:14 and 6:3Exodus 3:14
Exodus 3:14 and Exodus 6:3: how the name was revealed
At the bush God said I AM and gave his name; in Exodus 6 he said the patriarchs had not known it. How the two passages fit, and what the exodus added to the name.
Pronunciation of the NameExodus 3:15
How to pronounce Jehovah, and why no one is certain
Jehovah is said jih-HOH-vuh and Yahweh YAH-weh, but the ancient sound of the four letters was never recorded. How the vowels were lost, and what we know.
LORD (small capitals)Psalm 110:1
Why most English Bibles print LORD in small capitals
LORD in small capitals stands for the name YHWH; Lord in ordinary type is the title Adonai. Where the convention came from, and why the ASV broke with it.
Saying the NameExodus 20:7
Is it wrong to say Jehovah?
No. The third commandment forbids misusing the name, not using it, and the Psalms call us to praise it. Why Jewish custom kept silence, and how to say it well.
Ashira AdonaiPsalm 61:8
Ashira Adonai Meaning: "I Will Sing to the Lord" in Hebrew
Ashira Adonai means "I will sing to the Lord": Hebrew ashira, "I will sing", plus Adonai, "my Lord". Where the words come from and how to pray them.
Adonai EchadDeuteronomy 6:4
Adonai Echad Meaning: "The Lord Is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Adonai Echad means "the Lord is one", the heart of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4. What each Hebrew word means, and whether echad leaves room for the Trinity.
B'tzelem Elohim MeaningGenesis 1:1
B'tzelem Elohim Meaning: Made in God's Image
B'tzelem Elohim means 'in the image of God' — the Hebrew phrase in Genesis 1:26–27 that defines every human being's dignity, calling and worth.
AdonaiGenesis 24:27
Baruch Atah Adonai: Meaning and Use of the Blessing
What baruch atah Adonai means, how the Hebrew blessing works, why it says Adonai rather than the divine name, and how Christians may use it.
AdonaiGenesis 15:2
Adonai Meaning: What the Title 'Lord' Means
Adonai means 'my Lord' — a Hebrew title of ownership and authority, used by Jews to avoid speaking the divine name YHWH.
Adonai ElohimGenesis 2:4
Adonai Elohim Meaning: What "Lord God" Really Says
Adonai Elohim means "Lord God" — Adonai is a title of mastery, Elohim the plural form of the word for God. Here is what the Hebrew carries.
Baruch Hashem AdonaiPsalm 113:2
Baruch Hashem Adonai Meaning: "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord"
Baruch Hashem Adonai means "Blessed be the Name of the Lord." The Hebrew word by word, why Jewish people say HaShem, and how Christians can use the phrase.
Ben ElohimGenesis 6:2
Ben Elohim Meaning: What 'Sons of God' Means in the Bible
Ben Elohim means 'sons of God' in Hebrew. Learn how the Bible uses this phrase of angels, Israel, rulers and believers in Christ.
Erkamka na AdonaiPsalm 18:1
Erkamka na Adonai: Hebrew Phrase Meaning Explained
Erkamka na Adonai is not a Bible verse. Learn what Adonai and Elyon mean and where similar phrases appear in Scripture.
ElohimGenesis 1:1
Elohim Meaning: What the Hebrew Name Means
Elohim is a Hebrew word for God — plural in form, singular in meaning. Here is what it means, how the Bible uses it, and why it matters.
Jehovah-JirehGenesis 22:14
How to Pronounce Jehovah Jireh (juh-HOH-vuh JY-ruh)
Jehovah Jireh is usually said juh-HOH-vuh JY-ruh (some say ji-RAH). How to say each part, what it means, and where the name comes from in Genesis 22.
Jehovah-NissiExodus 17:15
How to Pronounce Jehovah Nissi: A Simple Guide
Learn how to pronounce Jehovah Nissi, the altar name Moses gave in Exodus 17:15, with a simple syllable-by-syllable guide and its meaning.
TetragrammatonExodus 3:14
How to Pronounce the Tetragrammaton (YHWH)
A calm, factual guide to pronouncing the Tetragrammaton: what YHWH is, why the original vowels are uncertain, and how to say it today.
Jehovah-RaphaExodus 15:26
How to Pronounce Jehovah Rapha (juh-HOH-vuh RAH-fah)
Jehovah Rapha is usually said juh-HOH-vuh RAH-fah. How to say it, what "the LORD who heals" means, and why the Hebrew behind it points to the God who heals.
KuriosExodus 3:14
Jehovah in Greek: Why the Septuagint Says Kyrios (Lord)
The Septuagint renders the name Jehovah (YHWH) in Greek as kurios, "Lord". What the word means, why translators chose it, and why the New Testament follows it.
JehovahExodus 3:14
Jehovah Meaning in Hebrew: What the Name Means
The Hebrew name Jehovah comes from YHWH, tied to "I AM WHO I AM" in Exodus 3:14 — the self-existent, covenant-keeping God.
Kadosh Adonai ElohimIsaiah 6:3
Kadosh Adonai Elohim Meaning: "Holy Is the Lord God"
Kadosh Adonai Elohim means "Holy is the Lord God." What kadosh, Adonai and Elohim each mean in Hebrew, where the phrase comes from, and how it shapes prayer.
Names of GodExodus 3:14
Names of God in Hebrew and What They Mean
A calm guide to the main Hebrew names of God — YHWH, Elohim, Adonai, El Shaddai, Jehovah-Jireh and more — with their meanings and Bible references.
Ruach ElohimGenesis 1:2
Ruach Elohim Meaning: The Spirit of God
Ruach Elohim means the Spirit of God — the Holy Spirit, active in creation and in believers. A clear, biblical look at the Hebrew phrase.
TetragrammatonExodus 3:15
The Tetragrammaton in Hebrew Letters: What It Looks Like
The four Hebrew consonants of the divine name, how they are written and read, and why the exact pronunciation is uncertain.
I AM THAT I AMExodus 3:14
What Does 'I Am That I Am' Mean?
God's name in Exodus 3:14 — its Hebrew wording, its meaning, and why it matters for how we speak of Him.
YahwehExodus 3:14
What Does Yahweh Mean? The Name of God Explained
Yahweh is the personal name of God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, meaning 'I AM WHO I AM' — the self-existent, eternal, covenant-keeping God.
YHWHExodus 3:14
What Does YHWH Mean? The Divine Name Explained
YHWH is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, meaning 'I AM' or 'He is.' Learn its meaning, origin, and significance.
TetragrammatonExodus 3:14
What Is the Tetragrammaton? The Four Letters YHWH
The Tetragrammaton is the four Hebrew letters YHWH, the personal name of God revealed to Moses. Learn its meaning, origin, and why translations render it LORD.
TetragrammatonExodus 3:14-15
What Is the Tetragrammaton Used For?
The Tetragrammaton is the four-letter Hebrew name of God, YHWH. Learn what it is, why it matters, and how Christians use it in reading, prayer and worship.
The Tetragrammaton SymbolExodus 3:14
Tetragrammaton Symbol: What the Four Letters of YHWH Mean
The Tetragrammaton symbol is יהוה (yod, he, waw, he), God's name YHWH. What the four letters stand for, how they became Jehovah, and if it belongs on a pendant.
YahwehExodus 3:14
Does Yahweh Mean Breath? The Meaning of the Name
Does Yahweh mean breath? A calm look at the Hebrew name YHWH, the 'breath' theory, and what Scripture actually says about the name.
YahwehExodus 3:11-15
Yahweh Meaning: What "I Am Who I Am" Means
The meaning of Yahweh from Exodus 3:14 — "I AM WHO I AM" — and what God's self-existent, unchanging name means for readers today.
YeshuaMatthew 1:21
Yahweh Yeshua Meaning: How the Names Connect
Yeshua means 'Yahweh is salvation'. The name of Jesus carries the divine name and the saving act together, which is why the angel gave it.