The name Jehovah is the English form of the Hebrew divine name YHWH, often called the Tetragrammaton. Its meaning is bound up with Exodus 3:14, where God says, “I AM WHO I AM.” The name presents God as the unchanging, eternal, self-existent One who keeps covenant with His people. The form “Jehovah” arose when Jewish readers, out of reverence, said Adonai (“Lord”) instead of the sacred name, and later scribes placed the vowels of Adonai with the consonants YHWH. English translators then read those consonants and vowels together as Jehovah. So the Hebrew meaning is not “Lord” but the personal name of the God of Israel, explained by “I AM.”
What does the name Jehovah mean in Hebrew?
The Hebrew name comes from the verb hayah, “to be.” In Exodus 3:14 God explains the name to Moses:
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” — Exodus 3:14 (BSB)
That is the meaning in brief: God is the One who is — self-existent, not dependent on anything, and constant. He is not one god among many. He is the ground of all being, and He remains the same across generations.
A dictionary of the Bible summarises the sense as “the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God,” the covenant-keeping God. The name is not merely a label; it is a revelation of character. When God says “I AM,” He is telling Moses that His presence and promise will be enough for the task ahead.
Why does the Hebrew name appear as Jehovah in English Bibles?
Ancient Hebrew was written with consonants only. The divine name appeared as four letters, YHWH. Because of a reverence rooted in a reading of Leviticus 24:16, Jewish readers stopped pronouncing it and said Adonai instead. When scribes added vowel signs to the text, they put the vowels of Adonai with the consonants YHWH. Later English readers combined them and produced “Jehovah.”
The King James Version and the American Standard Version use “Jehovah” in a few places where the Hebrew name stands alone. For example:
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. — Psalm 83:18 (KJV)
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. — Isaiah 12:2 (ASV)
Elsewhere, both versions print “LORD” in small capitals to signal that the Hebrew behind it is YHWH. So when you see “LORD” in small capitals, the text is not using the general word for master; it is using the personal name of God.
How is the name Jehovah used in the Old Testament?
The name appears thousands of times. It is God’s covenant name, given to Israel. In Exodus 6:2-3 God says to Moses:
God also told Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.” — Exodus 6:2-3 (BSB)
That does not mean the patriarchs never heard the name. It means the full significance of the name — the covenant-keeping God who would deliver His people — was now being revealed in the exodus. The name is tied to action: God sees, hears, remembers, and comes down to rescue.
The name also appears in compound place names and personal names. Abraham called the place of his testing Jehovah-jireh, meaning “Jehovah will see,” that is, “will provide” (Genesis 22:14). Ezekiel’s vision ends with the city named Jehovah-shammah, “Jehovah is there” (Ezekiel 48:35). Many Hebrew personal names carry a shortened form of the name, such as Jeho- or -iah, showing how common it was in Israel’s life.
What does the name teach us about God’s character?
Because the name means “I AM,” it teaches that God is self-existent and unchanging. He is not a force that shifts with circumstances. He says, “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6, BSB). The same name is a refuge; Isaiah 26:4 calls the LORD the Rock eternal.
The name also carries covenant loyalty. When Israel sinned, God did not abandon His promise. He remained the God who had bound Himself to His people. That loyalty reaches its fullness in the New Testament, where Jesus takes the divine name upon Himself in a way that startled His hearers, saying that before Abraham was born, He is (John 8:58). The One who is, came near.
How should Christians today think about the name Jehovah?
Christians read the Old Testament as part of one story that leads to Christ. The name Jehovah is not a magic word, and it is not a secret code. It is the personal name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses and who has now revealed Himself fully in His Son.
Some Christians, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, emphasise the use of the name in worship and in translation. Historic Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians have generally followed the ancient practice of reading “LORD” where the Hebrew has YHWH, while acknowledging that the name is God’s own. This site follows the historic Protestant reading and treats the name with respect. Differences over pronunciation and translation should never become occasions for contempt. What matters is that the God who is has made Himself known, and that He calls people everywhere to know Him through Jesus Christ.
Where can I go from here?
The meaning of Jehovah is a doorway into the whole Bible. Read Exodus 3 and Exodus 6 slowly. Notice how the name is tied to rescue. Then read the Gospel of John, where Jesus uses “I am” again and again. Let the name lead you to worship, not to speculation. If you want to go further, speak with a pastor or a mature believer in your local church. Ask them to read these passages with you. Prayer and the gathered church are ordinary means God uses to make His name known.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. — Isaiah 12:2 (ASV)
Questions readers ask
Does Jehovah mean “Lord”?
No. The Hebrew name YHWH is God’s personal name, explained in Exodus 3:14 as “I AM WHO I AM.” “Lord” is the meaning of Adonai, the word Jewish readers said aloud instead of the sacred name. When English Bibles print “LORD” in small capitals, they are pointing to YHWH, not to Adonai.
Why do some Bibles say “Jehovah” and others say “LORD”?
Both are attempts to handle the same Hebrew name. The KJV and ASV use “Jehovah” in a few verses where the name stands alone. Most modern translations follow the ancient custom of printing “LORD” in small capitals. The difference is one of translation policy, not of the underlying Hebrew text.
Is it wrong to pronounce the name Jehovah?
Christians have differed on this. Jewish tradition avoided pronouncing the name out of reverence. Many Christians today use “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” freely in teaching and worship, while others prefer “LORD” in reading. The Bible does not command a specific pronunciation, and the focus should be on knowing the God who revealed the name.
What is the Tetragrammaton?
Tetragrammaton means “four letters.” It refers to the four Hebrew consonants YHWH that make up the divine name. The word is a technical term used by scholars, and it simply identifies the name that appears thousands of times in the Old Testament.
Lexicon answers from the Bible and public-domain reference works. It is a study aid and is not affiliated with any organisation.