Pronunciation of YHWH

[Dean Anderson]

The Hebrew Bible usually represents the name of the tribal god worshipped by the Isrealites/Hebrews as יהוה (YHWH), without any vowel marks on the Hebrew characters. This does not seem to be something specific to this name, since the older texts (as opposed to the more recent Masoretic texts) have no vowel marks anywhere else, either.

Although some translations will not add vowels, and will leave the name as YHWH whilst happily adding vowels to other names in the text, other translations will translate YHWH as either Yahweh or even Jehovah.

I have often heard it claimed that the actual vowel sounds that the writers of the text would have used when reading them aloud are unknown.

Is this true?

Is YHWH mentioned in the texts/inscriptions of other races and tribes? Is it possible to glean the correct pronunciation from their writings?

If we do not know the correct pronunciation, is "Yahweh" just a guess?

[Romach]

It is the tetragrammaton representation for the unpronounceable name of God. When the letters, yud, hay, vav, hay, are written, the writer intends for the reader to say Adonai, Lord (when in company), or Hashem, The Name (when the reader is alone). No Jew pronounces it as
Y(A)HW(E)H.

[Benni72]

An argument I've heard (not being an expert) is the pronunciation of proper names derived from YHWH, such as Johanan etc. Some linguists claim that it really suggests something along the lines of Yahweh. Besides, there are some probable cognates in Ugaritic inscriptions, and even in Egyptian ones, though the vocalization of the latter is quite hypothetical as well.

[Dean Anderson]

Besides, there are some probable cognates in Ugaritic inscriptions, and even in Egyptian ones, though the vocalization of the latter is quite hypothetical as well.

I'd be very interested if anyone has any infomation about such inscriptions...

[Dean Anderson]

It is the tetragrammaton representation for the unpronounceable name of God. When the letters, yud, hay, vav, hay, are written, the writer intends for the reader to say Adonai, Lord (when in company), or Hashem, The Name (when the reader is alone). No Jew pronounces it as
Y(A)HW(E)H.

That's the modern Jewish theology about the modern Jewish concept of a monotheistic god, but it does not necessarily match what the ancient Hebrews thought about their henotheistic god.

I am looking to see if anyone can point me at any evidence as to how they said/interpreted the name.

[Magdlyn]

Scholars I have read, Spong, Price, concur it is an unpronouncable collection of letters, derived from the verb "to be." It is conceivable that once Jewish culture became developed and somewhat organized (around the 8th century BCE) , "the Jews" may have had regional ways of naming God. El, Adonai, Shaddai, HaShem, Baal and many others were used. All the different names are translated and noted in the Oxford Annotated.

There was, and is a tradtional superstition against pronouncing the tetragrammaton. Adonai (Lord) was used, and its letters were eventually combined with the letters of YHWH to create the term Jehovah.

[Romach]

I don't know who they are. I know the written Torah has been around for about two millenia and that the written Torah is derived from the oral Torah, which has been passed down since about two millenia before the written Torah. So blessings like the Shema are ancient:
Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad!
Baruch shem k'vod malchuto l'olam v'aed!
Hear Israel the Lord our God the Lord is One!
Blessed is the name of his glorious majesty forever and ever!

[Benni72]

I'd be very interested if anyone has any infomation about such inscriptions...

Unfortunately, my sources are offline and not in English. :down:

Nemirovskii, the Russian historian I mentioned in another thread, suggests that the "shasu-yahweh" of Egyptian stelas were in fact the Amalekites who lived around the Sinai mountain, and Yahweh was primarily a local spirit associated with its volcanic activity. Allegedly, the Hebrews adopted him as their tribal god after withdrawing the Amalekites from the place.

[Sheshbazzar]

We who believe in pronouncing the Name, pronounce it consistent with our praise; "hal'lel-u-YAH" which is in English, "Praise ye YAH", even the Jewish people caught up in stupid man-made traditions and superstitions about "ha-Shem", (that is in English, "The Name"), do not deny the form "YAH" nor rule against the pronouncing of "YAH" as a proper personal Name applying to only ONE.
We allow for such variations in pronunciation of the tetragrammation as the individual's conscience dictates, as everyone of us is constrained under commandment to grow in knowledge, and to sing His praise. It is a shame that so many people open their mouths to sing out words they know not the meaning of.
The Name "YAH" (YA) and the title "El" were known and written in Ebla far before the time of Abraham, and of the men called Hebrews, and are of the heritage of ALL mankind, even whosoever shall believe on His Name, and sing "Hal'lel'-u-YAH" -Sheshbazzar-

[Sheshbazzar]

It is the tetragrammaton representation for the unpronounceable name of God...... No Jew pronounces it as Y(A)HW(E)H.
Your statement here is provably false, unless you qualify it by the assertion that any Jew who pronounces it is no longer to be considered a Jew.

[Sheshbazzar]

...... blessings like the Shema are ancient:
Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad!

Hear Israel the Lord our God the Lord is One!

Which we read also and recite as;

Shema Israel, YAHWEH Elohinu, YAHWEH Echad:
v' ah'hav'atha-eth YAHWEH Elohi'ka b'kal'lev'a'ka:
u' b'Shem'o te'Shab'a:
Shalom

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Unfortunately, my sources are offline and not in English. :down:

Nemirovskii, the Russian historian I mentioned in another thread, suggests that the "shasu-yahweh" of Egyptian stelas were in fact the Amalekites who lived around the Sinai mountain, and Yahweh was primarily a local spirit associated with its volcanic activity. Allegedly, the Hebrews adopted him as their tribal god after withdrawing the Amalekites from the place.
Interesting. I seem to remember reading something by Joseph Campbell once in which he suggested that YHWH came from another word Hwy, meaning "to blow" and was probably originally a volcano God. The descriptions of Sinai in Exodus sound like they're describing a volcano and I guess that it might make sense for the name to have migrated into Canaan at some point.

[Anat]

Where does Nemirovskii identify Mt Sinai, and does he have any evidence for Israelite occupation at the alleged time? Is there evidence that those he identifies as Amalekites indeed were such?

[Romach]

Your statement here is provably false, unless you qualify it by the assertion that any Jew who pronounces it is no longer to be considered a Jew.
You're right. I'm sorry. I meant no Jew with whom I go to Beit Kinesset for Shabbat service.

[Benni72]

Where does Nemirovskii identify Mt Sinai, and does he have any evidence for Israelite occupation at the alleged time? Is there evidence that those he identifies as Amalekites indeed were such?

Multiple Egyptian sources attest shasu in the same places where - and at the same time when - the Bible attests Amalekites, including the region of Mt Sinai. As for Israelite occupation, there seems to be no evidence outside the Bible (and Flavius who is clearly dependent on it).

But Nemirovskii's hypothesis explains extreme hostility of Israelites towards Amalekites. The theological justification for it is probably late, but there should have been some reason to mention this particular tribe - nearly extinct at the time of formation of the Jewish canon - as the ultimate enemy of the chosen people.

[Sheshbazzar]

You're right. I'm sorry. I meant no Jew with whom I go to Beit Kinesset for Shabbat service.
Please lets lay aside for the moment any difference we may have about the vocalization of the Tetragrammation. (Ha Shem)

Am I correct in assuming that you go to Beit Kinesset for Shabbat service as a Jew who believes in The Elohim of ages?

To offer up prayer and praise to The Elohim of Abel, of Moshe, and of Malachi?

I sing the song of Moshe, which is before my eyes, and has entered into my ears, and into my mind, and ever abides within my heart:

Awz'zee v'zeem'rath YAH v'yah'hee-lee lee'shua:
my strength and my song is YAH, and He is my salvation:

This I quote from Shemoth 15:2 (Exodus 15:2)
and from SepharTehillim 118:14 (Psalms 118:14)
and from Y'sha'yah'hu 12:2 (Isaiah 12:2)

I have transliterated so as to indicate as closely as possible how I pronounce each of these words.
You may correct me if I'm in error, that when these words are read aloud in Jewish Synagogue services, the Name "YAH" is clearly pronounced, without any substitutions.
As far as I'm aware it is still customary to sing "hallellu-YAH" rather than "hallellu-adonai", "hallelu-elohim" or "hallelu-adoshem" etc.
Every soul that places trusts in "YAH", has also faith in His "SHUAH".

[Angrillori]

I've taken to referring to it as YaHooWaHoo, myself.