The Name of the Tetragrammaton and the Messiah

A Minor Dissertation on the Importance, or Lack Thereof, of the True Name of The Creator of the Universe; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Jeremiah 16:19-21: O Yahuweh, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is Yahuweh.

Exodus 3:14-15: And Elohim said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Yahuweh Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a factual stance on what the Name of the Creator is and also, why, in the opinion of the author, we would want to use it rather than “traditional” titles, like LORD, Lord, and God, that have been passed down to us from our fathers. I hope to do this with the understanding that I do not believe that those who use the proper Name are necessarily going to have eternal life, nor do I believe that those who don’t use the true Name are not necessarily going to have eternal life. I also do not condone ‘sacred name’ fanaticism, though I do support use of the true names. In order to play on the same field Scripturally, unless noted otherwise, all Scripture passages are 1611 Authorized Version or the “Old King James Version”. While I am not a KJV Onlyist, nor do I believe the KJV to be “Perfect”, it has withstood the test of time, and it is the only non-commercially copyrighted version that one would not have to get permission from the publisher to use more than 200 words from a Bible due to derivative copyright law. Rupert Murdock, who owns 20^th Century Fox, Fox Network and Simpson’s also owns(ed) Zondrovan Publishing; legally, under derivative copyright law, you need to be granted permission to use more than 200 words out of a New International Version or any Zondrovan Bible. All Scripture references will be given in full on the last page. In light of these facts I continue.

It is common knowledge among serious scholars of Scripture that the Name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is Yahuweh, mistranslated in most Bibles as “LORD”. It originates from the Hebrew letters of Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey. These four letters are called the Tetragrammaton, which is Greek, meaning ‘four letters.’ These letters would be pronounced Yahuweh, Yahweh, Yahueh, Yahu’ah, Yahooah, Yahwah, Yahuwah, or some derivation thereof and while we don’t know the exact pronunciation, I don’t believe that justifies using generic titles. In the original Hebrew manuscripts and even in the original Septuagint, where ever an English translation has “LORD”, that is a translation of the Tetragrammaton. In the Septuagint, which is the Greek ‘Old Testament”, the Tetragrammaton is written in the original Paleo-Hebrew font, “HWHY”, not the modern Babylonian Hebrew “HWHY.” One way it was not pronounced was with the modern ‘J’ sound. Check any good encyclopedia and you will see the letter ‘J’ did not even exist until sometime around or after 1520 Common Era (A.D.). As in Spanish where the ‘J’ would have a “heh” or “yeh” sound like “Jesus” which is pronounced in Spanish as “Heysoos” or “Eesoos”, the hard ‘J’ sound would not have been used to translate or transliterate the Name of the Creator or the Messiah. There is no hard ‘J’ sound in the Hebrew language, which leaves little possibility the Creator’s name was Je’hovah (Hovah means ruin) or anything else that starts with a hard ‘J’ sound. Anyone with a computer, internet service and a little time or a good library can prove all this to be true. So why do we use generic titles to refer to the name of our Creator when His name (not the titles) is in the unadulterated Hebrew Scriptures 7242 times in 6079 versus in the TaNaK (Old Testament or Old Covenant) and 728 times in 670 versus in the Brit Chadasha, a.k.a. New Testament or New Covenant (better stated as Renewed Covenant. Now, while a few of these references may refer to a ‘lord’, as in how Sarah referred to Abraham as a term of respect towards a husband or another man (1 Peter 3:6), that is one of a small handful of versus. Also taking into consideration that the phrase the name of the LORD occurs in Scripture 87 times in the TaNaK (which is a Hebrew acronym meaning the Torah, the Prophets and the other writings) and 21 times in the Brit Chadasha it seems to carry some Scriptural importance. When there is repetition in Scripture, it is probably important - something we should pay attention to in forming any belief, doctrine or dogma. A solid foundation is required or the rest is on shaky ground. Some verses that are quite profound are Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21 which state that whoever calls on the “the Name of the LORD” or whoever calls on “Yahuweh” shall be delivered (will be saved.) I do not know if knowing, or not knowing the name of Yahuweh has any bearing on salvation or eternal life nor do I question another man’s salvation or eternal life by use or non-use of the true Name, but I don’t think that takes away from the obvious importance Scripture puts on the True Name of the “LORD”. I, personally, get criticized nearly daily for using common knowledge in the true Names of the Creator and Messiah. I am called legalistic, Jewish, even a heretic, and just because I have done my due diligence in loving my Creator with my mind and have learned and know basically what the Names are. I choose to use those Names, in reverence, when referring to my beloved Creator and His emissary, the Messiah. Those who persecute and criticize me are, for the most, State Incorporated, 501(c)3 tax exempt “church” members who condemn me because they adhere to manmade traditions (which Scripture speaks loudly about) in using titles. Some of those titles have Pagan origins or association. Scripture says we should not even let the names of Pagan deities come out of our mouths (Exodus 23:13). I believe we are in the last days and there has been a strong delusion poured out upon man. Narrow is the way to righteousness and broad is the way to destruction. I use the name Yahuweh and keep the commandments of Yahuweh not because I have to or for fear of His chastisement, but because I love Him and want to, and keeping the commandments is demonstrative of my change in becoming a new man in Messiah (John 14:15, John 15:10, Matt. 19:17, Rev. 12:17, Rev. 14:12).

Now, if you get a good dictionary and look up Baal (Bel or Ba’al) it will have somewhere in either the etymology or the definition the reference to meaning ‘Lord’ or master. Scripture is pretty clear regarding Baal and Baal worship. Judges 2:12-14 show Yahuweh is angered against Baal worship. 1 Kings 16:32, 18:19, 19:18, Jeremiah 7:9, 11:17, Jer. 12:16, 23:27, Hosea 13:1, Zeph. 1:4, Romans 11:4 are just a few examples of how Scripture condemns Baal. LORD or Lord is a title, not a name. Even Hosea 2:16-17 says the days will come when Yahuweh will have us call him Husband (Ishi) and no longer Baali (Lord) and He will remove the names of Baalim out of our mouths. Ishi is more of a term of respectful endearment like father or husband not of domineering ownership as Lord insinuates. This is not to belittle Yahuweh’s ownership of His Creation nor His right to judge His creation, but rather to suggest that we refer to Him by His true name, as indicated by Scripture.

The word “God” comes from the “Common Teutonic word for a personal object of worship, formerly applicable to super-human being of heathen myth; on conversion of Teutonic races to Christianity, the term was applied to Supreme Being.” Encyclopedia Americana 1945. It also seems to have etymological relation to the Pagan deity Gott or Gud. [Gott is the German word for God.] Regardless of our ignorance of the roots of the words, the fact remains that these are terms used to refer to Pagan gods. Now while using those words in ignorance is one thing, using them just because one is unwilling to change due to tradition is another. Not knowing the ramifications, if any, I would rather not find out.

Consider also Act 17 verses 2 and 10-11. In Acts 17:2, Paul reasoned with them out of the Scriptures. In verses 10-11 it says the Berean’s were more noble than the Thessalonicans in that they searched the Scripture daily, receiving what Paul said with all readiness of mind (open minded) to see if what Paul said was true. What Scriptures were they searching? What Scriptures did Paul use to reason with the people? It was not Matthew, Mark, Luke John or any of the other books of the “New Testament” (Renewed Covenant). Paul was a very educated man and it is doubtful he would argue that Yahushua was the Messiah because he wrote it in Colossians! That would not have given him much credibility. Paul argued out of the Torah and the TaNaK, the “Old Testament.” If Paul, who’s actual name was Shaul, was able to reason from the original Scriptures, it would seem foolish to form any doctrine, dogma, or belief that is in conflict with Torah or the TaNaK. Modern doctrine needs to be severely scrutinized to ensure all facts are weighed. One should also always read 10-20 verses ahead of and behind the verse being used as the original Scripture was a letter, not a Bible with chapters and verses.

Continuing on to the name of the Messiah, which, as the article on www.truthradio.com states, “…folks even CLAIM (emphasis added) that ‘Jesus’ is not the correct name for our Saviour.” “Jesus” is not the name of the Messiah. The Messiah was a Hebrew man with Hebrew roots and a Hebrew name. This is also common knowledge among all serious students of Scripture. The name of the Messiah is Yahushua, Yashua, Yeshua, Yehu’shua or some derivation thereof. Not knowing if anyone truly knows how to pronounce it doesn’t make “Jesus” the name of the Messiah. The letter J is about 500 years old and the name comes from the Greek word “Iosus.” Even if it were transliterated from the Greek, it should be pronounced “Eesus.” If the name were to be transliterated (which means taking a name/sound in one language and using the letters of another language to make the same sound) from the Hebrew it would be transliterated as Ya’Shua or Yahushua. The same Greek word used for translating Joshua in Acts 7:45, is the same as is used for Jesus in Hebrews 4:8. The usage in Hebrews 4:8 actually should have been translated as Joshua in the KJV as it is in the NASB95, not as “Jesus” (Yahushua). Hebrews 4:8 is referring to Joshua, or Oshea son of Nun, not the Messiah. (Refer to Strong’s Concordance number G2424 throughout the Brit Chadasha. Matthew 1:1 is included on the last page with Strong’s numbers to show the word used to translate “Jesus” was used to translate “Joshua.” Something of great importance in this is Numbers 13:16. It shows that “Joshua’s” name wasn’t even “Joshua” originally. Moses renamed “Joshua” the son of Nun from Oshea to Yehoshua (Jehoshua in English) in the Hebrew language. So, not only was “Joshua’s” name not Joshua but was Oshea, and was transliterated from the Hebrew language from Jehoshua to “Joshua”; this is short for Ya’Shuah or Ye’Shuah, etc. It should be noted again that the “J” was not used for the name of the Messiah or “Joshua” in the original 1611 King James Version but the letter “I” was used in the original manuscript, which also included the Apocrypha. Jehoshua would have been pronounced Yahushua or something similar. A rather large dissertation on the Messiah’s name alone could be done but for the purposes or this the Acts 7:45 verse and the Hebrews 4:8 comparison, Numbers 13:16, not forgetting to mention the fact that the letter “J” and the hard “J” sound weren’t even available in the Hebrew language to name the Messiah is all I believe needed to make the point. I have found few Christians read much Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy) and the Numbers 13:16 seems to be unknown by most. As a final point, in the Hebrew, Yahushua means Yahuweh Saves, while “Jesus” has no direct or indirect meaning in the Greek or Hebrew. Beyond our vernacular it has no meaning and can be argued very persuasively to mean “Je-Sus”; “Je” in Greek meaning “hail” and “Sus” meaning hail Zeus. The Greeks used the ending –sus in naming many of their towns to give homage to their main deity Zeus. Thus, by following modern traditions, we may actually be praising a Pagan God (unbeknownst to us or not) rather than Yahweh, the true Creator.

This is in response to the article on www.truthradio.com entitled “What is our Creator’s Name?” by Richard Palmquist. This article seemed to be written, which was confirmed by the author, in response to someone who carries hostility toward those who are unwilling to use the true Name. There are those who are what some would call legalistic in their dogma, claiming that if you don’t use the true names of Yahuweh and Yahushua (the Messiah) you are not a true believer. I do not agree with this stance as I know of some whose fruits would indicate they are saved yet still use the generic titles and mistranslations. I do not know a man’s heart, nor can I determine whether another soul will be saved. That doesn’t change the fact that our Creator is not named LORD or God; God is actually translated from the Hebrew word Elohim, which means Mighty One or the Almighty, the Supreme God. The name Elohim has no Pagan history. The fact also remains that the Messiah’s name could not have been “Jesus” nor is it just because men mistranslated it that way or because some want to hold onto that tradition. Sincerity in worship does not equal truth. Though our fathers sincerely worshipped as best they may have known how, it doesn’t mean they were infallible. Satan is working in this world and it would only make sense that a main priority would be to remove any power that may come from use of the true Names. All have to agree the modern “Church” does not have the same power that the first century Believers exhibited. One could only speculate if this is due to lack of true Name usage.

I expect this to come under criticism, though I hope it to be creative. I pose the following question to all who read this and even invite them to reply at the below email address: Knowing that LORD or Lord or God is not the true name of the Creator and that Jesus is not the true name of the Messiah (and there being much more evidence than presented here regarding the true Names and the letter “J”), why would anyone want to use those titles? Tradition? Regardless of whether it has a bearing on eternal life or not, why use a title over a name? Why? Besides tradition it makes little sense. Mankind’s propensity to resist change, even when we know that we are acting improperly, was widely understood by our Nations founders, as indicated in the Declaration of Independence:

And accordingly all experience hath shown, mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

I wish to thank Richard Palmquist who, in search of truth, is willing to look at all sides of the box, not just the side that fits his beliefs. People with an open mind willing to look at the facts that are contrary to popularly held beliefs are few and far in between. Many are called, few are chosen, as broad is the way to destruction.

In Peace and Truth, Shalom,

Jason Allen

If anyone wishes to contact me I can be reached at the following:

Ut3jaw@aol.com

(661) 472 1742

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Scripture References

Wherever a title has been used, I have taken the “liberty” of replacing the title with the original true Name or proper Hebrew title and colored them in royal Purple. “Jesus” and “Joshua” have been left to show the variances.

1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahuweh shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Yahuweh hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahuweh shall call.

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahuweh shall be saved.

Exo 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Elohim: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Elohim, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Elohim, and the faith of Jesus.

Jdg 2:12 And they forsook Yahuweh Elohim of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked Yahuweh to anger.

Jdg 2:13 And they forsook Yahuweh, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

Jdg 2:14 And the anger of Yahuweh was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

1Ki 16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

1Ki 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Jer 7:9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

Jer 11:17 For Yahuweh of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

Jer 12:16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, Yahuweh liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

Hos 13:1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

Zep 1:4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of Elohim unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

Hos 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith Yahuweh, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.

Hos 2:17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

Act 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Act 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Act 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Act 7:45 Which³⁷³⁹ also²⁵³² our²²⁵⁷ fathers³⁹⁶² that came after¹²³⁷ brought in¹⁵²¹ with³³²⁶ Joshua²⁴²⁴ into¹⁷²² the³⁵⁸⁸ possession²⁶⁹⁷ of the³⁵⁸⁸ Gentiles,¹⁴⁸⁴ whom³⁷³⁹ Elohim²³¹⁶ drove out¹⁸⁵⁶ before⁵⁷⁵ the face⁴³⁸³ of our²²⁵⁷ fathers,³⁹⁶² unto²¹⁹³ the³⁵⁸⁸ days²²⁵⁰ of David;¹¹³⁸

Heb 4:8 For¹⁰⁶³ if¹⁴⁸⁷ Joshua²⁴²⁴ had given them rest,^{2664, 846} then would he not^{3756 (302)} afterward^{3326, 5023} have spoken²⁹⁸⁰ of⁴⁰¹² another²⁴³ day.²²⁵⁰

Mat 1:1 The book⁹⁷⁶ of the generation¹⁰⁷⁸ of Jesus²⁴²⁴ Christ,⁵⁵⁴⁷ the son⁵²⁰⁷ of David,¹¹³⁸ the son⁵²⁰⁷ of Abraham.¹¹

Num 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Jer 12:16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, Yahuweh liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

Jer 12:17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith Yahuweh.

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of Yahuweh thy Elohim in vain; for the Yahuweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

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