The God of Abraham, “YAH” is His name

Jehovah, Yahweh, Yahuwah, HaShem, I AM THAT I AM, I AM WHO I AM, LORD, which is it? What is really the name of the God who revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures? Exploring how those various names originated will be beyond the scope this space would allow. Nevertheless, this topic is key to the foundation of the Judeo-Christian faith and crucial to our salvation as prophesied in the Old and quoted in the New Testaments. (I’ll use the King James Version as a reference Bible for this article).

In the Old Testament, the prophet Joel proclaims this prophecy:

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

In the New Testament, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the apostle Peter preached the same prophecy as being fulfilled:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved… For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:21, 39, KJV)

Calling upon the sacred name of God is a distinction the people of God have from others as we learn from their lives (Gen. 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 21:33; Psalms 116:13 & 17; Joel 2:32; Zeph. 3:9; Zech. 13:9; Acts 2:21; Rom.10:12–13).

First, a misnomer: “Hallelujah” does not mean “Praise the Lord”

That praise word “Hallelujah” which is supposed to address God does not really translate to “Praise the Lord” in English as taught and customarily declared by Christians. Since there is no “J” sound in Hebrew or Aramaic language, God’s name can neither be “Jehovah” nor “Jah” (in the short form, as some say).

I believe as I hope you will find in this article, the correct praise is “HalleluYah.” This means “Praise Yah” or Praise to Yah.” “YAH” is God’s personal name in Hebrew-Aramaic. YAH means I AM in English. In this study, I will explain how this is so.

I must highlight that before Moses met God for the first time in Mt. Sinai, God’s name was never made known to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. How Israel’s forefathers knew God and called upon Him was by His attributes and not by His personal name.

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, “I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name “Jehovah” was I not known to them.” (Exodus 6:2–3, KJV)

But why did God reveal His personal name to Moses this time, and not to Abraham in his time? Below we will read the simple answer: Because Moses asked God!

I AM, the God of thy Father…

In chapter 3 of the book of Exodus (all reading from KJV), Moses came to Mt. Sinai where God called unto him out of the midst of the bush. Exodus 3:5–6, (KJV) reads,

5 And He (God) said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6 Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Skipping to verses 10–15,

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 And He said, “Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.”

13 And Moses said unto God, “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them?”

14 And God 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.”

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.”

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob appeared unto Me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:”

Errors by Mispronouns

Now, let me pre-empt by saying that some of the errors in the English Bibles can be attributed to what I term as mispronouns. By that I mean, misattributing pronouns. This happens when two or more of the same pronouns are used in one sentence. In another article, I wrote about Why Did Noah Curse His Grandson Canaan where I explained this problem.

In the aforementioned passages, for example, the pronoun “he” can be misattributed to either Moses or God if you don’t capitalize one that refers to God. In the older English Bible translations like the King James Version (KJV) or the American Standard Version (ASV), the pronoun “he” or “my” was not defined as to whom it refers to, whether to God or to man. They all appear with lowercase “h” or “m” even if it refers to God. Here’s a key verse pivotal to our faith as an example.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6, KJV)

*Side question: In this verse, can you identify to whom the pronoun “him” refers?

As the English language progressed, as you will notice in the modern English Bible versions like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) or the New King James Version (NKJV) that they made this distinction. However, in doing that the translators sometimes mistakenly appropriated the sacred to the common leading to grave doctrinal errors. I’ll show this in the succeeding paragraphs.

First, let’s return to the subject and “unscroll” this passage by rightly dividing the word to understand its context.

God Introduced Himself to Moses at the Burning Bush and Gave him His Name

Take note of how God first introduced Himself to Moses in verse 6,

6 Moreover, He said, “I AM, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…”

Then God repeated it in verse 15 (second time), and in verse 16 (third time).

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…”

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob…”

However, in these two verses (15 and 16), the KJV translators replaced the “I AM” with “LORD” instead-but in the wrong sequence. It should be “LORD the God of your fathers” rather than “the LORD God of your fathers” as first mentioned in verse 6.

Why replace the “I AM” or “YAH” with “LORD”? This change originated from the Judaism’s Elders’ tradition prohibiting utterance of God’s sacred name as a precaution against violating the third commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” (Exo. 20:7, KJV)

The same law is reflected in the Jewish English Bible where instead of using “I AM” or “YAH” (in Hebrew-Aramaic) they just replaced it with the Hebrew phrase “HaShem” translated in English as “The Name.” The Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) states the third commandment as, “Thou shalt not take the Shem Hashem Eloheicha in vain; for Hashem will not hold him guiltless that taketh Shmo in vain.” [Shemot (Exodus) 20:7, OJB]

Moving on to verse 13, Moses asked for the name of God.

13 And Moses said unto God, “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them?”

What is His Name?

Old English translations like KJV, ASV, and DARBY state, “I AM THAT I AM.”

Modern English translations like NASB, NIV, AMP, ESV, GNT, ISV, RSV, NKJV, NLT, and RcV (Recovery Version) say, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) and the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) similarly say, Eh-heh-yeh ashair Ehheh- yeh or “I AM WHO I AM,” in English.

YAHWEH is I AM THAT I AM or I AM WHO I AM?

This I AM THAT I AM or I AM WHO I AM they say was based on the Tetragrammaton, the Hebrew name of God transliterated in four letters as YHWH or JHVH and articulated as Yahweh or Jehovah. But there’s no letter “J” in Hebrew or Aramaic so Jehovah is out. Nevertheless, whatever flaws it may have, some English versions continue to promote it. One version that I use to cross-reference with other versions in my study clings to the name “Jehovah (I AM WHO I AM)” even while acknowledging in the Introduction to their version:

The reader will quickly note the use of the name Jehovah in this translation. In spite of the historical linguistic arguments against its use, no other rendering of the Tetragrammaton has the same heritage that Jehovah has in classic English literature. While our forebears in translation, based on a faulty understanding of the Hebrew vowel pointing, might have mistakenly transliterated the divine name, their great influence has firmly embedded the name Jehovah into the English language, as evidenced by its inclusion in our modern dictionaries. Our employing of the name Jehovah is motivated not by linguistic considerations but by a recognition of the heritage of the English language and, more importantly, by a desire to be true to our convictions as translators that the name of God, revealed and delivered to His saints (Exo. 3:16; 20:7), should be deliberately rendered in the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Deference to ancient religion and confusion from modern sectarians are no reasons to shrink back from the use and enjoyment of God’s personal and revealed name.

Our God is perfect so He wants us to be perfect (cf. Matthew 5:48). He is sanctifying and cleansing us with the washing of water by His word (cf. Eph. 5:26). Therefore, anything faulty as we come to realize it is to be done away with.

Jehovah, YaHWeH, YeHoWaH, YaHuWaH, pronunciation differs depending on where you come from, it is translated as I AM THAT I AM in English. But is that really the name of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

I AM THAT I AM

This is where the error by mispronoun came. In verse 14, the translators have mistakenly taken the pronoun “THAT” as part of the sacred name. It is not. The first “I AM” together with the pronoun “THAT” before the second “I AM” are not parts of God’s sacred name but just a phrase pointing to that name “I AM” as introduced in Exodus 3:6. To understand its correct context, that phrase should have been written as “I am that I AM.” The first part “I am that” are pronouns introducing the latter “I AM” which is the sacred name (“YAH” in Hebrew-Aramaic).

Connecting the flow, verse 6 should write,

6 Moreover He said, I AM, the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Then verse 14 should then be,

14 And God said unto Moses, “I am that I AM (pointing to verse 6):” and He said, ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, “I AM hath sent me unto you.”’

He is the same I AM introduced in verse 6 who was now sending Moses back to Egypt in verse 14

Further on, verses 15 and 16 should be,

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this (referring to that I AM aforementioned) is My name forever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.”

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, “I AM, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob appeared unto Me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:”

YAH means I AM

YAH in Hebrew-Aramaic means I AM in English. In Numbers chapter 13, Moses was preparing to send the twelve spies, leaders from each tribe to spy out the promised land. Of the tribe of Ephraim, they chose a man named Oshea, the son of Nun (Numbers 13:8, KJV). “Oshea,” Oshua, or Hoshea, is a Hebrew name from the Aramaic word “Yasha” which means salvation.

Before sending them out, Moses called Oshea and changed his name to Jehoshua or Joshua, or as it should be Yah-oshea meaning “Yah will save.” The name of God, Yah was added to his name Oshea, because in the name of God, he would lead His people into a place of salvation, the promised rest (Numbers 13:16). Isn’t that the same name given to the Savior of the world, Yahoshea or Yahushua? Our Savior bearing the name of God, Yah.

Even the prophets whom Yah has sent bear His name: Eli-Yah (Elijah) meaning “My God is Yah”, Yasha-Yah (Isaiah) meaning “Salvation of Yah”, Yirmi-Yah (Jeremiah) meaning “Raised or Appointed by Yah”, Yah-el (Joel) meaning “Yah is God,” Obad-Yah (Obadiah) meaning “Servant of Yah,” you get the message.

Now, to further establish this truth let’s find other verses in the Bible where this divine name “YAH” (“Jah” in some versions) or “I AM” is retained or mentioned.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

A search from different English Bible translations like Complete Jewish Bible (CJB), New King James Version (NKJV), Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), and World English Bible (WEB), yield hundreds of verses where Yah is mentioned, while Darby Translation (DARBY) and Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) also produced a great number for Jah. Below are some of them.

CJV — Isaiah 26:4 Trust in Adonai forever, because in Yah Adonai, is a Rock of Ages.”

ERV — Isaiah 26:4 So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord Yah you have a place of safety forever.

NKJV — Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”

DARBY — Confide ye in Jehovah forever; for in Jah, Jehovah, is the rock of ages.

YLT — Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast taken captive captivity, Thou hast taken gifts for men, That even the refractory may rest, O Jah God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

In The New Testament, we read Jesus Christ declaring that He is the I AM (YAH in Hebrew-Aramaic). Reading from KJV,

John 8:24–I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.

John 8:28–Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Some versions added “he” after the I AM in these two verses taking the real context out of context. Again, mispronoun. However, John 8:58 confirms the name.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

How did “I AM THAT I AM” become “I AM WHO I AM?

This transformation was caused by the progression in English language grammar from Old English to Modern English, replacing the pronoun THAT with WHO when it is addressing a person as per these examples:

Example 1 — Old Testament: Genesis 12:3

(Old English Version — KJV)

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

(Modern English Version — NKJV)

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Example 2 — New Testament: John 14:21

(Old English Version — KJV)

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

(Modern English Version — NKJV)

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

So, there you have it! I AM THAT I AM changed to I AM WHO I AM. But we must question this! How can the holy and eternal God whose name He personally declared as forever (Exo. 3:15) be so easily renamed by mortals because of language change?

Further Observations

The Hebrew, Aramaic, or even the Arabic language when written, do not have vowels. However, to pronounce the name YHWH or YH you need vowels. How it is pronounced is subject to the accent of the speaker, where they come from. Those in Jerusalem do not exactly speak like those in Samaria though they both speak the Hebrew or Aramaic language. Their pronunciation varies as YaHuWaH, YaHuWaHu, YaHWeH, or YeHoWaH (from where Jehovah was taken).

Similarly, some of those from India pronounce V as W and vice versa. The same with the Greeks pronouncing Yahshua or Yeshua as IE-SUS. Perhaps taking the sound of Yah or Ye in combination with the sound of the name of their Greek mythological godhead Zeus (just a thought). Then, this became Jesus when J was introduced into the English alphabet to replace IE as a single letter with the enforced sound dzi.

Closing Thought

So, what is really the name of our God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

What is the name of the blessed God and Father of our Lord, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ? This awesome God who sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts whereby we cry, Abba, Father! What is His name?

Our God delights for us to call upon His name (Joel 2:32, Psa. 116:17, Zech. 13:9, Isa. 12:4), must we know what is His true name in order to understand Him? Can you really, with a faulty name attributed to Him, call upon Him in truth?

Lord, sanctify us in Your truth, Your word is truth. Amen.