Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A name for the God of the Old Testament: "YHVH" is the transliteration of the four Hebrew consonants (the Tetragrammaton) representing the personal name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible.

Usage Notes

• "YHVH" is a sacred and ineffable name in Jewish tradition. It is often not pronounced as written. In many English biblical translations, it is rendered as "the LORD" (in small capitals).
• It is primarily an academic or theological term used when discussing the textual representation of the divine name in the Hebrew scriptures.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Scholars debate the original pronunciation of YHVH.
  • The name YHVH appears over 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible.

Advanced Usage

• The Tetragrammaton: This is the technical term for the four-letter Hebrew name of God, represented by the consonants Yod, He, Vav, He (YHVH).
  • The Tetragrammaton, YHVH, is considered the most sacred name of God in Judaism.

Variants and Related Words

• Yahweh: A proposed scholarly reconstruction for the vocalization and pronunciation of YHVH.
  • Many academics believe "Yahweh" is close to the original pronunciation of YHVH.
• Jehovah: A later hybrid form combining the consonants of YHVH (JHVH) with the vowel points of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (Lord).
  • "Jehovah" is an English rendering that originated in the Middle Ages.

Synonyms

• The LORD: The conventional English translation used in place of YHVH in most Bibles.
• The Tetragrammaton: The technical term for the four-letter name itself.

Important Note

• This entry explains the lexical item "YHVH" as a transliterated proper noun. It does not cover theological doctrines or the usage of terms like "God" or "Lord" in general, which are separate dictionary entries.

Noun

1. a name for the God of the Old Testament as transliterated from the Hebrew consonants YHVH