Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, (יה ) And rejoice before Him”. Psalm 68:4

King David knew something that apparently we don’t, he had a relationship and understanding with God that many of us don’t have. He knew the name of God and used it; something that today we don’t do. I have to ask the question then, why?

For my Jewish brothers and sisters never use the name YAH (יהוה) which is pronounced (Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey) because they have been taught by the rabbis’ of old that His name is too holy to be spoken, that perhaps someone may use it with disrespect. Some rabbis asserted that a person who pronounces YHVH (יהוה ) according to its letters (instead of using a substitute) has no place in the world to come, and should be put to death. Instead of pronouncing the four-letter name, we usually substitute the name “Adonai,” or simply say “Ha-Shem” (lit. The Name).

YHVH (יהוה ) is the only proper “name of God” in the Tanakh. In the same sense that Abraham or Sarah are proper names by which you call a person. Whereas words such as Elohim (god, or authority), El (mighty one), Shaddai (almighty), Adonai (master), Elyon (most high), Avinu (our father), etc. are not names but titles, highlighting different aspects of YHWH (יהוה) and the various roles which God has.

This is similar to how I am called ‘father’, ‘husband’, ‘brother’, ‘son’, etc, but my personal name is the only one that can correctly identified me and distinguish me from any other ‘father’, ‘husband’, ‘brother’, or ‘son’. In the Tanakh, YHWH (יהוה ) is the personal name of the God of Israel, whereas other ‘names’ are titles which are ascribed to God.

I understand the rabbis concern and with all due respect I have to ask what am I to do with scriptures like Exodus 9:16, “But indeed for this I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” What name is He talking about? The titles He is known by or His name as King David, called Him?

Have you ever read the beginning of your bible…? I mean the pages before Genesis 1:1? If you have you know that every place in the bible where the proper name YAH (יהוה )should be it has been replaced with GOD or LORD. Again I have to ask why? Why would, or better yet, who would not want us to use the correct proper name of YAH (יהוה)

I have my own understanding of “Why” and “Who” is behind this, but like the writer of Proverbs 25:2 I will leave you with these words, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.”