# Yahweh

## Related Ideas:

Yah


## Facts:

The term "Yahweh" is God's personal name that he revealed when he spoke to Moses at the burning bush.

* The name "Yahweh" comes from the word that means to "be" or to "exist."
* The name "Yah" is short for "Yahweh."
* Possible meanings of "Yahweh" include, "he is" or "I am" or "the one who causes to be."
* This name reveals that God has always lived and will continue to live forever. It also means that he is always present.
* Following tradition, many Bible versions use the term "LORD" or "the LORD" to represent "Yahweh." This tradition resulted from the fact that historically, the Jewish people became afraid of mispronouncing Yahweh's name and started saying "Lord" every time the term "Yahweh" appeared in the text. Modern Bibles write "LORD" with all capital letters to show respect for God's personal name and to distinguish it from "Lord" which is a different Hebrew word.
* The ULB and UDB texts always translate this term as, "Yahweh," as it literally occurs in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament.
* The term "Yahweh" does not ever occur in the original text of the New Testament; only the Greek term for "Lord" is used, even in quotes from the Old Testament.
* In the Old Testament, when God spoke about himself, he would often use his name instead of a pronoun. By adding the pronoun "I" or "me," the UDB indicates to the reader that God is the speaker.

## Translation Suggestions:

* "Yahweh" could be translated by a word or phrase that means "I am" or "living one" or "the one who is" or "he who is alive."
* This term could also be written in a way that is similar to how "Yahweh" is spelled.
* Some church denominations prefer not to use the term "Yahweh" and instead use the traditional rendering, "LORD." An important consideration is that this may be confusing when read aloud because it will sound the same as the title "Lord." Some languages may have an affix or other grammatical marker that could be added to distinguish "LORD" as a name (Yahweh) from "Lord" as a title.
* It is best if possible to keep the name Yahweh where it literally occurs in the text, but some translations may decide to use only a pronoun in some places, to make the text more natural and clear.
* When Yahweh referred to himself as Yahweh, you can make it clear that Yahweh was speaking by introducing the quote with something like, "This is what Yahweh says."

(Translation suggestions: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]])

(See also: [God](../kt/god.md), [lord](../kt/lord.md), [Lord](../kt/lord.md), [Moses](../names/moses.md), [reveal](../kt/reveal.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Kings 21:20](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/21/20)
* [1 Samuel 16:07](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/16/07)
* [Daniel 09:03](rc://en/tn/help/dan/09/03)
* [Ezekiel 17:24](rc://en/tn/help/ezk/17/24)
* [Genesis 02:04](rc://en/tn/help/gen/02/04)
* [Genesis 04:3-5](rc://en/tn/help/gen/04/03)
* [Genesis 28:13](rc://en/tn/help/gen/28/13)
* [Hosea 11:12](rc://en/tn/help/hos/11/12)
* [Isaiah 10:04](rc://en/tn/help/isa/10/04)
* [Isaiah 38:08](rc://en/tn/help/isa/38/08)
* [Job 12:10](rc://en/tn/help/job/12/10)
* [Joshua 01:09](rc://en/tn/help/jos/01/09)
* [Lamentations 01:05](rc://en/tn/help/lam/01/05)
* [Leviticus 25:35](rc://en/tn/help/lev/25/35)
* [Malachi 03:04](rc://en/tn/help/mal/03/04)
* [Micah 02:05](rc://en/tn/help/mic/02/05)
* [Micah 06:05](rc://en/tn/help/mic/06/05)
* [Numbers 08:11](rc://en/tn/help/num/08/11)
* [Psalm 124:03](rc://en/tn/help/psa/124/03)
* [Ruth 01:21](rc://en/tn/help/rut/01/21)
* [Zechariah 14:5](rc://en/tn/help/zec/14/5)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[09:14](rc://en/tn/help/obs/09/14)__ God said, "I AM WHO I AM. Tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.' Also tell them, 'I am __Yahweh__, the God of your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is my name forever.'"
* __[13:04](rc://en/tn/help/obs/13/04)__ Then God gave them the covenant and said, "I am __Yahweh__, your God, who saved you from slavery in Egypt. Do not worship other gods."
* __[13:05](rc://en/tn/help/obs/13/05)__ "Do not make idols or worship them, for I, __Yahweh__, am a jealous God."
* __[16:01](rc://en/tn/help/obs/16/01)__ The Israelites began to worship the Canaanite gods instead of __Yahweh__, the true God.
* __[19:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/19/10)__ Then Elijah prayed, "O __Yahweh__, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, show us today that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant."

## Word Data:

* Strong's: H3050, H3068, H3069

## Forms Found in the English ULB:

Yah, Yahweh, Yahweh's


