Is a name important?

This Name is used of the Father and sometimes of the Son who came in the Father's Name; just as my surname can be used of myself and my son. We use the Name YaHuWaH with particular reference to the Father.

The Name YaHuWaH appears over 6500 times in the Hebrew Old Testament!

In the Authorized King James Version YHWH is mostly translated as 'the LORD'. The word 'LORD' is a title, not a name. Note the capital letters throughout. However, in the following seven texts the Name YaHuWaH is used.

• Genesis 22:14: And Abraham called the name of that place YaHuWaH -yireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of YaHuWaH it shall be seen.
• Exodus 6:2-3 And Elohim spake unto Moshe, and said unto him, I am YaHuWaH : And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the Name of Elohim Almighty, but by My Name YaHuWaH was I not known to them.
• Exodus 17:15: And Moshe built an altar, and called the name of it YaHuWaH -nissi...
• Judges 6:24: Then Gideon built an altar there unto YaHuWaH, and called it YaHuWaH -shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.
• Psalm 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose Name alone is YaHuWaH, art the most high over all the Earth.
• Isaiah 12:2: Behold, Elohim is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for YaHuWaH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
• Isaiah 26:4: Trust ye in YaHuWaH for ever: for in YaHuWaH is everlasting strength:

The Name YaHuWaH encompasses all the above. But the sacred Name is far more than a particular sound or a matter of correct spelling and pronunciation. The Name YaHuWaH stands for the Almighty's character, His Word, His Torah, His Motives, His Work and His Family. Currently there is much dispute on the subject of the sacred names; but we have no desire to argue. Remember that the Third Commandment forbids mankind from taking YaHuWaH 's Name in vain. Endless argument could well result in the breaking of this commandment.

The Jews, on the other hand, consider it sacrilegious to even utter the sacred Name: advising that we use titles such as Lord, Master of the World, Almighty One, the Name etc. But the Third Commandment does not forbid the use of YaHuWaH 's Name. It simply forbids 'taking His Name in vain.' Note the difference. The word 'vain' means with 'the emptiness of self-deluding vanity and falsehood.' In other words, believers are allowed to utter or write the sacred Name of the Most High; but we must do so with reverence: and certainly not to show off our knowledge. As mentioned above, the sacred Name appears in the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) over 6500 times! so it cannot be sacrilegious to utter the Name when reading the Scriptures aloud or when writing of the Almighty. More information here.

God is the word used for the Creator and ruler of the universe in Christian, Jewish and Muslim teaching. There are several Hebrew words translated 'God' in the Bible. They are:

As mentioned earlier the tetragammaton YHWH is translated in the Authorized King James Version as LORD (capital letters) 6510 times out of the 6519 it appears in the Hebrew Scriptures. Students will notice that the name/title Lord (capital 'L' and small 'ord') also appears in the Old Testament. This word 'Lord' also means God. It is translated from the Hebrew Adonay (Adonai) which appears 434 times in the Old Testament. 'Lord' however was also a title applied to pagan Baal.

Jesus is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name YAHUSHUA, spelled variously as YESHUA, Y'SHUA, YAHSHUA, YAHOHSHUA, or Joshua. The Name YAHUSHUA is not generally known among English-speaking believers. But you will notice that we often use the original Hebrew form YAHUSHUA. This Name means 'the Salvation of YAH.' In other words YAHUSHUA is YaHuWaH 's agent or means of salvation.' He is YaHuWaH in His role as Savior. The gospel of Matthew says "you shall call His Name YAHUSHUA, for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) Click here for more information on the Name YAHUSHUA.

The Savior's Name is also Emmanuel, which means 'Elohim is with us:'

As mentioned earlier, no one can be absolutely certain that he/she is correctly pronouncing the sacred name. A name is a noun, a word or short phrase by which a person, place or thing is known. Common nouns (i.e. man, sport, animal etc) are used for a whole class or group of things. Proper nouns are names of particular persons and places. Some proper nouns have meanings; many do not. My name, for example, has no special meaning; though to me it represents my character, my family, my reputation and my word of honor. But the proper noun to my knowledge, does not have any particular meaning. A name is - as far as possible - pronounced the same in every language. But people from different nations may mispronounce my name depending on how they voice the letters. But I realize this fact. It does not disturb me. I know who they mean: though I often smile when I hear my name mispronounced by others - especially foreigners.

It is the same when pronouncing the sacred Names YaHuWaH or YAHUSHUA. I very much doubt if Gentile believers, even to this day, have the pronunciation absolutely correct; though some make out that they have. I am, however, certain that the Most High and His Son know who we mean when we pronounce or mispronounce their names.

All the letters in the Hebrew alphabet are consonants: that is, letters other than vowels. The English vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u) are represented in written Hebrew by dots and dashes, called 'vowel-points' or, simply 'points'.

In order to help English-speaking people who would, otherwise, be unable to pronounce the four consonants YHWH (called the tetragrammaton) the English vowels 'a' and 'e' are inserted in the sacred Name. But the original inspired writers just wrote 'YHWH,' or rather the Hebrew equivalents of those letters. The English letters YHWH are a transliteration or representation of the four Hebrew characters.
But how does one pronounce the tetragrammaton YaHuWaH is the closest known pronunciation today.

And this brings me to an extremely important question:
Is it a sin to use the title LORD or the name JESUS?
Some groups teach that if you have a Bible which uses words like LORD, Lord or Jesus Christ, then change it; because the word 'Lord' is a pagan title of Baal. Even the word 'God', they claim, is the name of a pagan deity 'Godan' or 'Wodan'. Hosea 2:16-17 indicates that all hints and forms of pagan derived titles will be removed from YaHuWaH 's kingdom.

Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith YaHuWaH, that thou shalt call me Ishi (husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (Lord).
17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

Did YaHuWaH the Almighty Elohim of Israel inspire the Old Testament prophets to write His Name YHWH over 6500 times in Scripture and then forbid true believers even speaking or writing His Name? How is it possible to 'call upon the Name of YaHuWaH (as advised in 1Chron:16:8, Psalm 80:18, Psalm 99:6, Psalm 105:1, Psalm 116:13, Psalm 116:17, Isaiah 12:4, Isaiah 41:25, Zephaniah 3:9 and in numerous other passages of Scripture) if one isn't allowed to even speak His Name?

We use the sacred names YaHuWaH, YAHUSHUA, etc. We have done so in order to inform millions of English-speaking people who know of no other names than those which appear in their Bibles.

Our belief is: that when the Almighty's Name ( YaHuWaH ) is used - with reverence - it has a power no man on Earth can measure.

Undoubtedly, it must never be used 'in vain,' in self-deluding vanity: this is forbidden by the Third Commandment. But it may be used - with reverence! After all, it is the Name the Almighty authorized in His Word.

In this article the Almighty's Name, with its variations, has been used: but that is only because it is the subject under consideration. There is absolutely no disrespect intended - whatsoever.

I trust that this will clarify our stand as regards the sacred Names.