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'''Jehovah''' is the personal name of [[God]] used in the [[Bible]].

'''Jehovah''' is the personal name of [[God]] used in the [[Bible]].

The best known English pronunciation of the Divine Name, although many Hebrew scholars prefer “Yahweh”. The oldest Hebrew manuscripts represent the Divine Name by the four consonants יהוה (read left to right), also known as the Tetragrammaton (from Greek ''tetra-'', meaning “four” and ''gram’ma'', meaning “letter”).   They have been transliterated into English as JHVH or YHWH.

It is the best known English pronunciation of the Divine Name, although many Hebrew scholars prefer “Yahweh.” The oldest Hebrew manuscripts represent the Divine Name by the four consonants יהוה (read right to left), also known as the Tetragrammaton (from Greek ''tetra-'', meaning “four” and ''gram’ma'', meaning “letter”). They have been transliterated into English as JHVH or YHWH.

Although the consonants are known, the vowels associated with the Divine Name are not thus rendering the original pronunciation uncertain.  In most Bible translations the titles [[GOD]] or LORD (note both are in all capitals) are used whenever the Divine Name appears in the original Hebrew text.

Although the consonants are known, the vowels associated with the Divine Name are not thus rendering the original pronunciation uncertain.  In most Bible translations the titles [[GOD]] or LORD (note both are in all capitals) are used whenever the Divine Name appears in the original Hebrew text.

The presence of the Divine Name, appearing over 6,000 times in the Hebrew-Aramaic portion of the Holy Scriptures, would indicate it was known and used by ordinary Jews during Bible times. Over time, the practice of substituting ’Adho•nai´ (Sovereign Lord) or ’Elo•him´ (God) to avoid accidentally profaning the Name became Rabbinic tradition.

The Divine Name appears over 6,000 times in the Hebrew-Aramaic portion of the Holy Scriptures, but until the destruction of the [[Second Temple]] it was only pronounced by the Jewish high priest on Yom Kippur. Over time, the practice of substituting "Adonai" (Sovereign Lord) or "Elohim" (God) to avoid accidentally profaning the Name became Rabbinic tradition, and the name's true pronunciation was lost. The pronunciation "Jehovah" comes from inserting the Hebrew vowels of the word "Adonai" into the Latinized tetragrammaton ("JHVH") and likely bears little resemblance to how the Name was originally pronounced.

==Meaning==

==Meaning==

Originally Biblical Hebrew was written without vowels, the reader having been educated to know the appropriate vowels to insert when reading.  As the proper pronunciation of Hebrew was being lost through lack of fluency a group of Hebrew copyists, the [[Masoretes]] invented signs to be placed around consonants to indicate accents and proper pronunciation of vowels.

Originally Biblical Hebrew was written without vowels, the reader having been educated to know the appropriate vowels to insert when reading.  As the proper pronunciation of Hebrew was being lost through lack of fluency a group of Hebrew copyists, the [[Masoretes]] invented signs to be placed around consonants to indicate accents and proper pronunciation of vowels.

When it came to copying the Divine Name, the Masoretes provided vowel points for יהוה so that it now appeared as יְהוָה, following the accepted tradition of using ’Adho•nai´ (Sovereign Lord) or ’Elo•him´ (God) in place of the Divine Name.

When it came to copying the Divine Name, the Masoretes provided vowel points for יהוה so that it now appeared as יְהוָה, following the accepted tradition of using "Adonai" (Sovereign Lord) or "Elohim" (God) in place of the Divine Name.

According to the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]], some scholars hold Jehovah dates only from the year 1520. However, writers of the sixteenth century, regardless of religious background, were familiar with the word.  The name has been found as early as the 13th century in the "Pugio fidei" of Raymund Martin, a work written about 1270 (ed. Paris, 1651, pt. III, dist. ii, cap. iii, p. 448, and Note, p. 745).

According to the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]], some scholars hold Jehovah dates only from the year 1520. However, writers of the sixteenth century, regardless of religious background, were familiar with the word.  The name has been found as early as the 13th century in the "Pugio fidei" of Raymund Martin, a work written about 1270 (ed. Paris, 1651, pt. III, dist. ii, cap. iii, p. 448, and Note, p. 745).