What is His Name?

Proverbs 30:8, KJV:
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if thou canst tell?

This verse is obviously speaking about the One commonly referred to in the Scripture as “the LORD” and the Son of God, commonly referred to as Jesus. What I plan to show through Scripture is that one can tell what the name of “the LORD” is and also what His Son’s Name is. Not only can one tell what these names are, but you’ll see that Scripture teaches that it is important to know and use these names.

We know that as a result of Jewish tradition, our Creator’s name was removed from Scripture in an attempt to keep men from profaning the name. The only problem with that is the fact that we can clearly see that our Heavenly Father wants His name to be known and proclaimed throughout the earth. The Jews have done with the name of God what they’ve done with so many other things pertaining to God; they’ve put fences around fences or laws around laws to the point that we end up going beyond what was originally intended by the Father.

We serve an Elohim (God) Who is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. I desire to worship Him in this way. When we find things within His Word that plainly speak to any particular subject, these things should be regarded as necessary. Scripture shows that the true names of the Almighty and of the Messiah can absolutely be viewed in this context.

I am by no means “kicking people out of the Kingdom” or passing judgment on anyone because I don’t have a heaven or a hell to put anyone in. I do know that over the years since our Savior walked this earth, things have been covered up and truth has been lost. But the hour cometh and now is when truth is to be restored. There is a large population of “Christians” who do not study and, as a result, a myriad of very weighty issues have been “done away with” and things have entered into the body of Messiah which definitely don’t belong. However, let’s just deal with one thing at a time, specifically the Name of God.

When first meeting a person, what is the thing that usually takes place? Under normal circumstances, an introduction is always first. “Hi, my name is so and so.” This is just a natural thing, when meeting someone you ask – what’s your name? So why would things be any different when dealing with our Heavenly Father. News Flash: An introduction has taken place, but as a result of incorrect interpretations and indoctrinations we’ve accepted the titles of our Creator as His Name.

We know that in the Scriptures, where we see “the LORD” or “GOD” with all capital letters, in the original manuscripts was the tetragrammaton: י (Yod) ה (Heh) ו (Waw) ה (Heh) - , which is rendered as YHWH in English. YHWH is pronounced yä-wā or yä-wĕ (Yahweh or Yahwah). The most common English spelling used by biblical scholars is Yahweh. So when we see “the LORD” or “GOD” in all capital letters in the Scriptures, we can rightfully restore the name of “the LORD,” which is Yahweh.

Any middle school English student could probably explain the fact that the words lord and god are not proper nouns, but common nouns – titles, not names. And by the way, I’m not superstitious about the titles or refuse to use them, nor do I label them as pagan in origin. I do however take great issue with replacing the true name of our Heavenly Father in the Scriptures with mere titles. The Word of Yahweh, that we commonly call the Bible, is, was, and forever shall be (in its original non-translated form) the inspired or God-breathed, inerrant Word from on High. So that would in turn mean that every word we find in the book was placed there because that is how the Most High wanted to be represented. Keeping that in mind, replacing the name of the Almighty (the name He put in His Word) with a title is in direct opposition to the Almighty.

Now in the Old Testament books, we know that titles are indeed used in conjunction with the name of Yahweh. As I’ve previously stated, I am not superstitious, however I do have a personal preference in regards to the titles I use in reference to Yahweh. In the English translation of the Scriptures, when only the first letter of the titles lord and god is capitalized (ie, Lord and God) these are titles in the original text. In Hebrew, the title God is Elohim and the title Lord is Adonai. When referring to Yahweh, I prefer to use the titles that Yahweh ascribes to Himself. So rather than say “God,” I prefer to say Elohim and rather than say “Lord,” I prefer to say Adoni or Adonai.

With all that being said, let’s let the Word of Yahweh speak for itself and you can judge for yourself. I mentioned above about introductions and first meetings. If we look at Exodus 3:13-15 we see one of the most compelling pieces of evidence that shows that the Most High Yahweh wants His name to be known.

In the verses leading up to verse 13, we find Moses speaking with the Angel of Yahweh, Who, by the way, refers to Himself as Elohim. Moses realizes that he is having an intimate experience with the Almighty and rightfully hides his face. Yahweh begins to tell Moses all that He is going to do in regards to the children of Israel. As far as their bondage in Egypt, He explains how He is going to set the people free and that Moses will be the one to lead the people. So we get down to the 13th verse, and it reads:

Exodus 3:13: And Moses said unto Elohim (God), Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The Elohim of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? What shall I say unto them?
3:14: And Elohim said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
3:15: And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Yahweh Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.

“This is My Name,” He said – “forever.” I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked we were still in forever, so His name must still be Yahweh. He said unto all generations, so that means even unto the Jews today who don’t want to say His name – His name is Yahweh to them also.

We see in the Word that we are not to add to or take away from it because it is the very Word of Yahweh. This is just what has happened in regards to Yahweh’s name. It has been diminished to a common noun, a title.

Now I’ve heard the argument that we don’t call our earthly fathers by their names, so why call our Heavenly Father by His name? Usually when one addresses their earthly father, one would use his title, Dad. The same should go for our Heavenly Father just out of respect.

Well, without trying to sound like a father (which I am), the best thing I can say in response to that argument is “‘cause He said so.” If Yahweh said to do it, I think that’s all the explanation that anyone should need. To take His name out of the Scriptures is going directly against His very own Word. He wants to be called by His name. That’s what He wants.

Further proof that Yahweh wants His name to be known is found in the Ten Commandments, words that were spoken by the very mouth of Elohim. One could make the argument that even though Yahweh said that this is His name to all generations, He might not have told Moses His name if Moses hadn’t asked first. According to Scripture, this is just not the case.

The giving of the Torah (Law), which began with the 10 commandments, was arguably the most amazing event in all of Scripture. The children of Israel had seen wonders: the parting of the Red Sea, the plagues against Egypt, the first Passover, but here they actually heard the voice of Almighty Yahweh. They weren’t getting some second hand information. This was straight from the source. The first thing they heard out of the very mouth of Yahweh is… “I am Yahweh…” He wanted to let this people know who He is, what His name is. He was personally introducing Himself to His people. Until this moment, the Children of Israel had heard from Yahweh through Moses, but now Yahweh Himself was addressing His people. He was letting them know: I am the One Who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; I am your Elohim, and My name is Yahweh.

We serve a jealous Elohim and He doesn’t want His glory to go to another. In fact, this is the reason Moses failed to go into the Promise Land – because when he struck the rock rather than speaking to it as Yahweh commanded, he was actually stealing Yahweh’s glory (see Numbers 20:7-12). Yahweh charged Moses with failing to believe and sanctify Him in the sight of His people. Moses, in his aggravation with the people, said “must we fetch you water out of this rock?” He paid dearly for that one mistake. The point is that Elohim wants the credit for what He does.  He is Elohim of heaven above and upon earth below; there is none else. He is the one and only True and Living Elohim, and His name is Yahweh.

Yahweh not Jehovah

Some might say, what about Scriptures such as Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 or Isaiah 26:4, where the King James Version literally spells out the name of the Almighty as Jehovah?

Well, first of all, we know there was no such letter as a “J” 500 years ago. Secondly, there is no “J” sound in the Hebrew language. So, if the Bible text is more than 500 years old (which it is) and if there is no “J” sound in the Hebrew language, and this is a Hebrew text to a Hebrew people – “Jehovah” wasn’t there. But, finally, it is well documented how this name “Jehovah” came into existence. It is a hybrid name that came about by the combining of YHWH and Adonai in the Hebrew. By taking the vowel points from Adonai and adding them to YHWH, and then changing the “Y” sound of the first letter of YHWH’s Name to a “J” sound, Jehovah is what was birthed.

One final point has to do with the main propagators of the name Jehovah – the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have explained the error in the name of Jehovah in their own publications and they will tell you in their own literature that in spite of the fact that they know the name is really Yahweh and not Jehovah, they continue to use Jehovah because this is the popular name and this is what is used by the majority of people.

With all the information out there in this day and age, the fact that our Heavenly Father’s name is Yahweh is a very well known fact. Any good encyclopedia or dictionary will tell you His name. However, there are many who argue and teach that just because His name is known, calling Him by it is unnecessary.

Fortunately for us, there are a number of Scriptures that teach otherwise. Within the book of Psalms we find David making numerous proclamations of the name of Yahweh.

• Psalms 7:17: I will praise Yahweh according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.
• Psalms 22:22: I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.

What does it mean to praise the name of Yahweh? To praise means to give honor to, to lift up, to make known. How do I lift up and make known a name without using it? What does it mean to declare the name? – to shout the name or to publish or proclaim the name? You can’t use such words as praise or declare in regards to the Yahweh’s name without actually using it.

We have these beautiful Psalms here, these wonderful tools to help us praise our Maker. David was a man after Yahweh’s own heart. If anyone knew how to please and praise Yahweh, it was David. By his example, we can learn to praise the name of Yahweh.

• Psalms 29:1 Give unto Yahweh, O ye mighty, give unto Yahweh glory and strength.
  29:2 Give unto Yahwehthe glory due unto His name; worship Yahweh in the beauty of holiness.
• salms 34:9 O fear Yahweh, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him.
• Psalms 52:9 I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before Thy saints.
• Psalms 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto Thee: I will praise Thy name, O Yahweh; for it is good.

Yahweh’s name is good. It is not something that should be hidden, but rather it should be proclaimed because it is good.

Psalms 79:6 Pour out Thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon Thy name.

Here some serious implication are made that those who don’t call on the name of Yahweh are going to be in for some very unpleasant consequences.

Additional Scriptures showing the importance of Yahweh’s name are: Psalms 83:16-18; 86:8-12; 89:15-16; 92:1; 96:1-2, 8; 103:1; 105:1-3; and 113:1-3.

Not only does our Almighty Father have a name that He wants us to know and use, but we are actually saved by that name.

Psalms 54:1 Save me, O Elohim, by Thy name, and judge me by Thy strength.

How can one be saved by Thy name? Well, Proverbs tells us that the name is a strong tower – the righteous run into it and is safe.

Psalms 118:21-26 shows how we are saved by this name:

Psalms 118:21 I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
118:23 This is Yahweh's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
118:24 This is the day which Yahweh hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Yahweh: O Yahweh, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.
118:26 Blessed be He that cometh in the name of Yahweh: we have blessed you out of the house of Yahweh.

This Psalm is speaking about Yahweh becoming our Salvation and the Messiah Who will come in the name of Yahweh.

We also see that Yahweh will become our salvation in Isaiah 12:2:

• Isaiah 12:2 Behold, El is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for YAH Yahweh is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
• Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty El, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

What is His Son’s Name?

Matthew 1:21 says:

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name “Jesus”: for He shall save His people from their sins.

First of all, the same reason why Jehovah is not Yahweh’s name is why Jesus is not the Savior’s name. No “J,” thus no Jesus.

Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible says: “The Savior when He walked the earth was not called Jesus or Christ.” This is a Jewish man. He did not have a Greek name, but a Hebrew name – Yahushua. We also know that our Savior’s name was the same as the successor of Moses, but His Hebrew name was poorly transliterated into Greek as Iesous.

At times in the New Testament Scriptures we find Greek “equivalents” of Hebrew names. For example, Isaiah is changed to Esaias and Elijah is changed to Elias. This trend was continued with the Savior’s name as well. If you look at Acts 7:45 or Hebrews 4:8, you’ll find that the translators put the name “Jesus” where the text is not referring at all to the savior of mankind, but to the successor of Moses – Yahushua ben-Nun. This is the case simply because they have the same name.

There is only one name by which men are saved – one name. That name is not Jesus, but Yahushua, which means Yahweh is Salvation. Jesus or Iesous (Greek) is actually a transliteration of Yeshua, which does indeed mean “salvation” according to the Strong’s concordance, but Yahweh’s name is not in Yeshua. Yahweh’s name also is not in Iesous. These names only say salvation, but do not give the credit to the One Who should rightfully receive all the glory and honor and thanks for saving all those that believe. The One that came in the name of Yahweh was and is Yahweh in the flesh, EmmanuEl, or “Elohim with us.”

Why would He come in another name when He had placed so much emphasis on His own name? Isaiah 42:8 reads:

• Isaiah 42:8 I am Yahweh: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.
• John 17:11b says (NASB):
  John 17:11b “…Keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are.”

Yahweh’s glory is not misplaced by Yahushua because our Savior came not in His own glory or authority or name, but in the name of Yahweh, giving the Father all the glory.

Isaiah 45:20-25 reads (KJV):
Isaiah 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto an el (god) that cannot save.
45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: Who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I Yahweh? And there is no Elohim else beside Me; a just El and a Saviour; there is none besides Me.
45:22 Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am El, and there is none else.
45:23 I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
45:24 Surely, shall one say, in Yahweh have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
45:25 In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Yahweh is the name that saves. The name of Yahushua is the name of Yahweh – Yahweh is Salvation. If we would just restore the name that should rightfully be in the Scriptures, all that “authority” that men want to put in the name of “Jesus” returns to where it belongs – in the name of Yahushua. Any so called authority in the name of Jesus is only by the grace and mercy of Almighty Yahweh, because He knows that His Truth has been buried by men. However, in biblical times, we’ve seen that the Son of Man was called Yahushua. This is the Son’s name, if thou canst tell.