Does the Bible command us to use only Hebrew or Greek when speaking about the
Father, or the Christ?
In this study we will examine what scripture has to say on the subject.
Every language has a different pronunciation, the
English speaking world uses the word "God." The Germans use "Gott,"
The Spanish use "Dios" and the Greeks use "Theos" when
referring to God, which is only a title and not his actual name.
It is not scriptural to require the use of God’s name
in Hebrew rather than Greek or any other language.
There are various names used for God and Christ, such as,
Immanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of
Peace, but these all are only descriptions of character and not actual names.
But the word "God" is a word that is also used by pagans when referring
to their false gods.
When we accept Father and the Son as our Savior, we are
asking for a personal relationship with the Father and the Son. Is that possible
without knowing their names? And do you really know their names?.
“What is His Name and what is His Son’s Name if you can tell?” ( Proverbs 30:4)
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Yahshua Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Corinthians 8:5-6)
The Third Commandment is explicit about the necessity of His true Name in our worship. “Thou shalt not take the name of
Yaweh your Elohim in vain; for Yaweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” The word vain is the Hebrew shoaw and means emptiness, worthlessness, waste, ruin.
The changing of His name brings it to a state of ruin and desolation.
Using a qualifying descriptions like “God of the Beginning” and “The God Of
Israel” are but titles used in clarifying who you mean, but when you use a personal name
there is no confusion as who you are referring to.
What then is the revealed, personal name established in the Bible?
"I am Yaweh: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8)
"Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I." (Isaiah 52:5-6)
“For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of Yaweh our Elohim for ever and ever.” ( Micah 4:5)
In other words, all false religions have a name for the one they
worship as well.
"That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH (Yaweh), art the most high over all the earth." (Psalms 83:18)
The name Jehovah is not possible because there was never a letter “J” or
the sound of a J in the Hebrew or Greek languages. The letter J came into widespread use only
about 500 years ago.
The Encyclopedia Americana says, “The form of J was unknown in any alphabet until the 14th century.”
In an effort to protect the sacred Name from being pronounced and even profaned, ancient scribes
would add vowel points (code letters) to the title Adonai (“Lord” in English) to the four letters of His Name, YHWH, thereby prompting the reader to use the substitute term “Adonai” instead of “Yaweh.”
"Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH(H3050), and rejoice before him." (Psalms 68:4)
H3050 = yaw, Contracted for H3068, and meaning the same; H3068 = Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw' From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal;
And what about the Savior’s True Name?
"Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him." (Exodus 23:21)
"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" (John 5:43-44)
“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of Yaweh appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Yahshua: for he shall save his people from their sins,” ( Matthew 1:20-21)
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with Elohim. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Yahshua” (Luke 1:30-31)
He carries the Father’s Name within his own name. The Fathers name is
Yaweh and His Son’s Name is Yahshua.
It is not scriptural to require the use of God’s name in Hebrew
rather than Greek or any other language. The Lord understands
all languages. The Lord is looking on our hearts and not our language.
The Bible itself shows it is not
wrong to translate God’s names from one language to another, the last words of
Christ spoken on the cross were not in Hebrew or Greek, Christ
addressed the Father in Aramaic. But to change the spelling of the Father
and Sons names to something different by adding letters and vowels that totally
change the name would not be right.
Want to know more about God's Many Names and Titles