As I have said before, please do not take my word for it. Read for yourself. According to Bible Study Tools website (www.biblestudytools.com) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is the most complete, easy-to-use, and understandable concordance for studying the original languages of the Bible. And, you don’t have to know anything about Hebrew or Greek to use it.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬

When I click on “God” in my online Strong’s Concordance it pulls up the Hebrew word “elohiym”with a definition and lists every way that it is translated into English. As you will see “God” in Genesis 1:1 is a title, not a name. Here it is used of God as the creator.

“These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬

In this verse, when I click on “LORD” it pulls up the Hebrew word “YHWH,” four consonants known as the tetragrammaton. In English it is pronounced Yhovah, Yahweh, or Jehova. I don’t know if anyone knows exactly how it is pronounced. And it is my understanding that it is translated LORD in English Bibles because of a long tradition of reverence and reading practices. And, in ancient Jewish practice, God’s name was too sacred to say aloud.

According to Exodus YHWH is the personal name of the God of the Bible.

“God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” Exodus‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬

Yahweh (LORD) is the personal name of the elohiym (God) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

When we get to Shema of Israel which Jesus quoted in the New Testament we see that Yahweh our elohiym is one (Hebrew word ‘echad). I think we all know what 1 (one) means.

“”Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭5‬

YHWH occurs about 6000 times in the Hebrew text (Old Testament). I would venture to say that if anyone would look at every use of God’s personal name in the Bible in light of the context where it is written, you will gain a good understanding of who God is in the Old Testament.

Next week we will continue this discussion with other names and titles for God in the Bible.

Mark Rohde can be reached at marklrohde@icloud.com.