Expert: Fr. Michael - 4/17/2009

Question
Dear Father,
My question is regarding the name of God. Some Ministries preach that the name of God is Jehovah, and they say that this name is really imprinted in the real Hebrew Bible and quotes the following verses for the same.
Matthew 4 : 7  Jesus said to him: “Again it is written, ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’”

Matthew 4 : 4  But in reply he said: “It is written, ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.’”

Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service

John 6 : 43,44,45 In answer Jesus said to them: “Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by Jehovah.’ Everyone that has heard from the Father and has learned comes to me.

Also heard that the word "Hovah" means destruction in Hebrew/Greek is it true. Please provide me an exact clarity for the above . Whether any name is mentioned in the original Old Testament Hebrew bible for the God.


Answer
"Jehovah" is actually a non-existent word.  It is made up from the consonants of God's Holy Name in Hebrew and the vowel points of Adonai (Lord), which the Hebrews used instead of the Holy Name, which could be uttered only by the High Priest in the Sancta Sanctorum of the Temple on Passover.  Thus, there is no such word in Hebrew.

Your quotations are all from some English rendition, not from the original Hebrew and Greek.  The word "Jehovah" does not exist in the original.  This is one of many reasons why "translations" have to be used with a good dash of salt.  Modern "translations" in particular make no pretence even to be literal and often inject political interpretations.