Expert: Edward Bode - 8/5/2007

Question
Hi,

Can you clarify LORD, Lord, Yahweh, Elohim?  As I understand it, the original text has YHWH.  This has then been translated in our language to?  Yet, I know there is a distinction in the text betwenn LORD and Lord.  Can you clarify?

Answer
In Hebrew: the word elohim is a general word for God or any god.  YHWH are the four letters that appear as the special name for the God  of revelation [Sinai and thereafter]among the Hebrew and then the Jewish people.  The word was not pronounced; however, scholars generally agree that the pronunciation [ancient Hebrew did not have written vowels; the ancients never pronounced the word]is Yahweh.  
When the Greek-speaking Jews in the later centuries before Christ translated the inspired books into Greek, the four letters were translated as Kyrios [Lord].  The Latin translators followed that example to translate the word as Dominus [Lord]. However, in Greek and in Latin, the word used was also used to refer to a highly regarded or respected person: lord or sir.  The meaning between Lord and lord would be determinable from the context of the use.
I hope, Kim, that these thoughts clarify your concern.  If you would like more, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes.