Why you should not try and pronounce the name of G_D

August 15, 2010 10:37am CST
I went to a church a few weeks ago, The Pastor thought he could speak Hebrew. I would like to think he did this on accident, but I do wonder. The name of G_D in Hebrew is written with four letters, the letters Yud, Heh, Vav and another Heh. Sounds simple enough right? But mispronounce one letter and give it the wrong vowel and you change the meaning. In Hebrew the name can be split as Yud-Heh vav heh, here's the problem, the later can and has been pronounce Hovah instead of Hoveh. Whats the problem you ask? Sense the vowels change the meaning of the word, Hovah is translated as wickedness, trouble, destruction, mischief. pronouncing it Havah translates as 3rd person past tense of 'to be' i.e. he was. Heveyh - Command form: "be!".Hivah - 3rd person past tense - to cause to be, constitute. Likewise he tried to pronounce the Name Jesus in Hebrew with disastrous results. The Hebrew name, YAHU'SHUAH, abbreviated Y'Shuah can become something else when misspoken. The Hebrew word Shoah, is a word that denotes the holocaust, In Hebrew Yom HaShoah is a day of remembrance. Shoah like the word Hovah can mean Ruin or Disaster. This is why it is important NOT to speak or try to speak the name of G_D. This is why the words LORD, Adonie, or Ha'Shem are used. So please people, please respect the name.
2 people like this
7 responses
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Religious Jews do not say the name of the Lord and they do not write the name of the Lord. The name of the Lord is pronounced like the sound of the wind. If you write the name of the Lord and whatever you wrote it on is trashed, that is wrong. So, we only write it for religious reasons. When you want to pronounce the name of your Jesus in Hebrew accentuate the end of the word. Most Hebrew words are accented at the end. Shalom~Adoniah
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
17 Aug 10
I agree with you, and I liked your post. I find it strange that they pronounce Jesus, Ya shoe' ah. It sounds bizarre. They should not try at all unless they research it first. I know a lot of Messianics are using their "Hebrew" names now too and have no clue how to pronounce them. Shalom~Adoniah
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
17 Aug 10
By the way thanks for the little pencil up there...I don't get many of those. Imagine that..lol
16 Aug 10
Thank you Adoniah, You know I mean no disrespect, I just want to emphasis the importance of the name and that it should be respected. I hear too many people these days trying to say the name or trying to say the name Jesus in Hebrew and they sometimes just totally mispronounce the names. So that is why the title is why one should not try to pronounce the name and if they want to place a Hebrew name there, they can say Ha Shem, or Adonai. Again thanks for your input.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
18 Aug 10
I'm just wondering, why you don't spell out "God?" I certainly agree that mispronouncing a name (and my real name is so often mispronounced that I don't like to use it) is a bad thing, but why not use the word "God" here?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Aug 10
I was wondering about that too. He can spell God properly why wont he? Spelling it right doesn't put the Lord's name in vain.
1 person likes this
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Careful..............you might get ZAPPED!
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@urbandekay (18278)
17 Aug 10
A rose by any other name would... all the best urban
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Hello Urban, You are so much fun...Keep it light...It would be a joy to meet you some day. Shalom~Adoniah
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Well, God is supposed to be all knowing, so if you accidentally mispronounce the name, I think God would know what you mean. This is one of the things that I imagine turn people off to religion.....too many rules about unimportant things.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
18 Aug 10
God and i have a deal. I won't slam Him and He won't zap me...
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Pray from your soul and you cannot go wrong. The deep stuff is for theologians to entertain themselves with. Shalom~Adoniah
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Well, I don't believe in God or prayer.....but if God was real I think he/she/it wouldn't get his/her/it's panties in a bunch over somebody mispronouncing his/her/it's name. Especially since being an all knowing god, he/she/it would know what the mispronouncer meant to say. Loving God? Forgiving God? YOU MISPRONOUNCED MY NAME SO NOW I CONDEMN YOU TO ETERNAL DAMNATION IN THE FIERY PITS OF HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY!!! Yeah.......have fun with that one people...... BTW......it's really not that deep.......just more religious ju-ju.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
Wow I never thought that His name could be very complicated. This is the first time I've read about the Hebrew names. I wonder why you're pastor did it when he knows for a fact that the names are sacred and can give off an entirely different meaning when mispronounced, is he trying to impose something?
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Free, that is not what that means. Taking HaShem's name in vain means to take a vow that you know you will not keep. Or, to swear to something that is not true. It is not cursing like christians say and it is not mispronouncing His name through ignorance. Sorry... Shalom
16 Aug 10
Like I said, I hope it was on accident. It could be that he just read it wrong, But that is why I say it is best to just love his name so much that you dare not speak it. Take not the name of the Lord thy G_D in Vain.
19 Aug 10
Adonia, Yes I do understand that the book says sear not by the temple of by the treasures of the temple, swear not by the thrown or name of God or by the heaven or earth, something to that effect. But what I was pointing out is that if this pastor was indeed purposely mispronouncing the name to give it a different meaning to deceive the people, Then I do believe it is taking his name in vain, not by mistakenly mispronouncing his name but purposely for blasphemy..
@unseenzy (171)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
I know someone who knows the hebrew name and it took me quite a long time to have him say the word to me (the hebrew name). I was told that the hebrew name is so sacred that no one should be mentioning it. Well I guess we really have different teachings because I'm quite shocked that you easily mentioned the name here on the forum.
15 Aug 10
Well I kinda did. I spelled out the letters and did not outright spell it and I broke the letters up while writing them. And I pronounced one part of the name which is a word. So actualy I did not outright spell the name or pronounce the name of G_D
15 Aug 10
I only pronounce the name Jesus in the Hebrew
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
15 Aug 10
Well I talk to GoD all the time and She answers. I've yet to hear a reprimand for mentioning Her name, either out loud or to myself. As far as Jesus is concerned I don't much Bother with him. In my Book he is just small potatoes! I Take it from your Post that you are Hebrew! Congratulations on being able to speak the Language! I couldn't figure out exactly what you were coming on about, But as Long as you are Happy I will be too!
16 Aug 10
Thanks barehugs, and yes I am happy