What is the Jewish name of God?

Answer 1

We use the Hebrew names of God, in prayer and in reading the Torah:
Adonai - the Lord
Elohim - God
Shaddai - the Almighty
El - a name indicating the power of God
Tzevaot - Lord of hosts

In daily conversation, we use the name Hashem.

Answer 2

Briefly:

Judaism worships one omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent God who is often seen to be the same God worshiped by Christians and Muslims.

More In Depth:

Monotheism

Before addressing the issue of naming the Jewish God or describing what Jews believe about Him, it is important to note that Jews have only One God. In Judaism, God is the one and only one; with no partner, no son, no associate, no companion, and no resemblance. Judaism openly rejects the presence of other (even weaker) gods or anything such as the Christian Trinity.

Jews believe in the One God, who created the universe (Genesis ch.1) and made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis ch.15 and 17), Isaac, and Jacob (Leviticus 26:42), and gave the Torah (Exodus ch.19-20). Therefore, God has existed since the start of the creation of the universe and even before. He shall also be the last after any known or unknown last.

The first and greatest "new idea" that Judaism introduced to the ancient world was the strange and revolutionary concept of one single Deity. Now, after close to 4,000 years, that's one of the main ideas that still has a hard time being accepted by some people: the idea that there is exactly one and only one entity worthy of reverence, and that any other concept or entity that may attract the loyalty of individuals or groups ... whether it be money, sports, cars, computer games, body-building, sex, poker, business, sailing, etc. ... must be subservient to the only Real Thing.

Characteristics of God

Jews believe in one ethical God, who created the Universe and all things within it (Genesis ch.1). Jewish people also believe that God continually wills the creation into existence and controls all events. God, in his immeasurable kindness, gave the Jews his Instructions (Torah) so that they might learn moral behavior.

God is not a person or an animal, nor does He physically resemble His creations in any way. He also has no form. He has no beginning or ending. He (at one point) granted prophecy. God punishes for wickedness and rewards for moral conduct and He will bring the Messiah. God is the Creator, to whom we should pray for help, support, and/or guidance.

Liberal Jews understand God a little differently, preferring to see God as a guiding metaphor or just less dogmatically.

Naming and Language

God may be called different things from one language to another; however, these are titles, not actual names from the Jewish perspective, since there is only one true name for Him in Judaism (see below). The word "God" is a title: Allah in Arabic, Dieu in French, Gott in German, etc.

In many prayers and Tanakh (Bible) passages, titles are used (instead of God's proper name), such as Adonai (my Lord) or Elohim (the Supreme). This has led to confusion among Christianity as well as Islam as to what the actual name of God is; causing many to believe that these titles are actually proper names, despite the fact that in any other context of life - your boss at work and their name, a child's school teacher and their proper name, a cat and the name you gave it - people automatically recognize the difference between a name and a title or adjective. But on the topic of God, the elementary difference between name and title is cast aside without question by many.

The Name of God in Judaism

God's name in the Torah is יהוה (YHWH). Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation has been lost. Some non-religious scholars believe that it is pronounced Yahweh; but that is questionable. Jehovah is the most widely recognized English pronunciation but is used only by Christians.

Pronunciation of YHWH

There's one true name for God, spelled YHWH in English. This name for God, as written in the Torah, is (for us) not pronounceable, partly due to to a religious prohibition, and partly due to the fact that the pronunciation of the (unwritten) vowels has been lost to history. The Hebrew letters that correspond to YHVH are "yud, hei, vav, hei." These four letters are referred to as the Tetragrammaton and are a contraction of the Hebrew words for "was, is (and) will be." His true name was only said in the Temple; and with the Temple's destruction we lost the correct pronunciation.

(One obstacle to determining the correct pronunciation is that the letter 'vav' can be a vowel or a consonant sound depending on the word. There is no indication as to what form it takes in the Tetragrammaton.)

Jewish Customs on Pronouncing YHVH

In the days of the Great Temple in Jerusalem, only the High Priest would pronounce the name of God (YHVH) and only once a year. It was said that the name inspired so much fear and awe that it humbled the people who heard it. The remainder of the time, God's name would not be pronounced at all to spare people this effect.

However, many Christians do not have the prohibition on speaking God's name, and do not even realize that the Jews still follow this prohibition.

Scholarly Opinions on Pronouncing the Name

As excerpted from Wikipedia:

During the Babylonian exile, the Hebrew language spoken by the Jews was replaced by the Aramaic language of their Babylonian captors. Since then, observant Jews have maintained the custom of not pronouncing the name, but use Adonai ("my Lord [plural of majesty]") instead.

As a result of this decision, the original pronunciation of God's name is lost.

In the Jewish Bible, God's name appears 6823 times. It is usually translated as "LORD" in all capital letters.

I Am Who I Am

In the following excerpt from Exodus, God identifies himself as "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" which is commonly translated as "I Am Who I Am." Some suggest that this a name of God, rather than just a response to Moses' question: "When I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they ask me, "What is his name?" What shall I tell them?" And God answered, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" (Exodus 3:13-14).

Jews typically do not read this as God's name since God said that His name is YHVH (Exodus 3:15). The message in "I am who I am" is meant to imply continuity with the covenant of Abraham over 400 years earlier, signalling that His relationship with the Jewish people remains constant.

Additional Titles for God

In the Tanach (Jewish Bible), there are 72 different titles used for the Creator. These aren't actual names though; they're descriptions of Him that are contextual. Additionally, in prayers, the Jewish people have many titles for God, all showing the highest respect and honor. These include:

• Adonai: This is the title most often used in prayer and reading The Bible, meaning "Our Lord"
• Adonai Tzevaot: This is a title referring to God's protective qualities, meaning "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of the Armies"
• Elohim: This is a title referring to his role as God
• El: This is another title referring to his role as God
• Shaddai: This is a term related to his strength, meaning "Almighty"
• Melekh Malkhei HaM'lakhim: This is a title referring to his kingship over all, meaning "King of Kings"
• Malchut Tzedek: This is a title referring to God's righteousness, meaning "Kingdom of Righteousness"
• El Shaddai: This is another term relating to his strength, meaning "God Almighty" or "God Sufficient"
• HaBorei: This refers to God as the Creator, meaning "Creator"
• LORD (in English).

Answer B (Muslim's view)

In brief, Allah (or God in English) is the God worshiped in Judaism and He is the same God worshiped in Christianity and He is the same God in Islam and the same God since start of universe creation and even before. God is the first before any known first and the last after any known or unknown last. God is the one and only one God; the Creator; that we should pray for help, support, and/or guidance.

Answer 3

In Hebrew Scripture, God is called by these names:

• יהוה - the Eternal (see below)
  
• Adonai - the Lord
  
• Elohim - God
  
• Shaddai - the Almighty
  
• El - a name indicating the power of God
  
• Tzevaot - Lord of hosts
  

Note:

God's name in the Torah is יהוה (in Hebrew, not in English). Other names which refer to God (such as Elohim) are more generic (referring to God's power) and can in certain contexts refer to such authorities as judges (Exodus ch.21-22).
Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation of this name of God has been lost. (The usual transliterations, Jehovah or Yahweh, are inaccurate renditions based on a misunderstanding of the the way it is printed in such vocalized texts as Hebrew prayerbooks and printed Tanakhs.)
The name of God is not pronounceable for us, due to to a religious prohibition for Jews (Mishna, Sanhedrin ch.11), and also to the fact that the way in which it would be pronounced is today not known. While the Temple in Jerusalem still stood, only the Kohen Gadol would pronounce this name of God and only one day a year. The remainder of the time, less explicit names of God, including Adonai or Elohim, were used; and that is what we do today also, in prayers, blessings and Torah-reading. In daily conversation in English, we use English words (God, or the idiomatic "Hashem," which refers to God but is not an actual name).

See also the Related Links.

Link: What do Jews believe God is like?

Link: Were the Israelites always monotheistic?

Answer 4

In Hebrew Scripture:

• יהוה - the Eternal (see below)
  
• Adonai - the Lord
  
• Elohim - God
  
• Shaddai - the Almighty
  
• El - a name indicating the power of God
  
• Tzevaot - Lord of hosts
  
• Yah (or Jah) - this is a lesser form of God's name יהוה

Note:

God's name in the Torah is יהוה (in Hebrew, not in English). Other names which refer to God (such as Elohim) are more generic (referring to God's power) and can in certain contexts refer to such authorities as judges (Exodus ch.21-22).
Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation of יהוה has been lost. (The usual transliterations, Jehovah or Yahweh, are inaccurate renditions based on a misunderstanding of the the way it is printed in such vocalized texts as Hebrew prayerbooks and printed Tanakhs.)
The name יהוה is not pronounceable for us, due to to a religious prohibition for Jews (Mishna, Sanhedrin ch.11), and also to the fact that the way in which it would be pronounced is today not known. While the Temple in Jerusalem still stood, only the Kohen Gadol would pronounce this name of God and only one day a year. The remainder of the time, less explicit names of God, including Adonai or Elohim, were used; and that is what we do today also, in prayers, blessings and Torah-reading. In daily conversation in English, we use English words (God, or the idiomatic "Hashem," which refers to God but is not an actual name).

See also the Related Link.

What do Jews believe God is like?

Answer 5

The Jewish deity is God, creator of the universe.

In Hebrew Scripture, God is called by these names:

• יהוה - the Eternal (see below)
  
• Adonai - the Lord
  
• Elohim - God
  
• Shaddai - the Almighty
  
• El - a name indicating the power of God
  
• Tzevaot - Lord of hosts
  

Note:

God's name in the Torah is יהוה (in Hebrew, not in English). Other names which refer to God (such as Elohim) are more generic (referring to God's power) and can in certain contexts refer to such authorities as judges (Exodus ch.21-22).
Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation of this name of God has been lost. (The usual transliterations, Jehovah or Yahweh, are inaccurate renditions based on a misunderstanding of the the way it is printed in such vocalized texts as Hebrew prayerbooks and printed Tanakhs.)
The name of God is not pronounceable for us, due to to a religious prohibition for Jews (Mishna, Sanhedrin ch.11), and also to the fact that the way in which it would be pronounced is today not known. While the Temple in Jerusalem still stood, only the Kohen Gadol would pronounce this name of God and only one day a year. The remainder of the time, less explicit names of God, including Adonai or Elohim, were used; and that is what we do today also, in prayers, blessings and Torah-reading. In daily conversation in English, we use English words (God, or the idiomatic "Hashem," which refers to God but is not an actual name).

See also the Related Links.

Link: What do Jews believe God is like?

Link: Were the Israelites always monotheistic?

Answer 6

Jews never pronounce the name of God. The 4 Hebrew letters of the name, Yud, Hay, Vav, Hay had a pronunciation that was spoken by the High Priest once a year on Yom Kippur in the days when the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, but that practice ended in the year 70. Today, the pronunciation is lost, and the Jewish tradition of not pronouncing the name is so strong that Jews rarely speculate about how it was pronounced. Instead, we substitute for it, using the Greek term Tetragrammaton to refer to the spelling in academic contexts, or reading it as ha-shem (the name). In English translation, it is frequently translated as Lord or the Lord, depending on grammatical context, capitalized to indicate use of the name. Other substitutions are used in prayer, including the word Adonai, which means, literally, my Lord.

Since the early 19th century, Christians have been fascinated by the question of the original pronunciation, coming up with proposals such as Jehovah or its more recent, and more plausible variants. When Christians use these to explain that this is the name of the Jewish God, most of the Jews in the audience cringe inwardly and edge toward the door. If you want to exclude Jews from the audience for your writing or your classes on religion, use these words routinely.