What name did the Jews give God?

Answer 1

The Creator has one true name which is represented by the letters YHVH in English. The Hebrew letters 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.

In the Tanach (Jewish Bible), there are 72 different 'names' used for The Creator, these aren't actual names though, they're descriptions of Him that are contextual. In daily conversation, most Jews use the name 'HaShem' which literally translates to 'The Name' in reference to His true name.

Answer 2

The Creator has one true name which is represented by the letters YHVH in English. His true name was only said in the Temple and with the Temple's destruction we lost the correct pronunciation. In the Tanach (Jewish Bible), there are 72 different 'names' used for The Creator, these aren't actual names though, they're descriptions of Him that are contextual. In daily conversation, most Jews use the name 'HaShem' which literally translates to 'The Name' in reference to His true name.

If anyone tells you that Jews called God 'Yahweh', 'Jehovah', or any variation of those names, they are wrong. Those names are Christian inventions.

Answer 3

The Hebrew people (today called "Jews") believe in one ethical God, although different Jewish people understand God in many different ways.

The actual name of God in the Torah is not permitted for Jews to pronounce (and most Christians do not realize that it is forbidden to even attempt to pronounce God's name). A lesser Hebrew name for God is elohim.

Answer 4

The Creator has one true name which is represented by the letters YHVH in English. The Hebrew letters 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.

In the Tanach (Jewish Bible), there are 72 different 'names' used for The Creator, these aren't actual names though, they're descriptions of Him that are contextual. In daily conversation, most Jews use the name 'HaShem' which literally translates to 'The Name' in reference to His true name.

Answer 5

God's true name is represented by the letters YHVH in English. As His true name was only used in the Temple, we've forgotten the correct pronunciation with the destruction of the Temple.

In the Tanakh (Jewish Bible), there are 72 lesser names that refer to God; but they may actually be seen as more of a contextual description than real names. It is these less-holy names which we use today in prayer. And daily conversation, most Jews use HaShem to refer to God. The word HaShem literally means 'The Name' and is in reference to His true name.

Answer 6

God's name in the Torah is יהוה (YHWH in Hebrew, not in English). Other names which refer to God (such as Elohim) are more generic and can in certain contexts actually refer to such authorities as judges (Exodus ch.21-22).

Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation of God's name יהוה has been lost.

The name of God is not pronounceable for us, partly due to to a religious prohibition for Jews (Talmud, Sanhedrin ch.11), and partly due to the fact that the way in which it is pronounced has been lost to history. While the Temple in Jerusalem still stood, only the Kohen Gadol would pronounce the name of God (יהוה) 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. And in English, we use English words (or the idiomatic "Hashem," which refers to God but is not an actual name).

Answer 7

God's name in the Torah is יהוה (YHWH in Hebrew, not in English). Other names which refer to God (such as Elohim) are more generic and can in certain contexts actually refer to such authorities as judges (Exodus ch.21-22).
Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation of God's name יהוה has been lost. (The usual transliterations, Jehovah or Yahweh, are according to Jewish tradition inaccurate renditions based on a misunderstanding of the the way יהוה is printed in such vocalized texts as Hebrew prayerbooks and printed Tanakhs.)
The name of God is not pronounceable for us, partly due to to a religious prohibition for Jews (Talmud, Sanhedrin ch.11), and partly due 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 the name of God (יהוה) 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).

Answer 8

Many of the names used by the Hebrews are still in use today, such as Adonai, Elohim, and El. All of these refer to God. The difference is that, due to our spiritual descent, we no longer use God's names in regular converstation; only in prayer and reading the Torah. And the holiest name (YHWH) which was pronounced only in the Holy Temple, is no longer said by Jews at all.

Answer 9

• YHWH (in Hebrew) - 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 YHWH in Hebrew, not in English. Other names which refer to God (such as Elohim) are more generic and can in certain contexts actually refer to such authorities as judges (Exodus ch.21-22).
Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation of God's name 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:

What do Jews believe God is like?

Answer 10

Early Jews spoke the name of the tetragrammaton (YHVH) once a year, specifically in a ritual performed by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. All other times of the year, they would use the term Hashem, meaning "the Name" or Adonai, meaning "Lord". Since that time, Jews have lost the knowledge of how to pronounce the tetragrammaton. Modern Secular Scholars argue that it would have been pronounced "Yahweh", but most Religious Jews reject this as an incorrect supposition.