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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).

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7y ago

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