“God” is a generic word that is understood as the meaning of a Divine Deity. Biblical rendering is to the Almighty Supreme Creator of Heaven, who is described as “God of gods” to differentiate Him with other gods. In Greek it is “Theos.” Earlier Hebrew renderings called Him “El,” which is the root of its plural form “Elohim,” meaning a god of more than three persons. Some claim that usage of God is a variation from pagan roots and that it comes from a pagan deity Gad that was worshiped as “God of Fortune.” However, the same claim is made for other variations, such as El, which has its root in pagan Canaanite culture, as well as other ancient cultures. Both are generic and refer to a position or title rather than a name. El was likely adopted from Canaanite origins used by the Hebrews to relate to the Almighty Creator. Its plural singularity form of Elohim was used to indicate His nature as three or more persons in a godhead.
When Elohim (God) presented Himself to man, He appeared to Moses at the burning bush recorded in Exodus 3. Moses asked His name, in which He responded, “I AM who I Am” as it is recorded in English versions. That makes it a circular meaning of existence meaning He IS, the self-existing One, always in the present form. It means that He is self-existing. He is the “I AM” who Exists, indefinitely, distinguishing Himself from just any god or deity. He is THE God of gods.
YHWH and the Tetragrammaton
Some have asked what YHWH means. “YHWH” is the English transliterated letters of the Hebrew, called the tetragrammaton. The language omits the vowels. Some say this is to protect the “sacred” name of God that cannot be uttered. The same is done when in English some write G-D. We assume the vowels in that we can pronounce this name, as claimed to be in Hebrew. That is where some get either Yahweh or Yehovah. The vowels are placeholders. Some even use the variation of Yahuah. There is controversy over this tetragrammaton as to do with Gematria codes used in Kabbalah, which claims usage of divine characters and calculated numbers to prove the true name. But the Hebrew transliteration gives us similar reference.
The proper name of The Almighty God in heaven was asked by Moses when he asked in the burning bush whom shall he say sent him (Exodus 3:14).
[Exo 3:14 KJV] 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
In Hebrew it comes from the root haYah and ehyeh meaning I Am who Is or who exists. This statement is a declaration of the title of His name, that He is THE ONE TRUE God. This gives us an indication of His proper name as being “I Am who Is.” In other words, He Exists, no past or future, but present perfect.
LORD AND YAHWEH
Whenever we see in caps “THE LORD” in places in our modern English Bibles, it had substituted the Hebrew proper name of I AM, which is assumed “Yahweh” (haYah ehyeh in Hebrew) In English LORD means Master, but Yahweh refers to, “I AM who IS.” So the English translations for some reason did not properly carry over the original Hebrew to indicate it was referring to His proper name of “I AM” rather than giving Him a generic title for Master. The proper name is more personal to His character as the One Who Exists (The I AM). That is the One whom we are referring, the God who is. Of course we usually do not refer to the English “I AM” when talking about God. That’s just who He is. But sometimes we adopt the controversial Yahweh since it is distinct to supposedly refer to the same.
Some Bible translations refer to the transliteration JEHOVAH. It is referring to the same name Yahweh, only the “J” that only existed since the 1600’s replaced the “Y.” And the “v” in this name is an alternative “V” for “vav” rather than the older Hebrew letter “W” for “waw.” That would be the difference whether using the letters as YHWH or YHVH in the tetragrammaton. Just that Kabbalists and those referring to Hebrew names use the renditions that reference the divinity of characters in their sacred name mysticism to conceal the essence of power.
GOD AND LORD
However using the generic “God” as a title has further confused things as many believe in God, but do not necessarily refer to the same God. Even our Constitution has its problems understanding which God is referred and has left it open to interpretation. We find that as it was drafted by Masons, it was to protect the Masonic God, which is any deity a Mason honors, but ultimately to the Masonic God, the Great Architect (the “Light Bearer – giver of Illumination).”
The generic title “God” is the title of any deity, including Greek deities, pagan deities, and the Watcher gods (as well as even Lucifer if one desires). While Yahweh may be considered by some the more proper name of our God, He is the God of gods, meaning He is the one true One over all others regardless of whom is pronounced. We know whom is referenced in our meaning.
While I do NOT enforce the sacred name belief that using other names is calling on pagan deities, nor condemn them who do not understand the true name, it is valid to know whom we are talking about. And to know the root when someone asks. But God looks at the intent of whom you refer and knows when you call Him. He doesn’t need a sacred name.
So what is the Father’s name? The scriptures tell us what we need to know. Let us replace the English usage of THE LORD with the Hebrew haYah ehyeh or even the English I AM to read this passage how it was intended to read:
[Jer 23:24-27] 24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith I AM WHO IS. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith I AM WHO IS. 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed: 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my NAME by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
He asks us to know His name. And also His Son’s name, because they root in the same “I AM”.
[Prov 30:4] Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
[Psa 68:4] Sing unto Elohim, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name haYAH, and rejoice before him.
Since Ba’al means Lord or master, we want to make sure we are not mistaking our Father God with the counterfeit Baal when referring to Him as Lord. Understanding His Hebrew name also gives a better understanding why His Son would be a representation of Him. Scripture refers to a Messiah who would come to establish His covenant with man. This one would be God in the flesh. More exact He is I AM in the flesh. Thereby would also contain the “I AM” in his name. When an Israelite named Mary gave birth without knowing a husband (born without human sperm), she was told he would be called Jesus. That is an English rendition though. In Hebrew it is something like haYah ehyeh shuwa, although many will write it like Yĕhowshuwa`, which is transliterated “I AM who Saves.” See my article on the name of Jesus.
SACRED NAME BELIEVERS
A group called “Sacred Name Believers” defend certain claims that Yahweh or variations like Yahuah are the ONLY names in which we can refer to the Father that He understands us. They come from teachings as that of C.O. Dodd from 1937 or so. Dodd came out of Seventh Day Adventists, as well as had influence of Armstrongism, and Jehovah Witnesses (Watchtower Society). Dodd claimed an exclusive Hebrew-speaking cult that used the name Yahweh to distinguish from the others. Later formed groups as the Assembly of Yahweh, and the House of Yahweh, who use the proper name as the only permitted name in which the Father can hear. But this is of course ridiculous. God knows when we are calling Him and not some other deity. Because we know whom we are addressing.
Looking through scripture we see He was also referred to other names that represented His character.
[Exo 34:14] 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD (haYah ehyeh), whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:
[1Ki 2:26] 26 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou [art] worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Adonai GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
[Amo 5:27] 27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD (haYah ehyeh), whose name [is] The God of hosts.
[Zec 6:12 ] 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD (haYah ehyeh) of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
[Isa 9:6 ] 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
THE RELATIONSHIP
haYah ehyeh (Yahweh) is the godhead. The Father had begotten His Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit witnesses. Believers who trust in Jesus as Messiah and Savior see “Yahweh” through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. But Jesus gives us direct access to see the Father because when we are saved and reliant upon Jesus’ merit of shed blood, the Father looks upon Jesus for the redemption of man for sin we committed against Him that prevents us on our own to be righteous enough to see His holiness. Those in Christ (Messiah) are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. Jesus thus represents “Yahweh” and is likened to the essence of Elohim (God), having the fullness of God in the flesh.
BUT Jesus gives us access to the Father to know Him as FATHER, and even more intimate as “Daddy” (Abba Father”). So His proper name is to know His nature and Identity. But we have a deeper relationship with Him that a believer in Jesus can call Him FATHER or DADDY, regardless of the debate over which proper name is more sacred… (sorry Hebrew Rooters).
The gospel in a nutshell is this. We worship God through His Son Jesus Christ, in order that we have salvation (redemption for sinfulness against God) through his sacrifice and merit that our heavenly Father was satisfied by. It is enacted by our believing (trusting and putting our whole weight upon) in the resurrection of Jesus and merit and acknowledging him as Master and savior, and accepting his Spirit to indwell us for eternal life – experiencing a spiritual transformation (supernatural) that we are born from above, transcending the flesh.
See my article on Salvation for an explanation why you need to be saved.