Audio File

"Now the LORD <Y@hovah> had said unto Abram..." Genesis 12:1

 

These four Hebrew letters are known as the Tetragrammaton, the ineffable name of God.

 

They are pronounced in Hebrew "Yod Hey Vav Hey" when you read them in the Hebrew manner from right to left.

Read to the Left in Hebrew

HeyVavHeyYod

In ancient Hebrew God's Name was not so much letters as pictures (Seekins, 1994).

In other words God's name is actually inexpressible in human voice and can only be represented in language when it is considered more of a visual representation of what His Name means.

A modern equivalent of a logo in English might be IBM:

The four letters in God's name in Hebrew have the following meanings:

= Hey = Behold

= Vav = Nail

= Yod = Closed Hand

 

What happens when you read them backwards or left to right in English?

Reading Left to Right

Behold the Nail, Behold the Hand!

 

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zecharia 12:10

Since God's name is not pronounceable, how is it then possible to take God's name in vain?

 

"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Ex 20:7

As a Christian we can not judge a person's heart, but we can observe their actions and behaviors. All of us have sinned and have taken God's name in vain at one time or another. The proper thing to do when we realize this is to repent, never do it again, and ask Father God, YHWH, to forgive us in the name of his son the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the living Yod Hey Vav Hey (Behold the nail, behold the hand).

 

Jesus = Behold the Nail Behold the Hand = God's Name

 

Note: I find it ironic that, first God tells us not to take His name in vain, and then He creates the perfect name, a name that we couldn't possibly pronounce. Is that a loving God or what?

If you would like to speak with pastor Chris call:

877-566-7264

 

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