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Which Name of God Did Jesus Use – Yahweh / Jehovah / Adonai

by Ella

The question of which name of God Jesus used is one that has intrigued theologians, scholars, and believers for centuries. In the Bible, God is referred to by various names, each representing different attributes and aspects of His nature. The most commonly known names of God are Yahweh, Jehovah, and Adonai. However, understanding which name Jesus used during His earthly ministry requires delving into the cultural, linguistic, and theological contexts in which He lived and spoke. This article will explore these names—Yahweh, Jehovah, and Adonai—through the lens of Scripture, examining how they relate to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

1. Yahweh: The Name Revealed to Moses

The Meaning of Yahweh

The name “Yahweh” is one of the most significant names of God in the Old Testament. It is derived from the Hebrew verb hayah, meaning “to be” or “to exist.” Yahweh, therefore, signifies “I Am” or “I Am Who I Am,” a name that reveals God’s eternal and self-existent nature. The most famous occurrence of this name appears in Exodus 3:14, when God speaks to Moses from the burning bush:

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“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14, NIV)

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This powerful declaration indicates God’s identity as the eternal, self-sustaining, and unchanging Creator. It also highlights His personal relationship with His people, as He is the God who is actively involved in history and in the lives of individuals.

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The Use of Yahweh in the Bible

In the Old Testament, Yahweh is the most commonly used name for God. It appears over 6,800 times and emphasizes God’s covenant relationship with Israel. However, the actual pronunciation of Yahweh is debated, as the original Hebrew scriptures did not include vowels, and the name was considered too sacred to be spoken aloud by the Israelites.

Did Jesus Use the Name Yahweh?

While Jesus was Jewish and would have been familiar with the name Yahweh, the Gospels do not record Jesus explicitly using this name to refer to God in His public ministry. Instead, Jesus often referred to God as His Father, particularly in His prayers. However, He did reference the divine nature of Yahweh in His teachings. For instance, in John 8:58, Jesus makes a bold claim that echoes God’s self-revelation to Moses:

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58, NIV)

Here, Jesus uses the phrase “I am,” which is a direct reference to God’s declaration in Exodus 3:14. By saying “I am,” Jesus identifies Himself with the eternal God, affirming His divinity and eternal existence. This statement caused a stir among His listeners, as they understood it as a claim to be God, which ultimately led to their attempts to stone Him for blasphemy.

Jesus and the Name Yahweh

Though Jesus did not commonly use the name Yahweh in His earthly ministry, He made many implicit references to it, particularly in the Gospel of John. In John 10:30, Jesus states, “I and the Father are one,” indicating His unity with God. This statement affirms the deity of Jesus and suggests that He shares in the divine nature of Yahweh, even if He did not use the specific name.

2. Jehovah: A Mispronunciation or a Meaningful Name?

The Origin of Jehovah

The name “Jehovah” is a relatively modern rendering of God’s name that arose during the Middle Ages. It is based on a hybrid of the Latinized form of the Hebrew name Yahweh, with the vowel sounds from the word Adonai (meaning “Lord”) inserted. This was a result of the Jewish tradition of avoiding the pronunciation of the name Yahweh out of reverence. When the Hebrew scriptures were read, Jews would substitute the name Yahweh with “Adonai,” meaning “Lord.”

The combination of the consonants of Yahweh (Y-H-W-H) and the vowels of Adonai (A-O-A) led to the formation of “Jehovah,” which was first used in the 16th century by scholars like William Tyndale and later became popular in English translations of the Bible. For example, in the King James Version (KJV), “Jehovah” appears in some texts, like in the case of the compound name “Jehovah-Jireh” (Genesis 22:14), meaning “The Lord Will Provide.”

Jehovah and Jesus

Although Jehovah is a name used in certain English translations of the Bible, it does not appear in the original Hebrew texts. Consequently, it is not a name that Jesus would have used to refer to God. Jesus, as a first-century Jew, would have been more familiar with Hebrew and Aramaic terms like “Abba” (Father) and would have likely spoken of God using those terms rather than “Jehovah.”

That being said, the concept of Jehovah as the covenant-keeping God and the one who provides, heals, and saves aligns with the attributes of God that Jesus embodied during His ministry. Jesus did, in fact, live out the role of Jehovah in His actions—He healed the sick, provided for the needs of the people, and ultimately offered salvation to humanity through His death and resurrection.

3. Adonai: The Lordship of God

The Meaning of Adonai

“Adonai” is another important name of God in the Bible. Derived from the Hebrew root adon meaning “lord” or “master,” Adonai is a name that emphasizes God’s sovereignty, authority, and lordship over all creation. It is often used in conjunction with Yahweh to acknowledge God’s power and supreme rule. The name Adonai is most commonly used when referring to God in a more formal and respectful context.

For instance, in Psalm 8:1, the psalmist declares:

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1, NIV)

The repetition of “Lord” here is a translation of “Adonai” in the first instance and a translation of Yahweh in the second. This reflects the dual nature of God as both the Lord (Adonai) and the covenantal God (Yahweh).

Jesus and the Name Adonai

Jesus frequently used the term “Lord” (Greek Kyrios) in His teachings, which is the New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew word Adonai. In fact, the title “Lord” is one of the most common ways Jesus referred to God the Father. In the Lord’s Prayer, for example, Jesus addresses God as “Our Father in heaven,” but He also refers to God’s authority as “Lord” in many of His teachings.

In Matthew 22:44, Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1, which says:

“The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’” (Matthew 22:44, NIV)

By using this passage, Jesus affirms His identity as both Lord and the Son of God, demonstrating His authority and divinity. In this instance, Jesus is showing that He is the Lord who sits at the right hand of God, affirming His divine role as the Messiah.

4. Jesus’ Use of the Father’s Name: A Relationship of Intimacy

“Abba, Father” – Jesus’ Personal Relationship with God

One of the most intimate ways Jesus referred to God was by using the Aramaic word “Abba,” which translates to “Father.” This term expresses a deep, personal, and affectionate relationship with God. In Mark 14:36, during His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays:

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36, NIV)

By using “Abba,” Jesus communicates the closeness of His relationship with God, and it is a term He invites His followers to use as well. In Romans 8:15, Paul writes:

“The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15, NIV)

Through Jesus, believers are granted the privilege of calling God “Father” in a personal and intimate way, just as Jesus did.

Conclusion

Jesus, throughout His ministry, did not primarily use the names Yahweh, Jehovah, or Adonai, but rather addressed God as “Father,” particularly in His intimate relationship with God. While He certainly demonstrated the nature and attributes of God as revealed in these names, His use of “Father” emphasizes a personal connection that is central to His mission. By calling God “Abba,” Jesus invited His followers into the same close relationship with God, making the divine accessible and personal. Thus, the names of God—whether Yahweh, Jehovah, or Adonai—serve to reveal different aspects of God’s nature, but it is Jesus’ use of “Father” that profoundly reshapes our understanding of our relationship with the Creator.

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