The word halleluyah, pronounced hal-e-loo-YAH, is the most ancient of all
words of praise. It is used both on Earth and in Heaven to worship the
Almighty (Rev. 19:1-6).
HalleluYAH is a pure Hebrew word, and yet is found in almost every language
under the sun. The first part of the word "hallelu" means, "praise
ye". The last part, "YAH", is the name of the one being praised.
YAH is the personal name of the Heavenly Father. It is found more than
6,800 times in the Bible's original Language. We also find it at the end
of many of the names of Bible prophets, such as ELIYAH, which means: "my
Mighty One is YAH". Also Obadiah, Isaiah, Zechariah, etc.
YAH is the basic or short form of the sacred name. The full form of the
Heavenly Father's name is YAHUWEH. This name is found in Hebrew Scriptures,
large Bible concordances, encyclopedias and dictionaries, as well as in
many current writings of history and archaeology.
WHERE WE GOT THE WORD "JEHOVAH"
Until recent years it was thought that our Heavenly Father's name was
to be pronounced "Jehovah". But, as the encyclopedia Britannica
explains, "Jehovah" is an erroneous form of the sacred name,
of which the true form is "YAHUWEH" (Micropedia, Vol. 10). Modern
dictionaries show the same.
We should not profane the Creator's name by using an erroneous or corrupted
form. This wrong form came about when certain Bible translators mistakenly
used the vowel sounds of the Hebrew word for master (adonai) and mixed
them with the four Hebrew letters that form the Heavenly Father's name.
It is interesting to see how, or why this happened. Originally, the name
YAHUWEH was known and used worldwide. A time when all men knew Him and there
were no false deities. After most of the world went into idolatry, YAHUWEH
made Himself known again by name to certain men such as Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob (Gen. 12:8, 26:25, 28:13) and later to Moses (Ex. 3:15, 34:5).
Thus His name was revealed to the Hebrew people who were instructed to
use it, and for centuries it was freely used. But much later, religious
leaders began to say His name was too sacred to be spoken. They told the
people to say or read Adonai (Lord) when they came across the sacred name
in Scriptures.
Because of this, when vowel marks were later added to the Hebrew language,
the vowel marks for Adonai were inserted with the letters of the sacred
name. This was to indicate to the people to say "Adonai" and
not the name YAHUWEH.
As a result, when translators in later years sought to translate the Scriptures
into other languages, they became confused. They mixed the vowel sounds
for Adonai with the letters of the sacred name and came up with the word
"Jehovah".
BIBLICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE TRUE NAME
Some may ask "What is the importance of all this?" It is
strange that anyone would question the importance of their Creator's
name, especially if they know Him as their Heavenly Father. The Bible itself
does not leave us in any doubt as to the vital importance of the name YAHUWEH.
When the true name is put back into it's proper place in Scriptures (where
translators substituted the word LORD), the reading of the passages make
it very clear that we should know, love, and use the name YAHUWEH. Here
are just a few examples: Please consider them.
- Micah 6:9 "YAHUWEH's voice crieth unto the
city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name."
- Ezekial 39:7 "So I will make my Set-apart Name
known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute
my Set-apart Name any more; and the heathen shall know that I am YAHUWEH, the
Holy One of Israel."
- Zechariah 14:9 "And YAHUWEH shall be King
over all the earth: in that day shall there be One YAHUWEH, and His Name
one."
- Joel 2:32 " And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of YAHUWEH shall be delivered (saved)."
- Exodus 20:7 "Thou shalt not take the name
of YAHUWEH thy Almighty One in vain; for YAHUWEH will not hold him guiltless
that taketh His Name in vain." (To say it is unimportant or a vain
thing is certainly one form of taking it in vain).
- Malachi 3:16 "...and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared YAHUWEH, and thought upon His Name."
The one verse in the King James version that does bring this name over into English is alone enough proof for the obedient person to see his responsibility to use this name. That verse is Psalm 68:4, which in the King James version says, "Sing unto God, sing praises to His name; extol Him... by his name JAH, and rejoice before Him." (JAH is pronounced YAH) as in hallelujah. There is no J in the original Hebrew. It is clear that the name YAHUWEH is meant to be known and used by those who love Him.
THE NAME LINK BETWEEN FATHER AND SON
There is also a direct connection between the name of the Almighty and the
name of His Son, our Savior.
In Psalms 72:17 (in the well known World Publishing Co. edition of the
King James) the center reference shows us that the original Hebrew read
as follows: His Name shall be as a Son to continue His Father's name forever:
and men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed."
This is clearly a prophesy concerning the Savior. And of course, a son always bears his father's (or family) name. The Savior himself said, "I have come in my Father's name..." John 5:43. And Ephesians 3:14-16 shows that the Father's name is upon "the whole family in heaven and earth."
Bible scholars know that our Savior was not known by the name "Jesus." The fact that many have come to accept the person of the Savior while knowing only the name Jesus does not make that His actual name. He was born a Hebrew, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, and elsewhere. But "Jesus" is not Hebrew. It is derived from the Greek name Iesous, which is found in the Greek translations.
The overriding point is not what is not His name, but what His name is. It is in fact the same as Joshua, the successor of Moses. In the King James Version in Hebrews 4:8 and Acts 7:45, the name Jesus is used when speaking of Joshua. This shows that "Jesus" is being substituted for the Hebrew name Joshua. If the "J" in Joshua is pronounced as accords with Hebrew which has no "J" sound, we have nearly the correct pronounciation of the Saviors name. Therefore, the tranliteration of His name in English is Yahushua.
The Messiah's name Yahushua contains the sacred, Heavenly Father's family name YAH: YAHUSHUA. He truly and literally came in His Father's Name, as He Himself said, and "His name shall be as a Son to continue His Father's Name forever" (John 5:43, Psalm 72:17). He alone is the "Salvation of YAH." Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).
This is not to say that those who have been unwillingly ignorant of His true name have not found salvation in the person of the Savior. YAHUWEH is full of justice and mercy. Nevertheless, His past mercy in no way justifies continuing in ignorance. To use the words of Acts 17:30, "The times of this ignorance YAHUWEH winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent."
When all truth is restored, which men's traditions have hidden, it becomes the responsibility of His true people to walk in that truth regardless of the cost. "Therefore, to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
Incidentally, one of the names of Baal was Gad, pronounced God. This was the Baal of fortification of troops and is translated "troop" in Isaiah 65:11, which is a passage condeming Israel for Idolatry.
According to Romans 10:13-14; Acts 2:21, and 22:16, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of YAHUWEH shall be delivered" (saved). This is fulfilled by calling on the name of Yahushua the Messiah, which contains the father's name- the family name YAH. Perhaps you already know the Savior. If so, start now to call on Him by His true name and ask YAHUWEH to "take the names of Baalim (Lords) out of your mouth."
If you are yet in your sins, having never really accepted the Savior, put your trust in Him who died for you and who is now living at the Father's right hand. He will soon return to set up His Kingdom on Earth. You, too, can become a child of the Most High YAHUWEH and an heir to eternal life. "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life, and He that believes not on the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of the Almighty abides in him" John 3:36.
How can you receive Him? "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of YAHUSHUA, the Messiah, for the remission of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit" (which is His indwelling power in your life). "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as YAHUWEH our Almighty One shall call," Acts 2:38-39. (See also Acts 8:12,16,35,36; 10:43,48; 16:31-33; 19:4,5; 22:16; Romans 6:3,4; Galations 3:26,27; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 10:22; Peter 3:21; Mark 16:16.)
When you find salvation in the Father's Great Name, you will truly say,
ORIGIN OF SUBSTITUTE NAMES
Keep in mind that the word "LORD" is a substitute and is not the true name. The word "Baal", which came into Hebrew from the Babylonian language, was translated "lord". Read these revealing verses: