WHY LEAVE THE O OUT OF G-D? Many of our Christian friends have asked me why I write the Name of G-d without an o. It is done out of respect for His Name. Here is a teaching that might help you understand. Respect for the Name of G-d The custom of substituting the word God with G-d in English is based on the traditional practice in Jewish law of giving G-ds Hebrew name a high degree of respect and reverence. When written or printed, G-ds Hebrew name cannot be erased or destroyed. • The Ancient Name of G-d: The Hebrew name for G-d, YHWH (in Hebrew spelled yud-hay-vav-hay), is never pronounced out loud in Judaism. When it appears in Jewish scripture or liturgy, the reader substitutes the Hebrew word adonai which means my lord or often just the Lord. Any book that contains this name written in Hebrew is treated with reverence. The name is never destroyed, erased, or effaced and any books or writings containing the name cannot be thrown away according to Jewish law. They are stored in a genizah (special gathering place in a synagogue) until they can be given a proper burial in a Jewish cemetery. • Adonai: Among many traditional Jews even the word adonai is not spoken outside of prayer services. Because adonai is so closely linked to the name of G-d, over time it has been accorded more and more reverence as well. Outside of prayer services, traditional Jews will replace adonai with HaShem meaning the Name or some other way of referring to G-d without using adonai. • Other Names to Refer to G-d: Because YHWH and adonai are not used casually, literally dozens of different ways to refer to G-d have developed in Judaism. Each name is linked to different conceptions of Gods nature and aspects of the divine. Example: when healing is needed, we can pray “ Jehovah Rophe, You are the great healer…” When we need peace to reign inside of us, we pray “Jehovah Shalom, You are peace….” El- El is a single title that appears 250 times. It stands for the character of His strength. Elohim – (Genesis 1:1) Creator, Supreme God Adonai –LORD –Master, Possessor, Owner (Exodus 13:17) El Elyon – The Most High God –(Genesis 14:18) El Roi – God Sees Me –Genesis 16:13 El Shaddai – The Almighty God; God all-Powerful (Genesis 17:1-2) This is a feminine title so we understand that God knows how to nurture us like a mother. El Olam –The Everlasting G-d (Genesis 21:33) El Gibbor – The Mighty G-d (G-d is the Warrior)(Isaiah 9:6) El Illaya – The Most High (Aramaic) meaning No other Being is Higher (Daniel 3:26) Melehk Elyon –King on High (Genesis 14:18) Melehk ha Olam –King of the Universe (Genesis 21:33) Shekinah –The very Presence of G-d Tzur –The Rock (Deut 32:4) Adonai Tziv’ot - LORD of Hosts Av ha Rahamin –Merciful Father Rofeh Olam –Healer of the World Ein Sof – G-d Who Has no End Jehovah (YHVH) –The LORD -used over 6000 times in scripture. It is often combined as in the LORD G-d Adonai Jehovah. (Genesis 2:4) Names combined with Jehovah Jehovah Nessi- THE LORD MY BANNER (Exodus 17:15) Jehovah Rophe - THE LORD WHO HEALS (Exodus 15:26) Jehovah Jireh- THE LORD WHO PROVIDES (Genesis 22:14) Jehovah Tzadekenu –THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 33:16) Jehovah Shalom – THE LORD OF PEACE (THE LORD WHO IS PEACE) (Judges 6:24) Jehovah Rohi –THE LORD, MY SHEPHERD (Psalm 23:1) Jehovah M’Kaddesh – G-D OUR SANCTIFIER (Ezekiel 37:28) Jehovah Shammah –THE LORD WHO CARES FOR US (servant) (Ezekiel 48:35) El Chai –THE LIVING G-D ((Jeremiah 10:10) El Kanna –THE JEALOUS G-D (Exodus 20:5) El Hannun –THE MERCIFUL G-D (Deut 4:31) El Avraham, Yitzak V-Yacov –THE G-D OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB (Exodus 3:15) Yeshuati – G-D OF MY SALVATION…. SALVATION OF G-D Holding G-ds Name in utmost reverence and treating His Name with respect goes back over generations to generations all the way back to Abraham. G-d gave Himself these Names and we respect and reverence them the same as we reverence the protection of His Name when writing it. I hope this helps you understand. Shalom
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 20:46:18 +0000
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