Watchtower: God WANTS to be called JEHOVAH!

Apparently I am blessed to live just a few houses next-door to the Kingdom Hall

I hate to just ignore people as I walk past them on the sidewalk. So, the 2 elderly, afro-american looking women hollered 'Good afternoon, young man' I replied good day, ladies and turned to them and before you know it they were handin me the Watchtower and Awake.

I grew up with JWs in the family and being given the New World Translation and the Book of Bible Stories, and etc. Being interfaith, and non-denominational, I am open minded and heed intuition that one ought not join sects.

Anyways, I flipped over the cover and read one of the first paragraphs that said God wants to be called Jehovah out loud to them, verbatim. I then questioned them: God really WANTS to be called Jehovah?

God suddenly wants to be called only Jehovah?

So God has a new decree, a decree only for JWs or the whole world

I reckon God would be happy just to be acknowledged by most people, Christian and others.

I am sure that if God just wanted to be called Jehovah, He wouldnt have allowed His many other names in scripture
THE NAMES OF GOD

OLD TESTAMENT NAMES FOR GOD

ELOHIM......Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1
meaning "God", a reference to God's power and might.
ADONAI......Malachi 1:6
meaning "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God.
JEHOVAH--YAHWEH.....Genesis 2:4
a reference to God's divine salvation.
JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM.......Exodus 31:13
meaning "The Lord thy sanctifier"
JEHOVAH-ROHI......Psalm 23:1
meaning "The Lord my shepherd"
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH.......Ezekiel 48:35
meaning "The Lord who is present"
JEHOVAH-RAPHA.........Exodus 15:26
meaning "The Lord our healer"
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU......Jeremiah 23:6
meaning "The Lord our righteousness"
JEHOVAH-JIREH.........Genesis 22:13-14
meaning "The Lord will provide"
JEHOVAH-NISSI.........Exodus 17:15
meaning "The Lord our banner"
JEHOVAH-SHALOM........Judges 6:24
meaning "The Lord is peace"
JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH......Isaiah 6:1-3
meaning "The Lord of Hosts"
JEHOVAH-GMOLAH........Jeremiah 51:6
meaning "The God of Recompense"
EL-ELYON..............Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14
meaning "The most high God
EL-ROI................Genesis 16:13
meaning "The strong one who sees"
EL-SHADDAI............Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1
meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"
EL-OLAM...............Isaiah 40:28-31
meaning "The everlasting God"

MORE NAMES OF GOD--Father, Son, Holy Spirit

AVENGER..........................1Thess.4:6
ABBA.............................Romans 8:15
ADVOCATE.........................I John 2:1 (kjv)
ALMIGHTY.........................Genesis 17:1
ALL IN ALL.......................Colossians 3:11
ALPHA............................Revelation 22:13
AMEN.............................Revelation 3:14
ANCIENT OF DAYS..................Daniel 7:9
ANOINTED ONE.....................Psalm 2:2
APOSTLE..........................Hebrews 3:1
ARM OF THE LORD..................Isaiah 53:1
AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION......Hebrews 5:9
AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH..............Hebrews 12:2
AUTHOR OF PEACE..................1 Cor. 14:33

BEGINNING.........................Revelation 21:6
BISHOP OF SOULS...................1 Peter 2:25
BLESSED & HOLY RULER..............1 Timothy 6:15
BRANCH............................Jeremiah 33:15
BREAD OF GOD......................John 6:33
BREAD OF LIFE.....................John 6:35
BREATH OF LIFE....................Genesis 2:7, Revelation 11:11
BRIDEGROOM........................Isaiah 62:5
BRIGHT MORNING STAR...............Revelation 22:16
BUCKLER.........2 Sam.22:31kjv,Psalm 18:2kjv,Psalm 18:30kjv,Proverbs 2:7kjv

CAPTAIN OF SALVATION...............Hebrews 2:10
CARPENTER..........................Mark 6:3
CHIEF SHEPHERD.....................1 Peter 5:4
CHOSEN ONE.........................Isaiah 42:1
CHRIST.............................Matthew 22:42
CHRIST OF GOD......................Luke 9:20
CHRIST THE LORD....................Luke 2:11
CHRIST, SON OF LIVING GOD..........Matthew 16:16
COMFORTER..........................John 14:26(kjv)
COMMANDER..........................Isaiah 55:4
CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL...............Luke 2:25
CONSUMING FIRE......................Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29
CORNERSTONE.........................Isaiah 28:16
COUNSELOR...........................Isaiah 9:6
CREATOR.............................1 Peter 4:19
CROWN OF BEAUTY.....................Isaiah 28:5

DAYSPRING..............................Luke 1:78
DELIVERER..............................Romans 11:26
DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS.................Haggai 2:7
DIADEM OF BEAUTY.......................Isaiah 28:5
DOOR...................................John 10:7(kjv)
DWELLING PLACE.........................Psalm 90:1

ELECT ONE..............................Isaiah 42:1
EMMANUEL...............................Matthew 1:23(kjv)
END....................................Revelation 21:6
ETERNAL GOD............................Deut. 33:27
ETERNAL LIFE...........................1 John 5:20
ETERNAL SPIRIT.........................Hebrews 9:14
EVERLASTING FATHER.....................Isaiah 9:6
EVERLASTING GOD.........................Genesis 21:33
EXCELLENT...............................Psalm 148:13(kjv)

FAITHFUL & TRUE........................Revelation 19:11
FAITHFUL WITNESS.......................Revelation 1:5
FATHER.................................Matthew 6:9
FIRSTBORN..............................Rom.8:29,Rev.1:5,Col.1:15
FIRSTFRUITS............................1 Cor.15:20-23
FORTRESS...............................Jeremiah 16:19
FOUNDATION.............................1 Cor. 3:11
FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS..............Jeremiah 2:13
FRIEND.................................Matthew 11:19
FULLERS'SOAP...........................Malachi 3:2(kjv)

GENTLE WHISPER.........................1 Kings 19:12
GIFT OF GOD............................John 4:10
GLORY OF THE LORD......................Isaiah 40:5
GOD....................................Genesis 1:1
GOD ALMIGHTY...........................Genesis 17:1
GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH.................Isaiah 54:5
GOD OVER ALL...........................Romans 9:5
GOD WHO SEES ME........................Genesis 16:13
GOODNESS...............................Psalm 144:2(kjv)
GOOD SHEPHERD..........................John 10:11
GOVERNOR...............................Psalm 22:28(kjv)
GREAT HIGH PRIEST......................Hebrews 4:14
GREAT SHEPHERD.........................Hebrews 13:20
GUIDE..................................Psalm 48:14

HEAD OF THE BODY.......................Colossians 1:18
HEAD OF THE CHURCH.....................Ephesians 5:23
HEIR OF ALL THINGS.....................Hebrews 1:2
HIDING PLACE...........................Psalm 32:7
HIGHEST................................Luke 1:76
HIGH PRIEST............................Hebrews 3:1
HIGH PRIEST FOREVER....................Hebrews 6:20
HOLY GHOST.............................John 14:26
HOLY ONE...............................Acts 2:27
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.....................Isaiah 49:7
HOLY SPIRIT............................John 15:26
HOPE...................................Titus 2:13
HORN OF SALVATION......................Luke 1:69
HUSBAND................................Isaiah 54:5,Jere.31:32,Hosea 2:16

I AM....................................Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
IMAGE OF GOD............................2 Cor. 4:4
IMAGE OF HIS PERSON.....................Hebrews 1:3 (kjv)
IMMANUEL................................Isaiah 7:14
INTERCESSOR.............................Romans 8:26,27,34 Hebrews 7:25

JAH..................................Psalm 68:4(kjv)
JEALOUS..............................Exodus 34:14(kjv)
JEHOVAH..............................Psalm 83:18(kjv)
JESUS................................Matthew 1:21
JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD................Romans 6:23
JUDGE................................Isaiah 33:22, Acts 10:42
JUST ONE.............................Acts 22:14

KEEPER...............................Psalm 121:5
KING.................................Zechariah 9:9
KING ETERNAL.........................1 Timothy 1:17
KING OF GLORY........................Psalm 24:10
KING OF JEWS.........................Matthew 27:11
KING OF KINGS........................1 Timothy 6:15
KING OF SAINTS.......................Revelation 15:3

LAMB OF GOD...........................John 1:29
LAST ADAM.............................1 Cor. 15:45
LAWGIVER..............................Isaiah 33:22
LEADER................................Isaiah 55:4
LIFE..................................John 14:6
LIGHT OF THE WORLD....................John 8:12
LIKE AN EAGLE.........................Deut. 32:11
LILY OF THE VALLEYS...................Song 2:1
LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH............Revelation 5:5
LIVING GOD.............................Daniel 6:20
LIVING STONE..........................1 Peter 2:4
LIVING WATER..........................John 4:10
LORD..................................John 13:13
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.....................Revelation 15:3
LORD GOD OF HOSTS.....................Jeremiah 15:16
LORD JESUS CHRIST.....................1 Cor. 15:57
LORD OF ALL...........................Acts 10:36
LORD OF GLORY ........................1 Cor. 2:8
LORD OF HARVEST.......................Matthew 9:38
LORD OF HOSTS.........................Haggai 1:5
LORD OF LORDS.........................1 Tim. 6:15
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS..............Jeremiah 23:6
LOVE.................................1 John 4:8
LOVINGKINDNESS.......................Psalm 144:2

MAKER..................................Job 35:10, Psalm 95:6
MAJESTY ON HIGH........................Hebrews 1:3
MAN OF SORROWS.........................Isaiah 53:3
MASTER..................................Luke 5:5
MEDIATOR................................1 Timothy 2:5
MERCIFUL GOD............................Jeremiah 3:12
MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT................Malachi 3:1
MESSIAH................................. John 4:25
MIGHTY GOD...............................Isaiah 9:6
MIGHTY ONE...............................Isaiah 60:16
MOST UPRIGHT.............................Isaiah 26:7

NAZARENE.................................Matthew 2:23

OFFSPRING OF DAVID.......................Revelation 22:16
OMEGA....................................Revelation 22:13
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON........................John 1:18(kjv)
OUR PASSOVER LAMB........................1 Cor. 5:7
OUR PEACE................................Ephesians 2:14

PHYSICIAN................................Luke 4:23
PORTION..................................Psalm 73:26,Psalm 119:57
POTENTATE................................1 Timothy 6:15
POTTER...................................Isaiah 64:8
POWER OF GOD.............................1 Cor. 1:24
PRINCE OF LIFE...........................Acts 3:15
PRINCE OF PEACE..........................Isaiah 9:6
PROPHET..................................Acts 3:22
PROPHET OF THE HIGHEST...................Luke 1:76
PROPITIATION.............................1John 2:2, 1John 4:10
PURIFIER.................................Malachi 3:3

QUICKENING SPIRIT........................1 Corinthians 15:45(kjv)

RABBONI (TEACHER)........................John 20:16
RADIANCE OF GOD'S GLORY..................Heb.1:3
REDEEMER.................................Job 19:25
REFINER'S FIRE...........................Malachi 3:2
REFUGE...................................Jeremiah 16:19
RESURRECTION.............................John 11:25
REWARDER.................................Hebrews 11:6
RIGHTEOUS ONE............................1 John 2:1
ROCK.....................................1 Cor.10:4
ROOT OF DAVID............................Rev. 22:16
ROSE OF SHARON...........................Song 2:1
RULER OF GOD'S CREATION..................Rev. 3:14
RULER OVER KINGS OF EARTH................Rev 1:5
RULER OVER ISRAEL........................Micah 5:2

SAVIOR...................................Luke 2:11
SCEPTRE..................................Numbers 24:17
SEED.....................................Genesis 3:15
SERVANT..................................Isaiah 42:1
SHADE....................................Psalm 121:5
SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS....................1Peter 2:25
SHIELD...................................Genesis 15:1
SHILOH...................................Genesis 49:10
SONG.....................................Exodus 15:2, Isaiah 12:2
SON OF DAVID.............................Matthew 1:1
SON OF GOD...............................Matthew 27:54
SON OF MAN...............................Matthew 8:20
SON OF THE MOST HIGH.....................Luke 1:32
SOURCE...................................Hebrews 5:9
SPIRIT...................................John 4:24
SPIRIT OF ADOPTION.......................Romans 8:15
SPIRIT OF GOD............................Genesis 1:2
SPIRIT OF TRUTH..........................John 14:17,15:26,16:13
STAR OUT OF JACOB........................Numbers 24:17
STRENGTH.................................Jeremiah 16:19
STONE....................................1 Peter 2:8
STONE OF ISRAEL..........................Genesis 49:24
STRONGHOLD...............................Nahum 1:7
STRONG TOWER.............................Proverbs 18:10
SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.....................Malachi 4:2

TEACHER...................................John 13:13
TEMPLE....................................Revelation 21:22
THE ONE...................................Psalm 144:2,10
TRUE LIGHT................................John 1:9
TRUE WITNESS..............................Revelation 3:14
TRUTH.....................................John 14:6

VINE......................................John 15:5

WALL OF FIRE...............................Zechariah 2:5
WAY........................................John 14:6
WISDOM OF GOD..............................1 Cor. 1:24
WITNESS....................................Isaiah 55:4
WONDERFUL..................................Isaiah 9:6
WORD.......................................John 1:1
WORD OF GOD................................Revelation 19:13

YAH........................................Isaiah 12:2(kjv),Psalm 68:4(nkjv)


www.smilegodlovesyou.org...

reply to post by borntowatch

Touch'e here friend. You said it all!

reply to post by gardener


I grew up in 1950s-70s in a Pentecostal, Assembly of God community. I say community because we had sister churches that we visited and they sent visiting choirs and guest preacher, missionaries and such and we shared bible and youth camps and other outings. Anyway, in those circle, God was always called Jehovah.

This Yahweh thing, the name never was said. It's relatively new to me. Oh yeah, and Jesus, was always called Jesus, with a "Christ" or "The Nazarene" surname. But never any of this "Yeshua", or any of the other names that people use these days.

I was just visited by some JWs this morning.

I find it astounding how little they question.

If you question them, they have a rote answer for everything

... but I respect their right to believe it and just let them be.

Your list of name rocks -- may I use it for their next visit?

As a true "Christian" I despise any form of organized religion. Biblically speaking I don't believe I am alone.

Isaiah 1:13-14 states, “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies…it is iniquity…Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.”

Here again...

Isaiah 29:13, “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me…”(Jesus quoted this passage in Matt. 15:8-9 adding “…in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”)

And here...

And then there were the Pharisee’s of Judaism. They sought to entrap and discredit Him and asked Jesus, (paraphrasing) “Why are your disciples disregarding our traditions…” Jesus answered, “Why do you transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?…You hypocrites!”(Matt 15:1-9

I am also open to many things. I hold no one person or group above another. After all we are taught to be humble.

And there it is: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10.

That being said no person, entity or group has done more to harm "Christianity" than the religious groups who claim to represent it.

I've had enough of the hypocritical bigots clothed in "Holiness". THEY are the great deceivers.

reply to post by gardener


How did they respond when you told them that? By the way, you know that you played into their hand, right? They believe that they will be persecuted for their faith.

reply to post by borntowatch


Exactly who says so? Who or what is the source of this information? And are these all names in this long, long list? Most sound like descriptions to me...

The title of this post also seems misleading... 'Jehovah' is a translation of the original Hebrew 'YHWH', which the Jews don't pronounce, saying instead 'Adonai', which means 'Lord' and it is shown in some English Bible translations as 'LORD' all in capital letters to denote 'YHWH'. (Read the Preface to Bibles that do use this distinction.)

There is a promise in the Bible that 'Whosever calls upon the name of the LORD, shall have salvation' (Romans 10:13), but how can you obtain this promise, if don't know his name to call upon Him? Christians would call upon the name of Jesus, but this quote is from Joel 2:32 where in the original it is 'YHWH'.

Also, just to confuse matters, there's no 'J' in the Hebrew alphabet... so where does the name 'Jesus' come from? That's the Latin version, of the Greek version, of the original Hebrew. The question is then, does it matter which one we use? The Biblical (paraphrased) answer is that 'you're condemned already, if you don't believe in the name of the Son of God' * (John 3:18) and 'Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved'. (Acts 4:12)

* If you believed in him, you would know him, and if you know him, you'd know his name!


My 'The New Book of Knowledge' dictionary has it that the vowels from 'Adonai' were inserted into YHWH to get JaHoVaH. The 'W' obviously taking on the Germanic 'V' sound. Note too, older JW literature has Yahweh as being closer to the true name of God than the popular Jehovah.

And to throw a further spanner into these works, 'Elohim' in the Hebrew is 'masculine plural', whilst 'YHWH' is 'feminine singular'. (I got this information from an article by a Jewish writer at Helium.com) Elohim being used in Genesis Chapter 1 to Chapter 2:2 or 3. With 'LORD' or more properly, 'YHWH' being used from Genesis 2:4 on.... Hence the confusion from 'Let us make man in our image' plurality that is often used to support the Trinity Doctrine.

You don't have to believe anything I've put here, but it should at least alert you to checking all your religious facts very carefully! As the Bible says, 'Test everything!' 1 Thessalonian 5:21

They kind of remind me of worker ants.....they just keep on going no matter what you say......

reply to post by gardener

Why did God change his mind thousands of years later?

A link to a Wikipedia article on the word/name Jehovah

A little research shows that the name Jehovah is NOT one that God chose for Himself.

He did choose to call himself "I am" and also the letters YHWH.

Hebrew letters have individual meanings, as well as their meanings as part of words. As a whole word, it is believed that the tetragrammaton is an archaic form of "He who is".

As individual letter meanings, reading from right to left, the letters are:

"He" which is representative of a window or flap in a tent and as such is seen either as an exhalation of God (His Holy Spirit) or as "to look" or "behold".

"Vav" represents a hook or nail and also represents a pillar or upright man.

"He" which is repeated.

"Yod" represents "a hand" or "to thrust" and also the wisdom of Solomon (or human wisdom under God).

It has been suggested that the name of God is, therefore: "behold the nail, behold the hand" (which is sure to upset some when they realize whom it applies to).

reply to post by chr0naut

A little research shows that the name Jehovah is NOT one that God chose for Himself. - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

According to Wikipedia there is disagreement among scholars

Pronunciation The name Iehova at a Norwegian church.[7] Most scholars believe "Jehovah" to be a late (c. 1100 CE) hybrid form derived by combining the Latin letters JHVH with the vowels of Adonai, but some hold there is evidence that the Jehovah form of the Tetragrammaton may have been in use in Semitic and Greek phonetic texts and artifacts from Late Antiquity.[5][6] Others say that it is the pronunciation Yahweh that is testified in both Christian and pagan texts of the early Christian era.[5][8][9][10][11]

I have friends from other countries.

When they say my name with an accent, it sounds alot different than the way I pronounce it.

I still know that they are addressing me.

reply to post by TiedDestructor

That being said no person, entity or group has done more to harm "Christianity" than the religious groups who claim to represent it. I've had enough of the hypocritical bigots clothed in "Holiness". THEY are the great deceivers. - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Does that also include Peter, Paul and the rest of Jesus' apostles?

reply to post by gardener


hey ho Breed ra!

reply to post by borntowatch

God suddenly wants to be called only Jehovah?

No


Good list borntowatch!

reply to post by Maigret


You're wrong. Yahweh was pronounced. We just don't know how it was pronounced because ancient Hebrew at that time did not support vowel marks. Jehovah is simply the Anglicized version of what could have been, Yahweh. I've heard a lot of people make the argument you're making about YHVH not being pronounced; by that argument, no word in ancient Hebrew would be pronounced because no ancient Hebrew word had vowel points.


ETA: I had to edit. I had syllables on the brain.

reply to post by borntowatch


You forgot Kanye.

dusty1
reply to post by TiedDestructor

 

That being said no person, entity or group has done more to harm "Christianity" than the religious groups who claim to represent it. I've had enough of the hypocritical bigots clothed in "Holiness". THEY are the great deceivers. - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Does that also include Peter, Paul and the rest of Jesus' apostles?

At one time or another...I love the irony of it all.

reply to post by TiedDestructor

At one time or another...I love the irony of it all. - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Matthew 25:34-40

Matthew 25:34-40 New English Translation (NET)

34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

reply to post by brazenalderpadrescorpio


Jumpin' Jehosaphat!


You make an excellent point about vowels.


Why don't we see threads that call into question the pronunciation of:
Jehizkia
Jehoaddah
Jehoaddin
Jehoahaz
Jehohanan
Jehoaichin
Jehoiada
Jehoiakim
Jehoiarib
Jehonadab
Jehonathan
Jehoram
Jehoshabeath
Jehoshaphat
Jehosheba
Jehoshua

etc....?

dusty1
reply to post by TiedDestructor

 

At one time or another...I love the irony of it all. - See more at: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Matthew 25:34-40

Matthew 25:34-40 New English Translation (NET)

34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

A perfect example of grace.

No greater a truth can be spoken; such a humbling utterance.