The Forgotten Name: How Rabbinic Religion has Ignored God's Command to Moses

In one of the most profound moments in religious history, God directly revealed His name to Moses. This was not a minor detail or a mere formality; it was a foundational aspect of the relationship between God and His people. God commanded that this name, "YHWH," [yahua, or yahweh] be used and remembered by all generations. However, over time, Jewish religious teachings and practices have systematically avoided the use of this divine name, replacing it with substitutes like "Adonai" and "Hashem." There is no greater insult to both humanity and the divine than the erasure of this direct command from God. This article will argue that the avoidance of the name YHWH represents a form of religious abuse, where human tradition has overstepped its bounds and ignored the explicit words of God.

The Direct Command from God

The Bible clearly records God’s instructions to Moses regarding His name in the Book of Exodus. When Moses asked God how he should respond to the Israelites when they inquired about the God who sent him, God answered with a powerful and revealing declaration:

• Exodus 3:14-15: "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you."' God also said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites, "The Lord (YHWH), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you." This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.'"

These verses make it abundantly clear that God intended for His name, YHWH, to be known, used, and remembered by the Israelites for all time. This name was not just a label; it was a revelation of God's eternal presence, His unchanging nature, and His covenantal relationship with His people.

The Significance of God's Name

In ancient cultures, a name was far more than just a word used to identify someone. A name represented a person's essence, their character, and their authority. In the case of divine names, this was even more significant. By revealing the name YHWH, God was not only identifying Himself but was also establishing a relational and covenantal bond with the Israelites. The name YHWH is deeply tied to the Hebrew verb "to be," indicating God's self-existence, eternal presence, and unchanging nature. This name was meant to be a constant reminder to the Israelites of who their God was—a God who is always present, always faithful, and always true to His promises.

The Shift Away from YHWH

Despite the clear command to use the name YHWH, Jewish rabbinic religious practices evolved in such a way that this name came to be avoided in everyday speech and worship. Instead, substitutes like "Adonai" (meaning "Lord") and "Hashem" (meaning "The Name") were used. This shift can be traced to a growing sense of reverence and fear of misusing the divine name, as well as the influence of rabbinic tradition.

• Deuteronomy 4:2 warns against adding to or taking away from God's commandments: "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." By replacing YHWH with other names, religious authorities effectively subtracted from God's explicit command to use and remember His name.

The replacement of YHWH with other terms represents a significant departure from God's original instructions. While the intentions behind this shift may have been rooted in a desire to honor and protect the sacredness of God's name, the result has been the erasure of the name that God Himself chose to reveal to His people.

The Consequences of Ignoring God's Command

The consequences of not using the name YHWH are profound. By avoiding this name, believers lose a direct connection to the God who revealed Himself to Moses and established a covenant with the Israelites. The name YHWH was meant to be a reminder of God's eternal presence and faithfulness. By replacing it with other terms, this vital aspect of God's identity is diminished, and the relationship between God and His people is weakened.

• Isaiah 42:8 emphasizes the importance of God's name: "I am the Lord (YHWH); that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols." Ignoring or replacing this name with other terms not only disrespects God's direct command but also risks diminishing the glory and honor due to him.

Moreover, the broader religious tradition of avoiding the name YHWH can be seen as a form of religious abuse—one where human authority and tradition have overridden the direct words of God. This practice imposes human-developed rituals and interpretations over the clear instructions given by God to Moses, leading to a distorted understanding of the divine.

Conclusion

It is time to return to the name that God Himself chose to reveal to humanity—YHWH. To do anything less is to continue a tradition of religious abuse, one that places human authority above divine command. By honoring God's words to Moses and using the name YHWH as He intended, believers can restore a more authentic and intimate relationship with the divine, honoring both God and the integrity of the religious tradition.

Furthermore, if the teachings of Judaism are willing to hide, ignore, or override the direct commands from God regarding His own name, it raises a critical question: How can we trust any of those teachings? If the most sacred and foundational commandment—the very name of God—can be set aside, what does this mean for the reliability of other religious teachings? This profound inconsistency calls into question the authenticity and trustworthiness of religious practices that claim to be rooted in divine instruction but choose to neglect or alter the very words of God.

To provide citations and references for the content covered in our discussion, I'll outline sources that would typically support the historical, religious, and linguistic information presented:

Citations:

1. Exodus 3:13-15 (God reveals His name to Moses):
   • The Holy Bible, Exodus 3:13-15. New International Version (NIV) or another preferred translation.
2. Development of the Tetragrammaton Usage in the Second Temple Period:
   • Scholem, Gershom. Kabbalah. Meridians - Viking Penguin, 1987.
   • Cross, Frank Moore. Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic: Essays in the History of the Religion of Israel. Harvard University Press, 1973.
3. Rabbinic Prohibition on Pronouncing the Tetragrammaton:
   • Mishnah, Sanhedrin 10:1. Available in various Talmud translations.
   • Talmud, Kiddushin 71a. Available in various Talmud translations.
4. Scholarly Consensus on the Pronunciation "Yahweh":
   • Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Doubleday, 1992.
   • Albright, William F. "The Names Shaddai and Abram." Journal of Biblical Literature, vol. 54, no. 4, 1935, pp. 180–193.

References:

1. The Bible:
   • The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), King James Version (KJV), or another preferred translation.
2. Books on the Development of Jewish Practice:
   • Scholem, Gershom. Kabbalah. Meridians - Viking Penguin, 1987.
   • Cohen, Shaye J.D. From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Westminster John Knox Press, 1987.
3. Academic Articles:
   • Albright, William F. "The Names Shaddai and Abram." Journal of Biblical Literature, vol. 54, no. 4, 1935, pp. 180–193.
   • Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Doubleday, 1992.

These sources provide a foundation for understanding the historical context, linguistic considerations, and religious practices related to the use and pronunciation of the name YHWH in Jewish tradition.