Why write Yahweh as YHWH? The Hebrew likely would have contained only 4 letters, but Hebrew doesn't have letters for the short vowel sounds...English DOES. So why the pretence? Is it to sound smarter?
by 
TheicidalManiac
ANSWERS: 4
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i think it is because we are uncertain how it was pronounced originally. spelling it "Yahweh" is just an educated guess.
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what does it mean ?
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Assuming that an "a" and an "e" are used in something as important as the Name of God is rather brash. Why risk a mistake? The Hebrew Tetragrammaton YHWH is only part of God's name and in both Jewish and Christian tradition is almost never spoken aloud. Out of great respect for the Name of God, Jews reading the Scriptures will say "Lord" instead of God's name. In the same spirit of supreme respect, most English translations of the Bible translate God's name as "LORD" (in all caps). Catholics and most other Christians follow the example of the Jews and the Bible by almost never using the Name of God. This pious practice is out of supreme respect and in obedience to the Commandment not to use God's name in vain. http://www.catholic.org/ae/music/story.php?id=29022 With love in Christ.
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Because we actually don't know what the proper vowels were originally. And no one knows how it was originally pronounced. That's IF it was ever pronounced at all. It represents the name of God as partaking of the ineffable, as the godhead itself does. As such it defies pronunciation because no one knows the true name of the "Ineffable." According to some Jewish traditions there is one sage a generation who knows the proper pronunciation. I recall reading ages ago (and I wish I could find the reference, but I don't feel like poring through stacks of books) that some long ago rabbi once stated words to the effect that even if a man does know the correct pronunciation he will not dare even once in 10,000 years to utter it, because of its power. People write it that way for various reasons. I doubt sounding smarter is one of them.
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