I recently purchased David Stern’s “Complete Jewish Bible” through the Messianic Jewish Publishers and I find the reading very interesting except for one aspect – the Name of Elohim was hidden in the English word God and/or the word Adonai. As I see it the “Jewishness of the Bible” of this version of the Bible weakened somewhat as a result.
I accept the explanation given by Stern in the introduction (page xxxiii) as follows:
“The Basic Problem: God’s personal name is never Spoken. When Moshe turned aside in the wilderness of Midyan, to see the bush that burned without being consumed, God revealed himself to him and told him his own personal name. The name in Hebrew consists of four letters, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh and is therefore called the Tetragramaton (four letters writings). The Bible makes it clear that his name was not to be used casually. The third Commandment prohibits taking His Name in vain and the man that uses it in a curse was put to death at God’s explicit instruction. Already by Yeshua’s time no one ever spoke God’s name except the cohen hagadol (high priest), when he entered the Especially Holy Place in the temple to make atonement for the sins of Isra’el on Yom Kippur, so strictly this rule was followed that when the Masoretes wrote down the vowel point for the Torah, they did not write the actual vowels to be used in pronouncing the Tetragramaton. By then the word Adonai which is a term for God found frequently in the Bible and which means “My Lord” was said instead of the Name whenever the Torah was read. ….”
Indeed this was the basic problem I immediately detected when I opened my new Bible to read its content. I missed the name of our Elohim. Two issues were raised to explain Sterns’ inability to use Elohim’s name as follows:
I accept the explanation given by Stern in the introduction (page xxxiii) as follows:
“The Basic Problem: God’s personal name is never Spoken. When Moshe turned aside in the wilderness of Midyan, to see the bush that burned without being consumed, God revealed himself to him and told him his own personal name. The name in Hebrew consists of four letters, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh and is therefore called the Tetragramaton (four letters writings). The Bible makes it clear that his name was not to be used casually. The third Commandment prohibits taking His Name in vain and the man that uses it in a curse was put to death at God’s explicit instruction. Already by Yeshua’s time no one ever spoke God’s name except the cohen hagadol (high priest), when he entered the Especially Holy Place in the temple to make atonement for the sins of Isra’el on Yom Kippur, so strictly this rule was followed that when the Masoretes wrote down the vowel point for the Torah, they did not write the actual vowels to be used in pronouncing the Tetragramaton. By then the word Adonai which is a term for God found frequently in the Bible and which means “My Lord” was said instead of the Name whenever the Torah was read. ….”
Indeed this was the basic problem I immediately detected when I opened my new Bible to read its content. I missed the name of our Elohim. Two issues were raised to explain Sterns’ inability to use Elohim’s name as follows:
a) The Bible makes it clear that his name was not to be used casually;
b) The third Commandment prohibits taking His Name in vain.
Those prohibitions are fairly clear; but if we called Elohim by His name, how can this be defined as using Yahweh’s name in vain and how can we be taking His name in vain if we mentioned his name and promote it?
Let me put it this way, right now the world does not Him, that He is Creator of all things. Ask any who Yahweh is and the likely answer is that we do not know Him. Ask who is Creator, and the likely answer, is God is the Creator and he is the Lord. In Fiji it is TURAGA na Kalou (i.e. LORD God). Yahweh is unknown Selah. And shall we say that since the time of Moshe, 4,000 years have passed now, far too many people of the world still do not know who Yahweh is. This is incredible but obviously true. Is this Yahweh’s desire?
Let us check that out, by going into the Holy Scriptures itself for some answer. Should we hide Yahweh’s Name and not use it?
Call in his Name (Psalms 99:6)
6 Moshe and Aharon were among His priests,
And Sh’mu’el was among those who called upon His name;
They called upon Yahweh, and He answered them.
Honor His name (Psalms 66: 2-4)
02 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. 03 Say unto Elohim “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 04 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your Name.” Selah
Magnify His Name (Psalms 69:30)
30 I will praise the name of Elohim with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Publish His Name (Deuteronomy 32:3)
03 For I proclaim the name of Yahweh: Ascribe greatness to our Elohim.
Remember His Name (Exodus 3:15)
15 Moreover Elohim said to Moshe, “Thus you shall say to the children of Isra’el: ‘The Yahweh Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Avraham, the Elohim of Yitz’chak, and the Elohim of Ya’akov, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
Sing to the Name (Psalms 9:1-2)
01 I will praise You, O Yahweh, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 02 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, ELYON.
Let us check that out, by going into the Holy Scriptures itself for some answer. Should we hide Yahweh’s Name and not use it?
Call in his Name (Psalms 99:6)
6 Moshe and Aharon were among His priests,
And Sh’mu’el was among those who called upon His name;
They called upon Yahweh, and He answered them.
Honor His name (Psalms 66: 2-4)
02 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. 03 Say unto Elohim “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 04 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your Name.” Selah
Magnify His Name (Psalms 69:30)
30 I will praise the name of Elohim with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Publish His Name (Deuteronomy 32:3)
03 For I proclaim the name of Yahweh: Ascribe greatness to our Elohim.
Remember His Name (Exodus 3:15)
15 Moreover Elohim said to Moshe, “Thus you shall say to the children of Isra’el: ‘The Yahweh Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Avraham, the Elohim of Yitz’chak, and the Elohim of Ya’akov, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
Sing to the Name (Psalms 9:1-2)
01 I will praise You, O Yahweh, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 02 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, ELYON.
Think on the Name (Malachi 3:16)
16 Then those who feared Yahweh spoke to one another, And Yahweh listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear Yahweh And who meditates on His name.
First can I mention that the texts I used is based in the New King James Bible intertwined with the Complete Jewish Bible and the Words of Yahweh Bible so that I can make my point loud and clear, namely that it is very clear that Yahweh wants the World to know Him, to remember Him, to turn to Him, to think on His Name and to honor, magnify and publish his Name.
Let me repeat my anxiety, that we have now come to the 21st Century and much of the world still do not know who Yahweh the Elohim of Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov who created all of us. Since Moshe’s encounter with Elohim, some 4,000 years have lapsed. That I think sucks.
Notice this text on the Oracles of Elohim (Romans 3:1-3) The Word of Yahweh Bible:
“What Advantage then hath the Jew? …. Much in every way; chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of Elohim. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of Elohim without effect?
Will those responsible continue to hide the oracle of Elohim - eg His Name, from the world?
Keep well and Bye for now.
16 Then those who feared Yahweh spoke to one another, And Yahweh listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear Yahweh And who meditates on His name.
First can I mention that the texts I used is based in the New King James Bible intertwined with the Complete Jewish Bible and the Words of Yahweh Bible so that I can make my point loud and clear, namely that it is very clear that Yahweh wants the World to know Him, to remember Him, to turn to Him, to think on His Name and to honor, magnify and publish his Name.
Let me repeat my anxiety, that we have now come to the 21st Century and much of the world still do not know who Yahweh the Elohim of Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov who created all of us. Since Moshe’s encounter with Elohim, some 4,000 years have lapsed. That I think sucks.
Notice this text on the Oracles of Elohim (Romans 3:1-3) The Word of Yahweh Bible:
“What Advantage then hath the Jew? …. Much in every way; chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of Elohim. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of Elohim without effect?
Will those responsible continue to hide the oracle of Elohim - eg His Name, from the world?
Keep well and Bye for now.
