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JESUS AND JEHOVAH---AN UNDENIABLE LINK

by

Brad T. Bromling

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to some overly-pious Jews, the pronunciation of God's name

has been lost forever. Out of fear that they might accidently violate

the third commandment (i.e., "You shall not take the name of Jehovah

your God in vain..."---Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 24:16), ancient Jews

refused to pronounce the word which represented God's name (`YHWH').

Instead, they would say the word `adonai' (i.e., "my Lord").

Mistaken Piety

This move on the part of the Jews was a mistake for at least two

reasons. First, they did not succeed in protecting themselves from

violating the third commandment. The commandment is broken whenever one

calls on the Lord to witness an oath which he does not keep (Leviticus

19:12; James 5:12). So, it did not matter that the Jews refrained from

speaking the actual name of God; the fact that they often showed little

regard for His authority, and swore falsely by Him, was condemning

enough. Second, by avoiding the name of God (and providing a substitute

for it) they violated---in essence---the divine charge: "You shall not

add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it..."

(Deuteronomy 4:2).

BIBLICAL USAGE

God is "Jehovah"

Vowels were added to the Hebrew language about A.D. 1000. Since by

that time the pronunciation of `YHWH' was lost, the Jews were unable to

add the correct vowels; hence it remained unutterable. To remedy this,

the vowels from `adonai' were inserted into `YHWH', producing the word

`Yahweh'. This has been Anglicized to read Jehovah. Most English

versions of the Bible represent `YHWH' with the word LORD, while a few

employ "Jehovah." Throughout the Old Testament, the name is applied to

the monotheistic God. When Moses demanded that Pharaoh release the

Israelites, he did so in the name of "Jehovah." To this Pharaoh

responded "Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice...?"

(Exodus 5:1-2). A psalmist once wrote: "That they may know that thou

alone, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the

earth" (Psalm 83:18). The name occurs in this way thousands of times in

the Hebrew Scriptures. Clearly, God wanted men to know that His "name

is Jehovah" (Jeremiah 16:21).

"Jehovah" Applied to the Father

In the majority of its occurrences, "Jehovah" is applied to the

first person of the Godhead (i.e., the "Father"---Matthew 28:19). For

example: "Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I

make thine enemies thy footstool" (Psalm 110:1). Jesus explained that

this verse pictures the Father addressing His Christ (Luke 20:42). In

speaking of Jesus, Peter reminded his audience: "For Moses truly said

to the fathers, The Lord (Jehovah) your God will raise up for you a

Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things,

whatever He says to you" (Acts 3:22). Hence, this passage pictures the

Father (Jehovah) foretelling the coming of His Prophet (the Son).

"Jehovah" Applied to the Son

Although these applications of "Jehovah" are common in the

Scriptures, they do not exhaust its usage; the name is also

occasionally applied to Jesus. First, notice the prophecy concerning

the mission of John: "The voice of one that crieth in the wilderness:

Prepare ye the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for

our God (Isaiah 40:3; see Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4;). John was

sent to prepare the way of Jesus Christ---he made that abundantly clear

(John 1:29-34). But, Isaiah said that John would prepare the way of

Jehovah. Plainly, Jesus and Jehovah are one and the same in these

passages.

Second, the book of Hebrews quotes the Father as addressing His Son

in this way: "You, Lord [Jehovah---Psalm 102:25], in the beginning laid

the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your

hands" (Hebrews 1:10). Not only does this verse apply the word

"Jehovah" to Jesus, but it attributes the quotation to the mouth of

God. Again, Jesus and Jehovah are synonymous in these verses.

Third, while describing his vision of Jesus, John exclaimed: "And

when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand

on me, saying to me, Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last"

(Revelation 1:17). The phrase "First and Last" is a clear reference to

Isaiah 44:6 which says: "Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and

his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts; I am the first and I am the last; and

besides me there is no God." By saying that He is "First and Last"

Jesus claimed to possess the nature of Jehovah. The Lord's statement

was either true or blasphemous! Who among His friends will charge the

Christ with blasphemy?

CONCLUSION

Although the Bible has much more to say on this topic, these three

examples clearly identify Jesus with Jehovah. It is only when one

recognizes this truth, that he can truly appreciate the Savior's nature

and the extreme cost of His sacrifice.

 

 

(C) 1991 Apologetics Press, Inc All Rights Reserved

 

This file may be copied, but is distributed on the understanding that

it will not be modified or edited, and will not be used for commercial

purposes. Further, it may not be copied without due reference to the

original publication source, author, year, and name and address of the

publisher.

 

Apologetics Press

230 Landmark Drive

Montgomery, AL 36117-2752

 

Downloaded from:

The Christian Connection of Palm Beach

300/1200/2400 bps

407/533/5216

 


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