For even if there are so-called gods, whether in Heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and for Him we live; with one Master Yeshua the Messiah, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
1 Cor 8:5-6

If you are unfamiliar with using the Holy Names of the God of the Bible, including the Messiah’s, it would be good to know that some people are very religiously dogmatic about using them.  That is not the case here. However, it IS one way that we purpose to honor our Creator and express our relationship with Him.

Why Yahweh and Yeshua?
We are sometimes asked why we often say Yahweh instead of only saying “God” or “The LORD”; and Yeshua instead of “Jesus”.

It’s pretty simple really: His is the Name above all names and there is power in it.  In our English Bibles, The Most High is usually referred to as either “God” or “The Lord”. However, these are but a couple of His titles: They are not names. In most cases, where the English “Old Testament” says “The Lord”, the Hebrew text actually reads His name: Yahweh.

In Psalm 105:1 we read:
O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

And in Isaiah 12:4 we read:
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

More on those Scriptures later.  For now, it is just important to remember that the “Old Testament” (Tanakh) of the Bible, where we find the name “Yahweh”, was primarily written in Hebrew to God’s people, NOT English.

O / T written in Hebrew

The name of “Yahweh”, the God of the Bible, has been removed by translators and then replaced with the title “The LORD” over six thousand, five hundred times in the “Old Testament” alone.

“The Lord” is a title that fails to specifically identify the person rather than a name that honors.  See 1 Cor 8:5-6 above.

When The Most High’s name is hidden, it is less likely for it to be proclaimed.  For me, I want everyone to know the Creator, that He is the Supreme Being of the universe, that He loves us, and what He wants for us.

YHWH ~ Yahweh
As the second of the Ten Commandments relates, Yahweh is a jealous God.  He will not share His glory (which includes His name), and He dislikes it when His people neglect to proclaim it (see verses below).

Knowing this, those who are in covenant with Yahweh God should want to proclaim that it is to Yahweh God, and to Him alone, that we offer our praise, worship, allegiance, and adoration: And that it is by none other than Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus) that we may approach the Father.

Repercussions of removing God’s name from His Word
There are many repercussions of removing God’s name from Creation and His Word.  Other than the initial fall of man, this substitution may have accomplished more for the cause of the devil than any other single act in history. Why do I say that? Because for those who challenge Yahweh, the God of the Bible, and certainly for those who are called according to His purpose, there is POWER in His name! Remove the name and you are left lacking.

In James 2:19 we read:
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Let’s look again at the two verses that I cited above and reconsider them as they are translated according to the original Hebrew language of the Bible.

In Ps 105:1 we read:
O give thanks unto Yahweh; call upon His name: make known his deeds among the people.

And in Isaiah 12:4 we read:
And in that day shall you say, Praise Yahweh, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.

Here are some more verses that come alive when we read them from a Hebraic perspective while including the name of the Most High God.

Ps 113:2-4
Blessed be the name of Yahweh from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Yahweh’s name is to be praised. 4 Yahweh is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens.

Prov 18:10
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and they are safe.

Isa 59:19
So shall they fear the name of Yahweh from the West, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of Yahweh shall lift up a standard against him.

A little about the name “Jesus”
Not having a name that carries a distinct meaning is very foreign to the Hebrew way and simply would not have been the case for the Hebrew Messiah.  In Hebrew life, all names have a significant meaning.

However, the Greek-based name of “Jesus” seems to have no meaning at all.  On the other hand, the Hebrew name Yeshua (also spelled Yahshua) means “Yah is my Salvation”; “Yah” is short for “Yahweh”.

Because of the Greek influence in the culture of which Yeshua (Jesus) lived, some people think that “Jesus” would have been His Greek name. However, while it is true that Yeshua was raised in a culture with Greek influence, the Messiah of Israel was not Greek; He was a Hebrew. It is contrary to think that He would have adopted a Greek name while identifying Himself so passionately as a Hebrew, the King of Israel.  Besides, Yeshua walked the earth approximately 2,000 years ago. The letter “J” didn’t even exist until approximately 500 years ago.  Some even believe that the Messiah’s name was purposely adulterated to resemble the name of a false God.

Others think that “Jesus” is just His “English” name. However, it is customary that names are transliterated rather than translated. Examples of this might by Miguel / Michael and Ramon / Raymond.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord (Master) Yeshua (the) Messiah
Ephesians 5:20

The “Old” is the “New” concealed. The “New” is the “Old revealed

Blessed is the name of Yeshua
Some of the reasons that we often refer to Jesus as Yeshua are it is more historically correct, it is more grammatically correct, Yeshua is a Hebrew name, Yahshua is what His family and friends would have called Him, and it has meaning.

Although there are different spellings and pronunciations of the name “Yeshua”, it is much more in line with all of the Bible than the name “Jesus”.

If you are interested in a video that traces the etymology of the word “Yeshua” this person does a pretty good job with that. But for now it is just important to remember that Yeshua is a Hebrew name and Jesus / Yeshua was an Israelite; a Hebrew. 

While “Yeshua” is the common spelling, to emphasize the meaning of the name some spell it Yahshua (Yah being short for Yahweh) i.e. “Yahweh is my salvation”. There are other spellings and pronunciations as well.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

Because we desire to honor The Messiah as much as possible we want to honor His name:  In fact, His honor, and His glory are all one and the same.

The depth of Hebraic perspective
The Hebraic perspective of God’s Word ads a depth to the Scriptures that simply cannot be found in any other way.  This may have been part of the reason that these names were removed from our Bibles.  Here are some examples.

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens,
Genesis 2:4

Yahweh is my Shepherd, I shall not want….
Psalm 23:1

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

It matters.

Some things have been lost to history
No one knows for sure the correct pronunciation of the Hebrew letters for Yahweh or Yeshua because both have been lost to the ages. This is part of the reason we are not dogmatic about specific spellings or pronunciations.

But we do know that both Yahweh God and Yeshua the Messiah were referred to by their names with those of whom they interacted.

Relationship
Perhaps the best reason to call upon our Heavenly Father by Name is relationship. Beginning with Adam and Eve the Creator of the universe has always done all he could to establish a heartfelt relationship with His people.

For your Maker is your husband—
    Yahweh of Hosts is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    He is the God of all the earth.
Isaiah 54:5

When we only refer to Him by a title it works to keep Him at a distance.

Victory is yours!
When righteousness goes forth in the name of Yahweh, the God of the Bible, or His Son, Yeshua, POWERFUL things happen.

Send the devil packin’. Declare the victory that has been won. Call on the Mighty name of Yeshua today. Make the demons flee and let’s restore God’s people unto the Messiah Yeshua!!

Seek you first the kingdom realm of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things will be added unto you.
Matt 6:33

Conclusion
This is just a brief introduction to the subject.  There are numerous aspects of it that have not been addressed here. 

These things should be tempered with common sense and reasonableness. Still, I consider it a blessing to call upon the name of Yeshua.  The Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures brings so many things into focus; the names of Yahweh and Yeshua are just one of them.

Confession: I embrace the reality and truth that I am a son / daughter of the Most High. I will seek first the Kingdom realm of God first in my life and I will dwell there. I will call upon the names that are worthy to be praised; Yahweh and Yeshua.

Prayer: Thank you, Yahweh God, for extending Your grace to me through Yeshua. Please help me to embrace your empowering presence in my life through Your Name so that You can be glorified and Your glory will manifest throughout the earth as you always intended.

Parson Rayphe
Chosen Glory