God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
EXODUS 3:14
Have you ever noticed how the Old Testament often writes “LORD” in all capital letters? It’s subtle, but once you see it, you start spotting it everywhere. What many people don’t realize is that this is a substitution. It’s not a translation of the Hebrew word Adonai—it’s replacing something much more personal: the actual name of God.
In the Hebrew Bible, this name appears over 6,800 times. It’s the tetragrammaton, YHWH, often pronounced “Yahweh.” Some traditions use the Latinized version: “Jehovah.” But modern Bible translations have, for the most part, replaced this sacred name with the more generic title “LORD.”
Why? It comes down to a blend of tradition, reverence, and readability:
1. Jewish Tradition
In Jewish tradition, the name Yahweh is considered too holy to pronounce. When reading Scripture aloud, “Adonai” (Lord) is spoken in its place. Out of deep respect, this practice continued through the ages.
2. The Septuagint Influence
The early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible—the Septuagint—substituted Kyrios (Lord) for Yahweh. Since the Septuagint was used extensively in the early church, this practice became embedded in Christian tradition.
3. Reverence and Familiarity
Many translators, following the King James tradition, maintained “LORD” in all caps to show reverence and provide continuity. But here’s the catch: we’ve preserved the formality but lost the personality.
4. Reader Familiarity:
Many readers are accustomed to seeing “LORD” in their Bibles. Changing this to “Yahweh” might create confusion or disrupt the flow for those familiar with traditional readings. “Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want” Psalm 23
The Problem with Substitution
When we trade “Yahweh” for “LORD,” we’re not just making a stylistic change—we’re depersonalizing God. Yahweh is a name. LORD is a title. Imagine your spouse calling you “Spouse” or your best friend calling you “Human.” It’s technically correct… but relationally distant.
God didn’t reveal Himself merely as an authority figure. He introduced Himself by name—Yahweh—inviting His people into relationship.
And Scripture is filled with a longing for His name to be known:
“That they may know that you, whose name is Yahweh, you alone, are the Most High over the whole earth.”
—Psalm 83:18 LEB
“I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.”
—Psalm 22:22 LEB
“I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.”
—Psalm 45:17 LEB
These aren’t just poetic lines—they’re prophetic. They’re invitations. They remind us that Yahweh desires to be known by name.
His Name and His Fame
Many Psalms focus specifically on proclaiming the name of Yahweh to the nations, not merely referencing His works or titles:
“Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.”
—Psalm 66:2 LEB
“May his name endure forever… and may people bless themselves by him… May the whole earth be filled with his glory.”
—Psalm 72:17–19 LEB
“Proclaim his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples… Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name.”
—Psalm 96:2–3, 8 LEB
“And the nations will fear the name of Yahweh, and all the kings of the earth your glory.”
—Psalm 102:15 LEB
“Give thanks to Yahweh; call upon his name; make his deeds known among the peoples.”
—Psalm 105:1 LEB
“From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of Yahweh be praised.”
—Psalm 113:3 LEB
Each of these verses connects the fame of God to the spoken name of Yahweh.
Glorify His Name
How are we to give thanks to His holy name if we never speak it?
The Psalms do not merely invite us to honor God in the abstract—they call us to worship, praise, proclaim, and sing the very name Yahweh. The name itself is woven into the worship of God’s people.
“Rejoice in Yahweh, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!”
—Psalm 97:12 LEB
“Praise Yah! Praise, O servants of Yahweh, praise the name of Yahweh. Let the name of Yahweh be blessed, from now until forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of Yahweh be blessed.”
—Psalm 113:1–3 LEB
“Not to us, O Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your loyal love, because of your faithfulness.”
—Psalm 115:1 LEB
These are not quiet, private meditations. They are global declarations. The people of God are meant to shout, sing, and declare the name of Yahweh to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 96 is particularly emphatic:
“Sing to Yahweh a new song; sing to Yahweh, all the earth. Sing to Yahweh; bless his name. Announce his salvation from day to day. Tell his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For Yahweh is great and very worthy of praise… Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship Yahweh in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘Yahweh is king!’”
—Psalm 96:1–10 LEB
It’s difficult to obey these commands when the name has been systematically replaced. The call isn’t to praise “the LORD” as a title—it’s to praise Yahweh as a person.
Psalm 135 echoes the same intensity:
“Praise Yah! Praise the name of Yahweh, give praise, O servants of Yahweh… Praise Yahweh, for Yahweh is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!”
—Psalm 135:1–3 LEB
And Psalm 8 makes it clear that this name is not only to be revered—it is majestic:
“O Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”
—Psalm 8:1 LEB
Even Psalm 29, with only 11 verses, uses the name Yahweh a staggering 18 times. That is not incidental. That is intentional. Worship is not merely about God’s power—it’s about His name.
Practical Application: Saying His Name
As a believer who genuinely wants to know the Creator more fully, I’ve made a decision: I’m going to start using the name Yahweh. It hasn’t been easy. I find myself hesitating, second-guessing, and defaulting to “LORD” because 45+ years of habit are hard to break.
But when I say Yahweh, something happens.
He no longer feels distant. The air of formality fades. I experience Him more as a person—a Father—who has made Himself known by name. Using Yahweh reminds me that God has drawn near, not hidden Himself behind titles.
“Know that Yahweh, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
—Psalm 100:3 LEB
If you are a believer in Jesus, then Yahweh is your God, your Father, too. Let’s not depersonalize Him. Let’s re-personalize our worship. Let’s restore the intimacy of calling God by His revealed name—Yahweh.
Excellent references for further reading:
- https://www.logos.com/grow/nerd-jehovah-in-bible/
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yahweh
- https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/YHVH/yhvh.html#loaded