The Divine Name, often referred to as the Tetragrammaton, is represented by the four Hebrew letters YHWH (יהוה). This name is considered the most sacred and personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. It appears over 6,800 times in the Old Testament and is foundational to understanding the nature and character of God as revealed in Scripture.

Biblical Usage and Significance

The Divine Name is first introduced in Genesis 2:4, "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made them." Here, the name is associated with God's creative power and His intimate involvement with creation. The name YHWH is often translated as "LORD" in many English Bibles, including the Berean Standard Bible, to honor the Jewish tradition of not pronouncing the name out of reverence.

In Exodus 3:14-15, God reveals the meaning of His name to Moses: "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.' God also said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.'" The name YHWH is linked to the Hebrew verb "to be," signifying God's eternal existence, self-sufficiency, and unchanging nature.

Theological Implications

The Divine Name underscores God's covenantal relationship with His people. In Exodus 6:2-3, God speaks to Moses, saying, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them." This passage highlights the progressive revelation of God's character and His faithfulness to His promises.

The use of the Divine Name also emphasizes God's holiness and sovereignty. In Isaiah 42:8, God declares, "I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols." The name YHWH is a reminder of God's unique position as the one true God, deserving of exclusive worship and devotion.

Christological Connections

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is often associated with the Divine Name, affirming His deity. In John 8:58, Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" This declaration echoes the "I AM" of Exodus 3:14, linking Jesus directly to the Divine Name and asserting His pre-existence and divine nature.

The Apostle Paul also connects Jesus to the Divine Name in Philippians 2:9-11: "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Here, the exaltation of Jesus is seen as a fulfillment of the reverence due to the Divine Name.

Reverence and Usage

Throughout history, the Jewish people have shown great reverence for the Divine Name, often substituting it with "Adonai" (Lord) or "HaShem" (The Name) in reading and prayer. This practice reflects a deep respect for the holiness of God's name, as instructed in the Ten Commandments: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

In Christian worship and theology, the Divine Name continues to hold profound significance, representing God's eternal presence, faithfulness, and the revelation of His character through Jesus Christ.