Is it okay to say (YHWH) Yahweh? What about the name of Jesus? Is it okay to say Yahweh? or Jehovah? Is it offensive to God if we pronounce it wrong? What about the name of Jesus? Many insist that Jesus must be called Yeshua, or even Yashua, Yahua, and all kinds of other interpretations, claiming them all correct, but rejecting the name ‘Jesus’. To find the answer, we must turn to what the Bible says, and what we do know.
Many believers are seeking deeper truth, questions about God’s Name and Jesus’ true Name have become increasingly common. Some claim that using the names “Jesus” or “the LORD” are incorrect or even offensive to God, and suggest we must instead use Hebrew names like “Yeshua,” “Yahuah,” or “Yahusha.”
But are these claims biblical? Is it wrong to say “Jesus”? Should we speak the Name YHWH aloud? Does God expect perfect pronunciation of His sacred Name?
Is it okay to say (YHWH) Yahweh? What about the name of Jesus?
Let’s take a careful look at Scripture, history, and the heart of God on this matter.
🔹 PART 1: The Name of God — Is “YHWH” His Name or Title?
📖 What Did God Say His Name Is?
When Moses asked God what His Name was, God replied:
“I AM WHO I AM.”
He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
— Exodus 3:14
Then God adds:
“Say to the people of Israel, **‘The LORD [YHWH]… has sent me to you.’ This is My Name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
— Exodus 3:15
✅ So, is “I AM” His Name?
Yes. God first identifies Himself as “I AM” (Hebrew: Ehyeh), which is a self-declaration of eternal existence.
Then He tells Moses to use YHWH (יהוה), which is derived from the same Hebrew verb “to be”, but in third person:
🔹 “I AM” (first-person) → what God says about Himself
🔹 “He Is” (YHWH) → what we say about Him
🔹 What Does “YHWH” Mean?
YHWH is not a title. It’s God’s personal, eternal Name in Hebrew.
- It is the Name He gave to be remembered forever.
- It reflects His unchanging, self-existent nature.
- It appears over 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible.
In most English Bibles, YHWH is translated as “LORD” (in all caps), following Jewish tradition of not speaking the Name aloud out of reverence.
🔹 So, Should We Speak the Name “YHWH” Aloud?
That is a holy and sensitive question.
✣️ The truth:
We do not know the exact pronunciation of YHWH.
- Ancient Hebrew was written without vowels.
- Jews stopped speaking the Name aloud out of fear of misusing it (Exodus 20:7).
- Over time, the original pronunciation was lost.
Most scholars agree:
The closest likely pronunciation is Yahweh (YAH-weh)
– Based on Hebrew grammar and poetic forms like “Hallelu-Yah” (Praise Yah)
But no one can say with absolute certainty.
Because of this, many believers choose not to speak the Name YHWH aloud, out of deep reverence and humility.
❗ A Word of Caution on Using God’s Name
If we do not know how to pronounce the Name of God correctly, it is better not to use it at all than to misuse it trying to sound clever.
Pronouncing His Name every time you speak about God does not draw you closer to Him. In fact, mispronouncing it, using it to gain favor, or forcing it on others is a form of irreverence — not worship.
❗ It turns something sacred into something common, which is exactly what God warns against.
Scripture says:
“You shall not take the name of YHWH your God in vain…” – Exodus 20:7
This includes:
- Speaking it carelessly
- Using it for attention or superiority
- Treating it like a magic word or religious badge
🙏 God desires worship in spirit and truth, not religious display or forced Hebrew vocabulary.
The holiest way to honor God’s Name is to obey His voice, live in humble reverence, and walk in His truth, not to overuse or misuse the letters Y-H-W-H.
🔹 Summary: God’s Holy Name
| Name | Source | Meaning | Use? |
|---|---|---|---|
| YHWH (יהוה) | Exodus 3:15 | “He Is” | ✅ With reverence |
| I AM (Ehyeh) | Exodus 3:14 | “I Am” | ✅ When quoting God |
| Yah | Poetic form (Psalms) | Short form of YHWH | ✅ In worship (e.g. Hallelu-Yah) |
| Yahuah / Yahusha | Modern inventions | ❌ Not biblical | ❌ Avoid |
| LORD (in caps) | English translations | Title to represent YHWH | ✅ Acceptable |
🔹 PART 2: The Name of Jesus — Is It a Distortion of “Yeshua”?
Now let’s address another common concern:
“Is the name ‘Jesus’ a distortion of His true Hebrew name ‘Yeshua’?”
The short answer: No.
Let’s see why.
🔹 What Was Jesus’ Original Name?
In Hebrew, His name was:
Yeshua (ישׁוּע) – pronounced yeh-SHOO-ah
Meaning: “Yahweh saves” or “Salvation”
The angel said to Joseph:
“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21
This links directly to the meaning of Yeshua.
🔹 How Did “Yeshua” Become “Jesus”?
Here’s how the name evolved through language:
| Language | Name |
| Hebrew | Yeshua |
| Greek | Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) |
| Latin | Iesus |
| English | Jesus |
- Greek lacked a “Y” sound, so Yeshua became Iēsous.
- Latin kept the form as Iesus.
- Early English used Iesus, which became Jesus after the letter “J” was introduced in the 1500s.
✅ The result?
Jesus is simply the English form of the same name.
❌ Is “Jesus” a Pagan Name?
No. Claims that “Jesus” is derived from “Zeus” or other pagan sources are:
- Completely false
- Not supported by any historical or linguistic evidence
- Based on conspiracy theories, not Scripture
🔹 What Name Did the Apostles Use?
The entire New Testament was written in Greek, and the name used is:
Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) — the Greek form of Yeshua
That means the apostles themselves:
- Used the Greek form
- Preached in multiple languages
- Never insisted on Hebrew pronunciation
“There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12
God is not limited by language. He hears the cry of the heart.
🔹 Do We Have to Say “Yeshua” to Be Saved?
No. There is no verse in Scripture that says salvation depends on speaking His Name in Hebrew.
The Bible says:
“Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:13
This is about faith, not phonetics.
🔹 What About Names Like “Yahshua,” “Yahusha,” or “Yahuah”?
These are modern, invented forms:
- Not found in Scripture
- Based on personal theories
- Not grounded in Hebrew grammar or biblical text
They often come from “Sacred Name” movements, which can lead people into legalism, confusion, and spiritual pride.
❗ Nowhere in the Bible does God say, “You must pronounce My Son’s name in Hebrew.”
🔹 Summary: The Name of Jesus
| Name | Language | Meaning | Use? |
| Yeshua | Hebrew | Yahweh saves | ✅ Yes |
| Iēsous | Greek (NT) | Translated Yeshua | ✅ Yes |
| Jesus | English | Translated Yeshua | ✅ Yes |
| Yahshua / Yahusha / Yahuah | Modern inventions | ❌ Not biblical | ❌ Avoid |
God looks at the heart, not your pronunciation.
Whether you say Yeshua, Jesus, or Iēsous, what matters is that you believe in the true Son of God, who died for your sins and rose again.
Call upon Him in truth. Walk in obedience. Honor His Name with your life.
Closing Prayer
“Father in heaven, thank You for revealing Your Name to us through Your Word. Whether we say YHWH, the LORD, Yeshua, or Jesus — may we never use these names lightly. Help us to walk in truth, in holiness, and in love, giving glory to Your great and holy Name forever. Amen.”
Learn more about the deeper things in the Bible here