{"id":153,"date":"2016-02-16T20:12:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-17T01:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wylh.org\/blog\/?p=153"},"modified":"2020-07-24T11:21:22","modified_gmt":"2020-07-24T15:21:22","slug":"a-blurb-about-the-word-god-and-pronouncing-the-name-yhwh-correctly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wylh.org\/blog\/responses-to-prisoners\/a-blurb-about-the-word-god-and-pronouncing-the-name-yhwh-correctly\/","title":{"rendered":"A Blurb About The Word “God” and Pronouncing the name YHWH Correctly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The below text is an excerpt from a letter I wrote back to a brother in prison addressing the word “God” and sharing some thoughts I have about it, and people who use it, etc. and whether or not we should avoid fellowship with them:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The word \u201cGod\u201d doesn\u2019t necessarily mean anything about a pagan deity, however.  The \u201cpronunciation\u201d is the same as the pagan thing in Isaiah 65:11, but it\u2019s also the same pronunciation as the tribe of Gad or the Prophet Gad as I previously mentioned.  So why is it when someone says \u201cGod\u201d they are automatically accused of paying tribute to a pagan deity of fortune?  Why don\u2019t people say, \u201cHey He\u2019s paying tribute to the prophet of YHWH named Gad!\u201d  People can make arguments all day long about pronunciation but just because an English word sounds like something pagan doesn\u2019t mean that English word is off limits in and of itself.  If that were the case, I\u2019m sure you would need to write your letters in Hebrew to me probably to avoid anything that is \u201cpronounced\u201d similar to something pagan.  I\u2019m sure in all the words you wrote to me, we can probably find something that sounds similar to a pagan word.  I\u2019ve even heard the word \u201cthe\u201d might be similar to something pagan in origin.  I never confirmed that, just giving you an example.  English is filled with words that sound like other words from other languages.  To avoid all pagan \u201cpronounced-like\u201d words, you\u2019d have to basically learn Hebrew.  Even then, the word ba\u2019al is a Hebrew word itself and even the word ba\u2019al isn\u2019t pagan in origin.  It was USED for pagan purposes, but originally it was a Hebrew word used normally in the Hebrew language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, I\u2019ve mentioned why I choose to avoid the word \u201cGod\u201d \u2013 in addition to not offend others.  But I myself, I am not offended when someone else says the word \u201cGod\u201d \u2013 except I think in praise and worship services amongst believers \u2013 yes then I would feel the need to tune out and maybe later go up to the person hosting the gathering or the person who sang and explain to them why it bothered me they said \u201cGod\u201d in their songs and help suggest ways for them to sing their songs without doing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do I think we\u2019ll be using the word \u201cGod\u201d in the Kingdom?  No.  I don\u2019t.  And I think YHWH prefers the Hebrew words Elohiym, Eloah, El, etc. instead.  But this is something we need to be patient with others over and by and through example, overtime, more may understand why it\u2019s better to use another word.  My personal opinion about translation is that Genesis 1:1 should say, \u201cIn [the] first-part, Super Super Power filled the skies and the land\u201d.  In some cases I would translate it as \u201cSuper Super Power\u201d signifying a plural intensive by the word \u201cSuper\u201d being repeated twice, and in some cases I would translate Elohiym as \u201cSuper Powers\u201d when it is actually referring to a plural similar to the plural we\u2019re familiar with in English \u2013 where there is actually more than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insofar as translations and doctrine goes, it just creates confusion when the English Bibles put the word \u201cGod\u201d everywhere instead of translating the different words El Eloah Elohiym and others differently.  And it also creates confusion because a lot of people think of \u201cGod\u201d as being a title only for our Creator when in reality in Hebrew the word Elohiym is a title others besides the Heavenly Father hold as well.  So even if I knew for certain \u201cGod\u201d were not offensive at all to YHWH, I still would not advocate using \u201cGod\u201d when reading Scriptures because I view it as simply a very misunderstood English word that doesn\u2019t clearly communicate what the Hebrew is saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyhow I hope that helps with my perspective on all that.  If you close yourself off to anyone using the word \u201cGod\u201d you\u2019re going to miss out on a lot of opportunities to help others.  You could know Hebrew perfectly, but if you hide in a cave 24\/7 alone because nobody else knows Hebrew like you, then your Hebrew knowledge is for you and you alone and nobody will learn anything from you and you will learn nothing from anybody else either.  Knowing words is not all there is to following Yahushua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[part of letter excluded]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One last word then I\u2019ll let you go \u2013 what if you became suddenly ill after a bad car accident, your family deserted you, and you were in an intensive care unit for 5 weeks alone and the only person who came in to care or talk with you or help you get kosher meals or accommodate you in any way besides a nurse was some stranger you never knew?  He came in every day every morning, asking fervently, \u201cWhat do you need? How are you feeling?  What can I do for you?\u201d  And let\u2019s suppose you could only write down what you needed and had tubes all in your throat except for a few hours a day to eat or something.  But this guy came in day after day with gifts, presents, food, drinks, or whatever you had written down you needed.  He stayed when he could to pass the time with you so you didn\u2019t feel alone and isolated.  He helped you get up to the restroom when you were too weak and helped adjust pillows when your strength failed and you had cramps from laying one way too long.  He was the only person there many hours because the nursing staff is always overwhelmed and busy and only stopped by on a schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then suppose at the end of all that after you got well and out of there, he said your name wrong and called you [name removed for privacy] instead of [name removed for privacy].  Are you going to excommunicate yourself from a loving man like that because he said your name wrong?  Or would his love cover over a multitude of sins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proverbs 10:12  Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proverbs 17:9  He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Peter 4:8\u00a0 And above all have fervent love for one another, because love covers a great number of sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if that man who said \u201cGod\u201d at the gathering is that kind of a man who would do that for you? \u00a0But will you ever know that if you never really know who he is?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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