Humans place a high value on names. A person’s name can reveal their character, personality, and life mission. In Christianity, the name Yahweh refers to a self-existent God. The Old Testament mentions it 6,800 times. It means Lord, but Christians ask, “Is Jesus Yahweh?”
Many Christians and scholars believe that Jesus is Yahweh based on various scriptures. Yahweh means “Lord” or “Jehovah.” It is first mentioned in Exodus 3:13–14. God revealed and identified Himself as a self-existent, eternal God. In many instances, the Bible mentions that Jesus is the same as God; they are the same entity. John 10:30 “I and the father are one.” You cannot talk about God and fail to talk about Jesus.
Keep reading this article to find out the origin and meaning of the name Yahweh, if the Bible says Jesus is Yahweh, why Christians call Jesus Yahweh, and much more information to reveal the mystery behind this sacred name.
Origin and meaning of the name Yahweh
The name Yahweh appears 6,800 times in the Bible, appearing in most Old Testament books. The name was holy and was often uttered by priests alone, as in those times, only priests were allowed to approach God and offer sacrifices on behalf of the people.
The first time the name is mentioned is during Moses’s encounter with God. The Israelites had been in captivity, and God wanted to use Moses to rescue them. God instructed Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let his people go. However, Moses was a bit hesitant and wondered how he would convince the children of Israel that God had sent him. He wondered what he was going to tell the Pharaoh.
In Exodus 3:13–14, Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me, “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,”; and He said, “Thus you shall …
In the preceding verse, God reveals his name to Moses. He tells Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” which is written in Hebrew as YHWH, which stands for Jehovah, Lord, or Yahweh. It describes God as a self-existent being, eternal, with a beginning and an end, and that He does not rely on anything else for his existence; he exists entirely on His own.
Does the Bible say Jesus is Yahweh?
Although the Bible does not explicitly state whether Jesus is Yahweh, many biblical passages imply that he is. Christians subscribe to the Trinity, or three-in-one God. God as the father, son, and holy spirit. The trinity represents one God, a difficult concept to grasp logically.
Yahweh is one of the many names given to God; God himself in Exodus 3:13–14 referred to himself as Yahweh. Critics believe that Jesus is Yahweh because He is part of the trinity, meaning He is God. In John 8:58, Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus is seen using God’s words in Exodus chapter 3 to identify Himself: the words “I AM.”
John 10:30 says, “I and the Father are one.” And finally, in John 1:14, it is mentioned that Jesus was the word that became flesh, and that, in the beginning, was the word, and the word was God. Bible scholars conclude, therefore, that Yahweh is God and Jesus is Yahweh.
Why do Christians call Jesus Yahweh?
Many Christians call Jesus Yahweh because the Bible implies that Yahweh, God, and Jesus are the same being. God, Himself has numerous names in the Christian religion that reveal many aspects of who He is and what He can do. Jesus and God are seen and believed to be the same entity; thus, many Christians see it fit to call Jesus Yahweh.
God is believed to perform many miraculous deeds that no man could, and Jesus, as mentioned in the Bible, was also able to perform miraculous works such as turning water into wine, raising the dead to life, healing the sick, and even opening the eyes of the blind. Many Christians refer to Jesus as Yahweh because of the similarities between God’s actions and Jesus’ actions.
Jesus’ birth is a mystery because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He physically walked on earth and was God in the form of a man, He died and rose again, and He redeemed sinful people by sacrificing His very own life even though He was without sin; These are some of the biblical shards of evidence that convince Christians to call Jesus Yahweh.
Is Jesus a translation of Yahweh?
The name Jesus is not implied to be a translation of Yahweh in any passage of scripture. Jesus’ name means “savior,” “redeemer, or “rescuer.” It’s implied that it has the same meaning as Joshua.
On the other hand, Yahweh translates roughly to “I am that I am” in Hebrew, a name that Israelites frequently revere as the name of their supreme, self-existent God. Its meaning is “Lord” or “Jehovah.” However, it should be noted that Christians hold that Yahweh and Jesus are one, and the names merely point to different facets and personae of the God, who is Jesus.
Is God the Father Yahweh and not Jesus?
The Bible implies that God the Father is Yahweh and Jesus in many places. This is a concept that people have struggled with since time immemorial. It simply does not make logical sense for three beings to be one simultaneously. However, many Christians believe that this is the case. Yahweh is thought to be the name of the triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, John 10:30 says I and the Father are one. Furthermore, John 14:9 states, Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?
Finally, the Bible says in John 1:1–14 that the word is God, and later in verse 14 that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. This verse implies that God is the word, that Jesus came into the world and dwelt among humans, and that the word, Father, and Jesus are all the same. As a result of these Biblical references, many people believe that God the Father is Yahweh, as well as Jesus.
Why do religious scholars argue that Jesus is not Yahweh?
Many scholars argue that Jesus is not Yahweh because Yahweh was the God of the Israelites, who were deeply rooted in Jewish practices. Jews reject the trinity and the triune God, as well as Jesus. They believed in only one God, and any other Gods were considered polytheistic.
Before the arrival of Jesus, God identified Himself as Yahweh in the Old Testament. As a result, many scholars believe that God is only one and that there is no evidence for a Trinity. As a result, it is speculated that Jesus was God’s son but not God Himself, which is why He cannot be called Yahweh.
Are Yahweh and Jesus the same?
Many Biblical passages suggest that Jesus and Yahweh are the same people. One cannot exist in the absence of the other. Many Christians believe in the trinity, or one God manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Did early Christians believe that Jesus is Yahweh?
The scriptures indicate that early Christians believed Jesus was Yahweh. Many of them believed in the Trinity and Jesus’ teachings. Titus 2:13: We are looking forward to our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many of the scriptures discussed show that the early church believed Jesus was God and that God is Yahweh.
Should modern-day Christians call Jesus Yahweh?
Modern Christians can address Jesus as Yahweh. Throughout the Bible, God is given various names that reveal His nature, supremacy, and ability to do only what God can do.
Many Christian believers use these names to invoke God and extol His character and nature. Just as they would refer to Jesus as their provider, Jehovah Jireh, they can also refer to Jesus as Lord, Yahweh.
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As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
