Beyond the Title “God” and “Jesus”
Discovering the Ancient Names of the Father and the Son
(My current understanding and not claiming full accuracy)
There is much debate over the pronunciation and spelling of the true name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and also the true name of His Son, known in English as Jesus. For a long time people have gone back and forth with different reasons for why they use what they do. I want to give a brief overview of my findings, the other names that are out there, and why I have come to the conclusions I currently hold.
First, the Basics: God Is a Title, Not a Name
“God” is not the personal name of our Creator. It is a title, and titles can be applied to any being that is worshiped. When someone says “I’m praying to God,” we really don’t know which god they may be referring to.
Here are just a few examples:
Allah — the god of Islam
Krishna — a god of Hinduism
Ishtar — the Babylonian fertility goddess
Samhain — a Celtic god connected to ancestor worship and divination
Saturn & Sol Invictus — Roman gods of agriculture and the sun
Janus — Roman god of new beginnings
There are many gods in this world. So how do we distinguish the God we worship and serve?
That question is complicated because of the debates surrounding His name — but one thing we know for certain is this:
“God” is not the personal name of our loving Creator.
The Different Names People Use for the God of Israel
Here is a brief overview of the names being discussed and used that I have come across:
YHWH = יהוה (The Tetragrammaton)
Reading right to left, the Hebrew letters are:
י (yod)
ה (hey)
ו (waw)
ה (hey)
This four-letter Name of God appears over 6,800 times in the Old Testament.
The ancient manuscripts preserved the letters,
but not the vowels,
which is why pronunciation is debated today.
Most agree this is the name God revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:15).
Yahweh
One of the most widely accepted scholarly pronunciations of YHWH.
People use “Yahweh” because:
it aligns with ancient Hebrew grammar
it flows naturally from the shortened form Yah
early Christian writings reflect similar sounds
it avoids the later additions formed by tradition
Many believe Yahweh is close to the ancient pronunciation.
Yahuah
Many people use Yahuah because they believe it preserves an older, Paleo-Hebrew pronunciation of the divine name. They point to several reasons:
“Yahu” appears consistently in ancient Hebrew names, especially among prophets and leaders (EliYahu, YeshaYahu/Isaiah, NehemYahu/Nehemiah, MattithYahu/Matthew).
These names are believed to carry the shortened form of God’s name, suggesting “Yahu” was part of how His name was originally spoken.
Paleo-Hebrew patterns support the “Yahu-” sound, which some believe predates later vowel-pointing changes introduced by the Masoretes.
Yah (the Shortened Form)
“Yah” appears directly in Scripture:
Psalm 68:4 — “His name is Yah.”
“Hallelu-Yah” — meaning “Praise Yah.”
This is the only portion of His name that is universally agreed upon and preserved across languages. Almost every longer form of His name includes Yah in some way.
LORD (in all caps)
This is a replacement, not a name.
English Bibles use “LORD” (all caps) to substitute for YHWH because of a long-standing Jewish tradition that avoided pronouncing His name aloud.
Adonai
A title meaning “Master” or “Lord.”
Not a personal name.
Jehovah
A much later hybrid that developed in the 1500s.
It combines:
the consonants of YHWH
the vowel points of Adonai
Most scholars agree Jehovah is not the original name, but a mixture formed to preserve the tradition of avoiding the divine name.
Also, the letter “J” did not exist in Hebrew, Greek, or English until the last 500 years.
Names for the Son (English “Jesus”)
Just like the Father’s name has variations, so does the name of His Son. Here are the most common forms:
Yahshua
A form many believe preserves:
the Father’s name Yah
combined with shua (salvation/deliverance)
Meaning: “Yah saves.”
This aligns beautifully with Matthew 1:21.
Yahusha/Yahushua
A longer form used by many who also use Yahuah.
They prefer this form because:
it keeps the full Yahu- prefix
it mirrors Hebrew names like Yahu-shafat (Jehoshaphat)
it emphasizes the connection between the Father’s and Son’s names
This name expresses:
“Yahuah is salvation”
or“Yahuah saves.”
Yeshua
A shortened Aramaic/Hebrew form, common in Jewish communities.
Meaning: “Salvation.”
Though accurate linguistically, it does not include the Father’s name “Yah,” which is why some prefer Yahshua or Yahushua.
Jesus
The English/Greek transliteration.
Important to know:
There was no letter J in Hebrew, Greek, or early English until the 1500s.
It is not wrong. It is simply a translation.
It does not preserve the original Hebrew meaning or the connection to the Father’s name.
Why the Name Matters (and Why I Don’t Judge Anyone Who Uses Jesus or God)
When it comes to the name of our Creator and His Son, emotions run high and opinions vary widely. Some people feel strongly about one pronunciation, while others have never questioned it at all.
Before sharing why the name matters to me, I want to be clear:
This is not about debating, condemning, dividing, or elevating myself above anyone else.
It’s about understanding, honoring, and drawing closer to the One I love.
Why the Name Matters
Names carry identity.
In Scripture, names reveal character, nature, purpose, and authority.
The God of the Bible revealed His name for a reason.
Exodus 3:15 — “This is My name forever.”His name distinguishes Him from other gods.
With so many deities in the world, His name clarifies who I serve.The Father’s name appears in the Son’s name.
“Yah saves” reflects their unity.It strengthens relationship.
Using His name feels personal and honoring.It removes layers of tradition.
Substitutions like LORD or Jehovah were introduced later.
But This Is Why I Don’t Judge Anyone Who Uses Jesus or God
Most people use the name they were taught.
And He meets us where we are, not where we “should” be.Many have encountered salvation and healing through the name “Jesus.”
Heaven does not shut its doors based on language or syllables.Translation is not a sin.
Every language expresses His name differently, Hebrew, Greek, English, Spanish.
Our Creator understands every language.The Spirit intercedes beyond our words.
Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit translates even our groans.I am still learning too.
I am not claiming absolute accuracy. Only sharing my current understanding.My goal is honor, not legalism.
Learning His name is about relationship, not rules.Condemnation is not the heart of the Father.
Jesus/Yahshua never attacked people for pronunciation; He did confront hypocrisy.
The difference matters.
Where I Stand Right Now
After being led to study the names, prayerfully seeking understanding, and examining the reasoning behind each variation, I personally use:
Yahweh or Yah for the Father
Yahshua for the Son
While my husband uses:
Yahuah or Yah for the Father
Yahusha for the Son
So there is a chance of all the latter being used because I’m around both so much.
We have chosen these because:
These forms preserve the Father’s name Yah
They reflect the meaning “Yah saves”
They feel closest to the ancient intent
They distinguish the One True Elohim (God) from the many gods in this world
They unify the Father and Son through the shared Name
But again, this is simply my current understanding.
I am open to learning, growing, and being corrected by Scripture and the Holy Spirit.
My goal is honor, not argument.
We are all on a journey. We are all learning.
And above all, the Father desires hearts that seek Him, not perfect pronunciation.
BONUS RESEARCH FOR YOU TO DO:
Look into how these gods have infilterated our society today:
Ishtar — the Babylonian fertility goddess
Samhain — a Celtic deity connected to ancestor worship and divination
Saturn & Sol Invictus — Roman gods of agriculture and the sun
Janus — Roman god of new beginnings