Few words have been spoken, written, and revered for as long as the name of Yahweh. Its story spans the whole Bible and reaches into the ground of the ancient Near East.
| Era / Reference | What happened |
|---|---|
| “In the beginning” | The Name first appears in Scripture at creation — “Yahweh God” (Genesis 2:4). |
| Genesis 4:26 | “Men began to call on Yahweh’s name” — the first recorded worship by name. |
| c. 2000 BC — Abraham | Yahweh calls Abraham and cuts covenant with him (Genesis 12, 15). |
| c. 14th–13th c. BC — Moses | At the burning bush Yahweh reveals “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) and gives the Law at Sinai. |
| c. 1000 BC — David | The Psalms address Yahweh in worship on nearly every page. |
| 8th–6th c. BC — Prophets | Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel proclaim “thus says Yahweh” to the nations. |
| c. 840 BC — Mesha Stele | An extrabiblical Moabite inscription names “Yahweh.” |
| c. 7th c. BC — Ketef Hinnom | Silver scrolls — the oldest known Bible text — carry the Name in the priestly blessing. |
| Second Temple era | Out of reverence, the Name ceases to be spoken aloud; “Adonai” is said instead. |
| c. 2nd c. BC–1st c. AD — Dead Sea Scrolls | YHWH is often written in archaic paleo-Hebrew script to mark it as holy. |
| 1st century AD — Jesus | Jesus takes the divine name: “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). |
| c. 7th–10th c. AD — Masoretes | Vowel points are added; the vowels of “Adonai” on YHWH later give rise to “Jehovah.” |
| 16th century AD | The form “Jehovah” appears in Latin and English translations. |
| Modern era | Scholars reconstruct the pronunciation “Yahweh”; the Name is studied and loved worldwide. |
The Name in the Ground
Beyond the Bible, archaeology confirms how ancient and widespread the Name was — from the Mesha Stele (c. 840 BC) and Egyptian references to “the Shasu of Yhw,” to the Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls and the Dead Sea Scrolls. More on YHWH in archaeology →
How the Name Survived
Through exile, the silence of reverence, careful scribal copying, and the printing of the Bible in every language, the Name has never been lost. Today more people can read and call on Yahweh than at any time in history. Find Yahweh today →