When you open a Hebrew Bible, one word appears more than any other name — four small letters that the ancient scribes copied with trembling reverence: יהוה. In English we transliterate them Y‑H‑W‑H. Scholars call this the Tetragrammaton, from the Greek for “four letters.”
What Does YHWH Stand For?
YHWH is not an acronym — it is a name. It is built from the Hebrew verb hayah (“to be”) and carries the meaning “He is” or “He causes to be.” It is the same name God explained to Moses with the words “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Explore the meaning of the Name →
The Four Letters
| Letter | Hebrew | Name | Sound | Ancient picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | י | Yod | Y | hand / deed |
| 2 | ה | He | H (ah) | behold / reveal |
| 3 | ו | Waw | W / V | nail / and |
| 4 | ה | He | H (eh) | behold / reveal |
How Is YHWH Pronounced?
Most scholars reconstruct the pronunciation as Yah‑weh (YAH‑way). Because ancient Hebrew was written with consonants only, the original vowels were never recorded — and by the Second Temple period the Name had stopped being spoken aloud. Hear how to pronounce Yahweh →
Why Does YHWH Have No Vowels?
Classical Hebrew was written using only consonants — readers supplied the vowels from memory. Out of deep reverence for the third commandment (“You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God”), the Jewish people eventually stopped pronouncing the Name altogether, saying Adonai (“Lord”) or HaShem (“the Name”) instead. When medieval scribes added vowel marks to the text, they wrote the vowels of Adonai under YHWH as a reminder to say “Lord.” This is how the form “Jehovah” arose →
This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.Exodus 3:15
Why YHWH Became “LORD” in English Bibles
Following the same reverent tradition, English translators rendered YHWH as “LORD” in small capitals — distinct from the ordinary title “Lord” (Adonai). So whenever you see LORD in capitals in the Old Testament, the Hebrew underneath is the Tetragrammaton, YHWH. See how often it appears →
YHWH in History & Archaeology
The Name is not only on the page — it is in the ground. Archaeologists have found YHWH inscribed across the ancient Near East:
- The Mesha Stele (Moab, c. 840 BC) — mentions “Yahweh” by name.
- Egyptian inscriptions (c. 14th century BC) referring to “the land of the Shasu of Yhw.”
- The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (c. 7th century BC) — the oldest known Bible text, containing the Name in the priestly blessing.
- The Dead Sea Scrolls — often write YHWH in archaic paleo-Hebrew letters to set it apart as holy.