The Ineffable Name

“Then they will know that You – Whose Name is HASHEM – are alone, Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18).

HaShem = “The Name”. We’re forbidden to speak it – and it is impossible to say it! It can only be breathed.

We cannot begin to plunge the depth of the meaning of this Name of Him Who “created the heavens and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth…[and] giveth breath to the people upon it….”(Isaiah 42:5). “What is His name, and what is His son’s name, if you know?” (Proverbs 30:4)

Called the Tetragrammaton, the unpronounceable Name of God is composed of four Hebrew letters.

– the “vav” is a “V” but most of the time it is silent and is inserted to indicate a vowel – as the long “o”, or the “u” as in put.

The Hebrew alphabet is all consonants and all capital letters. The vowel markings (developed early in the Middle Ages by Jewish scholars of the time) are above, beneath, or, as in the case of the vav supporting a vowel, it sometimes is in the middle of the consonant. No one knows in our day what these vowel marking are for the Tetragrammaton.

Look at the Hebrew again

(Hebrew is written from right to left). In the English alphabet: YHVH. How do you pronounce a “Y” or and “H” without a vowel? And if the vav simply supports one of the vowels mentioned above, how is The NAME pronounced? It isn’t! Most Jews do not attempt to pronounce it and the Bible says they “are a wise and understanding people.”

In the English King James version of the Bible, the Tetragrammaton is written in all capital letters; thus we read in Genesis 7:2, “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

What is a Soul? A soul, we learn from the above passage, is a human body breathing the breath of LIFE. When the Breath of Life (the spirit) leaves the body, we call it death. However, Scripture teaches a restoration of both. As the spirit and body join together again in the resurrection, it becomes “an everlasting soul”. This helps us understand what is meant by the expression, “Save our souls”.

Use your concordance and trace the word soul through the Bible with this definition in mind, and see how it gives understanding – such as when Jacob moved to Egypt, seventy “souls” went – not just spirits, or minds, but their bodies too! [whole beings]. (see footnote)

V. 1 (Stone’s edition), “Bethlehem – Ephratah – you are too small to be among the thousands of Judah [an unlikely source of leadership] but from you someone will emerge for Me to be a ruler over Israel; and his origins will be from early times, from days of old.” [This disqualifies Messiah from being a mere man. According to Rev. 2:14, he is “the beginning of the creation of God.”] Ruth, from Moab, came to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law Naomi, married Boaz and gave birth to Obed, grandfather of King David, ancestor of Messiah Ben-Judah.

V. 2, speaks of a woman in childbirth “…then the rest of his brothers will return with the Children of Israel.” Whose brothers? It is speaking of Messiah, a Jew (nickname for Judah). Many Jews are already in the Land; “the rest will return with the Children of Israel” – speaking of those known as the “10 lost tribes”. This northern kingdom was called, the Kingdom of Israel. Though Judah is also of the Children of Israel, the southern kingdom was called “The Kingdom of Judah”, whose capital was Jerusalem.

V. 3 & 4, “He will stand up and lead with the strength of HASHEM, with the majesty of the Name of HASHEM his God. They will settle [in peace], for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth, and this will [assure] peace….”

V. 5, Is some of this process going on now? “and they will pound the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod [see Genesis 10:8-11] at its gateways….”

Now, Then

“What is the Messiah Waiting For?” – is the title of a new book available soon by John Hulley, Jerusalem scholar.

He brings out in the book that it is time for Bible believers from the nations, filled with the Ruach HaHodesh (The Holy Spirit) to join again with our brother Judah in bringing that loving Spirit and Name above all others to the mountains of Israel, for the Biblical purpose, such as in:

Isaiah 25:6, (Stone’s) “HASHEM, Master of Legions will make for all the nations on this mountain, a feast….” Then the editor of the Stone’s translation has an interesting note: On Mount Zion the final judgment of the nations will take place. This corresponds with the judgment of the nations in Matthew 25:31-46.

V.7: (KJV) “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over ALL people, and the vail that is spread over ALL NATIONS.” II Corinthians 4:4 tells us ‘the god of this world has blinded [covered] the minds of them that believe not’ – blinded so much as to be dead to God, and His love-laws given early on in the Bible.

According to the Holy Prophets, there is coming a mighty operation of God that will cancel this covering and blindness, leaving no excuse for unbelief. Over and again the prophets teach us then shall they know that the God of Israel rules.

V. 8, “He will eliminate death forever, and my Lord HASHEM/ELOHIM will erase tears from all faces; He will remove the shame of His nation from upon the entire earth, for HASHEM has spoken.

V. 9, “And they will say on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we hoped to Him that He would save us; this is HASHEM to Whom we hoped, let us exult and be glad in His salvation’.”

V. 10, 11, “For the hand of HASHEM will descend upon this mountain, and Moab will be crushed in its place as straw is crushed into a pile of refuse…He will put down its pride with its places of ambush” – suicide bombings! Strong words from HaShem through Isaiah, the Prince of Prophets, for our day as well as then.

But what can be done at this point of prophetic time? Is God regathering Israel to destroy and scatter them again? What would be the purpose? What good would another exile with its accompanying persecution do? Rather, the Scriptures teach that the gentile world, not Israel, will experience great tribulation.

(See Chapter 41 of “Israel, God’s Key to World Redemption” by Elmer Josephson.)

The ineffable Name – the Breath/ Wind of God – the Breath of LIFE – is what it will take to fulfill Zechariah 4:6, “Not through army and not through strength, but through My Spirit, said HASHEM, master of Legions.”

This Name and through faith in His Name in the hearts of believers who have been breathed upon, and who bear the great fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22,23).

The Apostle goes on to say, “There’s NO LAW against these!” This will help bring forth a mighty act of God that cannot be denied nor lightly spoken of by Israel or the nations.

Are we riding on the right wind? It’s impossible to even spell the sound of a breath! Think about it! The name “Yahshuah” means deliverance, salvation. This Hebrew root for salvation also forms a name that is best expressed by breathing. Y-a-a-h-shu-ah.

The Book of Philippians tells us God gave him [the power of] that Name which is above all others. The Redeemer performs miracles by that Name – then and now.

The Prophets speak often of the great ingathering, such as in Isaiah 43:6 and 49:12. Jeremiah says two different times that this will eclipse the Exodus from Egypt (Jeremiah 16:14&15 and 23:7&8). However, many today, during this ingathering and restoration process, fail to discern the time – and are so consumed and concerned with private affairs the importance of this event is missed. We so often are like those in the wilderness, spending our time, efforts and dollars trying to fulfill our lust for “flesh” and then complaining because we can’t! This is a general picture of Christendom today. Are you willing to help break this cycling stalemate?

The same Hebrew root is in the name for MOUNTAIN areas where brave Bible-believing Jews have restored barren land: “Yesha” is the Hebrew acronym for Judah, Samaria and Gaza.

“How pleasant are the footsteps of the hearld upon the mountains announcing peace … saying unto Zion, ‘Your God has reigned!’ ” (Isaiah 52:7).

The community of Ma’ale Michmas is located in “Ephraim” about 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Bible Light friends are “bearing fruit” there by planting trees. An almond orchard in memory of Elmer Josephson, my late husband, is thriving there and we are lining with trees a new street called, “Ilan Ramon Boulevard.” Will you help “breathe” life into the rocky soil in this area? -

Although the general explanation of the soul is that part of the human being that can enjoy beauty, literature, etc. – my study of the Scriptures supports the above definition.

Ma’ale Michmas means from the heights, hidden treasure. Bible Light is planting trees here to help restore arid soil to life. Plant a tree for $15.00.