📖 Biblical Definition
YHWH is the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (four-letter name) of God, revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:14-15). Its meaning is rooted in I AM: I AM THAT I AM... thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Out of reverence, post-exilic Jews stopped pronouncing it aloud; Adonai (Lord) was substituted in reading. KJV translates it as LORD (small caps) wherever the Tetragrammaton appears.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hebrew Tetragrammaton; the covenant Name of God; revealed at the burning bush; rendered LORD in most English translations.
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Pronunciation: probably Yahweh in original (the Masoretic vowel-pointings combine the Tetragrammaton with the vowels of Adonai, producing the hybrid Jehovah in older English Bibles).
Appears about 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible. Distinct from Elohim (the generic God-name); YHWH is specifically the covenant Name.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 3:14 — "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM."
Exodus 3:15 — "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers... hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever."
Exodus 34:6 — "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often uses LORD without realizing it represents the Tetragrammaton; the covenant Name has theological weight every time it appears.
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Most LORD occurrences in English Bibles (KJV / ESV / NASB) translate YHWH; Lord (mixed case) typically translates Adonai. Recognizing the difference reveals the covenant Name's frequency in Scripture — ~6,800 times.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Tetragrammaton: yod-he-vav-he.
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Hebrew יהוה — YHWH; the four-letter Name.
Note: ancient Hebrew was written without vowels; the original pronunciation is reconstructed.
Usage
"The covenant Name; revealed at the burning bush."
"I AM THAT I AM."
"About 6,800 occurrences in the Hebrew Bible."