Jehovah

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dʒəˈhoÊŠvÉ™/

Origin

Transliteration of Hebrew יְהֹוָה, the Masoretic vocalization of the Biblical Hebrew יהוה.

The Masoretic vocalization is a so-called qeri perpetuum, the deliberate insertion of the vowels of another word than the one represented by the consonant text, in this case אֲדֹנָי ("my lord").

Continuing earlier Iehoua. In English, the name is first attested in 1530, in Tyndale's Bible: I appeared vnto Abraham Isaac and Iacob an allmightie God: but in my name Iehouah was I not knowne vnto them (Exodus 6:3).

William Tyndale used Iehouah instead of Adonay. The KJV also has JEHOVAH in this verse specifically, while it uses LORD otherwise. Young's Literal Translation (1898) has Jehovah. The New King James Version (1982) has LORD.

Full definition of Jehovah

Proper noun

1. (religion) The personal name of God in the Hebrew Scriptures; in Hebrew, יהוה (YHVH)

Derived terms

• Jehovist

Noun

1. (informal) A Jehovah's Witness.
• I've never had Jehovahs at my door, but the other day two Mormons came to my door.