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Robster7
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Can anyone (esp. knowledgeable Jews) tell me how and why the tradition of not saying the sacred name of the Almighty (i.e., represented by YHWH). Does it appear anyway in the Hebrew Scriptures?
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Robbinson
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A common explanation (if you ask an Orthodox Jew) is that not speaking or writing the name of God is out of reverance.Can anyone (esp. knowledgeable Jews) tell me how and why the tradition of not saying the sacred name of the Almighty (i.e., represented by YHWH). Does it appear anyway in the Hebrew Scriptures?
I believe this is not actually a prohibition on saying or writing the name of God, but ironically comes from a scriptural prohibition on erasing or deleting the name of God. The commandment not to erasethe name of God comes from Deut. 12:3-4.
"you shall tear down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Ashe’rim with fire; you shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy their name out of that place.
You shall not do so to the LORD your God. "
Based on this passage, I believe a tradition arose that we write the name of God, less it be inadvertently erased. I suppose this morphed into not “speaking” the name of God, but others can weigh in.
Blessings,
Brian
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Eucharisted
Guest
The sacred name is not spoken lest non-believers pick it up and use it in vain.
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ralphinal
Guest
As far as I know, the only place that the actual name is used is in the story of Moses where God reveals it to him. After that, as was pointed out, other titles, such as Lord, are used lest it be used in vain.
Such profound reverance.
Such profound reverance.
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