Tetragrammon pronunciation

[DeusExMachina]

I’m aware that there is no exact “authentic pronunciation” for biblical hebrew. Nonetheless, what is the traditional Catholic Pronunciation of the name of God? Is is Yahweh, Jevovah, Yahveh, or something else all together? Or does the church keep the old jewish custom, and replace it with Kyrie/Adonai?

 

[DaveBj]

I’m aware that there is no exact “authentic pronunciation” for biblical hebrew. Nonetheless, what is the traditional Catholic Pronunciation of the name of God? Is is Yahweh, Jevovah, Yahveh, or something else all together? Or does the church keep the old jewish custom, and replace it with Kyrie/Adonai?

The Church does not allow the pronunciation of JHVH in liturgical contexts, but does not forbid it in private devotions.

We get the JHWH through German scholarship; J = Y and W = V. The scholars say that the likely pronunciation is (in English phonetics “Yahveh,” and I go along with them. However, bear in mind that the two h’s are not hints about how to pronounce the vowels, as we see them in English; they are root consonants, and therefore must be pronounced, in order to be as close to authenticity as possible. So it’s not “Yaa-vay” (or “Yaa-way”), as we frequently hear.

 

[po18guy]

In the case of the Catholic Truth Society Bible (based on the Jerusalem Bible), Pope Benedict XVI asked the publishers to remove the 'Yahweh/Jehovah" from the text, replacing it with Lord. IIRC, editions from 2007-on made this change. This is a perfect solution and should offend no one.

It is actually a non-word, but for us is a sound. How do you spell a sound? Every culture has a different spelling, based on language. It is easy to understand the Hebrews’ reluctance to attempt pronunciation of such a sacred Name.

 

[jeffrey_erwin]

In the case of the Catholic Truth Society Bible (based on the Jerusalem Bible), Pope Benedict XVI asked the publishers to remove the ‘Yahweh/Jehovah" from the text, replacing it with Lord. IIRC, editions from 2007-on made this change. This is a perfect solution and should offend no one.
It is actually a non-word, but for us is a sound. How do you spell a sound? Every culture has a different spelling, based on language. It is easy to understand the Hebrews’ reluctance to attempt pronunciation of such a sacred Name.

**My understanding is that the vocalization of the tetragram was allowed in early Judaism, but eventually became prohibited due to fears of misuse.
As for the correct pronunciation we can refer to what is pronounced by the remnant of the Samaritans or by the what the African Jewish tribe known as the Lemba speak (the two vocalizations are not identical.)

I do not find that the replacement of the tetragram with “Lord” to be satisfactory.
In the Jerusalem Bible the vowels were added to YHWH which indicated that the sacred name should be vocalized.
I would have prefed that the vowels simply be omitted; a solution that would leave the choice of vocalization or substitution up to the individual reader’s preference. **

 

[Ite_ad_Ioseph]

**My understanding is that the vocalization of the tetragram was allowed in early Judaism, but eventually became prohibited due to fears of misuse.
As for the correct pronunciation we can refer to what is pronounced by the remnant of the Samaritans or by the what the African Jewish tribe known as the Lemba speak (the two vocalizations are not identical.)

I do not find that the replacement of the tetragram with “Lord” to be satisfactory.
In the Jerusalem Bible the vowels were added to YHWH which indicated that the sacred name should be vocalized.
I would have prefed that the vowels simply be omitted; a solution that would leave the choice of vocalization or substitution up to the individual reader’s preference. **

What are the Lemba and Samaritan pronunciations?