Use of the unspeakable name

[japhy]

As such, its directives apply applies to any liturgical setting, that would include Mass texts, translations of Scripture, hymns etc.

I have word from the USCCB that it does not effect those passages read at Mass that contain “Yahweh” as part of a name:
“Several readers have posed a question regarding several passages in the Lectionary for Mass which appear to make use of the Divine Name. In three separate instances, the Name ‘Yahweh’ appears as part of a hyphenated construction of the name of a particular place, e.g., ‘Yahweh–yireh’ (Genesis 22:14, Easter Vigil, Second Reading, long form, #41; Thursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, #380) or ‘Yahweh–shalom’ (Judges 6:24, Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, #420). As proper names of places (that do not refer directly to God), changes to these constructions will not be necessary.” (see page 2, USCCB Newsletter, September 2008

 

[John7]

The authority of the document comes from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. This Dicastery has authority of the Liturgy and the Sacraments. As such, it’s directives apply applies to any liturgical setting, that would include Mass texts, translations of Scripture, hymns etc.

It does not apply to private speech.

So since this is not a liturgical setting I can feel comfortable saying Yahweh here at CAF, or should I just talk about the ‘Divine Name’ or use יהוה in other threads

 

[Digitonomy]

That’s being very charitable toward OCP. The new 2009 hynmnal still has the unspeakable name in all the usualy places. Correction, one song has a change in the chorus but kept it in one of the verses.

Those were already printed when the CDW issued its ruling on this issue last summer. OCP has since had the lyricists of affected songs compose revised versions, and these have since been available free on the OCP website. Not every diocese and parish has been diligent in spreading the word from CDW.

 

[Robster7]

Does anyone know where this prohibition against saying the divine name originated? Anywhere in the Hebrew scriptures?

 

[Jehuty_X]

1. In liturgical celebrations, in songs and prayers the name of God in the form of the tetragrammaton YHVH is neither to be used or pronounced.
2. For the translation of the biblical text in modern languages, destined for the liturgical usage of the Church, [Liturgiam authenticam 41] is to be followed…
3. In translating, in the liturgical context, texts in which are present one after the other, either the Hebrew Adonai or the tetragrammaton YHVH, Adonai is to be translated “Lord” and the form “God” is to be used for the tetragrammaton YHVH [as in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate].

// i don’t get it…why does Adonai need to be translated to Lord? is it not supposed to be YHVH translated to Lord?

 

[japhy]

// i don’t get it…why does Adonai need to be translated to Lord? is it not supposed to be YHVH translated to Lord?

It means the forms “Adonai YHWH” or “YHWH Adonai” are to be translated as “LORD God” (I think).

 

[passus]

// i don’t get it…why does Adonai need to be translated to Lord? is it not supposed to be YHVH translated to Lord?

“YHWH” is not translated that way because it does not mean the same thing as “Lord.” While YHWH is the divine name by which God reveals Himself, Lord refers to what and not who He is.

It means the forms “Adonai YHWH” or “YHWH Adonai” are to be translated as “LORD God” (I think).

Yes, the translation is “Adonai Elohim,” which means “Lord God.”

 

[Jehuty_X]

It means the forms “Adonai YHWH” or “YHWH Adonai” are to be translated as “LORD God” (I think).

“YHWH” is not translated that way because it does not mean the same thing as “Lord.” While YHWH is the divine name by which God reveals Himself, Lord refers to what and not who He is.

Yes, the translation is “Adonai Elohim,” which means “Lord God.”

// thank you…

// i did some searching on Adonai (it is written in the douai-rheims and castillian version translated by bishop felix torres amat) and this is what i found en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonai#Adonai , hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Adonai/adonai.html , newadvent.org/cathen/01146a.htm …

// so i guess it’s okay to say Adonai and use it instead of YHVH…am i correct???

 

[japhy]

so i guess it’s okay to say Adonai and use it instead of YHVH…am i correct???

Privately, you may say (attempt to) pronounce the Divine name – although I don’t have a particular reason to. But in the liturgy, the Divine name is to be replaced by the word “Lord” in the vernacular or in Latin. The document from the CDF does not say to replace it with Adonai in the liturgy (unless it so happens that your liturgy is celebrated in Hebrew, I guess).

 

[Jehuty_X]

Privately, you may say (attempt to) pronounce the Divine name – although I don’t have a particular reason to. But in the liturgy, the Divine name is to be replaced by the word “Lord” in the vernacular or in Latin. The document from the CDF does not say to replace it with Adonai in the liturgy (unless it so happens that your liturgy is celebrated in Hebrew, I guess).

// i know in private one can pronounce it (i love it when YHVH is written in the Bible), but what i would like to know is if Adonai can be used (pronounced) in public (liturgy, etc.)???

 

[japhy]

// i know in private one can pronounce it (i love it when YHVH is written in the Bible), but what i would like to know is if Adonai can be used (pronounced) in public (liturgy, etc.)???

There is nothing preventing the word “Adonai” (when not part of “Adonai YHWH”) from being spoken in the liturgy.

The document has THREE directives for liturgical celebrations. You’ve already seen #3 in full, which says “Adonai YHWH” is to be translated as “Lord God”. Here are #1 and #2:

1. In liturgical celebrations, in songs and prayers the name of God in the form of the tetragrammaton YHWH is neither to be used or pronounced.
2. For the translation of the Biblical text in modern languages, destined for the liturgical use of the Church, what is already prescribed by n. 41 of the Instruction Liturgiam Authenticam is to be followed; that is, the divine tetragrammaton is to be rendered by the equivalent of Adonai/Kyrios: “Lord”, “Signore”, “Seigneur”, “Herr”, “Señor”, etc.

What this means is that Scriptural texts containing “YHWH”, when used in the liturgy, need to have “YHWH” rendered by the (vernacular, I assume) equivalent of Adonai.

I do not think it is forbidding the use of the Hebrew word “Adonai” in the liturgy, but I think it is favoring the vernacular translation of YHWH (rather than translating YHWH as merely Adonai).

 

[Jehuty_X]

There is nothing preventing the word “Adonai” (when not part of “Adonai YHWH”) from being spoken in the liturgy.

The document has THREE directives for liturgical celebrations. You’ve already seen #3 in full, which says “Adonai YHWH” is to be translated as “Lord God”. Here are #1 and #2:

1. In liturgical celebrations, in songs and prayers the name of God in the form of the tetragrammaton YHWH is neither to be used or pronounced.
2. For the translation of the Biblical text in modern languages, destined for the liturgical use of the Church, what is already prescribed by n. 41 of the Instruction Liturgiam Authenticam is to be followed; that is, the divine tetragrammaton is to be rendered by the equivalent of Adonai/Kyrios: “Lord”, “Signore”, “Seigneur”, “Herr”, “Señor”, etc.

What this means is that Scriptural texts containing “YHWH”, when used in the liturgy, need to have “YHWH” rendered by the (vernacular, I assume) equivalent of Adonai.

I do not think it is forbidding the use of the Hebrew word “Adonai” in the liturgy, but I think it is favoring the vernacular translation of YHWH (rather than translating YHWH as merely Adonai).

// thank you…