Nov 127 min read

The False Belief That There Was No “J” In Biblical Hebrew Until 500 Years Ago

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Was Jehovah's Name Altered by the Creation of the Letter “J”?

The Historical Development of the Letter “J”

The issue of the letter "J" and its pronunciation has often been at the heart of debates surrounding the correct spelling and pronunciation of the divine name, represented by the Hebrew letters יהוה (JHVH). The argument centers on whether "Jehovah" is a legitimate representation of the tetragrammaton or if the form "Yahweh" should be regarded as more accurate. Critics of the name "Jehovah" often point to the fact that the letter "J" is a relatively modern addition to the alphabet and argue that this discredits the use of "Jehovah" as a faithful transliteration of JHVH.

To begin with, it is important to recognize that the first symbol representing both the "i" and "j" sound appeared around 800 C.E. This symbol was created by French monks who adapted Roman alphabetic practices. The sound represented by this symbol was a voiced palatal approximant, which today corresponds to the "y" sound in English. Over time, as language evolved, this symbol began to be used in various forms throughout Europe, eventually arriving in Saxon England in 1066, brought by William the Conqueror. Therefore, the first symbol representing the "j" sound entered the English-speaking world over 900 years ago, well before William Tyndale transliterated the tetragrammaton as "Iehouah."

The lowercase "j," as it is used today, was developed around 1200 C.E. by adding a tail to the bottom of the lowercase "i." This was done to distinguish the "i" sound from the "j" sound. However, the capital "J," as we now use it, did not emerge until much later, near the end of the 16th century. Thus, during the time of Tyndale (early 16th century), the "j" sound was represented by the letter "i" when placed before a vowel. For instance, "Iehouah" was pronounced with a consonantal "j" sound, even though it began with the letter "I."

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Tyndale’s Contribution and the Name "Jehovah"

William Tyndale’s translation of the Pentateuch in 1530 is one of the earliest known instances of the divine name JHVH being rendered as "Iehouah." This was a transliteration based on the vowel points of Adonai, which were inserted into the consonants of the tetragrammaton by Masoretic scribes. Tyndale's choice of "Iehouah" was not an invention of a new name but rather an attempt to make the sacred name accessible to English speakers in a manner that reflected its Hebrew origins. Since the capital "J" had not yet been invented, the name began with "I," which was understood by English speakers to represent the "j" sound.

For example, in Exodus 6:3, Tyndale writes, “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Iehouah was I not known to them.” The name "Iehouah" in Tyndale's day represented the same pronunciation that "Jehovah" later would, even though the spelling of the divine name evolved over time as the English language continued to develop.

During this period, other letters were also in flux. The letters "u" and "v" were used interchangeably, much like "i" and "j." For instance, Tyndale's translation uses "v" as a vowel in some words and as a consonant in others. This reflects the fluid nature of English orthography in the 16th century.

It is important to understand that while the spelling of names and words in English has evolved significantly, the sounds these letters represent have often remained consistent. The sounds that correspond to the English letters "J," "U," and "V" existed long before the letters themselves were standardized. This means that while the letter "J" is a relatively recent addition to the English alphabet, the sound it represents was present in the spoken language well before the invention of the letter itself.

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The Argument Against "Yahweh"

Scholars who support the pronunciation "Yahweh" often argue that the name "Jehovah" is a mistranslation or a misrepresentation of the divine name JHVH. They assert that because the letter "J" did not exist in ancient Hebrew, "Jehovah" must be incorrect, and "Yahweh" is the only proper way to pronounce the name of God.

However, this argument overlooks a key detail: the spelling "Yahweh" also relies on English letters that did not exist in ancient times. For instance, the letter "W," which is central to the spelling of "Yahweh," was not invented until several centuries after the letter "J." The letter "W" emerged around the 13th century, long after the Hebrew Scriptures were written. Additionally, the vowel "A" and the letter "H" used in "Yahweh" were standardized into their modern forms even later.

This creates an inconsistency in the argument of those who reject "Jehovah" on the basis of the letter "J." If the argument is based on the premise that "Jehovah" is incorrect because the letter "J" did not exist in ancient Hebrew, then "Yahweh" must also be disqualified by the same reasoning, as it uses letters that likewise did not exist at the time the Hebrew Scriptures were written. Both names—Jehovah and Yahweh—are ultimately transliterations, using English letters to represent Hebrew sounds.

Language Evolution and Pronunciation

It is important to remember that the letters we use to represent the sounds of a name are simply symbols. Over the centuries, languages have evolved, and the symbols used to represent sounds have changed. This is particularly true of English, where the alphabet has undergone numerous revisions, especially during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The development of new letters, such as "J," does not negate the validity of the sounds they represent. The sounds existed long before the letters were standardized.

For example, the "j" sound in "Jehovah" was represented by the letter "i" before the letter "j" was officially introduced into the English alphabet. This demonstrates that even though the symbols used to represent sounds may change over time, the sounds themselves remain constant. Therefore, the argument that "Jehovah" is incorrect because the letter "J" did not exist is fundamentally flawed.

The same principle applies to the name "Yahshua," a variant spelling of "Joshua," used by certain groups to refer to Jesus Christ. Those who insist on the use of "Yahshua" instead of "Jesus" often base their argument on the idea that the letter "J" did not exist in ancient Hebrew. However, this reasoning fails to account for the fact that the letters "s" and "u" used in "Yahshua" were also later developments in English orthography. This inconsistency reveals a bias in the critique against "Jehovah."

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The Legitimacy of "Jehovah" in Scripture

It is important to note that "Jehovah" has been used as a valid representation of the divine name JHVH in multiple translations of the Bible, including William Tyndale's translations in 1526, 1530, and 1534. The King James Version (KJV) of 1611, one of the most widely read English translations, also uses "Jehovah" to represent the tetragrammaton in several places, including Exodus 6:3 and Psalm 83:18.

The American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, another respected English translation, consistently uses "Jehovah" throughout the Old Testament. These translations reflect the long-standing tradition of using "Jehovah" to represent the divine name in English-speaking Christian communities.

Critics of the name "Jehovah" often claim that it is a recent invention, but historical evidence shows that it has been in use for several centuries. Furthermore, the principle of transliteration—rendering the sounds of one language into the alphabet of another—supports the legitimacy of "Jehovah" as an acceptable representation of JHVH in English. Just as "Jesus" is a legitimate transliteration of the Hebrew name "Yeshua," so too is "Jehovah" a valid transliteration of JHVH.

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The debate surrounding the divine name, whether it should be "Jehovah" or "Yahweh," ultimately rests on issues of transliteration and linguistic evolution. The key takeaway is that while the letters used to represent sounds have changed over time, the sounds themselves have remained consistent. Both "Jehovah" and "Yahweh" are transliterations of the Hebrew name JHVH, using the English alphabet to represent Hebrew sounds. The argument that "Jehovah" is incorrect because the letter "J" did not exist is flawed, as the same reasoning would disqualify the spelling "Yahweh" as well.

The specific letters and pronunciation of the divine name JHVH do matter because they reflect the sacredness and identity of the one true God. The name "Jehovah" has been used as a legitimate representation of JHVH for centuries, and it is crucial to recognize its importance in accurately conveying God's revealed name. Translations like those of Tyndale, the King James Version, and the American Standard Version faithfully preserve "Jehovah" as the divine name, showing deep respect for the sacredness of God's personal name in English. This representation matters because it is tied directly to how God is identified and called upon in scripture, and altering or disregarding it undermines the reverence and accuracy that such translations strive to uphold.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).