Question about the Prohibition to utter the Ineffable Name
See Also:
Contents:
1. Query on the term AM THAT I AM
2. Query on Hallowing the Name
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1. Query on the term AM THAT I AM
"David Jackson" wrote:
Yair,
Is I AM WHO I AM a good translation? To say I AM THAT I AM as the King
James translates is seems more meaningful since it speaks to the
self-existence and sufficiency of God. The phrase I AM WHO I AM doesn't
really express anything. We could all say "I am who I am" and it would be
true. None of us can say "I am that I am". Only God can say that.  Â
The Jerusalem Bible from Koren Publishers translates it EHEYE ASHER EHEYE
"I will ever be what I am now".
Dave Jackson
Roanoke, TXÂ
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Brit-Am Reply:
Exodus 3:
13 Then Moses said to God, Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, What is His name? what shall I say to them?
14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And He said, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. 15 Moreover God said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.Â
The Hebrew translated as I AM WHO I AM is EHEYE ASHER EHEYE. This is in the future tense.
A simple straight-forward understanding would render the expression as, I Will Be What I Will Be.
In continuation it says,
# And He said, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. #
Here too, I AM is in the  future tense Eheye i.e. I WILL BE.
This brings us to the question what does the four-lettered ineffable name mean?
No-one really knows but it is obviously comprised of elements from the verb "to be".
An approximate translation might perhaps render it as, HE WHO IS. This also fits in with the context and the other names and attribution such as I WILL BE etc.
We are forbidden to pronounce the name but nevertheless we should hallow it, take cognizance of it, and consider its meanings, as you have done.
God bless you
Yair
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2. Query on Hallowing the Name
Marjorie wrote (Paraphrased):
Dear Yair,
You may have exhausted all thoughts on the Name of the Creator, but my questions,
Why do we have [the ineffable NAME] written so many times in Scripture if it is not to be acknowledged? And,
In the Aaronic blessing, Numbers 6:24-26, ....how is what is actually written [the ineffable NAME] placed upon the Israelites (v27)?
I follow a Jewish rabbi who gave this instruction to his disciples when they asked how we should pray, his answer,
 "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."
Shalom and simchat,
M
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Brit-Am Reply:
Shalom,
The primary question about our discussion should be whether or not it is prohibited to pronounce the name?
If it is prohibited then that should be the end of the matter. We need to submit to the will of the Almighty.
Even though we are not allowed to pronounce the name we should revere it and consider its implications. It is there for a reason.
One of its meanings is HE WHO IS.
It can also imply HE WHO MAKES ALL THINGS BE.
This is a lot to think about.
We try to avoid discussing Christian doctrine. I do not want non-Jews telling me what Judaism should or should not say. So too, there is no reason for me to interfere in your beliefs.
Nevertheless hallowing (sanctifying) the name in a Biblical context does not mean pronouncing it. The Temple was sanctified. Ordinary Israelites could not enter the Temple unless they were first ritually purified, in some areas only the priest could go, and then only the High Priest. Even King David would not have been allowed to go into every section of the Temple. When I was young I read the NT. The Ineffable Name is nowhere in it.
It says in your book,
Matthew 23:2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Now you could probably reply to me that it says this but it means that etc. [Talk about Rabbis dialecting, your minister friends could still teach them something when it comes to their own backyard!]
I think we have made our point. It may be time to get back to other matters.
Concerning the Aharonic Blessing placing the name on the children of Israel means intending that the essence of the Almighty HIMSELF be with us.
At all events as we said the primary question should whether or not it is prohibited to pronounce the name?
After this is settled and accepted other questions may be considered and answered.
God bless you
Yair