Most all translations in various languages have chosen to replace the
name "Yahweh" with another title or name of their choice, usually "the
LORD" or "GOD" in all capital letters.

The following is a commentary on the various prefaces and introductions
which explain their reasoning for removing the Heavenly Father's name
from English bibles.

Let's start with the ever popular NIV...
New International Version - Preface


quote "In regard to the divine name YHWH, commonly referred to as the
Tetragrammaton, the translators adopted the device used in most English
versions... unquote


This statement runs true in the majority of modern English translations.

The primary reasoning for replacing the name of Yahweh with something
else is 'tradition'.

In other words, "As long as everyone else does it, it must be okay". 


niv  quote"..of rendering that name as "LORD" in capital letters to
distinguish it from adonai, another Hebrew word rendered "Lord" for
which small letters are used." unquote


We can see already that replacing the name "Yahweh" with
"The LORD"
presents a major problem.

What do they do when there is a legitimate use of the title
"Lord/Master" in the original text?

It might be confusing to the reader as to whether it is speaking of a
human lord/master or Yahweh. 

So what to do?

Their solution is to make the "Adonai" source in small letters and where
the name of Yahweh exists, they'll put capital letters!

In other words, if it reads "Adonai (lord/master)" In the original they
will translate it as "lord" or "Lord".

But if it says "Yahweh" in the original, they will render it as
"LORD"
in all capital letters.

I doubt that half the people who read the scriptures even realizes they
are doing this.


niv quote "Wherever the two names stand together in the Old Testament as
a compound name for God, they are rendered "Sovereign
LORD."" "unquote


Now we see that a more complicated problem arises.

There are instances in scripture that the Hebrew reads "Adonai Yahweh"
or "Lord/Master Yahweh".

If they were to put "Lord" where Yahweh exists in the original, they
would have to translate the passage as "Lord the LORD"!

So they translated it as "Sovereign LORD" to avoid confusion.

Amazing what people will do to serve tradition and reject what Yahweh
has placed in scripture!


Today's English Version - Preface

quote "Following an ancient tradition" unquote

Again, tradition is the reason. 

tev quote "begun by the first translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (the
Septuagint) and followed by the vast majority of English translations,
the distinctive Hebrew name for God (usually transliterated Jehovah or
Yahweh), is in this translation represented by "LORD."

When Adonai, normally translated "Lord," occurs preposed to Yahweh, the
combination is rendered by the phrase "Sovereign LORD." " unquote


So the "Today's English Version" uses the same renderings as the NIV.

All on the basis of following the others.

 
Revised English Bible - Introduction to the Old Testament

quote "The divine name (YHWH in Hebrew characters) was probably
pronounced 'Yahweh'," unquote


One excuse some use for not keeping Yahweh's name in the text is that
they aren't sure His name is really pronounced "Yahweh".

But if a translator ever admitted that His name was definitely
pronounced 'Yahweh' I'm sure they would have to answer for why they
don't translate it as such.

Not much motivation for seeking the truth?

Maybe they really don't want to know that His name really is pronounced
"Yahweh"?
rev quote "but the name was regarded as ineffable, too sacred to be
pronounced." unquote


Yes, this was the doctrine that got this whole idea started.

But Yahweh says:

Jere 10:25a  Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not,
and upon the families that call not on thy name..

and...

Joel 2:32a  And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on
the name of the YAHWEH shall be delivered..


How can anyone call on His name if it is hidden away by superstitious
doctrines?

rev quote "The Massoretes, therefore, wrote in the vowel signs of the
alternative words adonai ('Lord') or elohim ('God') to warn readers to
use one of these in its place." unquote


The Massoretes were they who copied and preserved the Hebrew scriptures
from scroll to scroll down through the centuries.

They added 'vowel signs/pointings' to the Hebrew text (which was
primarily all consonants) so the language would be preserved.

But when they came to the name of Yahweh,

they inserted alternative vowel pointings so that the reader would not
speak the name of Yahweh but say "adonai" (lord) instead.

So we can see that through the ages,

there has been a conspiracy to hide the name of Yahweh Almighty

despite what Yahweh says in His word

about how we should praise, exalt, bless, love, teach, preach, anoint,
assemble, believe, give thanks, honor and call on His name.


reb quote "Where the divine name occurs in the Hebrew text, this has
been signalled in The Revised English Bible by using capital letters for
'LORD' or 'GOD', a widely accepted practice." unquote


Since it is 'widely accepted', it must be truth and acceptable to do?

Not according to Yahushua!

He said the way to life is a narrow way.

Matt 7:14 (NKJV) "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the
way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.


American Standard Version - Preface

quote  "I. The change first proposed in the Appendix --- that which
substitutes "Jehovah" for "LORD" and "GOD"
(printed in small capitals)
--- is one which will be unwelcome by many, because of the frequency and
familiarity of the terms displaced.

But the American Revisers, after a careful consideration, were brought
to the unanimous conviction that a Jewish superstition, which regarded
the Divine Name as too sacred to be uttered,

ought no longer to dominate in the English or any other version of the
Old Testament,
as it fortunately does not in the numerous versions made by modern
missionaries." unquote


Now with some reservation I would almost have to admire those who
translated the American Standard 1901 version.

They at least tried to restore some truth

(even though they knew it would be unwelcome)

and reject the ridiculous tradition of hiding and substituting the name
of Yahweh from the common reader.

But then as we read on...

 
asv quote "This Memorial Name, explained in Ex. iii. 14,15 and
emphasized as such over and over in the original text of the Old
Testament,

designates God as the Personal God, as the covenant God, the God of
Revelation, the Deliverer, the Friend of his people; ---

not merely the abstractly "Eternal One" of many French translations, but
the ever living Helper of those who are in trouble.

This personal name, with its wealth of sacred associations, is now
restored to the place in the sacred text to which it has an
unquestionable claim." unquote


Sounds great so far!

They can see that the scriptures do place importance on His name..over
and over and over...

But if you read the translation you will see that they insert the false
"Jehovah" rendering that was used a total of 4 times in the King James
Version!

But most every scholar knows that "Jehovah" is a falsification of
Yahweh's name!

I will post proof of this in a future post.


Revised Standard Version - Preface

Now here is the preface that really bothers me the most.

quote "A major departure from the practice of the American Standard
Version is the rendering of the Divine Name, the "Tetragrammaton."
"unquote

The Revised Standard Version translators have chosen not only to depart
from the practice of the ASV translators but to berate them as well.

It is in one way justified in that the ASV chose the name "Jehovah"
instead of "Yahweh".

rsv quote "The American Standard Version used the term "Jehovah";

the King James Version had employed this in four places, but everywhere
else, except in three cases where it was employed as part of a proper
name, used the English word LORD (or in certain cases GOD) printed in
capitals.

The present revision returns to the procedure of the King James Version,
which follows the precedent of the ancient Greek and Latin translators
and the long established practice in the reading of the Hebrew
scriptures in the synagogue." unquote

So here we go with this 'long standing tradition' routine again.

I'm not sure why they cannot see where Yahushua told the scribes and
pharisees on various occasions:

Mark 7:9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of
Yahweh, that you may keep your tradition.


rsv quote "While it is almost if not quite certain that the Name was
originally pronounced "Yahweh"," unquote


Again, they wouldn't dare admit that they are totally certain.

However it is totally certain that His name is not pronounced "The
Lord".

rsv quote "(While it is almost if not quite certain that the Name was
originally pronounced "Yahweh",)..this pronunciation was not indicated
when the Masoretes added vowel signs to the consonantal Hebrew text."
unquote

Of course not, they favored tradition over commandments!

rsv quote "To the four consonants YHWH of the Name, which had come to be
regarded as too sacred to be pronounced,

they attached vowel signs indicating that in its place should be read
the Hebrew word Adonai meaning "Lord" (or Elohim meaning "God").

The ancient Greek translators substituted the word Kyrios (Lord) for the
Name. The Vulgate likewise used the Latin word Dominus.

The form "Jehovah" is of late medieval origin; it is a combination of
the consonants of the Divine Name and the vowels attached to it by the
Masoretes but belonging to an entirely different word.

The sound of Y is represented by J and the sound of W by V, as in
Latin."unquote


They even share how this idea of substituting His name got started.

It amazes me that some will follow the Jewish tradition that breaks the
commandment of Yahweh but they'll ignore the Jew's examples of where
they actually do keep the Torah/Law of Yahweh!


rsv quote "For two reasons the Committee has returned to the more
familiar usage of the King James Version: (1) the word "Jehovah" does
not accurately present any form of the Name ever used in Hebrew; and"
unquote


Ahh! Notice how they conveniently forget to mention why they reject the
name "Yahweh" in their 'reasons'!


rsv quote "(2) the use of any proper name for the one and only God, as
though there were other gods from whom He had to be distinguished, was
discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era

and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian
Church." " unquote


Who are they to decide what is appropriate for one's faith??

Their job is to translate, not decide what we are to believe!

This statement is a sad commentary of how far some have gone from the
scriptures.

Not only do they say why they have chosen to replace Yahweh's name with
a title of their choosing

but they also state that 'use of any proper name...is entirely
inappropriate!'

Amazing!

Who invented the idea of having a name of our Creator?

Is it not Yahweh Himself??

Is Yahweh also 'entirely inappropriate' for placing His name there in
scripture over 6000 times??

Are they saying indeed that the one whom they claim to worship is
'entirely inappropriate' for placing His name there?
Oh my!

They say it is 'entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the
Christian Church.'

Why have a different substitution for the name "Yahweh" in each
language?

Would it not be more 'universal' to use ONE NAME?

Yahweh has said:

Mala 1:11a (NKJV) For from the rising of the sun, even to its going
down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles..


Why have they falsified our Creator's name and condemned Yahweh for
putting it there originally?

It is just sad.


New King James Version - Word study on Exodus 3:15 (New Open Bible)

Now I do like this word study.

Even though the NKJV translators followed the traditions of the elders
and forsook the idea of keeping Yahweh's name in the text,

whoever wrote this word study is very frank about what actually is
taking place.

nkj quote "Exodus 3 records one of the greatest revelations in the Old
Testament: the personal name of God.

(The words translated God in our Bible [El, Elohim, Eloah] are not
names, but the standard vocabulary for the Deity and even for false
gods.

God told Moses His plan to use him in delivering the Israelites from
Egyptian bondage, and Moses had asked whom He should tell the people had
sent him.

God answered Moses: "I AM WHO I AM." He told Moses to tell them the "I
AM" had sent him, "the LORD God."

"I AM" and "LORD" are both probably derived from the
Hebrew verb to be
(hayah) because God is the ever-present One, "the Eternal" (Moffatt
translation).