God's Pure Language*

      The Hebrew names of people and places in scripture have important meanings. Some of these meanings give us great insight into what the scriptures are telling us. Yod-Hey-Vaw-Hey are the four Hebrew letters of the name translated as "LORD" in scripture. In the ancient pictographic Hebrew language, each of those letters has its own meaning that contributes to the understanding of the Name. Translating each letter gives us the meaning "Behold the hand, behold the nail" as making up that Holy name: LORD. Most Christians have no idea of the revelation found in the Hebrew language. The prophet Hosea wrote: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame." (Hos. 4:6-7). The people of God, including the Church, have rejected the truth. Jesus said that He has given us His glory. We are to walk and display that glory.

     Paul wrote in the Book of Hebrews that although the Church of believers should be of the level of maturity to teach others the Word of God, they were still babies, dull of hearing, needing milk, which is the repetition of the beginning principles of God, rather than strong meat: "For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5:11-12, 13-14). There are many teachers claiming to bring the Word of God to us, but we are also to read the Word for ourselves and study it to show ourselves approved. Who will we believe? The "talking heads" on TV, or the Word of God? 

     Paul wrote to Timothy: "Preach the word" and true doctrine, and not the doctrines of men and devils, though even believers will desire teachers that only teach them what they want to hear. The people will rather believe in fables and fairy tales than the truth of God from His Book, Paul wrote (2 Tim. 4:1-4). For example, there are churches that teach that apostles and prophets no longer exist and are not needed today, but the Word of God says that these gifts (apostles, prophets, etc.) have been given to the Church until we all come into the full stature of Christ, which we have not yet achieved. When did God change His Word? Paul also instructs Timothy: "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (v. 5). The work of an evangelist - are we fulfilling Rom. 1:16: to the Jew first? But we don't know the language. Can we explain the true meaning in Hebrew of Yod-Hey-Vaw-Hey, the name of the LORD, to a Jewish person if we don't know it ourselves?

     Zephaniah wrote the Word of the LORD: "...surely...thou wilt receive instruction...but they rose early and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait thee upon me, saith the LORD...for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (see also Isa. 18) my suppliants...shall bring mine offering...The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." (Zeph. 3:7-9). The Hebrew language speaks of the "Oneness" of God" in the word echad. It is "One" made up of a plurality of parts. It speaks to us of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), just as Proverbs 30:4 asks the question about God: "What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Zephaniah also tells God's people to trust in the name of the LORD (v. 12). What is in a name? It is the name Yeshua, meaning the God of salvation. It is the name of Jesus. It is the most important name there is.

     This most important name of Jesus, or Yeshua/Yehosua, "Jehovah/God is Salvation", was given to Him because He humbled Himself in obedience to the Father, even to death on the cross: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth:" (Phil. 2:7-10). Do we recognize the name, and have the boldness to share it? Do we have enough knowledge of the Hebrew to explain it?

     Again we see the plural unity of God in John 1:1-2: "In the beginning was the (spoken) Word (Logos in Greek), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." God and the Word, which is Jesus, are two of the members of the Godhead or Trinity. All things were made by and in the spoken Word, Jesus, including the life which is the light in men. Darkness cannot overcome the light of the Word, Jesus (v. 3-5). This Word/Light, Jesus, came into the world, but the world did not know Him. This is why we don't conform to the world-they don't know Christ. He came to His own people, but they didn't receive Him, as the prophet Isaiah wrote that He would be despised and rejected. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power (exousia - power of choice, liberty, authority, rule) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name...".( v. 10-12).  By the name of Jesus, mature sons are created and given authority by God. Adam was called the son of God, and he was given the authority to name all of the animals incorporating their qualities into their names. We came to belief in this name, Jesus, even though we were not there, because of the witness of those who were there with Him and beheld His glory (v. 14-15). The Lord has given us another witness to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ in the Shroud of Turin (see The Shroud of Turin website), which is referred to in scripture and supported by scientific research.

     The verses above state that we, who believe on the name of Jesus/Yeshua are given power to become sons of God. The apostles ministered in miracles as they believed and preached the name of Jesus, including the healing of a lame man who was begging alms. The disciples said to him: "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk'...and immediately his feet and ankles received strength, and he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (Acts 3:1-9). In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested because they taught and preached the resurrection from the dead through Jesus (Acts 4:1-2). Many had believed the Word the disciples taught and the miracle healing that they witnessed. The religious authorities, including the high priest, demanded of the disciples: "...By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" (v. 7). Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered: "...by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man (the formerly lame man) stand here before you whole...Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (v. 8-12).  Again, Yeshua, the Hebrew name of Jesus, means "God is salvation". We have seen these same miracles in the name of Jesus in our church as the lame have come out of wheelchairs, and have left behind crutches and canes. The religious authorities commanded Peter and John not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus, although they could not deny the miracle that had already been witnessed among the people. Peter and John answered: "...we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard." (v. 16-22).

     As Zechariah prophesied the amazing things that God would do to revive Israel, opening a fountain (of the blood of the Passover Lamb), and in defending Israel from among the hostile nations of the earth in the latter days, the LORD made this promise: "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD (YHWH: "Behold the hand, behold the nail"), and his name one." (Zech 14:9). 

     Keeping in mind Rom. 1:16, share this information with the Jewish people you may know as well as Gentiles.

     For your further information, here is a chart of the modern letters of the Hebrew "alphabet" with the meanings of each letter (Chart of Hebrew letters).

     Here is a chart showing the ancient pictographic Hebrew letters whose drawings depicted their meanings: (Ancient Hebrew Letters).

     *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 1/14/24 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705.