By TC Lo 盧天賜 (October 24, 2011. Latest revision 11/13/2011)
(English version at bottom)
在舊約中, 三個主要名字是用在神的本身 (Ref. 1):
• 首先是耶和華 “Jehovah” 或 “Yahweh”— 此名單指真神. 首次出現在 (創2:4 as LORD), 是與創造有關, 其意在 (出3:13-14) 定義為 “I am that I am” 即自存 (self-existent), 永恆的上帝 (eternal God).
• 其次是一個通用的名字 “elohim”; 此名可用在真神或異教徒 (heathen world) 之神. 聖經首次出現於 (創1:1). 此名的意義曾有爭議 (has been debated), 但總是包括 “強者 (strong one)” 和 “被敬畏 (feared or reverenced)” 等理念. 它是複數型, 似乎指三位一體 (Trinity), 然而亦可指三位一體中的單數個別位格.
• 第三個名字是舊的用的 adonai, 其一般意思是 “主人 master” 或 “lord”. 可用於神 (LORD, 創15:2), 強調祂是我們的主宰, 或用於人作為僕人向主人的稱呼 (lord). 在 (創15:2) 中, 它是常與 elohim 連用之一例 (NIV: Sovereign LORD).
在舊約中還有很多把上述三名字連用 (combination of) 的名字; 最常見是: Jehovah-Elohim, Adonai-Elohim. 此外還有很多複名 (compounds):
• Jehovah-jireh (耶和華以勒 the LORD will provide) — 創22:14.
• Jehovah-rapha (耶和華是醫治你的 the LORD who healeth” ) — 出15:26.
• Jehovah-nissi (耶和華尼西 the LORD my banner) — 出17:15.
• Jehovah-shalom (耶和華沙龍 the LORD our peace) — 士6:24.
• Jehovah-tsidkenu (耶和華我們的義the LORD our righteousness) — 耶23:6
• Jehovah-shammah (耶和華的所在 the LORD is there) — 結48:35.
請注意, 這些名字都跟人的需要有關. 當人缺乏時, 有誰不需要神的供應? 當人患病時, 有誰不需要神的醫治? 當人失敗時, 有誰不需要得勝的力量? 當人不安時, 有誰不需要神的平安? 當人受冤枉時, 有誰不需要公義? 當人孤單時, 有誰不需要神的同在? 可見從神的名字, 可知祂是顧念我們的神. 祂是我們個人的神 (the Personal God). 誰說舊約的神是只有嚴厲而無慈愛呢?
新約中神的名號 (titles) 有: 聖父, 聖子, 聖靈; 舊約中也有, 但少用. 耶穌的名字則更多了.
在英譯聖經中, 我們看到LORD與 Lord來表達舊約神的名字 (Ref.2). 例:
當烏西雅王崩的那年，我見主 (Lord) 坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下，遮滿聖殿 (賽6:1). 此處 Lord 的頭一個字母是大寫的, 其餘是小寫字體. 這與下文全部大寫的 LORD (第 3節—彼此呼喊說：“聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！萬軍之耶和華 (LORD)，他的榮光充滿全地！”) 形成對比. 這不是英文翻譯者隨便的喜好, 或文學上同義字的變化互用. 上帝的啟示是很嚴緊的.
Lord—-希伯來文聖經是 Adonai, 意即 “Sovereign One最高統治者.” 事實上此字是舊約保留對神至高無上的頭銜 (好似現代人的 Mr. 或 Mrs. 或 Dr. 等尊敬稱呼).
LORD—-希伯來文聖經是 Yahweh, 就是神自己在燃燒的灌木叢中向摩西揭示的名字 (出3). 這是一個說不出的和不應說出的的名字, 為防止以色列人在生活中無意褻瀆聖名之策畧. 按慣例, 它是用四個子音—-YHWH或JHVH—-呈現的. 因此它被稱為 sacred tetragrammaton—-不能發音的四字母組。两字同在一節經文中有別之例:
• 詩(8:1), “耶和華我們的主啊 (O LORD, our Lord)，你的名在全地何其美！你將你的榮耀彰顯於天。”
• 詩(110:1), “耶和華對我主說 (The LORD says to my Lord)：你坐在我的右邊，等我使你仇敵作你的腳凳。”
還有, 在出埈及記第三章, 神向摩西啟示衪的名字為 “I AM WHO I AM 自有永有.” 這個名字與LORD同義; 比對下面两節靠近的經文便不證自明了:
• I AM has sent me (指Moses) to you. (出3:14)
• The LORD has sent me to you. (出3:16)
嚴格地說, “I AM WHO I AM 自有永有” 並非神的名字, 乃是對 “耶和華” 此名的解釋. 在創世記中, 亞伯拉罕對主耶和華說, “主耶和華啊, 我既無子, 祢還賜我甚麽呢?” (創15:2a). 可見亞伯拉罕知道耶和華這名字. 但到了出埃及記, 神對摩西說, “我從前向亞伯拉罕, 以撒, 雅各顯現為全能的神; 至於我名耶和華, 他們未曾知道.” (出6:3). 亞伯拉罕明明知道, 為甚麽神說他未曾知道呢? 所以 “未曾知道” 是指 “未曾知道這名字的意義.” 出埃及記6章3節記載, 當摩西問神 “叫什麼 (mah) 名字” 時, 神回答說: “我是自有永有的.” 這回答是關於 “名字的意義”, 而不是回答 “是什麼名字” 因為 “我是自有永有的” 是 “耶和華” 名字的意義, 這也顯示原文的 “什麼 (mah)” 含意比我們的認識的廣. (Ref.3)
To Know God from His Names
(T.C. Lo; 01/06/14)
In the Old Testament, there are three primary names applied to God Himself. (Ref. 1)
- The first one is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”—this name refers to the true God. Its first appearance in the Bible is in Genesis 2:4 as LORD; it is related to creation. Its meaning is revealed in Exodus 3:13-14 as “I am that I am” which means being self-existent, an attribute of the eternal God.
- The second name is the common term “elohim”. This term can also be used for the heathen gods. Its first appearance in the Bible is in Genesis 1:1. The meaning of this name has been debated; it includes the ideas of “strong one” and “feared or reverenced one”. It’s a plural noun which may signify the Trinity. But it can also be used on any one of the three godheads.
- The third name is “adonai” whose general meaning is “master” or “lord”. It can be used to address God (e.g., LORD, Genesis 15:2), or it can be used by a servant to address his master. In Genesis 15:2, adonai is used in conjunction with elohim to mean “Sovereign LORD”.
In addition, the Old Testament employs compounds to describe God. The common ones are: Jehovah-Elohim and Adonai-Elohim. There are more:
- Jehovah-jireh (the LORD will provide) — Genesis 22:14.
- Jehovah-rapha (the LORD who healeth”) — Exodus 15:26.
- Jehovah-nissi (the LORD my banner) — Exodus 17:15.
- Jehovah-shalom (the LORD our peace) — Judges 6:24.
- Jehovah-tsidkenu (the LORD our righteousness) — Jeremiah 23:6.
- Jehovah-shammah (the LORD is there) — Ezekiel 48:35.
It is interesting to note that these compound names are related to human needs. When we are in destitute, we need God to provide. When we are sick, we wish God may heal. When we are defeated, we need God’s help to triumph. When we are restless, we need God’s peace. When are unjustifiably oppress, we need God’s justice. When we are lonely, God is there to accompany. In short, the God of the Bible is a “Personal God”; he is a just God as well as a merciful God.
In the New Testament, God has many titles: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The name of the Son is Jesus which means “He shall deliver His people from their sins”. Jesus has numerous other names: The Son of man, the Rock, the Son of God, the Word, the Way, etc.
In the English translated Bibles, we see LORD and Lord are carefully used (Ref. 2) Examples:
- Isa 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
- Isa 6:3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Lord—Hebrew “Adonai” is actually a title (like Mr., Mrs., or Dr. etc.) meaning “Sovereign One”. Another example for Jesus Christ is: Jesus is the name, Christ is the title.
LORD—Hebrew “Yahweh” is the name that God revealed to Moses from the burning bush as recorded in Exodus 3. The Hebrews view God is too holy for men to say his name, so they came up with four unpronounceable expressions—YHWH or JHVH—which is called “sacred tetragrammaton”.
There are instances in which both LORD and Lord can be found in the same verse. Example:
- Ps 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
- Ps 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
Furthermore, in Exodus Chapter 3, God revealed to Moses His name as “I AM WHO I AM.”
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, `What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.’ “(Exodus 3:13-14)
This name is synonymous to the English name LORD. The juxtaposition of the following two verses provides clarification:
- I AM has sent me (指Moses) to you. (Exodus 3:14)
- The LORD has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:16)
So, “I AM” = “The LORD”.
Strictly speaking, the term “I AM WHO I AM” is not the name of God, but an interpretation of what His name means. In Genesis Abraham said to God, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless?” (Genesis 15:2a). From this, it is clear that Abraham did know God’s name. But when it comes to Exodus, God said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them” (Exodus 6:3). Why did God say “Abraham, I did not make myself known to you”? What God really said was “I did not make the meaning of my name known to you.” When Moses asked God “What is (mah) your name?” in Exodus 3:13, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” is the meaning of my name. So the “mah=what is” has broader significance than we ordinarily perceived. (Ref. 3)
References:
- “Major Bible Themes” by Lewis Sperry Chafer; pp.41-42.
- “The Holiness of God” by RC Sproul; pages 26-27.
- “解經有路” by 陸蘇河; pp.188-189.
