FAQ

Q: Why use the name Jehovah’s Witnesses? Consider where the name came from.

The name Jehovah results from a misunderstanding: " … the Hebrew name of God was most likely Yahweh. Secured are only the consonants YHWH (the final H is mute). Since the Jewish scholars, who provided the Hebrew text with vowels, no longer pronounced the name of God out of timidity, instead of the original vowels, they used the vowels of the Hebrew word for Lord which should be spoken at this point ( adonaj ; the initial a in the spelling shortened to e ). Due to a misunderstanding, it later became the artificial word JeHoVaH. The original form of the name of God can be inferred from the short form Jah which is contained for example in HalleluJah ( do praise Yahweh) , as well as from ancient Greek texts." (Quotation from "Die Bibel -- die gute Nachricht", page 372, revidierte Fassung 2000, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart)

Frequently asked questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses

FAQ Overview

About the Study

This study intends to provide guidance to all those who have doubts about the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but don’t know how to argue against them.

Download the study (PDF)

Why use the name Jehovah’s Witnesses? Consider where the name came from.

The name Jehovah results from a misunderstanding: ” … the Hebrew name of God was most likely Yahweh.

Secured are only the consonants YHWH (the final H is mute). Since the Jewish scholars, who provided the Hebrew text with vowels, no longer pronounced the name of God out of timidity, instead of the original vowels, they used the vowels of the Hebrew word for Lord which should be spoken at this point (adonaj; the initial a in the spelling shortened to e). Due to a misunderstanding, it later became the artificial word JeHoVaH. The original form of the name of God can be inferred from the short form Jah which is contained for example in HalleluJah (do praise Yahweh), as well as from ancient Greek texts.”

(Quotation from “Die Bibel — die gute Nachricht”, page 372, revidierte Fassung 2000, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart)