G-D or God?

[HAZARD]

3 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

I was mystified concerning "G-d" the first time I encountered that, too. Someone explained that custom by pointing out how (most) translators of the Hebrew scriptures adhered to the same convention --- the name of God isn't spelled out in Hebrew --- so they used LORD wherever YHWH was written. 

GOD appears a few times in most English translations which represents "Elohim" in Hebrew. I know we aren't held to the same custom, brother. 

Thank you!

[Ray12614]

13 hours ago, Omegaman 3.0 said:

It is just a custom, not good nor bad, people should deal with it according to conscience.

However, God  or G_d, or even god, is not His name. God is a just a noun, not a proper noun. We (in English speaking countries) as a rule capitalize proper nouns. If I refer to you as Hazard, it is because I am using the noun hazard (are you one?) as if it was a proper noun, your name. According to custom, we refer to the only true God by using what he is (god) as if it were His name. We do the same with pronouns, we refer to Him as He, instead of Him as he. We do that, because was want to show Him respect as holy (unique) to differentiate Him for things which are by nature, not God - like idols an false god, we will refer to as gods. We might say "Hey Boss, when do you need that report" or bring this report to the boss" There is nothing is scripture (except in our translations which utilize our customs) to demand or call for Him to be referred to as God (instead of god) it is just a custom. Respect does not come from petty things like obsessing over grammar, but it paying Him respect in our actions. Want to be disrespectful? When we disobey Him we are being disrespectful. How do we respect or disrespect our earthy parents? Do the same with your Heavenly Father, and you know what respect, or lack of it, is!

When we speak of God as our buddy, like He is our equal, and nothing more (Someone deserving of the worship and obedience, and understanding of His unique holiness) then we are not paying proper reverence.

Leaving a letter out, a vowel, is similar to the case of the first letter, it is merely a custom. If you think that is disrespectful, then when you do it, it is a sin, and that IS disrespectful. When others do it, you do not have a clue, because you do not know their hearts. It is possible for a person to have the highest regard for God, and spell it "god"!

The vowel thing though has a different history. In original Hebrew and Aramaic, there were no vowels. consider this sentence, and read it in your mind or out loud, how it sounds:

Y shld rd th bbl n th mrnng!

If you are like most people, to know what that said, and you would have no trouble pronouncing the words, even though they do not have vowels.

The "name" of G_d, has a somewhat different story. in Exodus 3:13 and 3:14 it reads (in modern English):

"Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Notice a few things there:

• Moses said to God
• The God of your fathers has sent me to you
• What is his name?
• God said to Moses
• I AM WHO I AM

That is Moses said to הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים  = the elohim = masculine plural of god

The אֱלֹהֵ֥י of your fathers has sent me to you = god - masculine plural of god, this time without the definite article "the"

What is his שְּׁמ֔וֹ = shem  = masculine singular third person for name (shem will come up later in the post)

אֱלֹהִים֙ said to Moses - the elohim = masculine plural of god again, with the definite article "the god"

הוהי who יהוה = we try to make is in English, and if falls a little short. we say "I am who I am" or "I am that I am" or "I am what I am".

This has become what we think of as His name, but it is not a personal name, like "call Me Bob". If anything, it is a denial of having a name, after all, who was there to name God in the beginning, He had no parents, He had no beginning. It is a statement of His eternal presence, like "I have always existed, I continue to exist, and I shall always exist. It is hard to express this in English, because we live in time, so we do not have verbs of continuance. Why, because we live in time while God exists apart from time, time is only a creation of His.

So, when Greek speaking Jews translated the Hebrew into Greek, they uses phrases like "I am the being" or "I am the existing one". This was helpful in Jesus time, for when people asked Him who He was, he used what the writers of the new testament translated to "ego eimi" = I am. He was claiming to be the God who spoke to Moses, and existed before Moses. They understood what he meant, and tried to stone Him for claiming to be God.

This is the origin of how we got to leaving out vowels. Hebrew had no written vowels, but originally, people knew how to speak without vowels, just as you probably were able to in that vowelless sentence I created earlier.

In modern times we call this word in Exodus, the Tetragrammaton, it is a word of four consonants and no vowels. In the Mishnah, oral traditions of Jewish rabis ( primarily after the destruction of the second temple in 70 A.D.)  forbid the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton. It is out of deep reverence, and out of fear that the will not say the "divine name". Fair enough, because there is no certainty on how it originally sounded, the modern use of vowel points in Hebrew, is a later innovation. In fact, our word Jehovah, was an attempt to insert the vowels from the word "adonai" (lord) into the consonants of the Tetragrammaton in order to make it pronounceable.

When and observant Jew comes across the Tetragrammaton, he does not say "Yahweh" because we do not know if that is how it was originally pronounced. Instead, he or she says "ha'shem" (the name).

The leaving out of the vowel "o" in the word "God" traces back to this uncertainly about the vowels in the Tetragrammaton. So, in keeping with the spirit of not having vowels, if became G_d' Why the underlined space instead of "Gd", I do not know.

Very good explanation! I was wondering about this too . . .

Thanks . . . Ray . . . 

 

[JohnR7]

14 hours ago, HAZARD said:

Just wondering. Why do some people write G-D instead of God on some forums?

I was told that before a scribe could write the name of God they had to leave their pen and paper and go through a ceremonial washing and cleansing. The word "Jew" or "Jewish" are slang words used during the holocaust. When I was in school they considered the word "Jew" to be an insult. But today the "Jewish" people use these words to refer to themselves so their real name is not slandered. God simply means deity and is not even a proper name at all. There are many names for God in the Bible that we use during worship in all purity. Every name has a meaning to tell us about our Creator. "Jew" actually means Judah. There is the northern and southern tribe but actually there were 12 tribes. Jeremiah 3:8 talks about the adultery of Israel and how her little sister Judah followed her in being faithless. 

God Almighty, Mighty Creator, Lord, Father, God Most High—these are just a few of the names and titles of God that yield rich insights into His nature and character.

Edited July 25, 2022 by JohnR7

[JohnR7]

People need to realize that a lot of our Bible is not actually a part of the written Bible but a part of the oral tradition. There are no sentences, paragraphs, chapters or punctuation in the Hebrew Bible. The Bible was written to be read out loud to the people. 

[other one]

God is not his name.

[Dennis1209]

Some names and titles found in our Bible. As stated by someone above, many are titles and descriptions and not proper names. We certainly learn a lot about God from His names and titles. 

God:

“Almighty,” “Blessed,” “Deity,” “Everlasting God,” “Fear of Isaac,” “God Most High,” “The God of Abraham,” “God of Heaven,” “God of Hosts,” “The God of Isaac,” “God of Israel,” “God of Jacob,” “God of Our Fathers,” “The God of the Hebrews,” “Holy One of Israel,” “I Am,” “King of Glory,” “Living God,” “Lord,” “Lord God,” “Lord God of Hosts,” “Lord of Hosts,” “Majesty,” “Mighty God,” “The Mighty One of Jacob,” “Most High,” “Sovereign God,” “Sovereign Lord,” “Spirit of the Lord,” “Trinity (implied),” and “Yahweh.”

Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Jesus:

Names of our Lord: JESUS = Jehovah is salvation; Jehova, my salvation; Savior. CHRIST—anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered “Messiah” (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Acts 17:3; 18:5; Matt. 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24–26), who styles him “Messiah the Prince.”

Titles and Descriptions of our Lord Jesus: There are nearly three hundred descriptive titles for Jesus, some are repeated many times:

Advocate 1 John 2:1; Almighty (57); Revelation 1:8; Alpha and Omega; Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Altogether Lovely; Song of Solomon 5:16; Amen Revelation 3:14; Ancient of Days Daniel 7:22; Angel of His Presence; Isaiah 63:9; Anointed Psalm 2:2; Apostle Hebrews 3:1; Apple Tree Song of Solomon 2:3; Approved of God Acts 2:22; Author of Our Faith Hebrews 12:2; Author of Salvation Hebrews 5:9; Babe Luke 2:16; Beginning of Creation of God Revelation 3:14; Beginning and Ending Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Bishop of Souls 1 Peter 2:25; Branch Zechariah 6:12; Isaiah 11:1; Branch of Righteousness Jeremiah 33:15; Bread of Life John 6:35; Bridegroom Matthew 9:15; John 3:29; Bright and Morning Star Revelation 22:16; Brightness of His Glory Hebrews 1:3; Buckler Psalm 18:2; Builder Matthew 16:18; Bundle of Myrrh Song of Solomon 1:13; Captain of Our Salvation Hebrews 2:10; Captain of the Lord’s Host Joshua 5:15; Carpenter, Son of Mary Mark 6:3; Carpenter’s Son Matthew 13:55; Chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5:4; Chief Cornerstone 1 Peter 2:6; Ephesians 2:20; Chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5:4; Chiefest Among Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10; Child Luke 2:40; Chosen of God Luke 23:35; Christ Jesus My Lord Philippians 3:8; Christ of God Luke 9:20; Christ the Lord Luke 2:11; Christ; Son of the Living God Matthew 16:16; Cluster of Camphire Song of Solomon 1:14; Consolation of Israel Luke 2:25; Counselor Isaiah 9:6; Covenant of the People Isaiah 42:6; Covert from Tempest Isaiah 32:2; Creator of Israel Isaiah 43:15; Day Star 2 Peter 1:19; Daysman Job 9:33; Dayspring Luke 1:78; Deliverer Psalm 18:2; Romans 11:26; Desire of all Nations Haggai 2:7; Dew Hosea 14:5; Door John 10:7, 9; Emmanuel Matthew 1:23; End of the Law Romans 10:4; Ensign of the People Isaiah 11:10; Everlasting Father Isaiah 9:6; Express Image of His Person Hebrews 1:3; Faithful and True Witness Revelation 3:14; Faithful and True Revelation 19:11; Faithful Witness Revelation 1:5; Finisher of Our Faith Hebrews 12:2; First Begotten of the Dead Revelation 1:5; First and the Last Revelation 22:13; Firstborn of Every Creature Colossians 1:15; Firstborn Romans 8:29; Firstborn From the Dead Colossians 1:18; Firstfruits 1 Corinthians 15:20; Forerunner Hebrews 6:20; Fortress Psalm 18:2; Foundation Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Fountain Opened (for sin) Zechariah 13:1; Fountain of Living Waters Jeremiah 2:13; Friend of Publicans and Sinners Luke 7:34; Fruit of the Womb Luke 1:42; Galilaean (KJV) Luke 23:6; Glory of Thy People Israel Luke 2:32; God of the Whole Earth Isaiah 54:5; Good Shepherd John 10:11; Good Master Matthew 19:16, 17; Mark 10:17; Governor of Nations Psalm 22:28; Governor Matthew 2:6;

Great Jeremiah 32:18; Greater Than Solomon Matthew 12:42; Guide Psalm 48:14; Head of the Body; the Church Colossians 1:18; Head of the Church Ephesians 5:23; Head of the Corner 1 Peter 2:7; Matthew 21:42; Head of All Principality and Power Colossians 2:10; Head of Every Man 1 Corinthians 11:3; Healer Matthew 14:14; Heir of All Things Hebrews 1:2; Helper Hebrews 13:6; Hiding Place Isaiah 32:2; High Priest Hebrews 3:1; 6:20; 7:26; High Priest Over the House of God Hebrews 10:21; High Tower Psalm 18:2; Higher Than the Heavens Hebrews 7:26; Holy Child Jesus Acts 4:27; Holy One Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 43:15; Holy One of Israel (31) Isaiah 41:14; 54:5; Holy One of God Luke 4:34; Mark 1:24; Horn of My Salvation Psalm 18:2; Horn of Salvation Luke 1:69; Hope, My Psalm 71:5; I AM John 8:58; Image of Invisible God Colossians 1:15; Immanuel Isaiah 7:14; Immortal 1 Timothy 1:17; Intercessor Hebrews 7:25; Invisible 1 Timothy 1:17; Jesus (977) Matthew 1:21; Jesus is the Lord 1 Corinthians 12:3; Jesus Christ Our Savior Titus 3:6; Jesus of Nazareth (17) Luke 4:34; Jew John 4:9; Judge of the Quick and the Dead Acts 10:42; Judge of Israel Micah 5:1; Just One Acts 3:14; Just Man Matthew 27:19; Justifier Romans 3:26; King Matthew 21:5; King of Glory Psalm 24:8; King of the Jews (18) John 18:39; 19:3; King of Israel John 1:49; King of Saints Revelation 15:3; King of kings (6) 1 Timothy 3:15; Revelation 17:14; King Eternal 1 Timothy 1:17; Lamb Revelation 5:6; 15:3; 17:14; Lamb Slain Revelation 13:8; Lamb Without Blemish and Spot 1 Peter 1:19; Lamb of God John 1:29; Last Adam 1 Corinthians 15:45; Lawgiver James 4:12; Leader and Commander of the People Isaiah 55:4; Life John 11:25; Lifter of My Head Psalm 3:3; Light of Men John 1:4; Light to Lighten the Gentiles Luke 2:32; Light for the Gentiles Isaiah 42:6; Acts 13:47; Light of the World John 8:12; Lily of the Valley Song of Solomon 2:1; Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5; Living Bread John 6:51; Living Stone 1 Peter 2:4; Lord (1131); LORD (6471) Luke 24:3; Acts 2:36; Lord and Christ Acts 2:36; Lord Both of the Dead and Living Romans 14:9; Lord From Heaven 1 Corinthians 15:47; Lord God Almighty Revelation 15:3; Lord of the Harvest Matthew 9:38; Lord of the Sabbath Luke 6:5; Lord of Hosts Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 32:18; Lord of Lords 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16; Lord Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6; Love 1 John 4:16; Lowly Zechariah 9:9; Man of Sorrows Isaiah 53:3; Manna John 6:57–58; Master (57) Matthew 22:24; John 11:28; Master in Heaven Colossians 4:1; Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5; Merciful, Faithful High Priest Hebrews 2:17; Messenger Malachi 3:1; Messiah Daniel 9:25, 26; Messias (the Christ) John 1:41; Mighty God Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 32:18; Mine Elect Isaiah 42:1; Minister of the Circumcision Romans 15:8; Minister of Sanctuary Hebrews 8:2; My Beloved Song of Solomon 2:8; Matthew 12:18; My Beloved Son Matthew 17:5; My Strong Habitation Psalm 71:3; Nail Isaiah 22:23, 25; Name Above Every Name Philippians 2:9; Nazarene Matthew 2:23; New and Living Way Hebrews 10:20; Offering; a Sacrifice to God Ephesians 5:2; One Shepherd John 10:16; One That Bringeth Good Tidings Isaiah 41:27; Only Begotten of Father John 1:14; Only Wise God 1 Timothy 1:17;

Our Lord Jesus Christ (55) Galatians 1:3; Our Peace Ephesians 2:14; Overcomer Revelation 17:14; Passover 1 Corinthians 5:7; Potentate 1 Timothy 6:15; Potter Romans 9:21; Power and Wisdom of God 1 Corinthians 1:24; Precious Corner Stone Isaiah 28:16; Precious 1 Peter 2:7; Priest Hebrews 5:10; 7:17; Prince Daniel 9:25; Acts 5:31; Prince of Life Acts 3:15; Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6; Prince of the Kings of Earth Revelation 1:5; Prophet John 4:19; 7:40; Deuteronomy 18:18; Prophet of Nazareth Matthew 21:11; Propitiation for Our Sins 1 John 2:2; Purifier of Silver Malachi 3:3; Quickening Spirit 1 Corinthians 15:45; Rabbi; Son of God John 1:49; Reconciler 2 Corinthians 5:19; Redeemer Job 19:25; Isaiah 41:14; 54:5; Refiner Malachi 3:3; Resurrection John 11:25; Reward, Exceeding Great Genesis 15:1; Rewarder Hebrews 11:6; Righteous 1 John 2:1; Righteous Branch Jeremiah 23:5; Righteous Man Luke 23:47; Righteous Servant Isaiah 53:11; Rock Psalm 18:2; 28:1; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Rock of Offense 1 Peter 2:8; Root of David Revelation 5:5; 22:16; Root of Jesse Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12; Root Out of Dry Ground Isaiah 53:2; Rose of Sharon Song of Solomon 2:1; Salvation Luke 2:30; Samaritan John 8:48; Savior (Saviour, KJV) (29) Luke 2:11; Acts 5:31; Savior (Saviour, KJV) of the World John 4:42; 1 John 4:14; Scepter of Israel Numbers 24:17; Second Man 1 Corinthians 15:47; Seed of the Woman Genesis 3:14, 15; Servant Isaiah 42:1; Philippians 2:7; Shadow from heat Isaiah 25:4; Shepherd Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; Shield, Thy Genesis 15:1; Shiloh (rest, tranquility) Genesis 49:10; Son of David Matthew 9:27; Son of God (48) Mark 1:1; Son of the Highest Luke 1:32; Son of Joseph John 6:42; Son of Man Matthew 9:6; Mark 14:62; John 6:27; Son of the Blessed Mark 14:61; Son of the Living God Matthew 16:16; Star Out of Jacob Numbers 24:17; Stem of Jesse Isaiah 11:1; Stone Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Stone Cut Without Hands Daniel 2:34, 35; Stone of Stumbling 1 Peter 2:8; Stranger in Jerusalem Luke 24:18; Strength Psalm 18:2; Stronghold (in the day of trouble) Nahum 1:7; Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2; Sure Foundation Isaiah 28:16; Surety of a Better Testament; Hebrews 7:22; Teacher From God John 3:2; Tender Plant Isaiah 53:2; Testator Hebrews 9:16, 17; The Child Jesus Luke 2:27; The Christ (19) Mark 14:61; The Lord’s Christ Luke 2:26; The Man John 19:5; The Man, Christ Jesus 1 Timothy 2:5; The Word John 1:1; 1:14; Thine Husband Isaiah 54:5; Thy Maker Isaiah 54:5; Thy Seed Galatians 3:16; Tree of life Genesis 2:9; Tried Stone Isaiah 28:16; True God and Eternal Life 1 John 5:20; True Vine John 15:1; True Light John 1:9; Truth John 14:6; Vine John 15:5; Voice Genesis 3:8; Way John 14:6; Way of Holiness Isaiah 35:8; Wonderful Isaiah 9:6; Young Child Matthew 2:11; Your King Isaiah 43:15.

[missmuffet]

I choose God. 

[TheBlade]

For me its silly. Well its not His name. I know some write it G-D in respect or don't want to say His name. Again His name is not God. Satan is called god..god of this world. So which one are you talking to? Just playing