The Current Teaching Of The Watchtower Society:

The Society believes that those who do not use God's name, which they understand to be JEHOVAH, cannot be identified as His people. (Acts 15:14)

The use of a special word as a way to identify with a particular God or religion is an ancient pagan practice dating back centuries. A word is itself has no more power than any of the "mantras" or mystical words of the eastern religions. The word "Jehovah" carries with it no unusual or mystical significance. Confirmation of this can be see in the fact that "Jehovah" as a designation for God the Father does not appear even once in the New Testament. The many appearances of this in the New World Translation of the New Testament (produced by the Society) has no historical or manuscript basis whatsoever. It is absolutely and completely an invention by the Society. Furthermore, the use of the word "Jehovah" is a genuine embarrassment to the Watchtower Society in that it represents a linguistic mistake: the word is a result of a mistransliteration of the word "Yahweh" (that is, "the eternally existing One") plus the word the ancient Hebrews used in its place, "Adonai" or Lord. The ancient Hebrew scribes were concerned that they might somehow misuse the name of God and thus even inadvertently violate the Third Commandment. As a precaution, they placed the four consonants for the name of God (YHWH) in the text of the Scripture as they copied it but included the vowels of word for "Lord" which they would speak in its place. This jumble of consonants of one word and the vowels of the other led to the appearance and use of the word "Jehovah." Consider also the many other names and titles for God found in the Scriptures. (See below and also consult Names of God, by N. J. Stone and The Names of Christ, by F. H. Derk for a list of these and a discussion concerning their frequency of use and their significance.) The Bible does NOT teach that we can be identified with God because of the use of any particular word or name. We are identified with God when we are reconciled to Him through the death of His Son. John 1:12, Revelation 3:20 (see Born-Again).

1. The Primary Names Of God Are:

English Form	Hebrew Equivalent
God	El, Elah, Elohim
Lord	YHWH Yahweh
Lord	Adon or Adonai

2. Compound Names Using El (God) Include:

Almighty God	El Shaddai
Most High or Most High God	El Elyon
Everlasting God	El Clam
Mighty God	El Gibbor

3. Compound Names Using YHWH (Yahweh) — LORD Include:

Lord God	YHWH (Jehovah) Elohim
Lord God	Adonai YHWH (Jehovah)
Lord of Host	YHWH (Jehovah) Sabaoth

4. Some Of The Many Names of God:

God	Gen 1:1
God Almighty	Gen 2:4
Most High God	Gen 14:18-22
Lord God	Gen 15:2, 8
Almighty God	Gen 17:1
Everlasting God	Gen 21:33
God Almighty	Gen 28:3
I AM	Exd 3:14
Jehovah	Exd 6:3
Jealous	Exd 34:14
Eternal God	Deu 33:27
Living God	Jos 3:10
Mighty God	Jer 32:18
Heavenly Father	Mat 6:26
King Eternal	1Ti 1:17
Only Potentate	1Ti 6:15
Father of Lights	Jam 1:17

NOTE: We point out a remarkable inconsistency. In the Old Testament, the Society chose to translate the word "Adonai" (Lord) as "Jehovah" in every case it refers to God. (See, for example, Isaiah 9:8) The New World Translation apparently chose not do this in New Testament for Kurios (Lord) because this would prove that Jesus is Yahweh after all.

Jesus' name is above every name	Phl 2:9
Saul (Paul) chosen to bear Jesus' name	Act 9:15
We receive grace and apostleship for His name	Rom 1:5

NOTE: A case is frequently made that the actual name "Jehovah" is vital for blessing as the phrase "in the name of the Lord" (the Society inserts "Jehovah" for "Lord") appears many times. To do something in "the name of" someone is to use their authority or their standing or their reputation, not to simply recite the word used to designate their personage.