Can Catholic's Use The Term Jehovah?

[YMNolan]

This may be a funny question, but are we allowed to use the term Jehovah to speak about God? I know there are some discrepancies about it and it certainly doesn't make me feel comfortable (I think immediately of Jehovah's Witnesses). But I came across the use of the word Jehovah in a song, a Protestant song for sure, but not a JW song. Can anyone fill me in on the whole Jehovah controversy? And what is our response?

Thanks!

[Brother Adam]

Are you talking about Days of Elijah? Jehovah is a "linguistic monstrosity" according to one Hebrew expert - it is simply not a name for God in any reasonable sense. To me it is like taking the name "Jesus" in English and changing it to "Jebus". It is just not respectful and there is no point. I know that at my alma mater they eliminated those lines that use the mutilated name, or change Jehovah to Lord or Jesus. Is it a sin to use that translation? No, not unless you have some ill intent, but I would not recommend it.

[Sternhauser]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1291414213' post='2190797']
Are you talking about Days of Elijah? Jehovah is a "linguistic monstrosity" according to one Hebrew expert - it is simply not a name for God in any reasonable sense. To me it is like taking the name "Jesus" in English and changing it to "Jebus". It is just not respectful and there is no point. I know that at my alma mater they eliminated those lines that use the mutilated name, or change Jehovah to Lord or Jesus. Is it a sin to use that translation? No, not unless you have some ill intent, but I would not recommend it.
[/quote]

Brother Adam is correct. Why would you want to call God "Jehovah?" It was a linguistic mistake made in the 13th century, by someone who thought he might uncover the "mystery" of God's name in an old manuscript, by tacking in a couple of letters into the Hebrew word for "I am," or "Jahveh," which the Jews, out of reverence, always wrote "JHVH." There's nothing wrong with invoking God's name, which God said was "Yahweh/Jahveh," if done respectfully.

~Sternhauser

Edited December 3, 2010 by Sternhauser

[YMNolan]

Thanks guys, that is what I had assumed. As I said, it made me uncomfortable.

And yes Brother Adam, it is the Days of Elijah I was talking about.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

+JMJ

Ha! I had no idea that it was even in that song!

[MithLuin]

So I guess [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGTY6H6SLOw]Jehovah Jireh[/url] is right out?

[b]Future Nun[/b], there is a bridge to the song that repeats 'There is no God like Jehovah' a bunch of times (like 16x). [video [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngw3jUt5v60&feature=related]here[/url]] The song could be sung without the bridge, or it could be changed to something else.

Many praise and worship songs (including that one) are Biblically based, though that does not keep them from being free of errors.

[YMNolan]

I'm not a fan of the song, but my friend wants to use it for p&w. He's cutting the Jehovah part out though.

[sixpence]

[quote name='MithLuin' timestamp='1291526860' post='2191000']
So I guess [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGTY6H6SLOw"]Jehovah Jireh[/url] is right out?

[b]Future Nun[/b], there is a bridge to the song that repeats 'There is no God like Jehovah' a bunch of times (like 16x). [video [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngw3jUt5v60&feature=related"]here[/url]] The song could be sung without the bridge, or it could be changed to something else.

Many praise and worship songs (including that one) are Biblically based, though that does not keep them from being free of errors.
[/quote]

Where does that "jireh" part come from???

[Selah]

[quote]Where does that "jireh" part come from??? [/quote]

Jehovah Jireh means "The Lord will provide"

And also, isn't Jehovah a mistranslation of Yahweh?

Edited December 5, 2010 by Selah

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Selah' timestamp='1291578989' post='2191068']
Jehovah Jireh means "The Lord will provide"

And also, isn't Jehovah a mistranslation of Yahweh?
[/quote]

Correct.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Selah' timestamp='1291578989' post='2191068']

And also, isn't Jehovah a mistranslation of Yahweh?
[/quote]
Which is, in turn, a mistranslation of יהוה.