This is the name which is particularly assigned to Godas His special or proper name, that is, the four letters YHWH. Thisname has not been pronounced by the Jews because of reverence for the greatsacredness of the divine name. Therefore, it has been consistently translatedLORD.¹

Hebrews were instructed to utter a less holy name -- Adonai orElohim. "God" is a translation of Elohim."Lord" is a translation of Adonai.²

The form "Jehovah" is a combination of the consonants of the Divine Nameand the vowels attached to it by the Masoretes, but belonging to an entirelydifferent word. The sound of "Y" is represented by "J" and thesound of "W" by "V", as in Latin.³

The four letters YHVH are most likely semi-vowels and nottrue consonants. That is, Y=I, H=A, V=U, and H=E, resulting in IAUE.This would be pronounced Yahweh (EE-AH-OO-EH).

1. New American Standard Version, 1977. Principles of Translation.
2. New American Standard Version, Loc. cit.
3. Revised Standard Version, 1952. Preface.