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Judaism considers some names of God so holy that, once written, they should not be erased: יהוה , אֲדֹנָי (Adonai transl. my Lord[s]), אֵל (El transl. God), אֱלֹהִים (Elohim transl. God[s]), שַׁדַּי (Shaddai transl. Almighty), and צְבָאֽוֹת (Tzevaoth transl. [of] Hosts); some also include I Am that I Am.
In Judaism, the name of God represents the Jewish conception of the divine nature, and of the relation of God to the Jewish people. In the biblical text, the most frequent name used for God is "YHWH," also called the tetragrammaton, and usually translated as "the Lord" or "Jehovah."
In many verses of scripture and in the liturgy, God is spoken of as JHWH (pronounced Adonai) Eloheynu, which means “the Lord our God.” In the Bible, God has many other names. He is often described as Elohim , which simply means God.
- Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok
Mar 4, 2024 · As Judaism became a universal rather than merely a local religion, the more common Hebrew noun Elohim (plural in form but understood in the singular), meaning “God,” tended to replace Yahweh to demonstrate the universal sovereignty of Israel’s God over all others.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
God is conceived as unique and perfect, free from all faults, deficiencies, and defects, and further held to be omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and completely infinite in all of his attributes, who has no partner or equal, being the sole creator of everything in existence. [3] [7] In Judaism, God is never portrayed in any image. [8]
In Judaism, God is known by many names. The most important of these names is the Tetragrammaton, or "Four-lettered word": YHVH, YHWH, or י ה ו ה. Jews are not allowed to say this name, and instead say Adonai. Even Adonai is only used by some Jews in prayer. Most Jews would refer to God as Ha-Shem, or "The Name".
The Jewish God is referred to with many names and euphemisms, though God’s scriptural names are traditionally only pronounced during religious activities. Belief in one God is one of Judaism’s defining characteristics.
