Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karel Vodi�ka" <kavod AT iol.cz>]

Dear friends,

I'd like to contribute to discussion on a pronunciation of the 
tetragrammaton. There are two reasons at least for a belief that the 
pronunciation Jehovah [in English - I'm not native English speaking] is 
authentic.

First:
Many Hebrew names begin with JEHO-: JEHOahaz, JEHOash, JEHOiada, JEHOnadab, 
etc. Those names evidence that the vocalization SHWA and HOLAM is 
authentic.

Second:
The Bible used to add superfluous ending HE with KAMATZ for consonance with 
God's name, for example: Ex 15:1; Ps 116:15; Ps 24:1,2; Ps 95:1, etc. Why 
if the pronunciation should be "JAHWE"? No, JAHWE is the hypothetical 
pronunciation but SHWA, HOLAM and KAMATZ is the authentic vokalization. The 
Hebrew text shows this itself.

Shalom,

Karel Vodicka