Biblical Hebrew Forum

[GregStffrd AT aol.com]

In a message dated 05/11/2001 5:50:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
lizfried AT umich.edu writes:

<< The name YHW is the same name as YHWH, and refers to the same 
 god. To my way of thinking, it suggests that the H at the end of YHWH
 is a matres lexiones (a vowel). It also suggests that the name was
 pronounced Yahu, as in Eliyahu, etc.  >>


"Yahu" is certainly possible, though we should note the ancient use of IAW in 
4QLevbLXX and which is apparently the standard Jewish transliteration of the 
Elephantine form. If this is an accurate transliteration, then YHW is likely 
"Yaho" or possible even "Yeho" (Greek A sometimes transliterates Hebrew 
SHeWA).

Greg Stafford