Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear John,

> You are correct in saying that the name of God is used all over scripture;
> however, the move away from saying the name of God and pronouncing it was
> late Biblical (post-exilic) and Rabbinic tradition.  It is part of the hedge
> building done starting then.  This particular issue is an extension from the
> ten commandments "YOU shall not take the name of God in vanity."  The
> thought was that if you do not say the proper name of God at all, then you
> can not accidentily say it vainly.

HH: That's probably right. If I drive I might have an accident, so 
perhaps I better not drive.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard