Biblical Hebrew Forum

[TedBro AT aol.com]

Hi, All:
 
One approach to Richard's question is to analyze the vowel marks  for YHWH 
in the phrase Adonai YHWH as compared with YHWH alone.  Both occur multiple 
times in Isaiah 50. Adonai YHWH is found in verses 4, 5  and 7. YHWH without 
Adonai occurs in verse 1 and then twice in verse 10.
 
In both Adonai YHWH and stand alone YHWH, the vowel under the Y is a shva.  
In my understanding a shva on an initial consonant is normally followed by 
a  consonant with its own vowel so that the combination becomes a sort of 
consonant  blend. However the first H does not carry a vowel in the MT. This 
is perhaps a  clue that something unusual is afoot. One way to understand 
this is to note that  the first vowel of both Adonai and Elohim is aleph with 
a 
hatuph, which becomes  a shva when moved under the yod of YHWH. 
 
More clearly, notice how the vowel under the vav differs. In the  phrase, 
Adonai YHWH, it would make little sense to pronounce YHWH as Adonai  since 
that would produce the duplication Adonai Adonai. Custom is to  read Elohim 
in 
these cases. In fact we find a hireq under the vav of  YHWH in these 
instances. In the stand alone, when YHWH is pronounced  Adonai, the vav has a 
qamatz. What other explanation could there be for the  hireq other than the 
traditional Qere / Kitiv?
 
One question I have for the list is: What happened to the holem? Both  Adon
ai and Elohim have medial vav-holem. The common understanding of the  
transliteration Jehovah is the the "o" is derived from that medial  holem.  
It 
seems that I have seen YHWH written with the holem in the MT,  but a cursory 
look did not find one. Can anyone explain this?
 
Thanks,
Ted Brownstein
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 12/23/2009 8:21:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
aaa AT endlyss.com writes:

I am  wondering what the group thinks about this paper by Nehemiah  Gordon
regarding the vowels of The Name refuting the established belief  that the
Masoretes substituted the vowels of Adonai. He uses Biblical  Hebrew
manuscript  evidence.

http://www.karaite-korner.org/yhwh_2.pdf  It's an easy  read.

Nehemiah Gordon is a Karaite Jew and has extensive education and  experience
with ancient Hebrew.

I just want to know the truth as to  the proof of the vowel substitution if
there is any. I hear other rumors as  well such as that they changed all the
vowels to avoid "Yah" in names such  as Y'hoshua, Y'huda, and such, and even
one rumor that says they purposely  changed the vowels to create a word that
would actually cause the speaker  to be cursing God.

Adonai substitution--maybe. Rumor 2 I think rather  doubtful. Rumor 3 sounds
preposterous because that would be a great sin to  purposely cause others to
commit blasphemy in ignorance.

I just want  to separate the true knowns from the unknowns, rumors, and
falsehoods. I  have no personal agenda, just seeking the truth.

Thanks.

Richard  Conaway