The Name of God

Dr. Yeshaya Gruber, Professor of Jewish History and Culture

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Course Info

In this course, we look at the personal name of the God of Israel: יהוה (YHWH). This topic always raises so many questions: What is God’s name? How should it be pronounced? What does it mean? What is the name’s broader significance in the context of the whole Bible? How is the name YHWH connected to Creation? Take the time to explore this special name together with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber. Consider how it has been understood in Jewish and Christian traditions.

We will also explore the options that exist for translating this special name. No doubt you have wondered why people stopped pronouncing the name of God at some point in history. Does God’s name have special power if pronounced in a certain way? What about the name of Jesus/Yeshua -- does it connect to God's name? Join us as we delve deeper into the study of God’s name and work through these tough questions to understand a name that is central to the whole Biblical narrative!

About Author

Dr. Yeshaya Gruber

Professor of Jewish History and Culture

Dr. Yeshaya Gruber is Professor of Jewish History and Culture at the Israel Bible Center and hosts the Roundtable Talks with leading scholars and authors in Biblical, Second Temple Period, and Jewish-Christian Studies. He earned his Ph.D. in History from Georgetown University and has held research and teaching positions in Jerusalem, Athens, Sydney, and elsewhere. His extensive travels, coupled with his research and teaching experience, help to enrich his students’ understanding of Jewish-Christian relations, history, and potential future paths. 

Dr. Gruber loves to study the interactions of Jewish and Christian texts, traditions, and communities from antiquity to the present. He is especially interested in how language differences and translations influence Biblical interpretation. He is also the co-founder of Kol Hakatuv, an Israeli startup offering high-quality translation and editing services. Dr. Gruber lives in Israel with his family.

  • 21 Sessions With historical background and more
  • Earn your certificate in:
    • Jewish Context and Culture
    • Hebrew Bible
  • 5,729 Active Students From all over the world
  • 03:55 Hours Learn at your pace and convenience

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Materials

  • Lecture Notes for this Course
  • Plain Text Notes for this Course
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  • Need More About This Topic? Check This "Content+"
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Audio lessons

  • 02. The Quantum Theory of God's Name (part 1) 10:22
  • 03. The Quantum Theory of God's Name (part 2) 08:54
  • 04. The One Who Causes Being 08:17
  • 05. Pronouncing God's Name 11:21
  • 06. The Vowels of God's Name 08:22
  • 07. Substitutions and God's Name in the LXX 11:43
  • 08. Translating and Reconstructing God's Name 13:08
  • 09. God's Name in the "New Testament" 11:06
  • 10. God's Name in Rabbinic Tradition 14:16
  • 11. God's Name and Messiah's Name 15:21
  • 12. Objections to Translations or Substitutions 14:01
  • 13. The Name YHWH vs Elohim 10:53
  • 14. When Did the Name YHWH Become Known? 10:12
  • 15. Was YHWH Known by All Peoples? 12:24
  • 16. Knowing God Through His Name 08:46
  • 17. Questions and Some Clarifications 05:39
  • 18. Moses and the Arabic Name of God 14:15
  • 19. God's Name in Aramaic 10:32
  • 20. God (not the Name) 11:07
  • 21. The Elephantine Names of Gods 11:15

This course is part of a Learning Path

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Student Reviews

5

Overall student rates

Overall rating based on 108 reviews
5 Stars 104
4 Stars 5
3 Stars 0
2 Stars 0
1 Star 0
108 Total
  • Bruno Leclerc

    Posted 3 months ago
    Let us continue
  • Joseph Lowe

    Posted 3 months ago
    The lecturer's compelling, intriguing voice lulled me into wanting to listen closely to what he was teaching. The video quality was less than perfect, but still good. With today's technology, there are so many different tools available to make this course match the instructor's level, which is outstanding.
  • Dorian Mathay

    Posted 3 months ago
    Super interesting!
  • Neal McArthur

    Posted 3 months ago
    Little faster and shorter
  • SAMUEL CHAMBERS

    Posted 4 months ago
    this presentation provided a new and different way for me to think about how the ancients thought about the names of God.

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