TETRAGRAMMATON

Citations are to the King James (Authorised) Version

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In some Bible translations (KJV, NIV, for example), whenever LORD is in capital letters it denotes the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter transliteration of YHWH or JHVH, regarded by the Hebrew scribes as the sacred, unspeakable name of the Almighty, and articulated respectively as Yahweh or Jehovah. The convention is used in the King James Version, for example, to distinguish between the Omnipotent One and others of high office.

The clearest example of this appears in Psa. 110: 1, wherein David, the author of this psalm, records under prophetic inspiration:

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

The separateness of Jehovah and Christ is apparent from this verse. Here Yahweh (Jehovah) pledges to enlarge Christ’s authority and bring him victory over his enemies.

Psa. 110: 1, therefore, suggests a conversation between two personalities as observed metaphorically by David and confirms that Jesus is not Jehovah. Rather he is Jehovah’s Vicegerent, whom Jehovah elevated in the course of time to His own right hand. Note 1 Cor. 15 (italics added for emphasis):

20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. . . .

24. Then cometh the end, when he [Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he [Jehovah] is excepted, which did put all things under him [Christ].

28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

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