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The Tetragrammaton as Lord

As mentioned in the Comparison Chart footnote, zealous caution forbade the speaking of the Holy Name, and this has lead to the tradition of translating the Tetragrammaton (Heb. יהוה, English transliteration YHWH) as Lord (capitalized or, commonly, small caps). Now, I realize that for some this is a matter of strict observance, and I have no quarrel with this. That is a good reason for using Lord! For those who are under no such religious instruction (which includes, I suspect, nearly all Christians), I highly recommend bibles which do not translate the Tetragrammaton this way. This is why...

There are a few reasons readers of the bible might prefer the use of Lord. I will address this, and hope to make it clear that the reasons for using alternate translations far outweigh any argument in its favor. The alternatives provide greater accuracy, greater precision, and most important of all, greater understanding.

Some might claim that because Lord is the traditional translation, familiar verses will only remain familiar if this method is retained. This is true and many of us, no doubt, feel anew the wonder we felt when we heard those old verses for the first time. To these I say: sentimentality is a poor reason for choosing a translation unless your goal is to feel sentimental. When I read the bible, I want to achieve a better understanding, not a reminiscence. If you think anything other than Lord just sounds wrong, my advice is: sacrifice your ears to satisfy your soul.

This people’s heart is torpid,
their ears dulled, they have shut their eyes tight,
to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear,
using their heart to understand,
changing their ways and being healed by me.
— NJB 1 Acts 28:27

Lord is not an accurate translation of the Tetragrammaton. Most scholars consider YHWH to be a form of the verb to be, (e.g. he is) and not in any way related to the Hebrew word for lord, Adonai. Therefore, using the word Lord does not convey the proper meaning of the Tetragrammaton. Jehovah and Yahweh (and to a lesser extent HaShem) convey a very important meaning: it is the name of God which God himself told to Moses.

God further said to Moses, ‘You are to tell the Israelites, “Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name for all time, and thus I am to be invoked for all generations to come. — NJB 1 Exodus 3:15

Lord also lacks precision, commonly for the reader but especially for the listener. How many of us, while reading the bible, notice that this lord is Lord, but that lord is Lord, and that lord is only a lord? May God help the listener, who has no way of telling the difference!

Finally, and most importantly, the use of Lord can hinder our understanding of the bible significantly. Psalm 110:1 is referred to several times in the New Testament. The first time I read the NJB translation, I found it to be truly enlightening:

Yahweh declared to my Lord, ‘Take your seat at my right hand,

till I have made your enemies your footstool.’
— NJB 1

The Lord said unto my Lord,
Sit thou at my right hand,

until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

— KJOR 2

I have pointed out the improvements in accuracy, precision, and understanding gained by translating the Tetragrammaton as something other than Lord. Tradition, sentimentality and familiarity are poor return in the face of such significant advantages. Why do we read the bible, after all? The general answer is: “To become closer to God.” The use of Lord tends to keep both readers and listeners at a distance, and that is why I prefer other bibles. — JEP

References

The New Jerusalem Bible, Regular Edition, Henry Wansbrough ed., copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday.
The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1769 Oxford Revision, public domain.