Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 35:139 (Jul 1878)
Article: The Meaning Of יהוה.
Author: Paul de Lagarde

BSac 35:139 (July 1878) p. 544

The Meaning Of יהוה.

Prof. Paul De Lagarde

[The following was published in Latin by Prof. Paul de Lagarde as a part of a Corollarium at the end of his edition of Jerome’s Psalter (Psalterium juxta Hebraeos Hieronymi e recognitione Pauli de Lagarde, to be procured through Ch. Triibner, of Strassburg, Alsatia), in 1874. Two other valuable parts of the Corollarium may also be read there. We have sought eagerly for permission to give this interesting investigation to the American theological public. We are glad not only to make that public acquainted with men who are steadily doing thoroughly scientific work in the theological field, thus showing to those who do not know the fact, that theology is not “effete,” but is a busy and an exact science, quite as much so as most other sciences; we are glad not only to present for example and encouragement to workers in this country a piece of genuine Semitic work, done by one who is really fit for his profession; but we are glad also to present a result which has such evident practical, and we may say homiletical value. For it is easy to see the point given by Prof, de Lagarde’s result to the multitude of passages in which it is recorded that the Hebrew preachers declared, — God will do so and so, “that ye may know his name is יהוה;” and the like. Or, again, see what strength the verse of the poet has, “He restoreth my soul for his name’s sake;” or his plea, “Hear me for thy name’s sake.” This translation was made for the Bibliotheca Sacra with the express sanction of the Author, and was revised by him. — Ed.].

In the Journal of the German Oriental Society (Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellschaff) 22:331,1 for January 1868, I showed that יהוה means Creator, τὸν τοῦ εἶναι αἴτιον. When I wrote that demonstration I was not aware that Johannes Clerieus had held the same opinion long before me, and that Wilhelm Gesenius, in his Thesaurus 2:577 foot-note, published in 1839, had come very near

BSac 35:139 (July 1878) p. 545

commending the same view. I had listened, in 1844 and 1845, to the lectures of Hengstenberg, a most severe critic of Clericus,2 and afterwards had read the letters of R. Bentley; and I had concluded that Clericus was not worthy of much esteem,3 especially as I noticed that he had a very limited knowledge of Greek, and yet had a proud opinion of himself. I owe it to a mere chance that I now think better of him. For I ...