Jehovah means "the I AM who is increasingly revealed" — the eternal, self-existent God progressively making Himself known to mankind.
Les Feldick explains that the name Jehovah is formed by contracting two Hebrew words: Yahweh, the "I AM" of Exodus 3, and Havah, meaning "to become more and more revealed." So Jehovah is the I AM who is to be revealed more and more throughout human history. Scripture introduces this name in Genesis 2:4 as "LORD God" once man is on the scene, and God later identifies Himself to Moses as "I AM THAT I AM."
Exodus 3:14 — This is the foundational verse behind Les's teaching that Jehovah is the I AM.
Genesis 2:4 — This is the first place the name Jehovah God appears, after man is on the scene.
In Exodus 3:14, when Moses asked God what name he should tell the children of Israel, God replied: "I AM THAT I AM." He then told Moses, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." In Genesis 2:4 the King James reads "LORD God," the divine name that in Hebrew is Jehovah God. Later, in Exodus 6:3, God reminded Moses that He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by the name of God Almighty, "but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." These passages tie the name Jehovah to God's self-identification as the I AM and to His dealings with His covenant people.
Les Feldick teaches that the name Jehovah is a contraction of two Hebrew root words: Yahweh, which is the "I AM" of Exodus 3, and Havah, which means "to become more and more revealed." When these words are contracted, they form Jehovah, so Jehovah is "the I AM who would become more and more revealed." Les also teaches that Jehovah is the person of the Godhead who is the communicator, the Redeemer, and the Savior — the One who fellowships with Adam in the garden and appears to Abraham, Moses, and others all through the Old Testament. He describes Jehovah as primarily God's covenant name with the nation of Israel and lists compound names such as Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Rehah, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Sidkenu, and Jehovah-Shammah.
Les explains that the name Jehovah comes from Yahweh, the "I AM" of Exodus 3, and Havah, a Hebrew word meaning "to become more and more revealed." He says that when you contract these two words, you get Jehovah. Thus, Les defines Jehovah as the I AM who would become more and more revealed through human history — a progressive revelation that continues through the Old Testament and ultimately into the New Testament when God the Son comes in the flesh.
In Genesis 2:4, the King James reads "the LORD God," and Les identifies "LORD" as the name Jehovah. He notes that Genesis 1 only uses the word "God," but once the six days of creation are complete and man is on the scene, the text introduces "Jehovah God." Les also points to a conversation he had with an Israeli educator who confirmed his breakdown of the name.
Les teaches that Jehovah is God the Son, the communicator in the Trinity. He is the person of the Godhead always involved with the human race — the Redeemer, the Savior, the One who fellowships with Adam and appears to Abraham, Moses, and others. In the New Testament, Les says, this same person is Jesus.
Les mentions that there are seven distinct names of Jehovah that relate to God's dealings with Israel. Among those he recalls are Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide), Jehovah-Rehah (the Lord my shepherd), Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our banner), Jehovah-Sidkenu (the Lord our righteousness), and Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is there). He says all these names are "wrapped up in that one name, Jehovah" — He is everything to the nation of Israel.
Les describes the meaning of Havah as "to become more and more revealed." He says this is exactly what happens in Scripture: God the Son reveals more and more of Himself through the Old Testament, finally comes in the form of flesh, goes the way of the cross, and ascends back into heaven. This progressive revelation is the heart of the name Jehovah.
Jehovah Introduced in Genesis 2:4
Les shows that the name Jehovah God appears in Genesis 2:4 once man is on the scene, and he recounts how an Israeli educator confirmed his breakdown of the name.
Jehovah = The I AM Who Becomes More Revealed
Les defines Havah as "to become more and more revealed" and shows that contracting Yahweh with Havah produces the name Jehovah.
Jehovah Is the I AM
Les explains that Jehovah in the Old Testament stands for the I AM, and he recounts the burning-bush conversation where God tells Moses that I AM sent him.
Yahweh and Havah
Les identifies the two Hebrew root words behind Jehovah — Yahweh, the I AM, and Havah — and says Jehovah is God the Son, the communicator in the Old Testament.
Jehovah's Role with Mankind
Les explains that Jehovah is the person of the Godhead who is always involved with the human race as communicator, Redeemer, and Savior, fellowshipping with Adam and appearing to Abraham and Moses.
Compound Names of Jehovah
Les lists compound names like Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Sidkenu, and Jehovah-Shammah, showing that all of them are wrapped up in the single name Jehovah.
Seven Distinct Names of Jehovah
Les says there are seven distinct names of Jehovah related to God's covenant dealings with Israel, and he recalls Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Rehah as examples.
Jehovah and the Covenant Name
Les connects Jehovah with the I AM of Exodus 3, notes that God was known as El Shaddai before He was known as Jehovah, and reminds viewers that Jesus also referred to Himself as the I AM.
Exodus 3:14: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
God gives His name as "I AM THAT I AM" to Moses, which Les identifies as the meaning carried by Jehovah.
Genesis 2:4: These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
First appearance of "LORD God" (Jehovah God) after man has been created.
Exodus 6:3: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
God distinguishes His earlier appearances as El Shaddai from His later revelation as Jehovah.
Havah is a Hebrew word that means "to become more and more revealed." Les Feldick says the name Jehovah is formed by contracting Yahweh (the I AM) with Havah, so Jehovah is the I AM who becomes more and more revealed throughout Scripture.
In Genesis 2:4, the King James reads "the LORD God," and the Hebrew is Jehovah God. Les points out that this name appears after the six days of creation, once man is on the scene.
Les teaches that Jehovah is God the Son, the communicator in the Old Testament. He says Jesus is the New Testament form of that same Person, and that Jehovah's progressive revelation culminates in Christ coming in the flesh.
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