I have a Question, #2

[Matthan]

Why do some folks not write out "God"? Instead, they use something like "G_d" or "G-d". Why?

Matthan <J><

 

[RED that's ME]

Some Jews spell God as G-d. This has its origin in the third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" (Exo. 20:7). Many Jews later became so cautious not to break this commandment that they quit pronouncing the name of God altogether, for fear that they might say it in vain.
When a Jew would come across this name when reading the Old Testament, instead of saying God's name, he would say "Adonai," which means "Lord" or "Master." They would also use other words in place of the name of God, or even the title, "God." Notice that Matthew usually substitutes the phrase "kingdom of heaven" where the other gospels have "kingdom of God." We are told that before a Massoretic scribe would even write the name of God, he would first wash himself and then he would use a new pen. This is all done out of respect for the name of God and for fear of breaking the third commandment.
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/spellgod.htm

 

[GreenEyedLady]

If you go to the messanic section of this board, they could answer that question pretty good I suppose.
GEL

 

[Busybee]

Red! I'd also wondered the same thing myself

.

 

[Sephania]

Some Jews spell God as G-d. This has its origin in the third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" (Exo. 20:7). Many Jews later became so cautious not to break this commandment that they quit pronouncing the name of God altogether, for fear that they might say it in vain.
When a Jew would come across this name when reading the Old Testament, instead of saying God's name, he would say "Adonai," which means "Lord" or "Master." They would also use other words in place of the name of God, or even the title, "God." Notice that Matthew usually substitutes the phrase "kingdom of heaven" where the other gospels have "kingdom of God." We are told that before a Massoretic scribe would even write the name of God, he would first wash himself and then he would use a new pen. This is all done out of respect for the name of God and for fear of breaking the third commandment.
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/spellgod.htm

Just so you know calling someone that's Jewish a 'Jew' Or "Jewess' is rather derogatory. I am sure you didn't mean it that way, but I thought I would share.

Red has given a good explanation. Although I think in the most popular bible, the King James, of which I have many copies, uses L-RD in place of the name actually given as well following this regard and revere for the Holy name. G-d is Holy and his name Holy and should be treated as such by those who love him. That is why you will see unbelievers use the word G-d very causually, especially on TV and movies as well as real life, it is satans trick to disrespect him, the Holy one. This name as well as Jesus Christ is also used in a curse or swearing, in exact rebellion of the 2nd commandment.

This thread here at CF may help you Messianic Judaism Primer 101 read posts 16 & 17

 

[RED that's ME]

Just so you know calling someone that's Jewish a 'Jew' Or "Jewess' is rather derogatory. I am sure you didn't mean it that way, but I thought I would share.

This thread here at CF may help you Messianic Judaism Primer 101 read posts 16 & 17

Thanks for clearing that up I didn't know that and I apologize for offending anyone.
Thanks also for the link.

 

[P_G]

And even more!

Our Hebrew born brothers took such care as to not write out the name of G-d that they would and still do reffer to him as "Ha'Shem" or "The Name"

And some of this has followed into our English lexicon in an interesting way.

Typically if the name of G-d was to be written it would be spelled out with the Hebrew letters "Yod Hey Vod Hey" or YHVH in the Latin script but if you sound out those Hebrew letters YodHeyVodHey it starts to sound like Yahweh which is what we in English use or the name Jehovah interestingly those letters when put together are pronounced Adonai when a Hebrew would see them!

Yahweh - Jehovah - Adonai are in actuallity the same word YHVH or G-d!


So there is a mouthfull and we didn't use any vowels to do it!

We try to make sure that we never allow the Precious name of G-d to run the risk of being destroyed or mutilated once it leaves our hands. This may seem a bit odd but we love him so very much and take his commands so very serriously that it is worth being a bit odd in the crowd.


Blessings

Pastor George

 

[Busybee]

Just so you know calling someone that's Jewish a 'Jew' Or "Jewess' is rather derogatory. I am sure you didn't mean it that way, but I thought I would share.

Ohhh my goodness. I didn't even know that either.

so much for stating that. You may have well educated others who didn't know better. To be honest there aren't any Jewish people down around here to get information from, thank heavens for CF.

 

[Matthan]

Thanks for all of that input, my brothers and sisters. Very enlightening. Personally, I feel that NOT to write out the name of God completely might be an affront to Him. He and His Son both tell us repeatedly that we are to worship God only, not G-d or G_d or anything else. Oh well. I guess it is just another one fo those "different strokes..."

By the way, when I was younger (much) I bowled in a duckpin league with my Dad. It was called the Washington Jewelers Bowling League, to be more precise. And, there were a LOT of Jewish members. Washington D.C. had a lot of upscale jewelry stores back then, and the large majority were owned and opperated by American Hebrews. I was able to ask those guys a LOT of questions about Jews and their history. They repeatedly told me they were "Jews", not Jewish men or anything else. They took great pride in their Jewish history, and equal pride in being called Jews, even by their ditractors and small-minded bigots. And one of them, Saul Weinstein, took great pleasure in eating a (non-kosher) hotdog or two every Wednesday night at the lanes. He also confided in me that he loved bacon, and had it every morning for breakfast.

Matthan <J><

 

[FaithAlone]

GOD is GOD no matter how you write it. If you call Him something else you're still saying the same thing. I agree with Matthan. Spelling it G-d almost seems more irreverent but this whole thing has to do with Romans 14 and matters of conscience.

 

[Redguard]

On other message boards that I've been to, I've noticed that Muslims do this also.

And after they say Allah, they but (swt) right after this. It translates into something arabic meaning "bless his name" or something like that.

 

[ps139]

By the way, when I was younger (much) I bowled in a duckpin league with my Dad. It was called the Washington Jewelers Bowling League, to be more precise. And, there were a LOT of Jewish members. Washington D.C. had a lot of upscale jewelry stores back then, and the large majority were owned and opperated by American Hebrews. I was able to ask those guys a LOT of questions about Jews and their history. They repeatedly told me they were "Jews", not Jewish men or anything else. They took great pride in their Jewish history, and equal pride in being called Jews, even by their ditractors and small-minded bigots. And one of them, Saul Weinstein, took great pleasure in eating a (non-kosher) hotdog or two every Wednesday night at the lanes. He also confided in me that he loved bacon, and had it every morning for breakfast.

Interesting story. One thing I have found is that no ethnic group agrees on what they want to be called. So you should be careful what you refer to anyone by, and they should be aware that there is no instruction manual for you to follow.