[Blogger]

I have heard that because Jewish people do not know for sure how the name of God YHWH is pronounced, they do not attempt to do so but in Scripture will substitute LORD for YHWH instead. The word for Lord by the way is Adonai. I believe it is an extension of this respect for the name of God that this practice was instituted. Far from shame, they are doing it to honor the Lord.

[Wolfstar]

I believe it is an extension of this respect for the name of God that this practice was instituted. Far from shame, they are doing it to honor the Lord.

I understand, and don't wish to disrespect the religious practices of others. But it makes zero sense to me. G-d could also easily be taken as an abbreviation for ---damn.

And Quix, while it's true God knows our hearts, we must operate here in the physical world and are not privileged to know the hearts of strangers. God is a beautiful word, a beautiful concept, a comfort to pray to, and I just can't grasp wanting to hide any part of Him.

[Straight Vermonter]

Maybe I can elaborate a bit here. In Hebrew words are spelled without vowels (think YHWH). When the speaker pronounces the word they add in the vowel sounds. The vowel sounds that are added indicate the tense of the subject (past, present, future). By saying the name of God aloud they are limiting God to being only in the past, only in the present or only in the future.

Some people today leave out the vowel in the English word God as a connection to this ancient practice despite their being no linguistic reason to do so.