As we draw closer to wrapping up our study of God’s hidden name, let’s turn our focus back to the Hebrew language.
The Gospels in Hebrew
Wait! What? Did you just read that there are Gospels in HEBREW? Let’s look at some evidence, shall we?
The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew
I grew up hearing that the New Testament was written in Greek and not Hebrew. I also was taught that Jesus spoke Aramaic and/or Greek, not Hebrew. I have always wondered if this was indeed true. It just didn’t seem plausible to me that the Jews of 1st century Judea would not know or speak Hebrew.
I am happy to be able to say that there is manuscript evidence that indicates that Matthew originally wrote his Gospel in Hebrew! It was later translated into Greek and Latin. It was known since the earliest days of the Church that Matthew originally wrote his Gospel in Hebrew, but this had largely been forgotten or gone unnoticed until fairly recently. A number of early Church fathers wrote about the existence of Matthew’s Hebrew Gospel and quotations from it are contained among the writings of Cyril of Jerusalem, Jerome, Origen, Didymus, and Clement of Alexandria.
Around 100 AD, Papias, an early Christian author and bishop wrote the following about Matthew’s Gospel.
“Matthew composed his history in the Hebrew dialect, and everyone translated it as he was able.”
Papias of Hieropolis
Irenaeus, another noted Church father, wrote:
“Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome and laying the foundations of the church.”
Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 3.1.1
Nehemia Gordon states in his book The Naming of Jesus in Hebrew Matthew:
“The original Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew was widely disseminated and read among Jesus’ Jewish followers known as the Nazarenes. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, the Nazarenes were forced underground and the Hebrew version of Matthew slipped into obscurity.”
Nehemia Gordon, The Naming of Jesus in Hebrew Matthew, page 4.
Matthew’s Hebrew Gospel resurfaced over a thousand years later when Spanish Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Shaprut copied it and included it as an appendix to his book Even Bochan (The Touchstone). There are currently 28 known manuscripts or fragments of this Gospel of Matthew written in Hebrew. (Even Bochan was an anti-Christian treatise completed in 1380 and revised in 1385 and 1400. The Hebrew Matthew contained in it was used as a polemic against the Catholics during that time period. The quotations by Church fathers from the 1st century from the original source version mentioned above differ from the Shem Tov version. This may indicate that Shem Tov manipulated the original in order to use it to refute Christianity during debates with the Roman Catholic Church that were common during the middle ages.
The Western world has known about Shem Tov’s version for over a hundred years but it was assumed to be a translation from Greek or Latin. There is still debate on this point. The surviving version of this Gospel is not an exact copy of the original, but has come through a complicated process of transmission and possible corruption. Despite this, it does serve as a witness to the original and preserves much of the nuance and character of the message preached by Jesus Himself. George Howard, an American Hebraist and professor, published Shem Tov’s version, along with an English translation, and critical analysis in 1987 (revised, 1995).1
An interesting and important detail in the Shem Tov manuscript is that it contains the original form of the Messiah’s Hebrew name, Yeshua. According to Hebrew Matthew, the angel appeared to Joseph and said, “And she shall give birth to a son and you shall call His name Yeshua (ישוע) for He will save (yoshia יושיע) my people from their iniquities.” This statement uses a Hebrew word pun with Yeshua and yoshia. You will call him Yeshua because yoshia my people. Yeshua (a shortened form of Yehoshua) means “Yehovah is salvation.” Yoshia means “He will save.” In English and Greek, this obvious word pun is lost. This is how Hebrew speakers might have heard and understood the statement: ”You will call Him Yehovah is salvation because He will save my people.”
There are other interesting features in the Hebrew Matthew that was copied in the Middle Ages by Jewish scribes. Although the scribes meticulously copied the Gospel word for word, rabbinical tradition required them to introduce certain changes. We have already discussed in previous sessions the suppression of the Shem HaMeforash. This practice had been around for centuries by the time these scribes were making their copies of Hebrew Matthew. Whenever a scribe encountered YHVH in the text, he reduced it to a single letter – heh (ה) – which was marked with a double-apostrophe symbol called the gershayim to identify it as an abbreviation (“ה). They did this because the Rabbis considered the name of God too holy to write out in full in any book other than the Tanakh. Jewish readers knew whenever they saw this shorthand “ה that it represented the divine name יהוה, Yehovah. We can conclude from this practice that the original version, written by Matthew, would have contained the full name יהוה YHVH. This is important because the Greek New Testament does not contain the Tetragrammaton even one single time. As would be expected, whenever Hebrew Matthew quotes from the Tanakh where YHVH is used, it represents this with the “ה. It also includes this shortened version for the Tetragrammaton in many places that are not from the Old Testament (see Matthew 1:22, 24).
The Hebrew letters used in the Hebrew Matthew from the Middle Ages are very different in appearance from the Aramaic block letters that came into use during the Babylonian exile.
The image below is a reproduction of Hebrew Matthew Chapter 1:18-25 (British Library Manuscript Add. 26964). If you would like to view the image online, click the following link:
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_26964_f178r
Shem Tov’s Hebrew Matthew, from Evan Bohan, Gate 12.
Hebrew Matthew
Chapter 1
18) “It came to pass when his mother was engaged to Joseph, before he knew her, she was found pregnant from the holy spirit. 19) Now Joseph was a righteous man and he did not want to live with her, nor did he want to expose her which would bring her to shame, nor did he want to make her forbidden until death. But he did not want to cover her over. 20) When he was thinking about this matter in his heart, behold, an angel appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to marry your wife Miriam, because she is pregnant by the holy spirit. 21) She will give birth to a son and call his name Yeshua for he will save my people from their iniquities.” 22) All of this to fulfill what was written from the prophet by the mouth of [Y]H’’[VH], 23) “Behold the maiden is pregnant and will give birth to a son and she will call his name Emanuel”, which wants to say, “Elo[h]im is with us.” 24) And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did according to all that the angel of [Y]H’’[VH] commanded him. He married his wife, 24) but he did not know her until she gave birth to her firstborn son and he called his name Yeshua.”
The above passage from the Gospel of Matthew was translated into English by Nehemia Gordon.2
More Hebrew Evidence
The passages below are from the Gospels of Luke and John. These were discovered several years ago in the Vatican Library. They were in a folio with a number of other miscellaneous pages from Hebrew documents. In essence, they were found in a “junk box” where pages had been place that had possibly become separated from other manuscripts as they were photographed or studied. It is my personal belief that if there are three pages of Luke and one page of John in a junk box at the Vatican Library, there are more pages of these Gospels somewhere else in that library!
The Vatican Library is a huge repository of ancient texts. Much of it is actually available to look at online, but unless you know where to look, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to find a particular book. The passages below may be all that survived of these gospels and we don’t know when the manuscripts they came from were written.
Unlike the Hebrew Matthew passage above that was written in a very different Hebrew script, the passages from Luke and John were written in the Aramaic block style script that came into use after the Babylonian captivity and is the style we see in other ancient texts of the Hebrew Scriptures. I can not say for certain that this means that these manuscripts were transcribed earlier than the passage above, but it would seem so.
The Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Mashi’ach According to Luka
Chapter 1
1) In that many were placed to write the account of the matters that are trustworthy among us, 2) without doubt, as they told them to us themselves, those who saw them from the beginning, and were my servants [of] the Word, 3) It seemed also right to me, because from the beginning I sought all the things in order, to write to you with speed, dear Theophilo, 4) in order that you would know the truth of the matter that you have learned. 5) And it came to pass in the days of Herod, King of Judah, a certain Kohen, his name was Zechariah from the sons of Aviyah, and his wife from the children of Aaron and her name was Elisheva. 6) And both of them were righteous before Yehovah and walking in all the statues and judgements of Yehovah, without guile, 7) and they did not have children; Elisheva was barren and both of them were advanced in years. 8) And the Kohen Zechariah had the priesthood before Adona[i] Yehovah in the order of his family, 9) according to the custom of the service of the priesthood, the lot fell upon him to present the incense. And he came into the sanctuary of Yehovah 10) and the multitudes of people were standing outside to pray at the time of the incense 11) and the angel of Yehovah appeared to him, standing at right of the altar of incense 12) and Zechariah, when he saw him, was terrified and fear seized hold of him. 13) And the angel said to him “Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and Elisheva your wife will give birth to a son and you shall call his name Yochanan 14) and there shall be to you joy and happiness and many will be happy at the time of his birth, 15) for he will be great before Yehovah and will not drink wine or strong drink and he will be filled from the Ru’ach HaKodesh from the womb of his mother 16) and he will return many of the sons of Israel to Yehovah their Elohim 17) and he will walk before him in the spirit and power of Eliyahu, to return the heart of the fathers to the sons and [he will return] the heretics to the righteousness of the righteous ones and to prepare to Yehovah the people, prepared.” 18) And Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this matter, for I am old and my wife is advanced in years?” 19) And the angel answered and said, I am Gabriel who stands before Yehovah and I was sent to speak to you and tell you these matters and behold, 20) you will be mute and will not be able to speak until the day that these things are done, because you did not believe my words, that they would be fulfilled in their time.” 21) And the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering because of his delay in the sanctuary. 22) And when he came out outside, he was not able to speak with them. And they knew he saw a vision in the sanctuary. And he was gesturing to them, be remained a mute. 23) And it came to pass when the days of his service were fulfilled and he went to his house 24) and after these days, Elisheva his wife became pregnant. And she hid five months saying, 25) “Why did Yehovah do this to me in the days that I see, to raise up my proverb among the people?” 26) And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from Yehovah in a city of the Galilee, and its name was Natzaret, 27) to a certain virgin who was betrothed to a man and his name was Yoseph from the House of David and the name of the virgin was Miryam. 28) And when the angel came to her he said, “Shalom to you, full of grace, Yehovah is with you, you are blessed among women.” 29) And she looked and was frightened because of his words. And she was thinking, “What sort of ‘Shalom’ was this?” 30) And the angel said to her, “Do not fear, Miryam. For you have found favor before Yehovah. 31) Behold you are pregnant and will give birth to a son and will call his name Yeshua. 32) This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High and Yehovah Elohim will give him the Throne of David his father 33) and he will reign over the House of Ya’akov forever. And there will be no end to his kingdom.” 34) And Miryam said to the angel, “How will this be, for I have not known a man?” 35) And the angel answered and said to her, “The Ru’ach HaKadosh will enter you and an exalted might will be in your shadow. Because he that will be born will be holy, he shall be called ‘Son of Yehovah.’”
The above passage from the Gospel of Luke was translated into English by Nehemia Gordon.3
To see photographic evidence of this passage at the Vatican online library, click the links below, in order, one at a time. The verses shown above constitute three separate manuscript pages. Each link will take you directly to a single page.
https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.ebr.530.pt.1/0071,
https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.ebr.530.pt.1/0072,
https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.ebr.530.pt.1/0073
The Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Mashi’ach According to Yochanan
Chapter One
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was next to Elohim and Elohim, he was the Word. 2) This was in the beginning next to Elohim. 3) All things were made through him and without him nothing was made from all that was. 4) In him was life. And life was the light of men. 5) And the light was shining forth in the darkness and the darkness could not contain it. 6) And there was a certain man sent from God and his name was Yochanan. 7) This one came in testimony, to testify concerning the light in order that they would believe everything because of him. 8) He was not the light, but only testifying concerning the light. 9) It was true light, to shed light on all to every man who enters into This World. 10) He was in the world and the world was made through him. And the world did not recognize him. 11) He came to his true homeland and the children of his house did not accept him. 12) And to all those who accepted him and believe in his name, he gave dominion that they would be Sons of Elohim. 13) For they were not born out of blood and not out of the desire of the flesh and not out of the desire of men, but from Elohim.”
The above passage from the Gospel of John was translated into English by Nehemia Gordon.4
To see photographic evidence of this passage from at the Vatican online library, click the link below which will take you directly to the manuscript.
https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.ebr.530.pt.1/0074
Final Thoughts
I encourage you to continue on with this subject as the Holy Spirit leads you. And remember, be a Berean! It is important to search the Scriptures. Determine for yourself if you can find a scriptural mandate for not knowing, honoring, remembering, and mentioning the unique, holy, and mighty name of God, the Father, Yehovah, and of His Son, Yeshua, the Messiah!
You can choose not to say His name or to pronounce it differently than I have presented it here, of course. Each person must be convinced in her/his own mind.
I highly recommend the work of Nehemiah Gordon, who’s research has greatly influenced and aided in the creation of this Bible Study. He recently earned his PhD (2021) and his wealth of knowledge and expertise gained over more than 20 years of research and viewing most of the major manuscripts of the Tanakh still available in museums around the world have greatly contributed to the name of our God becoming known again in our day.
Your Turn
Not much homework today!
When you are on the Vatican library site, take a look at some of the other pages that are across the bottom of the screen. Many of these pages contain יהוה. See if you can find this on some of those pages. On some pages, you can find it multiple times!
Also, look around in the British Museum digitized copy of Evan Bochan to see this well preserved document from the middle ages. It is fascinating!
As we quickly near the conclusion of this Bible study into the Hidden Name of God, you may find it helpful to reflect back on all that has been covered. It has been a lot, I know! I hope you have enjoyed the journey as much as I have.
Please let me know what your thoughts are in the comments. I would love to hear from you! (And to continue the conversation!)
Until next week, I leave you with these verses—
“Yehovah bless you, and keep you:
Yehovah make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you:
Yehovah lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
“The name Yehovah is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10
Join me next week for the final chapter (at least for now!) of the Hidden Name of God Bible Study. See you in Part 4-C.
Shalom, my friends! Amen!
Hallelu-Yah!
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Footnotes
1George Howard (1935-2018) wrote a book proving that Hebrew Matthew was not a translation, but an original Hebrew work. Professor Howard was an American Hebraist and Professor Emeritus and Head of the Department of Religion and Hebrew at the University of Georgia. He is noted for publishing Shem Tov’s Hebrew Matthew in 1987 (revised, 1995). His book, The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew (1987, 1995 2nd ed.) is still available.
2Nehemia Gordon, The Naming of Jesus in Hebrew Matthew (Makor Hebrew Foundation, 2008), 16.
3Nehemia Gordon, “Hebrew Voices #72 — Hebrew Gospels from a Vatican Junk Box,” Nehemia’s Wall, June 20, 2018, accessed August 24, 2020, https://www.nehemiaswall.com/hebrew-gospels-luke-john-vatican, paragraph 3 (download).
4Nehemia Gordon, “Hebrew Voices #72,” paragraph 3 (download).
Feature image background by titoOns via CanvaPro; Hebrew calligraphy by Melody Cash.
Lisa Urbani
OnScripture
Gina Cash
On Scripture 
Hi Gina,
Glad I found your study online. I am new to all this but I have developed the desire to know the true name of the Most High slightly more than a year ago. I have recently heard Nehemia Gordon explain why, although incorrect, the name Yahweh came to be regarded by most scholars as the preferred pronounciation of the “YHVH”.
Do you perhaps have any viewpoints or insights on why the name Yahuah for God (and Yahusha not Yeshua) for Messaiah would also be incorrect. Although it has never resonated with me, I have come accross quite a few people who fervently believe the correct name for the “YHVH” is indeed Yahuah and Yahusha
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Hello, Betsy! Thank you so much for taking the time to read the Bible study on the hidden name of our creator! I appreciate your questions. I am happy to know that you have been listening to Nehemia Gordon. I believe he is a very trustworthy source for information regarding the YHVH. He has made this subject his life’s work and has personally seen, handled, and studied most of the major ancient manuscripts of the Tanakh and is an expert on the Hebrew language. I took the time before answering your questions to go back and watch his video “The Great I AM Revealed” as well as one titled “Wow! It’s a Vav!” on his website (www.Nehemiaswall.com/support-team-members-only-content) to refresh my memory on the subject. These videos are so full of information and proofs regarding the pronunciation of the YHVH (Yehovah) and why it cannot be Yahweh, as well as regarding ‘v’ vs ‘w’ pronunciation of the Hebrew letter ‘vav’. To pronounce YHVH as Yahweh, one would basically have to disregard the translation of the Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh—which is virtually universally understood to be I AM that I AM (or I Will Be Who I Will Be) and is clearly the Hebrew Qal conjugation—and render the YHVH as the Hiphil (causative) conjugation (He will cause to be). This would cause the I AM statement to be in conflict with the YHVH in grammar and in meaning. Now to your question regarding the pronunciation Yahuah and Yahusha. In my opinion, these pronunciations are not compatible with the rules of spoken Hebrew. Yeshua is the shortened form of Yehoshua (English Joshua, or properly Jehoshua, meaning Yehovah is salvation). Joshua is really a transliteration of Yeshua. In my opinion, there is no basis for these unusual pronunciations. I have not delved deeply into researching these alternate spellings. Next time you come across others who use those pronunciations, you might ask how they came to believe they are correct and what their sources are. Yehovah bless you as you continue learning and remembering His true name!
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I forgot to ask why hebrew bibles have the different wording in Exodus 3:14. Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh and some have
Hayah Hoveh Yihyeh. So am I correct to assume these people took the name Yahuah from the vowels of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh.
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Betsy, I have not encountered any Hebrew Bibles with different wording in Exodus 3:14. The Hebrew is consistent across the Bibles I have seen. There are some differences in how they translate this, e.g., The Stone Edition of the Tanakh renders it “I Shall Be As I Shall Be,” and the YHVH as HASHEM (the Name). The Jewish Publication Society Bible does not translate it but uses the transliteration “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh” and includes a footnote stating that this is variously translated as “I Am That I Am”; “I Am Who I Am”; “I Will Be What I Will Be”; etc. The JPS renders YHVH as do most other translations as LORD. It would not be possible to get the name Yahua from the vowels of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. I hope this helps.
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Good day Gina, thank you very much for both replies. I really appreciate your time and I will definitely also go and watch the two videos you mentioned. It is complex sometimes as English is not my first language (South African) but I read bible and do the studying in English for obvious reasons. Eg. I had to go look up what “transliteration” mean. But thank you again for your writings on this important subject and for coming back to me wrt my questions. Yehovah bless you!
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You are most welcome, Betsy! I love getting to know who is reading the Bible Study and the opportunity to interact with you has been a blessing for me. May Yehovah continue to bless you as you study His Word and glorify His Name!
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