Study note

Exodus 3:15

The LORD: The Hebrew name probably comes from the Hebrew verb "to be," meaning "he causes to be," "he who is," or "I am." Later, Jews would not say God's name aloud. So, the Hebrew text uses the vowels from the word ’adonay (meaning "lord" or "master") whenever God's name, YHWH, appears.

A Jewish person reading aloud would say ’adonay, even though the text is written YHWH. We do not know the exact pronunciation of the divine name. The widely-used Yahweh is an educated guess.

The English word Jehovah is a made-up term, combining the vowels of ’adonay with the consonants Y-H-W-H. The Berean Standard Bible usually translates the name as LORD. See 6:2–3; 15:3; 33:19; 34:5–6.