YHWH and Abba

 

Loving the LORD

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and 

with all your soul and with all your strength.” 

Deuteronomy 6:5 

Throughout Scripture, the phrase “The LORD”—written in all capital letters—carries deep theological and relational meaning. It translates the divine name YHWH (יהוה), first revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 when God declared, “I AM WHO I AM.” YHWH expresses God’s eternal, unchanging, and self-existent nature—the One who was, is, and will always be. As Matthew Henry wrote, “Jehovah is a name which denotes God’s eternal existence, his independence, and his constancy in fulfilling his promises.” This holy name was considered so sacred in Israel that it was not spoken aloud; instead, readers would substitute Adonai (“Lord”) out of reverence. Yet YHWH was not distant—He was the covenant God, the One who drew near to deliver, guide, and dwell with His people. YHWH is “He is”—the eternal, holy One who keeps covenant.

When Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 in Matthew 22:37, calling it the greatest commandment, He used the Greek word Kyrios (Lord), which translates YHWH from the Septuagint. But Jesus didn’t merely affirm the commandment—He fulfilled it, and in doing so, revealed YHWH as Father. He taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9), and spoke often of Abba—the Aramaic word for “Father,” full of tenderness and trust. Through Jesus, we discover that the God who revealed Himself as YHWH is also the Father who adopts us as beloved children (Galatians 4:6). Father is “Abba”—the intimate, loving One who adopts us through Christ.

By accepting the title “Lord” (Kyrios) throughout His ministry, and by receiving Thomas’s declaration—“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)—Jesus made a profound claim: He is not just from the LORD—He is the LORD. The early church declared this truth boldly: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord (Kyrios),’ you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The name “the LORD” is no longer cloaked in mystery—it now has a face, a voice, a heart in Jesus Christ. In Him, the majesty of YHWH and the intimacy of Abba come together. Together, these names invite us into both reverence and relationship. We are called to love Him with all our heart—not out of fear, but out of awe and intimacy. Loving the Lord draws us into the mystery of His holiness and the warmth of His love—to behold YHWH in awe and be held as beloved children of Abba.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You are eternal and unchanging, holy and near. Thank You for revealing Yourself in Jesus. Teach us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let our reverence deepen our relationship, and let our love for You be wholehearted.

Amen.