Iehova

Iehova is a form used in several languages to refer to the name of the God of Israel, corresponding to the Hebrew Tetragrammaton YHWH. It appears in religious usage as a representation of the divine name in biblical translations and worship, though the exact historical pronunciation of YHWH remains uncertain.

The Hebrew name YHWH consists of four consonants and originally included no vowels, making its vocalization unknown. In medieval and early modern times, vocalizations from surrounding text were inserted, giving forms such as Jehovah. The spelling Iehova reflects linguistic conventions in some languages that render the initial consonant with I or J and adapt vowels to Latin orthography. Other languages use variants like Yahweh, Jehovah, or similar forms.

In Judaism, the divine name is traditionally not spoken aloud, and readings substitute Adonai or HaShem in place of YHWH. In Christianity, the name appears in certain translations and liturgies; however, many traditions refer to God as “the Lord” or “God.” Jehovah’s Witnesses, in particular, emphasize using the form Jehovah and have produced translations and publications that employ the name widely.

Scholarly discussions distinguish between the historical Tetragrammaton and later vocalizations. Although Jehovah is widely used in some religious communities, many modern linguists and Bible scholars favor Yahweh as a scholarly reconstruction for the original pronunciation. The form Iehova remains one of several regional renderings of the same divine name.