The Removal of God's Name 'Jehovah' 'Jehovah' is a rendering of God's name that has been recognized for centuries. In the original Hebrew text, the name appears nearly 7,000 times as four consonants: יהוה. These consonants are transliterated YHWH and are known as the Tetragrammaton. Its use throughout the Scriptures far outnumbers that of any of the titles, such as "Sovereign Lord" or "God," applied to Him.
Here are the four instances the name "Jehovah" is used in the King James Bible:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=jehovah&t=kjv
However, at some point a superstitious idea arose among the Jews that it was wrong even to pronounce the divine name. Evidently, later copyists kept to following the tradition of eliminating the distinctive name of God by replacing it with Ky´ri·os and The·os´ ("LORD" and "GOD"). Unfortunately, because of the superstitions and traditions (things which Jesus condemned - Mt. 15:1-9) concerning the Divine Name, God's name was generally removed from the texts altogether.
God's Name 'Jehovah' Belongs in the New Testament
Bible scholars acknowledge that God’s personal name appears in the O(ld) T(estament), or Hebrew Scriptures. However, many feel that it did not appear in the original Greek manuscripts of the so-called N(ew) T(estament).
Some condemn the New World Translation Bible for restoring God's Name some 237 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures where it was likely there originally - places where the Christian Greek Scripture writers quote the earlier Hebrew Scriptures containing God's name. Yet many translators have done this. Really, shouldn't the condemnation be directed toward many English Bibles' removal of God's Name nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures when the Name is clearly there?
We can accept both "Testaments" as the inspired word of God and still see understandable differences occurring between the two, but not basic contradictory differences. For example, we know how and why animal sacrifices to God have been done away with. It has been carefully and logically explained in the NT and, therefore, does not contradict the OT teachings where such sacrifices were required (essential). But where is the careful, logical explanation that shows that the necessary knowledge and use of God's name (as clearly acknowledged by word and example throughout the OT) was done away with in the NT?
It's not there. How can it be that God reveals His personal name and commands that it be publicly acknowledged and used forever by His servants (and they respectfully do so for over a thousand years) and then, for no Scriptural reason, His worshipers suddenly begin refusing to use that name and even hide it?
Therefore, if we are to keep the Scriptures from terribly contradicting themselves in an extremely important area, we must conclude that either the OT Scriptures are wrong or the oldest available NT manuscripts and fragments (at least those which actually contain places that quote from the OT where "YHWH" was originally used) are copies that have been CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL. Since the name of God being used as YHWH even in everyday life is attested to by archaeological findings back to the 8th century B. C. at least, we are really forced to conclude that, yes, the existing NT manuscripts are terribly wrong in this particular area.
And even with these changes, the Name has not been entirely left out of the N.T. since Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6 still retains "Alleluia":
"ALLELUIA, the Greek form (Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6) of the Hebrew Hallelujah = Praise ye *JEHOVAH*, which begins or ends several of the psalms (106, 111, 112, 113, etc.)." – Easton's Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publ., 1897.
For more excellent information from JW.ORG concerning this, see:
Should the Name Jehovah Appear in the New Testament? (THE WATCHTOWER 2008-08-01; JW.ORG
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20080801/name-in-new-testament/
The Divine Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures “Jehovah.” Heb., יהוה (YHWH or JHVH) (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060076
The Divine Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures (nwt pp. 1736-1743; Watchtower Online Library)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060076wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001060073
Why is the name Jehovah used in the Christian Greek Scriptures? (rs p. 276-p. 280; Watchtower Online Library)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989250?q=Divine+Name+Greek+Scriptures&p=par
The Tetragrammaton in the Septuagint (w02 6/1 p. 30; Watchtower Online Library)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002406
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