What is the meaning of Hashem?

Answer

The concise response is that Hashem means “The Name” in Hebrew. When reading the Torah or praying, Jews who encounter the name of God (transliterated into English as YHWH) will replace it with the word Adonai. In different situations and during informal conversations, Jews will use Hashem instead when they come across God’s name.

Exodus 20:7 states, “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name” cf: Deuteronomy 5:11. This directive in Scripture is why Jews opt for Hashem instead of YHWH. The term “misuse” in the translation implies speaking (or writing) God’s name in an “empty,” “worthless” manner. Devout Jews are cautious about potentially blaspheming God by misusing His name. According to a Jewish tradition, a person who utters God’s name while in a state of sinful impurity is at risk of death. Rabbi Rashi taught that God permitted His name to be spoken “only in the place to which the Shechinah comes, and that is in the Temple in Jerusalem. There permission was given to the priests to mention the Explicit Name when they raise their hands to bless the people” from Mechilta, Sifrei, Num: 6:23, Sotah 38a.

Leviticus 22:32 cautions against profaning the holy name of God, and the Talmud links such blasphemy with paganism. However, the Mishnah goes further by stating, “Whoever profanes the name of Heaven in secret will pay the penalty in public” Avot 4:4. Some traditional authorities argue that there is no such thing as blaspheming God’s name in secret because He can see everything. Nothing is “secret” to Him.

The question arises, is it wrong to use God’s name Yahweh or Jehovah? Is it considered blasphemy to utter that name, or should we use the term Hashem as a replacement? The answer is that there is no biblical basis for using Hashem in place of God’s name. No passage in Scripture instructs us not to use.

His name. In fact, if God didn’t want us to use His name, He wouldn’t have given it to us.

We are mindful of how often the world uses words, including God’s name, that profane what is holy, and we are saddened. As followers of Christ, we aim to hallow God’s name and never use it in an empty, careless, or unworthy manner.