Jah

Jah (pronEng|ˈdʒɑː) is the shortened name for God YHWH, most commonly used in the Rastafari movement. It comes from the Hebrew יָהּ = Yah IPA| [jah] .

Other uses

Jah (Yah) is often used as a shortened form of the Tetragrammaton [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=165&letter=T Abbreviated Tetragrammaton.] . Thus, the term Hallelujah would mean "Praise Jah", and this is often substituted for LORD as in "Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 104:35 KJV and footnote). In the West Indies, the recent popularity of Christian reggae has led to the use of the names "Jah" and "I and I" in Christian circles, especially among younger believers. This term is also used in Christian hip hop, typically for no reason but to rhyme, by such artists as KJ-52 and Pigeon John of LA Symphony. P.O.D. has also controversially popularized Rastafarian terms such as "Jah" among young Christians. According to the band, they use such terms to refer to elements of the Bible. Songs such as "The Messenjah" from "Satellite" and "Strength of My Life" from "Testify" (featuring Matisyahu) explicitly use common Rastafarian terms to describe elements of Christianity and Judaism. Matisyahu has also used Rastafarian terminology (particularly on his debut album "Shake Off the Dust...Arise"), but never to the same extent.

In the original text of the Hebrew Bible, "Jah" occurs 50 times, 26 times alone and 24 times in the term "Hallelujah" (see footnote to Psalm 104:35 KJV).

In the NT, in chapter 19 of the book of Revelation, most bible translations, ("e.g." KJV, ASV, Amplified Bible, ESV, Living Bible, NCV, Moffatt, Darby, NIV, NWT, RSV.) include 'jah' four times in the word "Hallelujah", this word being a direct transliteration of the Greek expression 'Hallelujah'.

In the King James Version of the Bible it is transliterated as "JAH" i.e. all capital letters, in a single instance (Psalm 68:4). The "An American Translation" renders the Hebrew word as "Yah" in this verse. The complete Tetragrammaton is not always rendered as Jehovah. Rotherham's "Emphasised Bible" includes 49 uses of Jah. Masoretic Tanach: Psalms 68:19, יָהּ אֱלֹהִים - Yah Elohim.

Due to the frequent use of the word, in some parts of the world, notably South Africa, a Rastafarian is colloquially referred to as Jahman.

The Assemblies of Yahweh use the term Yah, which they believe sounds more accurate and would comply with the Name of YHWH. In the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition Bible the Name YHWH and abbreviated form Yah is found. Jehovah's Witnesses' translation of the Bible called, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures features the word "Jah" in all 26 places in the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures, commonly known as the Old Testament, and translates the Hebrew 'Hallelujah', as 'Praise Jah, you people' in all 24 occurrences of that expression in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Iah

Jah is also an alternative spelling of the name of the Egyptian deity Iah, however, there is no connection between this name and the Semitic name Jah.

Reading

*"The Way home or face The Fire" ISBN 0-9583011-0-7

References