Names of God in Judaism facts for kids
In Judaism, God is known by many names. The most important of these names is the Tetragrammaton, or "Four-lettered word": YHVH, YHWH, or י - ה וה. Jews are not allowed to say this name, and instead say Adonai. Even Adonai is only used by some Jews in prayer. Most Jews would refer to God as Hashem, or "The Name". Jews are not allowed to erase the Tetragrammaton, so they rarely write it down outside of their most holy books, such as the Torah.
Other names include Elohim, El, Shaddai, Tzeva-ot, ‘Elyon, and Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh which are respectively pronounced by observant Jews as Elokim, Kayl, Shakkai, Tzeva-Kot.
Certain names, such as Shalom, are pronounced as written, but when written one letter, in this case the last letter, is omitted. The last of the above "other" list is often said as Ek-yeh Asher Ek-yeh.
Images for kids
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Hebrew name of God inscribed on the page of a Sephardic manuscript of the Hebrew Bible (1385)
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The Tetragrammaton in the Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls with the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers (c. 600 BCE).
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Biblical text on a synagogue in Holešov, Czech Republic: "Hashem (ה׳) kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up." (1 Samuel 2:6)
See also
In Spanish: Nombres de Dios en el judaísmo para niños
