Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Unfortunately there are those who have created confusion in regards to the proper pronunciation of the Name. One such individual has his own brand of Karaite Judaism. Many think due to his influence that all Karaite Jews endorse the pronunciation Yehovah. The truth is this man's own teacher who converted him from Rabbinical Judaism to Karaite Judaism is named Mordecai Alfandari and he endorsed the pronunciation Yihweh. Notice that there is no v and that he did not endorse "Yehovah" or "Yehowah" which means he did not believe the vowels to be authentic. Yefet Ben Eli is one of the most prominent Karaites to ever live. He lived during the 10th century, a native of Basra ( in present-day Iraq) Later in his life, he moved to Jerusalem, between 950 and 980, where he died.The Karaites distinguished him by the epithet maskil ha-Golah (teacher of the Exile). He endorsed the name YAHUWAH even providing the vowels. So the question is which of these individuals have the most merit? Why is that NO rabbi endorses the vowels in YHWH found in the Masoretic text? Simple, they all know those vowels are for both Adonai and Elohim.
Unfortunately there are those who have created confusion in regards to the proper pronunciation of the Name. One such individual has his own brand of Karaite Judaism. Many think due to his influence that all Karaite Jews endorse the pronunciation Yehovah. The truth is this man's own teacher who converted him from Rabbinical Judaism to Karaite Judaism is named Mordecai Alfandari and he endorsed the pronunciation Yihweh. Notice that there is no v and that he did not endorse "Yehovah" or "Yehowah" which means he did not believe the vowels to be authentic. Yefet Ben Eli is one of the most prominent Karaites to ever live. He lived during the 10th century, a native of Basra ( in present-day Iraq) Later in his life, he moved to Jerusalem, between 950 and 980, where he died.The Karaites distinguished him by the epithet maskil ha-Golah (teacher of the Exile). He endorsed the name YAHUWAH even providing the vowels. So the question is which of these individuals have the most merit? Why is that NO rabbi endorses the vowels in YHWH found in the Masoretic text? Simple, they all know those vowels are for both Adonai and Elohim.
