---
title: God Has a Name
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/playbooks/gods-name/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/playbooks/gods-name.md
type: playbook
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
jw_source: What Does the Bible Really Teach?, ch. 1
attribution: Multiple sources
added: '2026-03-31'
last_reviewed: '2026-03-31'
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# God Has a Name

JWs present the divine name "Jehovah" as a distinguishing mark of true worship. They argue that God's name must be used, that other churches have removed it from the Bible, and that using his name is essential to a relationship with him.

## Recognition Signals

- "God's name"
- "Jehovah"
- "Psalm 83:18"
- "use his name"
- "divine name"
- "God's personal name"
- "YHWH"
- "the name Jehovah"

## Opening Question

> "I agree that God has revealed his name. But can I ask — the name "Jehovah" doesn't appear in any original Greek New Testament manuscript. Your own NWT inserts it 237 times into the New Testament based on translation choices, not manuscripts. If Jesus and the apostles used "Lord" (Kyrios) when quoting the Old Testament, why does the NWT change it to "Jehovah"?"

## Expected JW Responses

### Response 1

**JW says:** "The name was removed by superstitious scribes who feared pronouncing it."

**Observation:** This is the Watchtower theory, but there's no manuscript evidence for it. Every Greek NT manuscript we have uses Kyrios (Lord), not the Tetragrammaton. Ask: "If Jehovah preserved his word, why would he allow his own name to be removed from every single copy?"

### Response 2

**JW says:** "Psalm 83:18 says his name is Jehovah."

**Observation:** Psalm 83:18 uses the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), which the NWT renders "Jehovah." But the exact pronunciation is uncertain — most scholars favour "Yahweh." The more important question is: does the New Testament apply YHWH texts to Jesus? (Yes — see Romans 10:13 quoting Joel 2:32.)

### Response 3

**JW says:** "You need to use God's name to have a relationship with him."

**Observation:** Redirect: "Jesus taught us to pray 'Our Father' — not 'Our Jehovah.' He used a relational term, not a formal name. Knowing God isn't about pronunciation — it's about relationship through Jesus (John 14:6)."

## Follow-Up

Here's something fascinating: Romans 10:13 says "everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved" — quoting Joel 2:32, which uses YHWH. But in context, Paul is talking about calling on Jesus (Romans 10:9–12). The New Testament applies Jehovah texts to Jesus. What does that tell you about who Jesus is?

## Pivot To

- [Jesus as Alpha and Omega](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/alpha-omega.md)
- [Ego Eimi — 'I AM'](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/ego-eimi.md)