Use of alah in early roots of Hebrew
Use of ‘alah’ in early roots of Hebrew.
Recent happenings, not just at Wheaton College, but
elsewhere within the last 4 years have pointed to confusing the two names. The issue is about the name for the Christian
God, Jehovah, and the name of the Islamic god, allah. Some say they are the same. Wycliffe was involved in this controversy
that came to a head in 2012.[i]
Others have tried to look at languages of the nations
which surrounded Israel, saying that they were essentially the same or closely
related to Hebrew. While there are
similarities in various sematic languages, there are significant differences
between each of the various sematic languages.
This study will focus on the issue at hand looking primarily at the
Hebrew language.
To answer this question about Jehovah and allah—are
they the same, or do they have the same roots, we should look at the first
mention of the names of God in the Bible.
To start, let’s look at the first time a names appears is in Genesis
1:1. Here we find the name Elohim. It’s spelling in Hebrew is אֱלֹהִ֑ים,
Elohim, and the Strong’s
Number is H430. This word is masculine, and also because of the Hebrew letter
‘Mem’ ם, it is considered
plural.
In Genesis 2:4 and 5 we find the name Jehovah used
with the name
Elohim, יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים.
The two names are
connected, all the way back to creation.
Moving forward in our discussion to the
period of Abraham, we find some variations of the name Elohim. The word which has been reportedly identified
as a root word of Elohim is alah אלה .
It was reportedly used in swearing.
The
ancient meaning of alah derived from the meaning of the Hebrew letters used in
spelling it—is: The strong leader leading to revelation—or—revelation leading to the
strong leader.[ii]
[iii] When one swore—in early days it may have been an act
of invoking a higher power or God to reveal something. In this sense, it was not a name of God but a
reference to a higher power or authority.
[iv]
One evidence of swearing is seen in the Qur’an:
This swearing is sometimes used in swearing allegiance to a religion such as Islam.
“After the Pledge of the Tree, which led to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the following was revealed in the Qur'an commemorating and appreciating the pledge and those who made it:
Certainly Allah was well pleased with the believers
when they swore allegiance to you
under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility
on them and rewarded them with a near victory,”
Looking further at the
word alah, אֱלֹהִ֑, we find that when the pronunciation is with an ‘a’ it becomes
feminine, when used in this mannor, it refers to a goddess[vi]. Goddesses are noted in the Bible in a number
of occasions and were not the same as Elohim.
In reviewing the Hebrew
words for gender, we need to understand that “Hebrew fundamentally has both masculine and feminine gender phonetic
vowel pronunciations for much of its words, besides the words tense,
singularity or plurality that affect each word pronunciation. EL, ELOI, ELAH, ELOH, ELOAH, ELOHIM, ALAH,
etc., are use in the over all scripture text as a generic titles not a names.
However there is evidence that both the Isrealite people and Gentiles use them
as both masculine and feminine gender names, by a component or a whole persons
name.)” [vii]
More information from the article found at http://www.eliyah.com/forum2/Forum1/HTML/002932.html (also noted in reference vii) we have some
interesting notes about early uses of ‘elah’ and various forms of it.
Sections
of this article are quoted below, with some notes (Turner) inserted.
-beginning of excerpt from article-
· Used to refer to Goddess. Note:
‘a’ in initial pronunciation indicated feminine. Daniel 1:2
(twice in verse); or construct לעשתרת מואב ׳צדנים לכמוש א ׳א to Ashtoreth
goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh god of Moab, etc.
· [a] The Aramaic masculine singular
pronunciation for divine worship is “ELA,” while the feminine adjective
equivalent is pronounce “Alahaya.
[b] In Arabic is pronounce “ILAH” or the
feminine past tense in Arabic is “allaha” meaning in the past tense “he
deified,” ( Note the meaning is: ‘defiled’-Turner
Reference iv)
· [c] *A’nath,* is the ancient Canaanite
language pronunciation for goddess as in “Beth-A’noth” {Strong’s # 6039.
A’noth. ayin, vav, nun, tav.} It’s shameful and warranting of the LAWGIVER’S
punishment to worship a goddess consequently the ancient Canaanite word for
Goyot goddess in (Josh. 15:59) was later coin in scripture Yahadowtyot language
as a word associated with punishment, affliction and suffering as in (Ps. 22:
25). Also pertaining to “Beth-A’nath” {Strong’s # 6039. A’nath. ayin, nun,
tav.} (Josh. 19:38, Judg. 1: 3) from which the Canaanites were made tributaries
of Israel (Judg. 1: 33). Like {Strong’s # 421 ALAH. aleph, lamedh, he.} bewail,
lament, {Strong’s # 6039 A’noth. ayin, vav, nun, tav.} is associated with
affliction and shameful lamentation. Wish is link to {Strong’s # 6031 Anah.
ayin, nun, he.} meaning defile, depravity, evil, ravish.
(Note: the change of meaning over time.
(Reference iv)
· [d]
The Aramaic feminine equivalent for “goddess” is pronounced “Alahta.” {aleph,
lamedh, he, tau, aleph.} employ in the Peshitta text of the ancient eastern
Aramaic [Syriac] scripture and pertaining to goddess in the Epistles (Act 19:
27, 37).
· [e]
The ancient Arabic used {ALAH. aleph, lamedh, he.} for “goddess” however the
modern day Arabic feminine pronunciation for “goddess” is “ULA.”which is
denominated masculine from “ILAH”. Interrelated rooted in “ILAH” is the Arabic
verb “aliha” meaning “he sought refuge in anxiety, to fear or to have
reverence” Ali and aliha are Arabic interrelate spin-off variables of “ILAH.”—(Note—over
time word spellings change and what may have been originally feminine, may be
colloquially changed to a similar word, or the meaning may have changed. Reference
iv)
· [f] It was commune to venerate some one by
giving then the name of their Elohim as YAHWSHUA and EliYAH. Likewise, the
pagan world would name their sons after the name of their pagan deity Zeus. As
Zeus two sons where name after him, Dionyssus and Perseus. Others who where
name after Zeus where; Odysseus [Ulysses] and the deity of healing Iesusus, was
also identify as Iasus Christ in the Greek, phonetic Iesus [Jesus]. Ancient
Middle Eastern Gentiles so venerated their heathen ALAH “goddess” that they
name both male and female children, by a component or a whole name of “Alah
Semiramis.” As Nimrod’s mother was known, she consolidated Nimrod entourage
after he was killed by telling them that the child she carried was Nimrod
“reincarnated” virginally conceived after his death, then worship as a Madonna.
In the Babylonian harlot religion all three Baal [father], Duzu [son] and
Semiramis [mother] where warship as co-equal gods [the unholy trinity.]
(reference vii)
-End of excerpt from article-
Looking further at the
name Elohim, אֱלֹהִ֑ים, which is masculine, and learning what the Bible says about God, we
find that there was a definite differentiation of God vs gods in the Bible.
Some of the numerous references showing the differentiation of God from other
gods are found in the following scriptures:
Exodus 15:11, Exodus
20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7, Joshua 24:18-24, II Kings 17:29-35, Psalms 81:9,
Isaiah, 44:8, Isaiah 45: 21-22, Isaiah 46:9, Jeremiah 26:6, Jeremiah
35:15, I Corinthians 8:4.
There
is also a lot of historical evidence showing that at the time that Islam
started, the name allah was frequently used in the region for god. This god is not the same God as the God of
the Israelites.
Concerning
the historical evidence of allah being frequently used among the Arabs for god,
there is a good article titled: ‘allah of Islam, is he Yahweh God of the Bible’.[viii]
This
article even shows false claims and provides a defense that shows the two
names, Jehovah and allah are not the same.
After
reading the article, I also noted an item not discussed in the article, but
when a word is pronounced with an ‘a’ such as changing elah pronunciation to
alah, the word becomes feminine, and the feminine form refers to a
goddess. Over time- centuries-the
meaning can change away from feminine and refer to a god. Many words have changed meanings over
time—and it is very probable that that may have happened with what appears to
be the root of allah, or alah. The name
of God, when referenced with ‘Elah’ is masculine. There is definitely a difference here.
Conclusion: the Hebrew/Christian Bible is very clear that
the name of God is Jehovah, and not any other name. Also, Jehovah is connected to the name Elohim
in Genesis 2:4 at the time of creation.
Let’s
remember the admonition in the Bible and accept it identifying Jehovah as the
name of God.
References
[i] The Daily Jot -- Articles related to Wycliff using allah
instead of Jehovah
The Daily Jot, January 30, 2012
The Daily Jot, January 31, 2012
The Daily Jot, February 2, 2012
The Daily Jot, February 3, 2012
The Daily jot, February 8, 2012
The Daily Jot, March 13, 2012
The Daily Jot, September 17, 2012
The Daily Jot, September 18, 2012
The Daily Jot, September 19, 2012
The Daily Jot, September 20, 2012
The Daily Jot, May 20, 2013
[vi] Hebrew
Strong’s Numbers 422-424
