# Jehovah

/dʒəˈhoʊvə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jehovah
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a name for God used in some versions of the Bible and by certain religious groups. You will mostly see this in older books or when talking to specific Christian communities.

For teachers: a Latinization of the Hebrew name for God, commonly used in English translations of the Old Testament. While historically widespread in Protestant literature, it is now primarily associated with specific denominations or older liturgical texts.

## Examples

- The name Jehovah appears many times in their religious texts.
- The missionary explained that their group uses the name Jehovah to refer specifically to the God of the Bible.
- Scholars note that the form Jehovah resulted from a misunderstanding of the Hebrew tetragrammaton, yet the name remains a powerful cultural and religious identifier for millions worldwide.

## Usage notes

- When used as a proper name for God, it is always capitalized.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.