יְהוָה God's four-letter Name — the Tetragrammaton
Every place this Name stands — 6,827 occurrences in the Tanakh, in canonical order, first appearance to last. These are the words the lexicon carries under this Name, counting every form the text writes it in — with a particle fused to the front, or bound to what follows — which is the number on the list.
The Name the Rambam calls the Shem HaMeforash, the Name set apart, and the first of the seven that may not be erased. It is never pronounced as it is written: in prayer and in the reading of the Torah it is said as Ado-nai, and in speech it is called Hashem, the Name. The count here takes both pointings the text uses — the ordinary one, and the one that stands beside Ado-nai and is read Elohim so that the two are not said alike.
וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵֽי־הַלְוִיִּם אֵת אֲרוֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה כִּדְבַר יְהוָה בִּכְתֵפָם בַּמֹּטוֹת עֲלֵיהֶֽם
And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the bars thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
וַיְהִי דָוִיד וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים הַהֹֽלְכִים לְֽהַעֲלוֹת אֶת־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה מִן־בֵּית עֹבֵֽד־אֱדֹם בְּשִׂמְחָֽה
So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.
וַֽיְהִי בֶּעְזֹר הָֽאֱלֹהִים אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה וַיִּזְבְּחוּ שִׁבְעָֽה־פָרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִֽים
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.
וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלִים אֶת־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה בִּתְרוּעָה וּבְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר וּבַחֲצֹצְרוֹת וּבִמְצִלְתָּיִם מַשְׁמִעִים בִּנְבָלִים וְכִנֹּרֽוֹת
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.
וַיְהִי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהוָה בָּא עַד־עִיר דָּוִיד וּמִיכַל בַּת־שָׁאוּל נִשְׁקְפָה בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן וַתֵּרֶא אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד מְרַקֵּד וּמְשַׂחֵק וַתִּבֶז לוֹ בְּלִבָּֽהּ
And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and making merry; and she despised him in her heart.
וַיְכַל דָּוִיד מֵהַעֲלוֹת הָעֹלָה וְהַשְּׁלָמִים וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָעָם בְּשֵׁם יְהוָֽה
And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן יְהוָה מִן־הַלְוִיִּם מְשָׁרְתִים וּלְהַזְכִּיר וּלְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to celebrate and to thank and praise the LORD, the God of Israel:
וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן יְהוָה מִן־הַלְוִיִּם מְשָׁרְתִים וּלְהַזְכִּיר וּלְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to celebrate and to thank and praise the LORD, the God of Israel:
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָז נָתַן דָּוִיד בָּרֹאשׁ לְהֹדוֹת לַיהוָה בְּיַד־אָסָף וְאֶחָֽיו
Then on that day did David first ordain to give thanks unto the LORD, by the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
הוֹדוּ לַֽיהוָה קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ הוֹדִיעוּ בָעַמִּים עֲלִילֹתָֽיו
O give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His doings among the peoples.
הִֽתְהַֽלְלוּ בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ יִשְׂמַח לֵב מְבַקְשֵׁי יְהוָֽה
Glory ye in His holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה וְעֻזּוֹ בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָיו תָּמִֽיד
Seek ye the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
הוּא יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ מִשְׁפָּטָֽיו
He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
שִׁירוּ לַֽיהוָה כָּל־הָאָרֶץ בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּֽוֹם־אֶל־יוֹם יְשׁוּעָתֽוֹ
Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim His salvation from day to day.
כִּי גָדוֹל יְהוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְנוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים
For great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.
כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים וַיהוָה שָׁמַיִם עָשָֽׂה
For all the gods of the peoples are things of nought; But the LORD made the heavens.
הָבוּ לַֽיהוָה מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים הָבוּ לַיהוָה כָּבוֹד וָעֹֽז
Ascribe unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto the LORD glory and strength.
הָבוּ לַֽיהוָה מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים הָבוּ לַיהוָה כָּבוֹד וָעֹֽז
Ascribe unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto the LORD glory and strength.
הָבוּ לַיהוָה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְפָנָיו הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ
Ascribe unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
הָבוּ לַיהוָה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְפָנָיו הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ
Ascribe unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵל הָאָרֶץ וְיֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם יְהוָה מָלָֽךְ
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations: ‘The LORD reigneth.’
אָז יְרַנְּנוּ עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה כִּי־בָא לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ
Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy, Before the LORD, for He is come to judge the earth.
הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּֽוֹ
O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; For His mercy endureth for ever.
בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן־הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעֹלָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל־הָעָם אָמֵן וְהַלֵּל לַֽיהוָֽה
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said: ‘Amen, ‘and praised the LORD.
בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן־הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעֹלָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל־הָעָם אָמֵן וְהַלֵּל לַֽיהוָֽה
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said: ‘Amen, ‘and praised the LORD.
וַיַּֽעֲזָב־שָׁם לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה לְאָסָף וּלְאֶחָיו לְשָׁרֵת לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן תָּמִיד לִדְבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמֽוֹ
So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
וְאֵת צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים לִפְנֵי מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה בַּבָּמָה אֲשֶׁר בְּגִבְעֽוֹן
and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,
לְֽהַעֲלוֹת עֹלוֹת לַיהוָה עַל־מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה תָּמִיד לַבֹּקֶר וְלָעָרֶב וּלְכָל־הַכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of burnt-offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He commanded unto Israel;
לְֽהַעֲלוֹת עֹלוֹת לַיהוָה עַל־מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה תָּמִיד לַבֹּקֶר וְלָעָרֶב וּלְכָל־הַכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of burnt-offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He commanded unto Israel;
וְעִמָּהֶם הֵימָן וִֽידוּתוּן וּשְׁאָר הַבְּרוּרִים אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְּשֵׁמוֹת לְהֹדוֹת לַֽיהוָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּֽוֹ
and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endureth for ever;
וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָשַׁב דָּוִיד בְּבֵיתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד אֶל־נָתָן הַנָּבִיא הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית הָֽאֲרָזִים וַאֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה תַּחַת יְרִיעֽוֹת
And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet: ‘Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD dwelleth under curtains.’
לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל־דָּוִיד עַבְדִּי כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה לֹא אַתָּה תִּבְנֶה־לִּי הַבַּיִת לָשָֽׁבֶת
’Go and tell David My servant: Thus saith the LORD: Thou shalt not build Me a house to dwell in;
וְעַתָּה כֹּֽה־תֹאמַר לְעַבְדִּי לְדָוִיד כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲנִי לְקַחְתִּיךָ מִן־הַנָּוֶה מִֽן־אַחֲרֵי הַצֹּאן לִהְיוֹת נָגִיד עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over My people Israel;
וּלְמִיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי שֹֽׁפְטִים עַל־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהִכְנַעְתִּי אֶת־כָּל־אוֹיְבֶיךָ וָאַגִּד לָךְ וּבַיִת יִֽבְנֶה־לְּךָ יְהוָֽה
even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that the LORD will build thee a house.
וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד וַיֵּשֶׁב לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר מִֽי־אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים וּמִי בֵיתִי כִּי הֲבִיאֹתַנִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם
Then David the king went in, and sat before the LORD; and he said: ‘Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me thus far?
וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד וַיֵּשֶׁב לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר מִֽי־אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים וּמִי בֵיתִי כִּי הֲבִיאֹתַנִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם
Then David the king went in, and sat before the LORD; and he said: ‘Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me thus far?
וַתִּקְטַן זֹאת בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים וַתְּדַבֵּר עַל־בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ לְמֵרָחוֹק וּרְאִיתַנִי כְּתוֹר הָאָדָם הַֽמַּעֲלָה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִֽים
And this was a small thing in Thine eyes, O God; but Thou hast spoken of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me after the manner of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
יְהוָה בַּעֲבוּר עַבְדְּךָ וּֽכְלִבְּךָ עָשִׂיתָ אֵת כָּל־הַגְּדוּלָּה הַזֹּאת לְהֹדִיעַ אֶת־כָּל־הַגְּדֻלּֽוֹת
O LORD, for Thy servant’s sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
יְהוָה אֵין כָּמוֹךָ וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַעְנוּ בְּאָזְנֵֽינוּ
O LORD, there is none like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
וַתִּתֵּן אֶת־עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ לְעָם עַד־עוֹלָם וְאַתָּה יְהוָה הָיִיתָ לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִֽים
For Thy people Israel didst Thou make Thine own people for ever; and Thou, LORD, becamest their God.
וְעַתָּה יְהוָה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ וְעַל־בֵּיתוֹ יֵאָמֵן עַד־עוֹלָם וַעֲשֵׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ
And now, O LORD, let the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as Thou hast spoken.
וְיֵֽאָמֵן וְיִגְדַּל שִׁמְךָ עַד־עוֹלָם לֵאמֹר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵית־דָּוִיד עַבְדְּךָ נָכוֹן לְפָנֶֽיךָ
Yea, let it be established, and let Thy name be magnified for ever, that it may be said: The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Thy servant shall be established before Thee.
וְעַתָּה יְהוָה אַתָּה־הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים וַתְּדַבֵּר עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּֽאת
And now, O LORD, Thou alone art God, and hast promised this good thing unto Thy servant;
וְעַתָּה הוֹאַלְתָּ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּית עַבְדְּךָ לִהְיוֹת לְעוֹלָם לְפָנֶיךָ כִּֽי־אַתָּה יְהוָה בֵּרַכְתָּ וּמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָֽם
and now it hath pleased Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee; for Thou, O LORD, hast blessed, and so let [Thy servant] be blessed for ever.’
וַיָּשֶׂם דָּוִיד בַּאֲרַם דַּרְמֶשֶׂק וַיְהִי אֲרָם לְדָוִיד עֲבָדִים נֹשְׂאֵי מִנְחָה וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה לְדָוִיד בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלָֽךְ
Then David put [garrisons] in Aram Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, and brought presents. And the LORD gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
גַּם־אֹתָם הִקְדִּישׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד לַיהוָה עִם־הַכֶּסֶף וְהַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂא מִכָּל־הַגּוֹיִם מֵֽאֱדוֹם וּמִמּוֹאָב וּמִבְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וּמִפְּלִשְׁתִּים וּמֵֽעֲמָלֵֽק
These also did king David dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
וַיָּשֶׂם בֶּֽאֱדוֹם נְצִיבִים וַיִּהְיוּ כָל־אֱדוֹם עֲבָדִים לְדָוִיד וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה אֶת־דָּוִיד בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלָֽךְ
And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
חֲזַק וְנִֽתְחַזְּקָה בְּעַד־עַמֵּנוּ וּבְעַד עָרֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַֽיהוָה הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיו יַעֲשֶֽׂה
Be of good courage, and let us prove strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the LORD do that which seemeth Him good.’
וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹאָב יוֹסֵף יְהוָה עַל־עַמּוֹ כָּהֵם מֵאָה פְעָמִים הֲלֹא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כֻּלָּם לַאדֹנִי לַעֲבָדִים לָמָּה יְבַקֵּשׁ זֹאת אֲדֹנִי לָמָּה יִהְיֶה לְאַשְׁמָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל
And Joab said: ‘The LORD make His people a hundred times so many more as they are; but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?’
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־גָּד חֹזֵה דָוִיד לֵאמֹֽר
And the LORD spoke unto Gad, David’s seer, saying:
A spelling is not a name. As the Name it is counted 6,827 times in the Tanakh; the written word יהוה stands 6,007 times in the corpus. The difference is the particle. Where a lamed, a bet, a vav or a mem is fused to the front of the Name the text writes one word and not two, and a search for the four letters alone can never return it.
See all 6,007 occurrences of the spelling יהוה →