In the Book of Genesis, Jehovah-jireh or Adonai-jireh was the location in the land of Moriah where God (sometimes vocalized as Jehovah) told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham gave the place this name after God had provided a ram to sacrifice in place of Isaac.: Jewish Publication Society translation of the Bible, 1917 This name, hence, carries the meaning, "The Lord will provide".
Translations
In the Masoretic Text, the name is (yhwh yirʾeh). The first word of the phrase is the Tetragrammaton (), YHWH, the most common name of God in the Hebrew Bible, which is usually given the pronunciation Yahweh in scholarly works. Jehovah is a Christian anglicized vocalization of this name using the vowels of the Tetragrammaton according to the Masoretic text. Following a Jewish tradition of not pronouncing God's proper name, YHWH is generally translated in English bibles as "the " or "" in capital letters, just as in Jewish worship it is traditionally not pronounced but the word Adonai or Elohim ("God") is used instead.
The early Septuagint translation into Greek gives the meaning as "The Lord hath seen."English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible. English Translation by Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton, 1851. One Latin version of the Christian Bible rendered the name in Latin as Dominus videt ("The sees").Biblia Sacra iuxta Vulgatam Clementinam, Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, MCMXCIX, . The King James Version follows this meaning.: King James Version
Jewish translations of the verse into English state:
However, some modern translations, like the New International Version, render it "the will provide",: NIV amplifying the literal meaning along the lines of "the will see to it", and referring to Abraham's earlier words in , "God himself will provide the lamb".Notes on verse 8 in Genesis 22, New English TranslationMatthew Henry, Commentary on Genesis 22:11–14 (online at CCEL)
Interpretation Some Jewish commentators see the name as alluding to the future importance of the place as the site of Solomon's Temple. The Targumim do not regard "Jehovah-jireh" as a proper name.Emil G. Hirsch and M. Seligsohn, Jehovah-jireh in the Jewish Encyclopedia 1901–1906
Considering the passive construction of Abraham's words in verse 14, "In the mount of the it shall be seen", Calvin comments that it teaches "that God not only looks upon those who are his, but also makes his help manifest to them...".John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis 22:14 (online at CCEL) John Wesley and Matthew Henry go further, suggesting that "perhaps it may refer to God manifest in the flesh".John Wesley, Commentary on Genesis 22:14 (online at CCEL)
In modern Christian interpretation, Jehovah Jireh embodies a belief in God's unwavering provision, echoing the story of Abraham and Isaac.
Other modern usage John Newton translates "Jehovah-jireh" as "The Lord will provide" in his hymn, "When Troubles Assail". It is also the title of a William Cowper hymn.
Jehovah Jireh is the title of an 1867 book by William Swan Plumer.William Swan Plumer,
"Jehovah Jireh" is the title of several modern songs, including one by Don Moen included on his 1986 debut album Give Thanks; various others have covered it, including thrash metal band Deliverance on their 1989 self-titled debut album.
Chandra Currelley performed another song with the same title in the 2006 play What's Done in the Dark.
R&B singer Frank Ocean also uses the name "Jehovah Jireh" in his debut album/mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra in the song is titled 'We All Try".We All Try music video on Youtube
Organizations bearing the name include Jehovah Jireh Children's Homes in Kenya, founded by Manasses Kuria, and churches such as Jehovah Jireh Samoan Assembly of God in Victorville, California, United States.
Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship released a song called "Jireh" in 2021.
See also Jehovah-nissi Jehovah-shammah Penuel
Notable people Jireh Swift Billings, son of Franklin S. Billings, Jr.
References