YHVH: The Creator's most holy and sacred Name

The Tetragrammaton
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The covenantal name of our Creator in the Hebrew Bible is written with the four consonants: Yod, He, Vav, He. This name is known as the Tetragrammaton (Greek for "the four letters").  Although the Tetragrammaton was pronounced freely at the time the Torah and Prophets were written, its holiness in Judaism is such that it is no longer pronounced, except under very rare circumstances. Many 'religious' Jews are offended if one should  pronounce or misuse this name.  They have stringent rules that apply to writing any of the names of the Creator. For example, once Yahveh's name is written, it is to be neither erased nor discarded. It must be stored. This is why you see words like 'G-d' which do not need to be kept. (Recent rulings indicate that use in computer files or displays does not constitute erasing.)

Most English translations of the Bible represent the Tetragrammaton with 'LORD' or 'GOD' in all capital letters.

in the consonantal Hebrew text:

YHVH

as traditionally pronounced:

Adonai

When one reads the Hebrew Bible, it is traditional to pronounce the word 'Adonai' instead of pronouncing the Tetragrammaton. Adonai means 'my Lord' (except that Lord is plural, which is in difference to the majesty of Yahveh).

In many traditional circles in the contemporary world, Adonai is no longer used, except in religious uses such as prayer. In uses such as study, one will instead hear 'Ado-shem' - a combination of Adonai and Shem ('Name'). Another circumlocution is Ha-Shem ('The Name').  There are also written circumlocutions

as represented in the Masoretic pointed text:

YeHoVaH

Yahveh's name in the Dead Sea Scrolls

This is a photo of Psalms 119:59-64 in the Dead Sea Scrolls which are a collection of Hebrew Scriptures that date back 2000 years. Note Yahweh's name in the ancient Hebrew script while the rest of the text is in a more modern Hebrew that was used at the time. Also note that each line begins with the Hebrew letter "Heth" which corresponds with it's part in the acrostical 119th psalm.

Compare this to the Masoretic Text:

Now in English

"I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments. I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O , is full of Your Mercy; Teach me Your Statutes."   Psalms 119:59-64

Tetragrammaton Found in Earliest Copies of the Septuagint

Below are 2 examples of where the Tetragrammaton has been found in ancient copies of the Septuagint. The Septuagint is a 3rd to 2nd Century BCE Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. The fragments below are evidence that the Septuagint originally contained the name Yahweh.  

The first is an ancient fragment of the Septuagint dated between 50 BCE and 50 CE (AD). If this dating is correct, it would have been written near the time of Yahushua's ministry. The name of these fragments are "Nahal Hever Minor Prophets" because they are fragments of Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Zechariah found in the Nahal Hever cave, south of Qumran. The Tetragrammaton is indicated with the large black arrow. 

Notice that the Tetragrammaton is written in the ancient Hebrew (Paleo-Hebrew) script. Here is another example of an ancient fragment of the Septuagint dating to the First Century CE (AD). This fragment contains parts of Job 42:10.

There are other early fragments that also contain the sacred name in like manner. According to scholars, no copies of the Septuagint dated before the mid-2nd century CE/AD substitutes the Tetragrammaton (Yahveh's name) with "Kyrios" (the Greek word Lord). 

His Name - YHVH

"I Am YHVH" - Is It A Commandment?