Jesus is Jehovah
Examining the Divine Identity of Jesus Through Isaiah and John
There are many groups today that profess the name of Jesus but deny foundational truths about who He truly is. Some question His role as the Creator of the universe, the sovereign Ruler of nations, and the Lord of lords. Others claim to be Witnesses of Jehovah while, paradoxically, denying key aspects of His identity. This leads to the question: Does the Bible affirm what historic Christianity has taught for 2,000 years about Jesus’ divinity? I believe it does, and rather than starting with the familiar texts like John 1 or Colossians 1, I want to direct our focus to two lesser-cited but deeply significant passages: Isaiah 6 and John 12.
Introducing the Divine Name: YHWH
Before delving into these passages, it is important to understand the significance of the divine name of God, often represented in English as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." The name comes from the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the four Hebrew letters that form the name of God in the Hebrew Bible. This name is significant as it emphasizes God’s eternal nature, sovereignty, and relational aspect with His people. The spelling "Jehovah" is derived from a transliteration of YHWH that emerged during the Middle Ages, combining the consonants of the Tetragrammaton with the vowels from the word "Adonai" (Lord) used in Jewish readings. "Yahweh," on the other hand, is based on scholarly attempts to approximate the original Hebrew pronunciation. Both names convey the same profound meaning of God as the self-existent, eternal One who is intimately involved with creation and His covenant people.
Jesus as YHWH (יהוה) in Isaiah 6
Isaiah 6 describes a profound vision of the prophet Isaiah in the temple, where he witnesses the majestic and holy presence of God. In Isaiah 6:1-3, the prophet recounts, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him…and they called to one another, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.’” The Hebrew text makes it clear that this vision is not merely of an angelic being or a representative, but of YHWH (יהוה) Himself, the God of Israel.
Isaiah’s response, recognizing the profound holiness of YHWH (יהוה) and his own unworthiness, emphasizes the divine nature of the encounter. Jewish scholars and theologians have historically acknowledged that Isaiah saw God Himself in this vision, highlighting its significance as a direct revelation of YHWH (יהוה). In the context of this passage, the prophet is given a glimpse of YHWH’s unparalleled glory, holiness, and sovereignty over all creation.
Jesus as YHWH (יהוה) in John 12
Fast forward to the New Testament, where John draws a direct connection between Jesus and Isaiah’s vision. In John 12:41, after quoting Isaiah’s words from Isaiah 6:10, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them,” John writes, “Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him.” Here, John explicitly identifies the “Lord” whom Isaiah saw as Jesus, making it undeniable that John is speaking about Him. This connection between the vision in Isaiah 6 and the person of Jesus reinforces the understanding that Jesus embodies the same divine authority and majesty as YHWH (יהוה). This is a powerful statement with profound implications: John is identifying Jesus with the YHWH (יהוה) whom Isaiah saw in his vision.
By making this connection, John presents Jesus not only as a prophet or a messenger but as YHWH (יהוה) Himself—the same divine being Isaiah encountered in the temple. John’s declaration challenges the idea that Jesus is anything less than fully divine, as he attributes to Jesus the glory, majesty, and holiness of YHWH (יהוה).
Implications for the Divinity of Jesus
Together, these passages present a cohesive biblical witness that Jesus is indeed YHWH (יהוה), not merely a created being or an angel. Isaiah’s vision establishes that he saw YHWH (יהוה) in His undiluted holiness, while John’s Gospel confirms that it was Jesus whom Isaiah saw. The consistent message throughout Scripture is that Jesus, as YHWH (יהוה), embodies the same divine nature and authority as God Himself.
This interpretation aligns with historic Christian teaching, which affirms Jesus as fully God and fully man. The use of YHWH (יהוה) in these passages strengthens our understanding of Jesus’ divine identity, countering any notion that diminishes His role as Creator, Sovereign, and Savior.