Lexical Summary
Yah: LORD
Original Word:יָהּ
Part of Speech:Proper Name
Transliteration:Yahh
Pronunciation:yah
Phonetic Spelling:(yaw)
KJV: Jah, the Lord, most vehement
NASB:LORD, GOD
Word Origin:[contraction forH3068 (יְהוֹוָה - LORD), and meaning the same]
1. Jah, the sacred name
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Jah, the Lord
Contraction forYhovah, and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred name -- Jah, the Lord, most vehement. Compare names in "-iah," "- jah."
see HEBREWYhovah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origincontr. from
YhvhDefinitionthe name of the God of Israel
NASB TranslationGOD (1), LORD (49).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
50 contracted from , first appears in early poems;
Exodus 15:2My strength and song is Yah (cited
Isaiah 12:2;
Psalm 118:14), compare the poetic extract =
hand to the throne of YahExodus 17:16 (E), the song of Hezekiah
Isaiah 38:11 (repeated by dittography), (so read in preference to the ) =
flame of fire from YahSongs 8:6;
Isaiah 26:4 ( sustained by Aq and the rhythmical movement, unless it be a mistake for , compare
Psalm 68:5),
Psalm 68:19. Elsewhere is used only in late Psalms, especially in the Hallels, in the phrase
praise ye YahPsalm 104:35;
Psalm 105:45;
Psalm 106:1;
Psalm 106:48;
Psalm 111:1;
Psalm 112:1;
Psalm 113:1;
Psalm 113:9;
Psalm 115:18;
Psalm 116:19;
Psalm 117:2;
Psalm 135:1;
Psalm 135:3;
Psalm 135:21;
Psalm 146:1;
Psalm 146:10;
Psalm 147:1;
Psalm 147:20;
Psalm 148:1;
Psalm 148:14;
Psalm 149:1;
Psalm 149:9;
Psalm 150:1;
Psalm 150:6, compare also
Psalm 102:19Psalm 115:17Psalm 150:6 (see ); in variant reading other phrases
Psalm 77:12;
Psalm 89:9;
Psalm 94:7;
Psalm 94:12;
Psalm 115:18;
Psalm 118:5 (twice in verse);
Psalm 118:17;
Psalm 118:18;
Psalm 118:19;
Psalm 122:4;
Psalm 130:3;
Psalm 135:4.
, see below
Topical Lexicon
Overviewיָהּ (Yah) is the short, poetic form of the divine covenant name. It appears about forty-eight times in the Old Testament, most often in songs, psalms, and prophetic oracles. Its brevity intensifies adoration and underscores the immediacy of God’s presence with His people.
Occurrences and Distribution
• Pentateuch:Exodus 15:2; 17:16
• Historical Books:2 Samuel 22:20 (parallel toPsalm 18:19)
• Psalms: concentrated use (Psalms 68; 77; 89; 94; 104; 111–118; 135; 146–150)
• Prophets:Isaiah 12:2; 26:4; 38:11
The Psalter contains over thirty occurrences, highlighting Yah as the God of praise and covenant faithfulness.
Liturgical and Devotional Usage
Yah is the centerpiece of Israel’s doxology.Psalm 68:4 commands, “Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him”. Here, “the LORD” renders Yah, linking the cosmic King with congregational song. InPsalm 150 every verse ends with either “praise Him” or “Hallelujah” (hallelu-Yah), turning the divine name into the very breath of worship.
Covenantal and Redemptive Significance
Exodus 15:2 celebrates deliverance at the sea: “Yah is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” The redeemed answer bondage with praise to Yah, binding redemption to worship.Isaiah 26:4 exhorts Judah, “Trust in the LORD forever, for Yah, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” The repetition (Yah Yahweh) welds the shortened form to the full covenant name, assuring that the God of Abraham remains steadfast.
Theophoric Names
Dozens of Hebrew names embed Yah or Yahu, such as Isaiah (“Yah is salvation”), Jeremiah (“Yah will exalt”), Zechariah (“Yah remembers”), and Hezekiah (“Strength of Yah”). These names made everyday speech a confession of faith, reminding Israel that life, identity, and destiny revolve around Yah.
Connection with Hallelujah
Hallelujah combines the imperative “praise” (halelû) with Yah. It frames communal praise in Psalms 104, 105, 111–113, 115–117, 135, and 146–150.Psalm 113 opens, “Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD”. The shout calls worshipers to awaken heart and voice because Yah is worthy.
Prophetic and Eschatological Foregleams
Isaiah’s twin references (12:2; 26:4) place Yah at both the song of salvation and the hope of the future kingdom. InRevelation 19:1–6 the Greek “Alleluia” resurfaces four times as heaven celebrates the consummation of redemption, showing that praise to Yah endures into eternity.
Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes
The Septuagint leaves Yah untranslated in several places, paving the way for the transliteration Ἁλληλούϊα in the New Testament. Thus the church inherits “Hallelujah” unchanged, uniting saints across covenants in one anthem to Yah.
Application for Faith and Ministry
1. Worship: Yah invites intimate, heartfelt praise.
2. Assurance: The name underscores God’s unchanging fidelity; believers may anchor trust in Him.
3. Evangelism: Hallelujah is universally recognizable, offering a bridge from doxology to gospel proclamation.
4. Pastoral Care: Reciting verses containing Yah comforts the afflicted with the nearness and strength of God.
5. Discipleship: Exploring theophoric names teaches believers to weave God’s name into identity and vocation.
Selected Key References
Exodus 15:2; 17:16
Psalm 68:4; 77:11; 89:8; 94:7, 12; 104:35; 111:1; 113:1; 115:18; 118:5, 14, 17; 135:1–3; 146:1; 148:1; 149:1; 150:1, 6
Isaiah 12:2; 26:4; 38:11
Forms and Transliterations
בְּיָ֣הּ בְּיָ֥הּ ביה יָ֑הּ יָ֔הּ יָ֖הּ יָ֗הּ יָ֡הּ יָ֣הּ יָ֨הּ ׀ יָ֬הּ יָ֭הּ יָּ֑הּ יָֽהּ׃ יָהּ יה יה׃ bə·yāh beYah bəyāh Yah yāh
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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