Jah
| Main doctrines | |
| Jah · Afrocentrism · Ital · Zion · Cannabis use | |
| Central figures | |
| Haile Selassie I · Jesus · Menen Asfaw · Marcus Garvey | |
| Key scriptures | |
| Bible · Kebra Nagast · The Promise Key · Holy Piby · My Life and Ethiopia's Progress · Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy | |
| Branches and festivals | |
| Mansions · in United States · Shashamane · Grounation Day · Reasoning | |
| Notable individuals | |
| Leonard Howell · Joseph Hibbert · Mortimer Planno · Vernon Carrington · Charles Edwards · Bob Marley · Peter Tosh | |
| See also: | |
| Vocabulary · Persecution · Dreadlocks · Reggae · Ethiopian Christianity · Index of Rastafari articles
|
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Jah (
/ˈdʒɑː/; Hebrew: יהּ = Yah) is the shortened form of the divine name YHWH (also spelled Yahweh), an anglicized version of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH, Latin JHVH). The name is most commonly associated with the Rastafari movement or within the word hallelujah, although Christian groups may use the name to varying degrees. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses use a form of the name in over 400 languages.[1] The name is used in some English Bible translations which reconstruct the Tetragrammaton; other versions sometimes use the academic Hebrew reconstruction "Yah". Some languages use the letter "I" instead of "Y" or "J": This should not be confused with the phonetically, theologically, and historically unrelated Egyptian god Iah. Other languages use CH (Choctaw), S (Tongan), and Z (Chin).
[edit] Usage
Jah is often used as a shortened form of the reconstructed Tetragrammaton.[2] The Tetragrammaton is often translated (especially in older English versions of the Bible) by use of the term "Lord", and the word "Hallelujah" by the phrase "Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 104:35 KJV and footnote). Thus, partially translated and partially transliterated[clarification needed], the term could be rendered "Praise Jah."
With the rise of the Reformation, reconstructions of the Tetragrammaton became popular. The Tyndale Bible was the first English translation to use the anglicized reconstruction.
In the original text of the Hebrew Bible, "Jah" occurs 50 times 26 times alone and 24 times in the term "Hallelujah" or the even earlier Hebrew translation of "Hallelu'yah" since the letter "J" was first brought into language around 500 years ago. Most early rooted Massianic Hebrews refrain from the use of "J" and the name "Jesus" due to the importance of not calling on to him by any other name exept "Yahuah"... “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) . In the King James Version of the Bible it is transliterated as "JAH" (capitalised) in only one instance: "Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him". (Psalm 68:4) An American Translation renders the Hebrew word as "Yah" in this verse. The complete Tetragrammaton was sometimes rendered differently, an example being the forms Yahuah(The earliest original translation of his name). Rotherham's Emphasised Bible includes 49 uses of Jah.
In the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition Bible, the Jerusalem Bible, and the New Jerusalem Bible (prior to 1998) the Name YHWH and abbreviated form Yah is found. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, a Bible translation used primarily by Jehovah's Witnesses, features the word "Jah" for all 26 occurrences of the shortened name in the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures (Old Testament), and translates 'Hallelujah' as 'Praise Jah, you people' in all 24 occurrences of that expression in the Hebrew Scriptures as well as its 4 occurrences in the Christian Greek Scriptures.
The popularity of reggae associated with the Rastafari movement has spread the name "Jah" (derived from the KJV Psalms 68:1) beyond the West Indies. Rastafarians use the terms "Jah" and "Jah Jah" as a term for God and/or Haile Selassie I who is also known by the Amharic title Janhoy (literally "Your Majesty").
[edit] Music
Jah is referenced in many reggae songs. For example, it is referenced in Bob Marley's "Is this Love", in the line: We'll share the same room, for Jah provide the bread. The Mighty Diamonds song "Pass The Dutchie", has the following lyric: Cause the spirit of Jah, you know he leads you on. Similarly, Mystic Roots' "Pass The Marijuana" contains the words: Pass the marijuana, give Jah thanks and praise today. Also Stevie Wonder's ode to Marley, "Master Blaster (Jammin')", contains the following verse lyric: We've agreed to get together, joined as children in Jah. P.O.D.'s Song, "Strength Of My Life", from their album Testify, contains the words: If Jah is for me, tell me whom I gon' fear? (no I won't fear), And Jah of Jacob, deserving of my love. Also, Jah is referenced many times in Damian Marley's song Road to Zion and in the songs of Costa Rican singer, Noah, such as "If you don't believe in Jah, we can not be together" Additionally, Jah has been linked to acid-reggae music. For example, the name can be heard in Thievery Corporation's song "The Outernationalist". Hardcore Punk/ Reggae band Bad Brains' first album contains the song 'I Luv I Jah'. The use of Jah in music is also evident in the up and rising reggae band, Soldiers of Jah Army, also known as SOJA.
"Jah" appears in other genres as well. The first line of Camper Van Beethoven's song "Take the Skinheads Bowling" is "Every day, I get up and pray to Jah."
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.watchtower.org/languages.htm - Reflects the number of languages in which the website is available. On printed paper, possibly more or less (some on website are sign languages).
- ^ Abbreviated Tetragrammaton in the Jewish Encyclopedia.
