# The O left out in the word God **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794 "2014-03-15T21:00:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/21 "2014-03-17T13:42:54Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Reported for saying “Je-” – hey, wait a second. > I’m smart enough to figure _that_ out, thank Jehovah. _throws rock_ ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/22 "2014-03-17T14:25:52Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Actually it’s more of a job description. > > As we all know, his name is “Harold.” 😉 No no no. It’s the angels that are named Harold. Hark the Harold Angels Sing! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/23 "2014-03-17T15:50:18Z")
From out in right field: I know I have seen G-d used as an abbreviation for (pardon me) “Goddam,” but damned if I’m gonna go look for a cite. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/24 "2014-03-17T15:54:28Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > From out in right field: > > I know I have seen G-d used as an abbreviation for (pardon me) “Goddam,” but damned if I’m gonna go look for a cite. 😉 That would be **g.d.** or **gd** , NOT with a hyphen though. I do that myself. I am self-citing. (Is that like a selfie?) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/25 "2014-03-17T18:07:43Z")
It’s like the glasses Clark Kent wears. The hyphen in G-d acts like those glasses. We all know Clark Kent is really Superman, just like we all know “G-d” is really “God”. Especially God, Himself. So I really have know idea if anyone thinks they’re foolin’ anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/26 "2014-03-18T01:52:51Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > There are several different words used for God in the Hebrew Bible, and most Orthodox Jews not only won’t write the four-lettered Name, they also won’t write the Hebrew _Elohim_ usually translated “Lord.” I don’t think they use L-rd. As noted, I don’t have any problem with writing English letters. I once saw a subway ad from Chabad that used “A-mighty” ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/27 "2014-03-18T04:02:01Z")
Well, some of the observant Purim revelers might still be nursing their hangovers. Just for some more strangeness: As some of you may know, the “name” of God as some have taken from the Hebrew Bible is Jehovah, from the letters (most?) often used when The Big Guy is mentioned: a “y”(yud), a “h”(hey), a “v”(vahv), a “h”(hey). Words in parents are the sounded-out transliteration a of the four Hebrew letters. That’s it, those there. No vowels, no nothing. Hence, Jehovah, Yahweh, take your pick. The fact is, no religious Jew would be caught dead sounding out those four letters; in fact, it would be practically nonsensical. In prayer it is spoken–ie, when we addressing Him or dropping His Name (caps intentional)–as “Adonai”: Adon is “Lord”, the “ai” I have no idea where it’s from or how to parse it. Fact is, that’s name is _as we use it_, and we know quite well it isn’t really. And remember, YVHV is a stand in _to begin with_. [Groove on this](http://www.torah-voice.org/thename.htm)if you want the hard-core. Check out all the fences built around this Name. Remember how I said YHVH is pronounced “Adonai?” Well, that’s only when you’re praying, and are in the right spirit to use it so freely. When, say, you’re quoting a bit of Torah where God’s Name is mentioned, usually you use, or see printed, the word “HaShem,” which means, simply, “The Name.” A few Passovers ago we used a Hagadah (text of the Seder) printed by a religious publisher who in the facing English translation printed HaShem at all those places; during the Seder it caused some confusion and dismay among those who knew and didn’t know the text even minimally–ie, why is this night different than all others when Jews get together that they’re thanking HaShem for this and that, rather than, you know, the Name you want/need to hear/say when you’re getting down and dirty, ie praying. Now that we know about HaShem, we can see another euphemism Jews will use when dropping His Name when not actively “using” it: “Adoshem,” which is a portmanteau of “Ado…”(ack! stop!) and Shem (name). Another Name of God common in the Hebrew Bible is sounded out, with more orthographic authority, as “Elohim.” When mentioned in any setting outside of praying! Jews will pronounce it Elokim. Now, naturally enough, the letters/phenomenon/scriptural fact of the letters YHVH are also spoken of (and all of this appears in written context, of course). Unsurprisingly, one says “yud kay vhav kay,” skirting the second and fourth “hey.” If you know anyone who knows the real name, and how to say it, he’s got a job waiting for him at the Holy Temple. (See the hard-core cite above.) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/28 "2014-03-18T09:16:07Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I wonder why some people write the word God and leave out the O. I believe it comes from Not taking the Lord’s name in vain, but the word God is a title not a name. From the introduction to the “Revised Standard Version” > [@](#): > > (1) the word “Jehovah” does not accurately represent any form of the Name ever used in Hebrew; and (2) the use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom He had to be distinguished, was discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church. In the standard English Christian tradition, the word God is not a name, and is not a title: it is a noun, like ‘apple’ or ‘wife’. ---
**Author:** ![kaltkalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/29 "2014-03-18T13:06:57Z")
I’d always been told it was because these religious people think writing the name in full demeans god, since he is so super-duper special and amazing that merely writing out his name/title like any other word is demeaning. It’s a super word! So they leave out the o in the middle and write a dash instead. It accomplishes the same thing, but somehow is not demeaning based on the same standard. God is so great his name can’t even be written in full much like the Queen is so great you’re not supposed to look her directly in the eye. Same concept. The mystery to me is why only jews do this and not all religious people. I’d expect there to be a religious arms race of sorts to see which religious group can write “god” with the fewest letters and least ink. Thus the invention of the quarter-period, a dot so small you need a fancy printer to make it. Strange that it never happened. At the very least it’s strange we don’t see christians writing “Je-us” instead of “Jesus”. Why should jews be more reverential to their god than you are to yours? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/30 "2014-03-18T13:50:56Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > So it’s “b-ss,” then. No, it’s Dick. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/31 "2014-03-18T14:48:04Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > From the introduction to the “Revised Standard Version” > In the standard English Christian tradition, the word God is not a name, and is not a title: it is a noun, like ‘apple’ or ‘wife’. Then why is it capitalized? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/32 "2014-03-18T15:54:37Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Then why is it capitalized? It refers to a unique entity, assuming you’re a monotheist. Proper nouns aren’t only names. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/33 "2014-03-18T16:42:41Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > From out in right field: > > I know I have seen G-d used as an abbreviation for (pardon me) “Goddam,” but damned if I’m gonna go look for a cite. 😉 > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > That would be **g.d.** or **gd** , NOT with a hyphen though. I do that myself. I am self-citing. (Is that like a selfie?) I have seen it written with multiple hyphens, replacing the missing letters: G-- D— (note that the word is “damn”, not “dam”). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/34 "2014-03-18T17:55:04Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I have seen it written with multiple hyphens, replacing the missing letters: G-- D— (note that the word is “damn”, not “dam”). Not that you’re insinuating anything, **mbh** , but I did know it’s “damn,” not “dam.” Now that you bring it up, it’s actually, “God Damned,” so there’s obviously no canon in swearing, dammit! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/35 "2014-03-18T20:34:17Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Not that you’re insinuating anything, **mbh** , but I did know it’s “damn,” not “dam.” Now that you bring it up, it’s actually, “God Damned,” so there’s obviously no canon in swearing, dammit! 😃 Depends whether you are being descriptive (God damned toaster) or making a request (God damn it all to Hell and back). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/36 "2014-03-18T21:05:16Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Depends whether you are being descriptive (God damned toaster) or making a request (God damn it all to Hell and back). It feels a little weird thanking you for clearing that up. That occurred to me a half hour later, but I didn’t want to incur the wrath of _Whoever_ by making additional swears. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/37 "2014-03-18T21:58:29Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > It feels a little weird thanking you for clearing that up. That occurred to me a half hour later, but I didn’t want to incur the wrath of _Whoever_ by making additional swears. I’m atheist. There ain’t no whoevers, unless perchance you mean the SDMB mods (I suppose they are rather godly). ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/38 "2014-03-22T10:03:31Z")
> [@kaltkalt](#): > > The mystery to me is why only jews do this and not all religious people. … At the very least it’s strange we don’t see christians writing “Je-us” instead of “Jesus”. Torah scrolls and most contemporary Hebrew writing are still written without vowels. You can call this “cultural” or you can call this “religious”, but either way it is different to contemporary English writing and Christian Bibles. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/39 "2014-03-22T11:53:30Z")
A little more on the “Jehovah” thing: as **Leo Bloom** remarked, in the Hebrew Bible, God’s Name is Y-H-V-H. There is no J-sound in ancient Hebrew. All the biblical names that start (in English) with J, start with Y in Hebrew: Joseph is Yoseph, Jordan is Yardayn, etc. The first translations of the bible into common language was done into German; in German, the letter J is pronounced Y, as is “jah” pronounced “yah.” Hence, Yeremiah became Jeremiah, etc. The German bible moved into English,and the names kept the German spelling. Hence, in English we have all these J-names that are far from authentic. We do not know how Y-H-V-H was pronounced. The biblical texts say that it WASN’T pronounced, except on the holiest day of the year, in the holiest part of the temple, by the high priest. The pronunciation has been lost for a long time. Those pesky Germans decided that Y-H-V-H was pronounced YeHoVaH and so we get Jehovah. Modern scholars are pretty sure that’s not correct, Yah-weh is most likely. But we don’t know. I think it’s of interest that the Name of God is all (basically) aspirated letters: it’s as if the Name of God were a breath, rather than a word. Yuh Huh Whuh Huh. Again, the reason for not writing “God” is that it’s considered (by those who write “G-d”) disrespectful to write God’s Name (or Title), even in English, on something that is to be discarded. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794/40 "2014-03-22T13:26:08Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > … > I think it’s of interest that the Name of God is all (basically) aspirated letters: it’s as if the Name of God were a breath, rather than a word. Yuh Huh Whuh Huh. … Neat. Very Om-ic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-o-left-out-in-the-word-god/683794.md?page=3)