We all have personal names. If you have forgotten yours, think back to that time you broke a lamp, stole a candy bar, or lied about your grade on that test. Our mother never forgot our personal name, in fact, in situations such as these she often included our middle name just to ensure no one else would be confused and think she was talking to them, right?
Though there isn’t total agreement on meaning or pronunciation, four Hebrew characters make up God’s personal name to the Israelites—in English we would transliterate it to “YHWH” but in most English Bibles you will see “LORD” (in all capital letters). Think of this as a reference that is more specific than simply saying “God,” thus personalizing and differentiating Him from the gods of the surrounding nations.
