יהוה

Where it comes from

Uncertain. The etymology of this theonym has been discussed extensively in scholarly literature. Possible etymologies include:

* Derived from the verbal form of הֱוֵה (“to be”), the masculine singular imperative of הָיָה (“to be”), with the third-person singular masculine prefix [script needed] (y-), according to Lewis (2020). The root's ancestor is reconstructed by Huehnergard (2011) as Proto-Semitic *h-w-y (“to fall, happen, be, become”). Lewis (2020) further interprets the word as a non-causative meaning of "the [permanently] existing one; the god who is" and a pre-monarchic archaic vocalization from another dialect than classical Hebrew, hence Yahweh instead of expected *Yihweh; compare יִהְיֶה (yihyeh, “he will be”).

* Meaning causative "he who causes to be" (reflecting Yahweh's role as a creator), by Albright, Freedman, and Cross.

* Meaning "he blows (it)" by van der Toorn. Cognate with Arabic هَوَى (hawā, “to blow, to breeze, to waft”).

* Meaning "he fells (with lightning)", causative of *hwy (“to fall”), by Wellhausen (1897). Cognate with Arabic هَوَى (hawā, “to descend, to sink”).