The Linguistic and Cultural Impact of the Chinese Union Bible’s Translation of YHWH

The United Chinese Bible (1919), the most widely distributed Bible translation in China, transliterates YHWH as "YeHeHua". This translation has been widely accepted in the Chinese Christian community and recognized in a broader social context, making "YeHeHua" a common name associated with the Christian faith among Chinese people. In the Jewish and Western Christian traditions, in which YHWH is considered too sacred to pronounce, the name of God is usually replaced by “LORD.” However, in the Chinese Christian context, "YeHeHua" is freely used in liturgy and daily communication, strengthening the intimate relationship between man and God in the community of believers. In addition, Jesus (YeSu) shares the syllable "Ye" with YeHeHua, establishing a linguistic association between Jesus and God and strengthening Chinese believers' understanding of Jesus as the Son of God. Although YeHeHua has become part of the Christian identity in China, its pronunciation remains controversial. Some churches have advocated tweaking the transliteration of YHWH to more faithfully reflect the original Hebrew text and avoid misleading perceptions, such as the belief that Jehovah and Jesus "share the same surname." At the same time, these churches also believe that calling God by his name may contradict traditional theological notions and Western Christian practices. However, history shows that the spread of Christianity has always been accompanied by linguistic and cultural adaptation. Changing the established transliteration of YHWH could weaken the cultural identity already rooted in the Chinese community of believers, thus affecting the stability of the faith. This study will explore the missional effect of biblical translation, noting that enforcing Western linguistic traditions may alienate Chinese believers. At the same time, the preservation of YeHeHua can enhance the distinctiveness of Christianity in Chinese culture. Finally, this study argues that contextualization is necessary for Christianity's mission.