Epigraphic observation Claim · OrthographyC01
The Mesha Stele has YHWH written as a four-letter name by the ninth century BCE.
- Epistemic status
- Attested epigraphic_observation
- Support level
- High as recorded by the editors
- Topic
- Orthography
Caveat. No vowel pointing; do not infer Yahweh directly from this inscription.
Supporting or contextual sources
- Mesha Stele (AO 5066)High reliabilityMusée du Louvre · Louvre Collections · n.d.Supports or contextualizes · See source scope and caveats
- Mesha stele historical identification in Fleming introductionHigh reliabilityDaniel E. Fleming · Cambridge University Press · 2020Supports or contextualizes · See source scope and caveats
Other claims on orthography
Elephantine textual evidence contains independent shortened spellings YHW and YHH.Discussion
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