YHVH — the LORD
יְהוָה
The four-letter covenant Name, tied by God Himself to the verb 'to be' — the One who Is, was, and will be.
Jewish tradition guards this Name above all — written but never pronounced, read as Adonai (the perpetual qere), honored as HaShem, 'the Name.' Christian and Messianic thought hears in it the self-existent I AM whom Yeshua invoked (John 8:58), the covenant God whose Name is carried into 'Jesus' (YHVH saves).
First occurrence
Gen 2:4 — Joined to Elohim at Eden; its meaning unfolded at the burning bush
Key passages
Exod 3:15 — 'This is My name forever'
Exod 6:3 — 'By My name YHVH I was not known to them'
Exod 34:6 — The Name proclaimed: compassionate and gracious
Deut 6:4 — The Shema
Ps 83:18 — 'Whose name alone is YHVH'
In the Greek Scriptures
Κύριος (LXX/NT rendering)