‫השם מלך‬

“Hashem Melech”
Song by Gad Elbaz
Translation and Commentary by
W. Scott Hollander III
 ‫השם מלך‬
The Name is King
(The LORD is King)
 The Name ‫( הַ שֵּׁ ם‬Hashem)
“It is common Jewish practice to restrict the use of the names of

God to a liturgical context. In casual conversation some Jews, even

when not speaking Hebrew, will call God HaShem (‫)השם‬,which is

Hebrew for ‘the Name’ (cf. Leviticus 24:11 and

Deuteronomy 28:58).”
Job 1:21
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.

Psalm 145:1
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.

Daniel 2:20
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever
 The Name ‫( הַ שֵּׁ ם‬Hashem)
“The name stands in Holy Scripture for the nature or revealed character of
God, and not as a mere label or title. It is found very frequently in the Old
Testament as synonymous with God Himself in relation to man; for
example: ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower’ (Prov 18:10). ‘In the
name of the Lord will I destroy them’ (Ps 118:10); and: ‘Shall the enemy
blaspheme thy name?’ (Ps 74:10).”

W. H. Griffith Thomas, “Purpose of the Fourth Gospel,” Bibliotheca Sacra 125 (1968): 262.
 ‫ השם ימלוך לעולם ועד‬,‫ השם מלך‬,‫השם מלך‬

Hashem melech, The Name is King,

Hashem malach, The Name was King,

Hashem yimloch The Name will be King

le-olam va-ed To forever and until

 ‫ השם ימלוך לעולם ועד‬,‫ השם מלך‬,‫השם מלך‬

Hashem melech, The LORD is King,

Hashem malach, The LORD was King,
Hashem yimloch The LORD will be King
le-olam va-ed forever and ever.
Ahalell Hashem Elokim ve-agadlenu be-toda
I will praise the name of God [with a song];
I will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Ps 69:30)

Yod ve’He ve’Vav ve’He Hashem elokeinu Hashem echad

Y-H-W-H, The Name our God, The Name is one
Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

‫ֱֹלהַ֖ינּו יְׁ הוָ ָ֥ה אח ָָֽד‬

ֵּׁ ‫ְׁש ַ ַ֖מע יִ ְׁש ָר ֵּׁ ֵ֑אל יְׁ הוָ ָ֥ה א‬
echad YAHWEH Eloheinu YAHWEH Yisra'el Sh'ma
one is LORD the God our LORD the Israel Hear
 ‫ השם ימלוך לעולם ועד‬,‫ השם מלך‬,‫השם מלך‬

Hashem melech, The LORD is King,

Hashem malach, the LORD was King,
Hashem yimloch the LORD will be King
le-olam va-ed forever and ever.
Ahalell Hashem Elokim ve-agadlenu be-toda

Ahalell Hashem Elokim ve-agadlenu be-toda

I will praise the name of God;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Yod ve’He ve’Vav ve’He Hashem elokeinu Hashem echad

Yod ve’He ve’Vav ve’He Hashem elokeinu Hashem echad

Y-H-W-H, The LORD our God, the LORD is one