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Exploring the Invocation of Yahweh
Staying on Yahweh for a moment, you mentioned that it is a sequence of sounds. I have also heard that it is almost like an invocation of sounds that was known to our ancestors and is deeply ingrained in our subconscious. What are these sounds invoking when we say the name Yahweh, and what do they mean to our ancestors?
Dragon Stories Across Cultures
If we embark on a global tour of our ancestors’ stories about the deep past, we will find a recurring narrative pattern known as dragon stories. These tales describe a time when our ancestors were ruled by entities that were not human, had no empathy for us, and governed through terror and overwhelming power.
The names of these draconian rulers—such as Quetzalcoatl, Kukulkan, Quetzal, Kishak, Kokachidra, Kuchu, Kur, and Draig in Wales—often share a common phonetic element, the “k” or “ch” sound.
The Two Families of Dragon Stories
The shape of dragon stories is particularly intriguing. There are two main families of these narratives.
The older family tells of dragons who came and terraformed Earth because they took pity on human beings living on a planet that had been devastated by some cataclysm.
Julien d’Huy, an expert from the CNRS in Paris, argues for a second wave of dragon stories, which I would date to about 10,000 years ago. In this wave, the dragons arrive, take control, and rule through violence and terror.
They demand continuous supplies of beef, lamb, gold, and virgin girls, making human existence centered around serving these overlords.
The Revolt Against the Dragons
This subjugation persists until humans, wearied by their servitude and the terror imposed upon them, realize that solidarity and collective action are their means of liberation.
The realization that “If we come together and speak with one voice and say, ‘We’ll no longer serve the dragon,’ what can it do? It’s not going to kill us all, is it?” becomes a turning point.
This shift from despair to courage leads to a collective uprising, and in various stories, it is a prince who confronts and defeats the dragon, either by spearing or beheading it.
Yahweh as a Draconian Figure
There are early narratives carrying the name of Yahweh that follow this exact structure.
Descriptions of Yahweh in these stories are distinctly draconian, detailing the length of his snout, the strength of his hide, his flight feathers, the length of his tail, and his ability to ignite his breath and incinerate people.
This portrayal aligns with that of a dragon. In 1 Samuel 8, Yahweh is depicted as being overthrown by the people who refuse to serve him any longer, mirroring the dragon story arc.
Phonetic Connections and Sound Evolution
One might wonder about the phonetic connection, as Yahweh doesn’t immediately sound like the figures in other dragon stories. However, the two “h” sounds in Yahweh have not always been silent.
They followed a pattern of sound softening common in languages worldwide, known as affrication. For example, a “b” becomes a “v,” a “v” becomes a “w,” a “p” becomes an “f,” and a “t” becomes a “th.” In Proto-Northwest Semitic, the ancestor of Hebrew, the two “h” sounds in Yahweh were pronounced in a manner consistent with the sounds associated with dragon stories globally.
Interpreting the Dragon Narrative
Some may interpret these dragon narratives figuratively, seeing them as metaphors for other powers or draconian rule in the sense of using terror.
However, the stories consistently follow the same social progress pattern: they illustrate people discovering the power of grassroots solidarity to effect change.
This theme is evident in recent history, such as the Philippines’ struggle, the Czechoslovak movement, and the period leading to Nelson Mandela’s release.
These were massive grassroots actions that created significant political change.
The real lesson of dragon stories is the transformative power of collective action, although the detailed physical descriptions may suggest something more literal than mere metaphor.
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to YHWH. And YHWH told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
1 Samuel 8:4-9 (NIV):
