The following is a brief history on the Name YHVH and its significance in Hebrew history.
ㅤㅤThe name YHVH is regarded as the Name in the proper form. YHVH was known in the first rabbinical literature as merely "The Name."
ㅤㅤFurthermore, God was also known as Shem-ha-Meyuḥad ["the Extraordinary Name"; Numbers. 143]; as Shem-ha-Meforash ["the Distinguished Name"; Mishneh Yoma 6:2]; as Shem-ben-Arba'Otiyyot ["the Tetragrammaton"; Ḳid. 71a], and Yod-He-Vav-He ["YHVH"].
ㅤㅤThe intonation of the written "Name" was done only by rabbis in the synagogue when blessing people [Numbers 6:22-27]; beyond the synagogue, rabbis used the title "Adonai" [Soṭah 7:6; p. 38a].
ㅤㅤHigh priests mention the Name on Yom Kippur ten times according to Tosef., Yoma, 2.; 39b.
ㅤㅤR. Johanan stated the sages surrendered to their disciples the answer to the Name once every Holiday year. The sages recited, "This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations" [Exodus. 3:15].
ㅤㅤHere the word "le-'olam" [forever] is corrupted, being without the "vav" for the vowel "o," which renders the reading "le-'allem" ["to conceal"; Ḳid. 71a].
ㅤㅤForty years after the destruction of the Temple, and after the death of the high priest Simeon the Righteous, all rabbis ceased saying the Name of the Lord [Mishneh Yoma 39b]. Since that time, pronouncing the Lord's Name has been prohibited. "Whoever pronounces the Name forfeits his portion in the future world" [Mishneh Sanh. 11:1]. In fact, rabbi Hananiah ben Ṭeradion received punishment for teaching his students the pronunciation of the Name [Mishneh 'Ab. Zarah 17b].
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