Why is the “o” sometimes omitted in "God"?
Why is the “o” sometimes omitted when writing the word “God”?
This is a popular Jewish custom that is done out of reverence for God. The Lord's Hebrew name in Scripture - YHVH (יהוה) - is never spoken aloud by observant Jewish people and is treated with the highest degree of respect. And in Jewish publications, this ancient name of God would never be written. This has carried over to omitting the "o" when writing out the word "God." For many Jewish people, this is a comforting ritual that reminds God is holy and the name of God is also holy.
Additionally, Deuteronomy 12:4 prohibits erasing, destroying or desecrating God's name. As the times are always changing, it is believed that by writing God's name "G-d," no matter what might be discarded or destroyed in the future, God's name would not be desecrated, as it was not the true spelling.
Some might ask... "Does it make sense to write 'G-d,' but then say the name 'God' in conversation?" Some Orthodox Jews fix this problem by replacing "God" with "HaShem," which means, "The Name." While replacing "God" with "G-d" isn't Jewish law, it is a well-practiced custom that helps make life more reverent for some observant Jewish people; even for some Messianic Jews.
Our purpose in sharing things like this is not to imply that these traditions have to be followed by believers in Jesus/Messianic Jews, but in order to help others better learn about and understand their Jewish neighbors and friends so that they can better build bridges and connections with them