Tehillim 72.17 ינין or ינון?

Question

Is messiahs name ינין or ינון? I know the vav and the yo'd are very similar, is this why it reads differently ?

Answer 1

This is a "Kri Ksiv" situation in which it is spelled with a vav and pronounced with a yud Note that it is a verb and it means will be magnified

Tehillime 72:17

יְהִי שְׁמוֹ | לְעוֹלָם לִפְנֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ יִנּוֹן (כתיב יִנֹּין) שְׁמוֹ וְיִתְבָּרְכוּ בוֹ כָּל גּוֹיִם יְאַשְּׁרֻהוּ

May his name be forever; before the sun, his name will be magnified, and [people] will bless themselves with him; all nations will praise him.

Rashi

May his name: [May] Solomon’s name be remembered forever for his riches and his wisdom.

before the sun, his name will be magnified: All the days of the sun, his name will be magnified.

will be magnified: Heb. ינון, an expression of kingdom and dominion, as (Prov. 29:21): “he will ultimately be a ruler (מנון) ; (Gen. 21:23),” and to my son (ולניני) , “ who rules over my property after me; (below 74:8),” They said in their heart, their rulers (נינם) together" ; their kings together.

will bless themselves with him: A person will say to his son, “May you be wise and rich like Solomon.”

Answer 2

The idea of the name for the Messiah comes first from Tractate Sanhedrin which discusses Messiah's appearance. The context of the following comes from Psalm 72:17 -

b. Sanhedrin, Folio 98B
The School of R. Yannai said: His name is Yinnon, for it is written, His name shall endure for ever: e'er the sun was, his name is Yinnon.

Another mention of this same verse appears in Pesachim, Folio 54A, which discusses the pre-existence of the name of Messiah.

In other words, the word (or name) of ינון contains not only the meaning of (everlasting) perpetuity, but also of pre-existence.