Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, naming holds significant theological and cultural importance. Names in the Bible often reflect character, destiny, divine purpose, or circumstances surrounding a person's birth. The act of naming is frequently depicted as an expression of authority and identity, with God, parents, or significant figures in the biblical narrative bestowing names.
Divine NamingGod's act of naming is foundational in Scripture. In
Genesis 1, God names the day and night, the sky, the land, and the seas, establishing His sovereignty over creation. This divine prerogative is further exemplified in
Genesis 17:5, where God changes Abram's name to Abraham, saying, "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations" . Similarly, Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, signifying her role as a mother of nations.
Human NamingHuman naming in the Bible often reflects personal or familial circumstances. Eve names her firstborn Cain, saying, "With the help of the LORD, I have brought forth a man" (
Genesis 4:1). Names can also express parental hopes or divine revelations, as seen in the naming of Isaac, which means "he laughs," reflecting both Abraham and Sarah's laughter at God's promise of a son in their old age (
Genesis 21:3-6).
Prophetic and Symbolic NamingProphets in the Bible sometimes use names symbolically to convey divine messages. The prophet Hosea names his children to symbolize God's relationship with Israel: Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah ("not loved"), and Lo-Ammi ("not my people") (
Hosea 1:4-9). These names serve as living prophecies of Israel's impending judgment and eventual restoration.
Name ChangesName changes in the Bible often signify a transformation or new mission. Jacob's name is changed to Israel after wrestling with God, indicating his new role as the father of the twelve tribes (
Genesis 32:28). In the New Testament, Saul becomes Paul, marking his conversion and mission to the Gentiles (
Acts 13:9).
The Name of GodThe name of God is of utmost significance in the Bible. God's self-revelation to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM" (
Exodus 3:14) reveals His eternal, self-existent nature. The tetragrammaton YHWH, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations, is considered sacred and central to Israel's worship and identity.
The Name of JesusIn the New Testament, the name of Jesus holds unparalleled significance. The angel instructs Joseph to name Mary's son Jesus, "because He will save His people from their sins" (
Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus, derived from the Hebrew Yeshua, means "The LORD saves," encapsulating His mission and divine identity.
Philippians 2:9-10 declares, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow."
Cultural and Theological ImplicationsNaming in the Bible is not merely a cultural practice but a theological act that reveals God's character, human identity, and divine purpose. It underscores the belief that names carry power, authority, and prophetic significance, shaping the narrative of God's redemptive work throughout Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Name.
Library
Circumcision, Temple Service, andNaming of Jesus.
... The Period of Christ's Life Prior to His Ministry. XII. Circumcision, Temple Service,
andNaming of Jesus. (the Temple at Jerusalem, bc4) ^C Luke 2:21-39....
How St Francis, when About to Die, Blessed the Holy Brother...
... HERE BEGIN THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER VI HOW ST FRANCIS,
WHEN ABOUT TO DIE, BLESSED THE HOLY BROTHER BERNARD,NAMING HIM VICAR OF...
I am Told, Further, that You Touch with Some Critical Sharpness...
... Was there anything to prevent mynaming in my letter that most eloquent man Gregory?
Which of all the Latins is his equal? I may well glory and exult in him....
The Argument E Contrario.
... He shows that there had been some contention about this point; for the extinction
whereof he uses the whole compendiousness (of language): notnaming the virgin...
Thy Name: My Name
... I. What does God's calling a man by his name imply? 1. Intimate knowledge. Adam
naming the creatures. Christnaming His disciples. 2. Loving friendship....
On Admonition and Repentance.
... In the Persons and in thenaming, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, three Names and
Persons, these three shall be a wall to thee, against divisions and wranglings...
Passages from Moses, which the Heretics Pervert to the Support of...
... pointed out the mother of all things when he says, "In the beginning God created
the heaven and the earth;" [2879] for, as they maintain, bynaming these four...
Of the Argument Drawn from 1 Cor. xi. 5-16.
... that there should be no distinction, willed that by the one name of woman should
likewise be understood the virgin; whom, by not speciallynaming, He has not...
Chapter v
... things previously stated? Why recall the God likeness, the two sexes, God's
blessing and thenaming of the race? This brief recapitulation...
The Secret Burden
... For all Thy gifts to me of grace, nature, fortune""(enumerating andnaming them,
and taking time to do it)""for all Thy forbearance, long-suffering, long...
Thesaurus
Naming (21 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Name. Multi-Version Concordance
Naming (21 Occurrences). 2 Timothy 2:19 sure, nevertheless
...Old (3966 Occurrences)
... Meanwhile, as innaming the animals the man finds no real companion, Yahweh God
"builds" one of the man's ribs into a woman, and the man recognizes her...
Nanaea
Testament (13 Occurrences)
... Meanwhile, as innaming the animals the man finds no real companion, Yahweh God
"builds" one of the man's ribs into a woman, and the man recognizes her...
Building (249 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Judges 1:26 And he went into the land of the Hittites, building a town
there andnaming it Luz: which is its name to this day. (BBE)....
Adam (29 Occurrences)
... Meanwhile, as innaming the animals the man finds no real companion, Yahweh God
"builds" one of the man's ribs into a woman, and the man recognizes her...
Nameth (1 Occurrence)
Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... of his accession and raising of the indemnity to Pharaoh-necoh, followed by a brief
resume of his reign, are narrated in 2 Kings 23:34-24:6. Thenaming of the...
Jeshanah (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and put it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah,
naming it Eben-ezer, and saying, Up to now the Lord has been our help. (BBE)....
Resources
What does it mean that it is not good for a man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)? | GotQuestions.orgIs christening in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the biblical Creation story? | GotQuestions.orgNaming: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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