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What's in a name?
What's in a name? Well there's a lot more to be discovered about Biblical names of people than we initially realise! The same is true of names of Biblical places. Many names in scripture tell us about the character of that person and have prophetic significance too.
Lets therefore take a brief survey of some interesting names found in scripture...
I believe we are descended from Adam and Eve. Adam in Hebrew means 'man, red earth, clay, or dust because that was what he was created from. Similarly Eve means 'Mother of living' and she also gave birth to Cain & Abel. Cain killed Abel and Seth was their next son meaning 'appointed, compensation or substitute' who was literally compensation for Abel.
The names of the 1st 10 patriarchs give the Gospel story
- Adam - Man
- Seth - Appointed
- Enosh - Mortal
- Kenan - Sorrow
- Mahahalel - The Blessed God
- Jared - Shall come down
- Enoch - Teaching
- Methuselah - His death shall bring
- Lamech - The despairing
- Noah - Rest or comfort
Man is appointed mortal sorrow but the Blessed God shall come down teaching that His death shall bring the despairing rest.
Jesus (meaning Saviour) did exactly that when He nailed our sins to the cross past, present and future (See John 3:16)
God changed Abram's name (lofty father) to Abraham meaning (father of a multitude) This name contains a prophetic destiny in accordance with Yahweh's everlasting and unconditional covenant with Abraham. Abraham would have numerous descendants and whoever blessed his descendants would be blessed and whoever cursed them would be cursed. (see Gen 12:3) Their Son Isaac's name means (laughter) as they found it incredulous that Sarah would bear a child at her age which was a little short of a century! Isaac's son Jacob means trickster, supplanter or deceiver and he was true to his name as he tricked Esau out of obtaining the birthright and also his uncle Laban who was almost a match for him when Laban changed Jacob's wages ten times! It was only when Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32 when Jesus occurred in His pre-incarnate form that Jacob changed. Jacob's name was changed to Israel meaning (straightened by Elohim/God) His character as well as His name changed!!
Each of Jacob's sons had names that have special significance. To mention a few Dan, short for Daniel means (Elohim is my judge), Judah means (praise) and Levi means (attached) Levi was the priestly tribe attached with all the priestly functions. A great study is using a good study bible and concordance on the names in Genesis 30 and comparing those with Jacob's blessing on his sons in Genesis 49!
How many of us would like to have a friend like Ruth? (friend, companion) Ruth was faithful saying to Naomi 'wherever you go, I shall go.' Ruth means friend or companion, hence someone or somebody who is ruthless contains none of the attributes that any sane person would want to be described concerning a friend of theirs!
Samuel means (heard or asked of Elohim/God) Before Hannah dedicated Samuel to Yahweh she was barren and asked Him to provide her with a child who she would then dedicate to Yahweh. Samuel was 'asked or heard of God' when he heard someone calling him, four times in fact. He thought it was ELI but it was ELOHIM that was calling him.ELI means (my God) so Samuel was listening to a man 'my Elohim' rather than the actual Elohim. A similar confusion arose in Matthew 27:46 whereby Jesus called out 'Eli, Eli, Lama sabachtani' meaning 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?' The onlookers thought Jesus was calling for Elijah (Elohim is my Yahweh) whilst He was communicating with His heavenly Father. They failed to recognise that God was in flesh and dwelt among them and allowed Himself to be crucified for their sins whilst they thought he was just a man!
The name of our Saviour is Jesus. In the Hebrew (Yeshua) He is exactly that! He is our Saviour and the means of our salvation. He is also our Redeemer having settled our sin debts through His shed blood on the cross. Other names in scripture have the same root. Moses changed Joshua's name (saviour or salvation) to Yehoshua (Yahweh is salvation). Hosea and Isaiah also have names with the root meaning. (salvation)
When the Jews asked Jesus whether He was greater than their father Abraham, Jesus replied 'before Abaraham was I AM' (John 8:58) Yahweh revealed Himself to Moses as I AM. Yahweh and I AM are derived from the verb 'to be'. So I AM can be understood as I AM THAT I WILL BE. That statement implies Yahwehs omniscience, omnipotence and omniscience so only He alone is God! Think about it! Jesus voluntarily humbled Himself by taking human form whilst fully God. He was 'appointed' as our 'substitute' (remember Seth) Righteous Abel's blood cried out from the ground as he was unjustly killed after he had provided an offering pleasing to Yahweh. He who knew no sin died in our place, substituting our sin that we could never repay.
Do you think that it was a coincidence that Zacharias was struck dumb and insisted that his name be called John, in Hebrew Yohanan, (God is gracious) As prophesied John prepared the way for the Messiah in the spirit of Elijah. Note Elisha had a double portion of the blessing that Yahweh gave to Elijah and John considered himself not good enough to tie Jesus sandals saying 'He must increase and I must decrease.'
No wonder at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow!
(Hallelujah - praise Yahweh)
Amen! |
