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 Naming

God'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 Naming

Human 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 Naming

Prophets 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 Changes

Name 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 God

The 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 Jesus

In 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 Implications

Naming 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.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Name.

Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus.
... The Period of Christ's Life Prior to His Ministry. XII. Circumcision, Temple Service,
and Naming of Jesus. (the Temple at Jerusalem, bc4) ^C Luke 2:21-39. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xii circumcision temple service and.htm

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 ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter vi how st francis.htm

I am Told, Further, that You Touch with Some Critical Sharpness ...
... Was there anything to prevent my naming in my letter that most eloquent man Gregory?
Which of all the Latins is his equal? I may well glory and exult in him. ...
/.../13 i am told further.htm

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): not naming the virgin ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter viii the argument e contrario.htm

Thy Name: My Name
... I. What does God's calling a man by his name imply? 1. Intimate knowledge. Adam
naming the creatures. Christ naming His disciples. 2. Loving friendship. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/thy name my name.htm

On Admonition and Repentance.
... In the Persons and in the naming, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, three Names and
Persons, these three shall be a wall to thee, against divisions and wranglings ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/on admonition and repentance.htm

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, by naming these four ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xviii passages from moses which.htm

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 specially naming, He has not ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter iv of the argument drawn.htm

Chapter v
... things previously stated? Why recall the God likeness, the two sexes, God's
blessing and the naming of the race? This brief recapitulation ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter v.htm

The Secret Burden
... For all Thy gifts to me of grace, nature, fortune""(enumerating and naming them,
and taking time to do it)""for all Thy forbearance, long-suffering, long ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xxii the secret burden.htm

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 ...
/n/naming.htm - 12k

Old (3966 Occurrences)
... Meanwhile, as in naming 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 ...
/o/old.htm - 101k

Nanaea

/n/nanaea.htm - 8k

Testament (13 Occurrences)
... Meanwhile, as in naming 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 ...
/t/testament.htm - 101k

Building (249 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Judges 1:26 And he went into the land of the Hittites, building a town
there and naming it Luz: which is its name to this day. (BBE). ...
/b/building.htm - 47k

Adam (29 Occurrences)
... Meanwhile, as in naming 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 ...
/a/adam.htm - 63k

Nameth (1 Occurrence)

/n/nameth.htm - 6k

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. The naming of the ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

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). ...
/j/jeshanah.htm - 8k

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Naming: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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