NAMES FROM SCRIPTURE New Name (Abram…) Names used just twice (copy-cat) Names with meanings Surnames (last names) Name above every name (Phil2:9)

WHAT’S IN A NAME? ‘You can’t tell a book by its cover’, and ‘a rose by any other name would smell as sweet’, so we recognize a fundamental question about the Truth or veracity of someone’s name. Were they accurately or prophetically named, or was someone just hoping the baby grew up to exemplify or personify that name? Jacob & Esau were twins, but Esau was the first-born, and later we learn how God says “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” The name “Jacob” means Supplanter (Gen27:36), but because he won the birthright and blessing from his brother Esau, he is sometimes called a ‘deceiver’. In the story, he told his mother “I shall seem to be a deceiver”. Gen27:12.

A CHANGE OF NAMES Abram’s name was changed to Abraham Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah Jacob’s name was changed to Israel Samson’s father asked the Angel of the Lord what his name was, and the angel said it was “Secret”. (or wonderful) Judg13:18 MANY NAMES: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

NAMES WITH MEANINGS: Many are direct from text Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah – Seeing, Hearing, Joined, and Now will I praise the Lord. Gen 29:32-35. Jesus is the ‘Lion of the Tribe of Judah’, Rev5:5, so his genealogy proceeds through this 4th son of Leah (the unloved). Benjamin, tribe #12, means “Son of the right hand”. Gen35:18. When Joseph was born (first-born of the loved wife), his mother Rachel: “called his name Joseph and said ‘the Lord shall add to me another son”. Gen30:24. So that’s what ‘Joseph’ means! Rachel means “ewe” – a female sheep to birth the Lamb of God!

Names used twice: copy-cat names Scripture records many Mary’s and Simon’s and Joseph’s, etc. so the hidden-truth of names used just twice is rarely discussed. So why do people copy names from someone else? Not enough names to go ‘round? Two Enoch’s: The 7th from Adam, and 3rd from Adam. Two Lamech’s: The 9th from Adam and 7th from Adam. Two Abigail’s: David’s sister, and David’s wife. Two Saul’s: First king of Israel, and Saul became Paul. Two notable Tamar’s: ‘Played the harlot’, and daughter of David.

Names used only once in Scripture: Adam, Eve, Noah, Jonah, Ruth, Samuel, David, are just a few of the names which occur only once – so we KNOW exactly which person the story is about. We don’t have to wonder whether it’s the Joseph, husband of Mary, or the Joseph, 2nd to the Pharaoh, or maybe the Joseph of Arimathaea. Immanuel (Hebrew) and Emmanuel (Greek) each mean “God with us”, Matt 1:23, Isa7:14. That’s the figurative name, but Joseph obeyed the angel, Matt 1:21, and named him Jesus. “ICHABOD” – 1Sam4:21 – “She named the baby Ichabod, saying, The glory has departed from Israel…”

SURNAMES: Last name/Father’s name Surnames aren’t used in the Old Testament although Isaiah speaks of them in 44:5 and 45:4. The “begats” compiled the father-to-son generations, but instead of using a second name, individuals were often described in relation to their father. Jesus personally surnamed Simon Peter, Mk3:16. It’s the Greek word Petros (small rock), like Cephus (stone) in Aramaic. Jn1:42. Folks use the name Peter as a first-name so often that it’s easy to forget scripture calls it a surname. Jesus also surnamed James and John Boanerges (Sons of thunder), Mk3:17, so that, by extension, their father would have been called Zebedee Boanerges – it’s a “father’s name”.

A NEW NAME? BUT WHY? “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches…” Prov22:1 Before Jacob became “Israel”, he wrestled with the man/angel. Now, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” but when we study to show ourselves good workmen, and prevail in understanding of Scripture, we enter into marriage and become part of the Bride of Christ, with a new name! The name Jehovah was NEW in Exodus 6:3 The name Jesus was NEW in Matthew, the 40th book of the Bible. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life begins at Forty!

A final note about Names “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. Acts 4:12 “To him that overcometh…will I give a white stone, and in the stone a NEW NAME written…” Rev2:17 “Wherefore God has highly exalted (Jesus) and given him a name which is above every name”. Phil 2:9