Bible Understanding of a Name Part 1
The Hebrew word which is translated, “name” is shem. The etymology of this word is little help in understanding the significance of a name. However, throughout the Old Testament we are given many indications that personal name meant much more than a means of identification. “In the modern world, a person’s name is merely an identifying label, like a number, which could be changed without loss. Bible names, however, have their background in the widespread tradition that personal names give information, describing in some way who people are.
To explain and give one’s name was to reveal the central aspect of one’s personality and character. Consider the following examples:
1. 1 Sam. 25:23-25, the name of Nabal is equated with his existence, character and reputation:
23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant. 25 “Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
2. 1 Sam. 24:21: To destroy a name is equivalent to destroying the person.
21 “So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”
3. Names used for the devil are descriptive of his character, personality and deeds. The personal name, Satan, means adversary, opposer, and was consistently used by the Hebrews to refer to the devil.
4. Names like Esau (which means, red), and Laban (which means, blond), were descriptive of physical appearance.
5. Scripture reveals God as a God who placed special significance on names. His vision for Abraham is evident in renaming him from Abram, in Genesis 17:4,5:
4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. Abram means, exalted father, while Abraham means, father of a multitude.
6. Likewise, Jacob, is renamed, Israel, in Genesis 35:9,10.
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. 10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name.” Thus He called him Israel. 11God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you. The name, Jacob, means cheat, supplanter, while the name, Israel, means prince with God.
The names that we read in our English Bibles, God and Lord, reveal little to us in terms of God’s character, nature and personality. Much of the understanding is lost in the translation, and, if we are to understand their fullness, we must understand them in their original language. There are many names used for God in Scripture. The great difficulty arises in the ability to describe an infinite Being, in finite terms.
Nathan Stone makes the point in his book, Names of God, that one needs many words to describe the character and personality of human beings like Moses and David, let alone the Supreme God of the Universe! No one name, he suggests, is sufficient to accomplish this purpose.
We will look at the most prevalent names used by the biblical authors.
Walter Kaiser, in his incisive work, Toward an Old Testament Theology, has identified this unfolding purpose in the Old Testament, as God’s revelation of Himself as the God of Promise. He argues inductively that, such a category was sufficient to encompass a great variety of biblical books, themes and concepts. In spite of an almost universal chorus to the contrary, the mass of data is neither intractable nor impossible. It does yield up a single theology with a deliberate plan of God. Furthermore, Scripture presents its own key of organization. The OT does possess its own canonical inner unity which binds together the various emphases and longitudinal themes. This is not a hidden inner unity. It lies open and ready for all: The Promise of God.
Tomorrow we will talk more about the specific Names given to God in the Bible.