Name
Names as Identity in the Ancient World
In biblical culture, names carried a weight that modern Western readers can easily overlook. A name was not simply a convenient label but an expression of a person's character, origin, or destiny. When God brought the animals to Adam to see what he would call them, "whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name" (Genesis 2:19). The act of naming signified understanding, authority, and even a kind of possession.
Biblical names were frequently descriptive. Eve was named because she was "the mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20). Esau was named for his reddish, hairy appearance (Genesis 25:25). Moses received his name because he was "drawn out" of the water (Exodus 2:10). Rachel named her dying son Ben-oni ("son of my sorrow"), but Jacob renamed him Benjamin ("son of the right hand"), transforming the child's identity from grief to honor (Genesis 35:18). Names could express parental hope, commemorate circumstances of birth, or reflect the family's relationship with God.
Name Changes and Divine Encounters
Some of the most significant moments in Scripture involve God changing a person's name. Abram ("exalted father") became Abraham ("father of a multitude") when God established His covenant with him (Genesis 17:5). Sarai became Sarah ("princess") as part of the same covenant promise (Genesis 17:15). Jacob ("heel-grabber" or "supplanter") was renamed Israel ("he strives with God") after wrestling with God at the Jabbok (Genesis 32:28).
These name changes were not cosmetic. They signified a fundamental transformation of identity and calling. In the New Testament, Jesus renamed Simon as Peter ("rock"), declaring that on this rock He would build His church (Matthew 16:18). The risen Christ promised the church at Pergamum: "To the one who conquers I will give... a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it" (Revelation 2:17). A new name from God signifies a new relationship, a new purpose, and a new identity.
The Name of God
The most theologically significant use of "name" in the Bible concerns God Himself. When Moses asked God for His name at the burning bush, God replied, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14), revealing the personal name YHWH (Yahweh). This was not merely a title but a revelation of God's essential character — His self-existence, His faithfulness, and His active presence with His people. God declared this to be His "memorial name" for all generations (Exodus 3:15).
The name of God carried such weight that the third commandment prohibited taking it "in vain" (Exodus 20:7) — that is, using it emptily, falsely, or without reverence. Israel was to "fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 28:58). The name represented the full reality of God's presence: the Temple was the place where God chose to "put his name" (Deuteronomy 12:5), and prayer was offered "in the name of the Lord." When Moses asked to see God's glory, the Lord responded by proclaiming His name: "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6).
Acting and Praying in the Name
To act "in the name of" someone in the Bible meant to act with their authority and as their representative. When David faced Goliath, he declared, "I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts" (1 Samuel 17:45). Prophets spoke "in the name of the LORD," carrying the weight of divine authority (Deuteronomy 18:19-20). Jezebel wrote letters "in the name of Ahab," using his royal authority (1 Kings 21:8).
In the New Testament, the name of Jesus becomes the focal point of authority, prayer, and salvation. Peter healed the lame man "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 3:6). Believers are baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Jesus promised: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do" (John 14:13). Peter declared before the Jewish council: "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Paul taught that God has given Jesus "the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow" (Philippians 2:9-10).
Names in Prophecy and Eternity
Prophetic names carry special significance. Isaiah named his children Shear-jashub ("a remnant shall return") and Maher-shalal-hash-baz ("swift is the booty, speedy is the prey") as living signs of God's message (Isaiah 7:3; 8:1-4). The most famous prophetic name is given to the Messiah: "His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). The angel told Joseph to name Mary's son Jesus (the Greek form of Joshua, meaning "the LORD saves"), "for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
In the final vision of Revelation, the names of the twelve tribes and twelve apostles are inscribed on the gates and foundations of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12-14). Christ bears a name "that no one knows but himself" (Revelation 19:12) and another inscribed on His robe: "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). The book of life contains the names of those who belong to God (Revelation 3:5; 20:15). From the first naming in Eden to the final roll call in eternity, names in the Bible declare that every person is known, called, and claimed by God.
Biblical Context
Names appear as a significant theme throughout the entire Bible. Key Old Testament passages include Adam naming the animals (Genesis 2:19-20), the divine name revealed at the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-15), the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), prophetic names (Isaiah 7:3; 8:1-4; 9:6), and the theology of God's name dwelling in the Temple (Deuteronomy 12:5; 1 Kings 8:29). In the New Testament, key texts include the naming of Jesus (Matthew 1:21), praying in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14), salvation through His name (Acts 4:12), and the name above every name (Philippians 2:9-10).
Theological Significance
The biblical theology of names teaches that identity comes from God, that names carry real authority, and that God reveals Himself through His name. The progression from the revealed name of Yahweh in the Old Testament to the exalted name of Jesus in the New Testament traces the arc of salvation history. God's concern with names — knowing them, changing them, writing them in His book — demonstrates His personal, intimate involvement with each individual. The ultimate theological point is that to know God's name is to know God Himself.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, names were universally regarded as carrying power and significance. Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures all practiced name-giving ceremonies and believed that knowing a deity's name gave access to that deity's power. Babylonian creation texts describe the primordial state as a time when nothing had yet been named. The practice of giving children theophoric names (names incorporating a divine element) was widespread across Semitic cultures. Israelite names frequently included elements of Yahweh's name (Yah- or -iah), reflecting the family's devotion to the God of Israel.