NAME/ NAMING A CHILD
In Hebrew culture, a person’s name was intrinsically linked to their identity, worth, character, reputation, authority, will, or ownership. The Bible reflects this view, showing that a name was more than a label – it represented the essence of an individual. For instance, in Revelation 3:4, the name of a person stands for that individual, and the name of the Lord represents God or Jesus Himself (Prov 16:10; Ps 18:49; 86:12; Mal 3:16; Mt 10:22; 19:29; Jn 3:18).
Different Meanings of Names in the Bible
1. Forgetting God’s Name: Forgetting God’s name was equivalent to deviating from Him (Jer 23:37).
2. Ownership: Naming a person indicated ownership (Gen 1:5, 8, 10; 2:19-20; 2 Sam 12:28; Am 9:12).
3. Authority: Speaking or writing in someone’s name showed authority (Ex 5:23; 1 Kgs 21:8).
4. Representation: Acting in someone’s name was to represent that person (Deut 25:6).
5. Reputation: To blemish someone’s name was to destroy that person (Deut 9:14; 2 Kgs 14:27; Isa 14:22; Rev 3:5).
6. Character: Names signified a person’s reputation and character (Eccl 7:1; Mt 6:9).
7. Revelation: Christ revealed the Father’s name, making God known to humanity (Jn 17:26).
8. Belief: To believe in the name of Christ is to believe in His person (Jn 1:12; 2:23).
9. Gathering: To gather in Jesus’ name is to gather in His mind, will, and purpose (Mt 18:20).
The Name of Jesus
The name “Jesus” in English is equivalent to “Joshua,” meaning “Savior.” God, through Angel Gabriel, instructed Joseph and Mary to name the child Jesus because “he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). This name encapsulates His mission on earth. Joseph named Jesus following the revelation he received from the Angel of the Lord in his dream (Mt 1:21), thus accepting Jesus into his family and acknowledging Him as his legal son.
Praying in Jesus’ Name
The name of Jesus is prominently used in prayers and baptism. Christian prayers often begin with the Trinitarian formula, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” and conclude with “We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord,” as Jesus taught us to pray in His name: “And everything you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn 14:13).
Following Jesus’ instruction (Mt 28:19), baptisms are performed in the Trinitarian formula. The apostles performed miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 4:10; 16:18), and Christians have prayed and baptized in His name since the early church.
God-Given Names
Exceptional individuals received names or name changes directly from God:
1. Adam: God named humanity (Gen 5:2).
2. Ishmael: The Lord named Hagar’s son (Gen 16:11).
3. Abraham: God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Gen 17:5).
4. Sarah: God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah (Gen 17:15).
5. Isaac: God named Sarah’s son (Gen 17:19).
6. Israel: God renamed Jacob (Gen 32:29).
7. Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz: God named Isaiah’s son (Isa 8:3-4).
8. Children of Hosea: God named Hosea’s children (Hos 1:4, 6, 9).
9. John the Baptist: God named Zechariah’s son (Lk 1:13).
10. Jesus: God named Mary and Joseph’s son (Mt 1:21; Lk 1:31).
Renaming by Jesus
Jesus renamed Simon to Peter (Mt 16:18) and gave James and John the nickname “Boanerges,” meaning “sons of thunder” (Mk 3:16-17).
Naming a Child in Jewish Tradition
Jews named male children near birth or at circumcision on the eighth day, while girls were named within 30 days of birth. They often used the grandfather’s name or, in exceptional cases, the father’s name to ensure the name’s continuation. Names expressed personality and were chosen based on perception, divine role, birth order, character, future mission, physical traits, or birthplace. For example, Adam means “man” or “red,” Noah means “rest,” Abraham means “father of a multitude,” Moses means “drawn out of the waters,” David means “beloved,” John means “Yahweh has shown favor,” and Jesus means “savior” or “Jehovah is salvation.”
Authority of Naming
In biblical tradition, both mothers and fathers could name children. Examples include Leah and Rachel naming their children (Gen 29:31–30:24), and Hannah naming Samuel (1 Sam 1:20). There were exceptions, such as Pharaoh’s daughter naming Moses (Ex 2:10) and Naomi’s neighbors naming Obed (Ruth 4:17).
REFLECTION
God commanded not to use His name in vain to avoid disrespecting Him. We use Jesus’ name in our prayers, seeking favors from God based on Jesus’ merits. Just as we desire our names to be used with respect, we must avoid dishonoring others. With our limited wisdom, we are unworthy to judge others, a role reserved for God alone. Instead, let us respect all people, recognizing the divine significance and authority in names.
In choosing names for our children, let us seek God’s guidance, understanding that names carry deep spiritual and personal significance. By doing so, we honor God and reflect His presence in our lives and the lives of our children.