(Courtesy Reaching Higher Ministries)
Sometimes we take for granted that every name has a meaning. And those meanings can be significant, especially names given to man by the Lord. Actually a name is so important, that those who truly accept Christ as Savior and Lord will ultimately be assigned a new one for eternity. That’s right…”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Rev 2:17). “Scholars differ as to the meaning of the ‘white stone.’ Alford is probably right in saying that the important point is the stone’s inscription which gives the believer ‘a new name,’ indicating acceptance by God and his title to glory (The Greek Testament, 4:572).
Being born and raised Jewish, I was given a Hebrew name. And the meaning of that name is absolutely amazing. I only realized it a few years ago when a friend asked me what my Hebrew name meant in English. What I found out blew me away!
Here’s the fascinating story behind my name…
I was born on 25 Elul, 5725 (September 22, 1965). Eight days after my birth, I was circumcised and given a Hebrew name. Then, for those born and raised in a Jewish family, a Bar Mitzvah (also known as becoming a son of the commandment) is a mandatory rite of passage. I had one, which took place on 21 Elul, 5738 (September 23, 1978). Important to note: before Bar Mitzvah day, a Jewish male is considered a boy up until 13 years old. A significant reassignment, however, takes place on that day. The Jewish male officially becomes a son of his father. Accordingly, a new Hebrew name is now given based on this transition. What happens is the fathers name is added to the son’s. My new post-Bar Mitzvah name, when I officially became a son of my father, was Yeshia ben Meir. Let me deconstruct the name for you and how it was formed…
“Yeshia” was the name given to me by the Jewish official who circumcised me on the eighth day of life. It has no relationship to my English name whatsoever. The name is supposedly assigned by divine inspiration. Yeshia means, “Yahweh is salvation.”
“Ben” simply means “son.” You have a “ben” attached to your circumcision name at your Bar Mitzvah, as you become a son of your father that day.
“Meir” was now attached to the end of my name like it was never before. I became a son of my father. Meir, my stepdad’s name means, “giving light.” (My real dad had abandoned my family and me when I was born. My stepdad came into my life when I was 7 years old and raised me. So he was my father at my Bar Mitzvah – and I became his son according to the Jewish ritual.)
These three elements state together, and not by intentional human design; “Yahweh is salvation [by the] Son giving light.” [The “by the” is added simply to bridge the words together and for readability purposes.] Interestingly, I did not accept the message of my Bar Mitzvah name until I turned twenty-six years old, thirteen years after it was given to me (Bar Mitzvah age x 2). Upon reflection, how significant is the name assigned to me by the providence of God, especially because it was given to me so many years before I even came to a saving faith in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ)? [If anyone is interested in seeing my actual bar-mitzvah video, please click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKcit6gyxk&feature=youtu.be]
More specifically and importantly, and to make the main point of this post, let’s look at the names given by God to some of the people in the Bible. You ready to be utterly amazed by the names/translations and what they say when they are strung together? If you interpret the meanings of all the names starting with Adam through Jesus and up to formation of the Church, according to the lineage primarily found in the book of Matthew (Joseph’s line), this is the actual message formed:
The God Man is appointed – a mortal man of sorrow (or “is born”). The Glory of God shall come down instructing that his death shall bring those sinking down in despair comfort/rest. The fame of the stronghold of Babylon and its boundary and sorrow extend like a plant beyond the region of division (at the Tower of Babel). A friend (also) branches out, snorting/enraged with fury! The glorious father – the father of a great multitude laughs (triumphantly) as he outwits (his enemy). A mighty one fights; a righteous prince sees God (then) joins himself to an assembly, a glorious people (whom) he rescued, strangers(s) in a strange land, captives delivered by God! One who praises Jehovah breaks open a way (into) an area surrounded by a wall of great height! O my people of the prince, a prophet clothed with strength who serves (the Lord) is here! Out of love his payment makes peace and sets the people free! My Father is the Lord, the healer of the one whom the Lord judged and whom the Lord raised up! The Lord took hold (of me) and the Lord is strong! Mighty is the Lord! My strength and help are in the Lord! The Lord is perfect! I took hold of the strength of the Lord; it made (me) forget (my misery). Truly, (I am) the master builder whom the Lord healed, whom the Lord God raised up, and whom the Lord upholds, will uphold, and did uphold! I have asked God about the ransomed of the Lord, (about) the seed (exiles) who are in Babylon. My Father is glorious/majestic! My God will raise up a helper! The Just (one) will the Lord raise up! My God is my praise! God will help! May the gift of Jacob increase (in greatness)! For God is with us, the Messiah and Savior of those called out of (the World/Babylon).
Don’t believe this amazing message is really spelled out this way? Here are the details…
| 1 | God | The God |
| 2 | Adam | Man |
| 3 | Seth | Is appointed |
| 4 | Enosh | A mortal man of |
| 5 | Cainan/Kenan | Sorrow (or “is born”) |
| 6 | Mahalalel | The Glory of God |
| 7 | Jared | Shall come down |
| 8 | Enoch | Instructing that |
| 9 | Methuselah | His death shall bring |
| 10 | Lamech | Those sinking down in despair |
| 11 | Noah | Comfort/rest |
| 12 | Shem | The fame of |
| 13 | Arphaxad | The stronghold of Babylon and its boundary |
| 14 | Cainan | And sorrow |
| 15 | Shelah | Extend like a plant |
| 16 | Eber | Beyond the Region |
| 17 | Peleg | Of division (at the Tower of Babel) |
| 18 | Reu | A friend |
| 19 | Serug | (also) branches out |
| 20 | Nahor | Snorting/enraged |
| 21 | Terah | With fury |
| 22 | Abram / Abraham | The glorious father – the father of a great multitude |
| 23 | Isaac | Laughs (triumphantly) |
| 24 | Jacob / Israel | As he outwits (his enemy) /A mighty one fights; a righteous prince sees God |
| 25 | Levi | (then) joins himself to |
| 26 | Kohath | An assembly |
| 27 | Amram | A glorious people |
| 28 | Moses | (whom) he rescued |
| 29 | Gershom | Strangers(s) in a strange land |
| 30 | Shebuel | Captives delivered by God |
| 31 | Judah | One who praises Jehovah |
| 32 | Perez | Breaks open a way (into) |
| 33 | Hezron | an area surrounded by a wall |
| 34 | Ram | Of great height |
| 35 | Amminadab | O my people of the Prince |
| 36 | Nahshon | A prophet |
| 37 | Salmon | Clothed |
| 38 | Boaz | With strength |
| 39 | Obed | Who serves (the Lord) |
| 40 | Jesse | Is here |
| 41 | David | Out of love or one well-loved |
| 42 | Solomon | His payment makes peace – peaceful |
| 43 | Rehoboam | And sets the people free |
| 44 | Abijah | My Father is the Lord |
| 45 | Asa | The healer of |
| 46 | Jehoshaphat | the one whom the Lord judged |
| 47 | Jehoram | And whom the Lord raised up |
| 48 | Ahaziah | The Lord took hold (of me) |
| 49 | Joash | And the lord is strong |
| 50 | Amaziah | Might is the Lord |
| 51 | Uzziah/Azariah | My strength and help are in the Lord – See 2 Kings 14:21 and 2 Chron. 26:1 |
| 52 | Jotham | The Lord is perfect |
| 53 | Ahaz | I took hold of |
| 54 | Hezekiah | The strength of the Lord |
| 55 | Manassch | It made (me) forget (my misery) |
| 56 | Amon | Truly, (I am) the master builder |
| 57 | Josiah | Whom the Lord healed |
| 58 | Jehoiakim/Eliakim | Whom the Lord God raised up – See 2 Kings 23:34 |
| 59 | Jeconiah / Coniah / Jehoiachin | And whom the Lord upholds, will uphold and did uphold – see 1 Ch 3:16; Jer 24:1; 22:24; 22:28 |
| 60 | Shealtiel | I have asked God about |
| 61 | Pedaiah | The ransomed of the Lord – See 1 Chron 3:19-24 and Hag 1:1 |
| 62 | Zerubbabel | (about) the seed (exiles) who are in Babylon |
| 63 | Abiud | My Father is glorious/majestic |
| 64 | Eliakim | My God will raise up |
| 65 | Azor | A helper |
| 66 | Zadok | The Just (one) |
| 67 | Akim | Will the Lord raise up |
| 68 | Eliud | My God is my praise |
| 69 | Eleazar | God will help |
| 70 | Matthan | May the gift of |
| 71 | Jacob | Jacob |
| 72 | Joseph | Increase (in greatness) |
| 73 | Emmanuel / Jesus Christ | For God is with us / The Messiah and Savior of |
| 74 | Church | Those called out of (the World/Babylon) |
Our God is an awesome God! His Word is amazing!! So I hope you gather from this not to skip the genealogies anymore when reading the Bible. There is amazing wisdom to be found in names and genealogies as evidenced above. When you see a name in the Bible going forward, find out it’s meaning. You will be amazed how much this practice can enhance your understanding of the Word of God…praise Him!
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