Many times, in Scripture, if not most, the names of people are significant because their name means something specific. Their name might tie into current events, say something about them, or even tie into God’s grand plan. The genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew tells an amazing story when you translate the names into English. This is the actual message formed when you translate each name:
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).
Here are the details for you
NAME MEANING
| 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 and His Word is amazing!! God speaks to us even through the names of people in Scripture at times. Look at the definition of the name, especially in genealogies, when you read the Bible.
The Bible is God’s Word and Jesus Christ is God’s Son that came to Earth to save sinners. The Bible is not just a book. Nobody could make up what we just discussed … after all, that genealogy spanned a few thousand years but the names told a specific story.
Praise the Lord! Praise Him children of the King!
(research courtesy Reaching Higher Ministries)
