Bible Study Seattle

Names are significant in the bible in what they mean and who gives them.
“So the man gave names to all the livestock.” Genesis 2:20
Adam got to name all the animals.

“Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” Genesis 3:20
Adam got to name his wife!

“Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth.” Genesis 4:25
Adam named his son. To Abram:

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2
Here, God promises Abram to make his name great. With Ishmael:
“The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” Genesis 16:11
Here God steps in and tells Hagar what his name will be. She reports this to Abram, who then follows the angel’s directions.
“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5
God changes Abram’s name! This is significant, as it will happen to all Christians.
“God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.” Genesis 17:15
Gad also changes Sarai’s name. Sarah is the only woman in the entire bible whose age at death is given (127).
When Lot is living in Sodom with his two daughters, notice what happens:
“Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.” Genesis 19:30-38

Here the mothers name the children. The Moabites and Ammonites were terrible enemies of Israel.

Jacob’s 12 sons were all named by their mothers.

The most interesting part about names is when they are changed by God. Here’s what awaits Israel:

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” Isaiah 62:1-3

To the faithful Christians:

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
The white stone represents purity, but it probably also refers to the original polished white limestone facing of the great pyramid, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone at the top.
“The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.” Revelation 3:12
Here we have the bride of Jesus taking his name. This is why women take their husband’s last name when the marry. It is symbolic of the ultimate marriage to come!