the bible
Biblical Names And Meanings
Biblical Names And Meanings
Names in the Bible are significant. Biblical names and meanings demonstrated a person’s character and traits. Sometimes a name indicated what kind of life the person would have.
Below you will find a list of some Biblical names and meanings. Our list is not all inclusive of every name in the Bible. The Biblical names and meanings we are listing include many of the Bible’s main characters. The people in our list played an important role in God’s redemptive plan to save mankind from sin and eternal separation from God.
Biblical Names And Meanings
Aaron – From the Hebrew name אַהֲרֹן (‘Aharon). The name Aaron is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin. Other theories claim a Hebrew derivation with meanings such as “high mountain” or “exalted”. In the Old Testament Aaron acted as a spokesman for his brother Moses when they appealed to the pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Aaron’s rod produced miracles and plagues to intimidate the pharaoh. After the departure from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, God installed Aaron as the first high priest of the Israelites. God promised that his descendants would form the priesthood for Israel.
Abel – From the Hebrew name הֶבֶל (Hevel) meaning “breath”. In the Old Testament he is the second son of Adam and Eve. Abel was murdered by his brother Cain out of envy.
Abigail – From the Hebrew name אֲבִיגָיִל (‘Avigayil) meaning “my father is joy”. It is derived from the roots אָב (‘av) meaning “father”, and גִּיל (gil) meaning “joy”. In the Old Testament this is the name of Nabal’s wife. After Nabal’s death she became the third wife of King David.
Abram – Means “high father” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (see Genesis 17:5)
Abraham – In Hebrew Abraham means “father of many”. It could also be a contraction of Abram and הָמוֹן (hamon) meaning “many” or “multitude”. The biblical patriarch Abraham was originally named Abram, but God changed his name (see Genesis 17:5). At God’s direction, he led his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot from Ur into Canaan. He is the founder of the Hebrews through his son Isaac. He is also the father of Ishmael, who is the ancestor of the Arab people.
More Biblical Names And Meanings
Adam – This is the Hebrew word for “man”. It could be derived from Hebrew אדם (‘adam) meaning “to be red”, referring to the ruddy color of human skin. It could also be derived from the Hebrew Akkadian adamu meaning “to make”. According to Genesis Adam was created from the earth by God. There is a Hebrew word אֲדָמָה (‘adamah) meaning “earth”. Adam and Eve were the first humans, living in the Garden of Eden. They ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden. As a result they were expelled from Eden to the lands to the east, where they gave birth to Cain, Abel and Seth.
Amos – Hebrew עָמַס (‘amas) meaning “load” or “burden”. Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. He is the author of the Book of Amos, which speaks against greed, corruption and oppression of the poor. Written around the 8th century BC, it is one of the oldest of the prophetic books in the Bible.
Andrew – English form of the Greek name Ανδρεας (Andreas), which was derived from ανδρειος (andreios) meaning “manly” or “masculine”. In the New Testament Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus. He is the brother of Simon Peter. He was ultimately crucified on an X-shaped cross.
Barnabas – Greek form of an Aramaic name. In Acts the name Barnabas was given to a man named Joseph. He was a Jew from Cyprus and was a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. In Acts 4:36 Barnabas is shown to mean “son of encouragement”.
More Biblical Names And Meanings
Benjamin – From the Hebrew name בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin) meaning “son of the south” or “son of the right hand”. The name has the roots בֵּן (ben) meaning “son” and יָמִין (yamin) meaning “right hand or south”. Benjamin in the Old Testament was the 12th and youngest son of Jacob. He was the founder of one of the southern tribes of Israel. He was originally named בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-‘oni) meaning “son of my sorrow” by his mother Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth. It was later changed by his father (see Genesis 35:18).
Cain – Means “acquired” in Hebrew. In Genesis Cain is the first son of Adam and Eve. He killed his brother Abel after God accepted Abel’s offering but did not accept his offering. After this Cain was banished to be a wanderer.
Caleb – The Hebrew כֶּלֶב (kelev) meaning “dog”. An alternate theory suggests it is derived from Hebrew כָּל (kal) meaning “whole or all of” and לֵב (lev) meaning “heart”. In the Old Testament Caleb is one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into the Promised Land. Out of all of the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who lived to see the Promised Land.
Dan – Means “he judged” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Dan is one of the twelve sons of Jacob by his wife Rachel’s servant Bilhah. Dan is the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His name is explained in Genesis 30:6.
More Biblical Names And Meanings
Daniel – From the Hebrew name דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning “God is my judge”. Daniel is derived from the roots דִּין (din) meaning “to judge”, and אֵל (‘el) meaning “God”. Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon. He served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king’s dreams. The book also presents Daniel’s four visions of the end of the world.
David – From the Hebrew name דָּוִד (Dawid), which was derived from Hebrew דּוֹד (dod) meaning “beloved” or “uncle”. David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of the giant Philistine Goliath. Jesus the Messiah was descended from King David.
Deborah – From the Hebrew name דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah) meaning “bee”. In the Old Testament Book of Judges, Deborah is a heroine, prophetess, and judge who leads the Israelites when they are threatened by the Canaanites. She forms an army and they destroy the army of the Canaanite commander Sisera.
Elijah – From the Hebrew name אֱלִיָּהוּ (‘Eliyyahu) meaning “my God is YAHWEH”. It is derived from the Hebrew אֵל (‘el) and יָה (yah), both referring to the Hebrew God. Elijah was a Hebrew prophet and miracle worker as told in the two Books of Kings in the Old Testament. He was active in the 9th century BC during the reign of King Ahab of Israel and queen Jezebel. Elijah confronted the king and queen over their idolatry of the Canaanite god Ba’al and other wicked deeds. At the end of his life he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, and was succeeded by Elisha. In the New Testament, Elijah and Moses appear next to Jesus when he is transfigured.
We will have more Biblical names and meanings in the next 2 parts of this series of articles.
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Inspirational Bible Verses & Quotes Part 2
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