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Bible Names And Meanings – Part 3
Bible Names And Meanings – Part 3
Names in the Bible are significant. Bible names and meanings demonstrated a person’s character and traits. Sometimes a name indicated what kind of life the person would have.
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series we listed many Bible names and meanings. Below you will find a list of additional Bible names and meanings. Our list is not all inclusive of every name in the Bible.
The Bible 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.
Bible Names And Meanings
Bible Names And Meanings – Job to Joseph
Job – From the Hebrew name אִיּוֹב (‘Iyyov), which means “persecuted” or “hated”. In the Book of Job in the Old Testament he is a righteous man who is tested by God. After enduring many tragedies and sufferings Job remained faithful and God blessed Job and restored to him double all that he lost.
John – The English name from the Latin Iohannes. This came from the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes),which is derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning “YAHWEH is gracious”. The Hewbrew came from the roots יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and חָנַן (chanan) meaning “to be gracious”. John the Baptist is considered the forerunner of the Messiah Jesus. He baptized Jesus and was later executed by Herod Antipas. Another John in the New Testament is an apostle of Jesus. With the apostles Peter and James (his brother), he was part of the inner circle of Jesus. He is the author of the Gospel of John, 3 books of the Bible, and the book of Revelation.
Jonah – From the Hebrew name יוֹנָה (Yonah) meaning “dove”. Jonah was a prophet swallowed by a great fish, as told in the Old Testament Book of Jonah. Jonah was commanded by God to preach in Nineveh but instead fled by boat. After being caught in a storm the other sailors threw Jonah overboard. Jonah was swallowed by the great fish, 3 days later he was released alive after repenting.
Joseph – From Ioseph, the Latin form of Greek Ιωσηφ (Ioseph). This was derived from the Hebrew name יוֹסֵף (Yosef) meaning “he will add”, from the root יָסַף (yasaf). In the Old Testament Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob and the first with his wife Rachel. Joseph also occurs in the New Testament, as the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus.
Bible Names And Meanings – Judah to Mary
Judah – From the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah), derived from יָדָה (yadah) meaning “praise”. In the Old Testament Judah is the fourth of the twelve sons of Jacob by his wife Leah. He is the ancestor of the tribe of Judah. An explanation for his name is given in Genesis 29:35. His tribe eventually formed the Kingdom of Judah in the south of Israel. King David and Jesus were among the descendants of Judah and his wife Tamar.
Levi – Means “joined or attached” in Hebrew. Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. Known as the Levites, this was the tribe that formed the priestly class of the Israelites. Moses and Aaron were descendants of Levi.
Manasseh – Means “causing to forget” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the oldest son of Joseph and Asenath. Joseph gave him this name to signify that God had caused Joseph to forget his troubles and his family by blessing him. Manessah is the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mary – Mary is the usual English form of Maria, the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria). These were derived from Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam). The name means“their bitterness” or “their rebellion”. Mary is the virgin mother of Jesus, the promised Messiah and Savior of all sinners.
Bible Names And Meanings – Matthew to Nehemiah
Matthew – English form of Ματθαιος (Matthaios), which was a Greek form of the Hebrew name מַתִּתְיָהוּ (Mattityahu) meaning “gift of YAHWEH”. It comes from the roots מַתָּן (mattan) meaning “gift”and יָה (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. Matthew, also called Levi, was one of the twelve apostles. He was a tax collector before turning to Jesus and becoming his disciple. He is the author of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
Michael – From the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha’el) meaning “who is like God?”. Michael is one of the archangels in the Bible. In the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament he is named as a protector of Israel. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven’s armies in the war against Satan.
Moses – From the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh), which is most likely derived from Egyptian mes meaning “son”. Moses also means “deliver” in Hebrew. Moses was drawn out of the Nile by the pharaoh’s daughter and adopted into the royal family, at a time when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. After 40 years in the wilderness Moses and his brother Aaron were sent to pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites. Moses led his people across the Red Sea and then to Mount Sinai, where he received the Ten Commandments from God.
Nehemiah – Means “YAHWEH comforts” in Hebrew. It is derived from נָחַם (nacham) meaning “to comfort” and יָה (yah) referring to God. In the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament he was a leader of the Jews who was responsible for the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonian captivity.
Bible Names And Meanings – Noah to Rebecca
Noah – From the Hebrew name נֹחַ (Noach) meaning “rest or peaceful”, derived from the root נוּחַ (nuach). Noah was the builder of the Ark that allowed him, his family, and animals of each species to survive the Great Flood. After the flood he received the sign of the rainbow as a covenant from God. He was the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Paul – From the Roman family name Paulus, which meant “small” or “humble” in Latin. Paul was an important leader of the early Christian church, and one of the most passionate followers of Jesus. He was a Jewish Roman citizen who saved after the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. Paul planted many churches, and went on several mission trips to preach the Gospel and strengthen the churches. He later died for his faith in Christ.
Peter – Derived from Greek Πετρος (Petros) meaning “stone”. This is also the meaning of the Aramaic name Cephas, which was given to the apostle Simon by Jesus. Simon Peter was one of the most prominent apostles in the early church, and he too late died for serving Christ.
Rebecca – From the Hebrew name רִבְקָה (Rivqah) from an unattested root probably meaning “to join or to tie”. She was the wife of Isaac, and the mother of Esau and Jacob in the Old Testament.
Bible Names And Meanings – Samson to Solomon
Samson – From the Hebrew name שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshon). It is derived from שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh) meaning “sun”. Samson was an Old Testament hero granted exceptional strength by God. His mistress Delilah betrayed him and cut his hair, stripping him of his power. He was then captured by the Philistines, blinded, and brought to their temple. In a final act of strength he pulled down the pillars of the temple upon himself and his captors.
Samuel – From the Hebrew name שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu’el), which could mean either “name of God” or “God has heard”. In the Books of Samuel he was the last of the ruling judges. He led the Israelites during a period of domination by the Philistines, who were ultimately defeated in battle at Mizpah. Later he anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel. During Saul’s reign he later anointed David as his successor.
Sarah – Means “lady, princess, noblewoman” in Hebrew. She was Abraham’s wife, considered the matriarch of the Jewish people. She was barren until she became pregnant with Isaac at the age of 90, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. Her name was originally Sarai, but God changed it at the same time Abraham’s name was changed from Abram (Genesis 17:15).
Solomon – From the Hebrew name שְׁלֹמֹה (Shelomoh), which was derived from Hebrew שָׁלוֹם (shalom) meaning “peace”. Solomon was a king of Israel, and the son of David and Bathsheba. He was renowned for his wisdom and wealth. Towards the end of his reign he angered God by turning to idolatry. He was the author of the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon.
Bible Names And Meanings – Timothy to Zechariah
Timothy – English form of the Greek name Τιμοθεος (Timotheos) meaning “honouring God”. It is erived from τιμαω (timao) meaning “to honour” and θεος (theos) meaning “god”. Timothy was a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys and was the recipient of two of Paul’s letters that appear in the New Testament. He was of both Jewish and Greek ancestry.
Zechariah – From the Hebrew name זְכַרְיָה (Zekharyah) meaning “YAHWEH remembers”. Derived from זָכַר (zakhar) meaning “to remember” and יָה (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament, including the prophet Zechariah. He is the author of the Book of Zechariah. The name also appears in the New Testament, belonging to the father of John the Baptist,
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