Labels that idenitfy individuals. They may also denote aspects of character or reputation.
A name may reflect an individual's nature
1 Samuel 25:25 See also Genesis 17:5 “Abraham” means “father of many”; Genesis 32:27–29 “Israel” means “he struggles with God”; Exodus 34:14; Mark 5:9 parallel Luke 8:30
My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
Additional names or nicknames
Mark 3:17 In NT times an additional name or surname reflecting someone's character was sometimes appended to the given name. See also Luke 6:15; John 1:42 “Cephas” and “Peter” mean “rock” in Aramaic and Greek respectively; Acts 4:36
James son of Zebedee and his brother John ( whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),
A name may indicate an individual's reputation and standing in the community
A good name indicates a good reputation
Proverbs 22:1 See also Proverbs 3:4, Proverbs 10:7; Ecclesiastes 7:1; Song of Solomon 1:3
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
A bad name indicates a bad reputation
Nehemiah 6:13 See also Deuteronomy 22:13–19; Proverbs 25:9–10
He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.
Survival of one's name is important
Ruth 4:9–10 See also Genesis 48:15–16; Numbers 27:1–4; Deuteronomy 25:7–9; 2 Samuel 18:18; Job 18:17–19
At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
Preservation of a name indicates divine blessing
Isaiah 56:4–5 See also Genesis 12:1–3; 2 Samuel 7:9 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:8; 1 Kings 1:47; Isaiah 66:22
For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant — I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
Obliteration of a name is associated with death
Jeremiah 11:19 See also Deuteronomy 7:24, Deuteronomy 9:14; 2 Samuel 14:7; 2 Kings 14:27
For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”
Obliteration of a name is often linked with divine judgment
Psalm 9:5–6 See also Deuteronomy 29:20; Psalm 109:13; Isaiah 14:22–23, Isaiah 48:18–19; Nahum 1:14
You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever. The enemy has come to eternal ruin, and You have uprooted their cities; the very memory of them has vanished.
Bearing someone's name indicates ownership or identification
Revelation 22:3–4 See also Exodus 23:21; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Deuteronomy 28:10; Isaiah 43:6–7; Jeremiah 14:9; Daniel 9:18–19; Revelation 3:12, Revelation 14:1, Revelation 22:4
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
God knows his people by name
Isaiah 43:1 See also Exodus 33:12, Exodus 33:17; Isaiah 45:3, Isaiah 49:1; John 10:3
But now, this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.