Genealogies…There is Great Wisdom In Those Names!

slide1-bible_names

Sometimes we take for granted that every name has a meaning.  And those meanings can be significant, especially names given to man by the Lord.  Actually a name is so important, that those who truly accept Christ as Savior and Lord will ultimately be assigned a new one for eternity.  That’s right…”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Rev 2:17).  “Scholars differ as to the meaning of the ‘white stone.’  Alford is probably right in saying that the important point is the stone’s inscription which gives the believer ‘a new name,’ indicating acceptance by God and his title to glory (The Greek Testament, 4:572).

Being born and raised Jewish, I was given a Hebrew name.  And the meaning of that name is absolutely amazing.  I only realized it a few years ago when a friend asked me what my Hebrew name meant in English.  What I found out blew me away!

Here’s the fascinating story behind my name…

I was born on 25 Elul, 5725 (September 22, 1965).  Eight days after my birth, I was circumcised and given a Hebrew name. Then, for those born and raised in a Jewish family, a Bar Mitzvah (also known as becoming a son of the commandment) is a mandatory rite of passage.  I had one, which took place on 21 Elul, 5738 (September 23, 1978).  Important to note: before Bar Mitzvah day, a Jewish male is considered a boy up until 13 years old.  A significant reassignment, however, takes place on that day.  The Jewish male officially becomes a son of his father.  Accordingly, a new Hebrew name is now given based on this transition.  What happens is the fathers name is added to the son’s.  My new post-Bar Mitzvah name, when I officially became a son of my father, was Yeshia ben Meir.  Let me deconstruct the name for you and how it was formed…

“Yeshia” was the name given to me by the Jewish official who circumcised me on the eighth day of life.  It has no relationship to my English name whatsoever.  The name is supposedly assigned by divine inspiration.  Yeshia means, “Yahweh is salvation.”

“Ben” simply means “son.”  You have a “ben” attached to your circumcision name at your Bar Mitzvah, as you become a son of your father that day.

“Meir” was now attached to the end of my name like it was never before.  I became a son of my father. Meir, my stepdad’s name means, “giving light.”  (My real dad had abandoned my family and me when I was born.  My stepdad came into my life when I was 7 years old and raised me.  So he was my father at my Bar Mitzvah – and I became his son according to the Jewish ritual.)

These three elements state together, and not by intentional human design; “Yahweh is salvation [by the] Son giving light.” [The “by the” is added simply to bridge the words together and for readability purposes.] Interestingly, I did not accept the message of my Bar Mitzvah name until I turned twenty-six years old, thirteen years after it was given to me (Bar Mitzvah age x 2).  Upon reflection, how significant is the name assigned to me by the providence of God, especially because it was given to me so many years before I even came to a saving faith in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ)?  [If anyone is interested in seeing my actual bar-mitzvah video, please click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAKcit6gyxk&feature=youtu.be]

More specifically and importantly, and to make the main point of this post, let’s look at the names given by God to some of the people in the Bible.  You ready to be utterly amazed by the names/translations and what they say when they are strung together?   If you interpret the meanings of all the names starting with Adam through Jesus and up to formation of the Church, according to the lineage primarily found in the book of Matthew (Joseph’s line), this is the actual message formed:

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).

Don’t believe this amazing message is really spelled out this way?  Here are the details…

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!  His Word is amazing!!  So I hope you gather from this not to skip the genealogies anymore when reading the Bible.  There is amazing wisdom to be found in names and genealogies as evidenced above.  When you see a name in the Bible going forward, find out it’s meaning. You will be amazed how much this practice can enhance your understanding of the Word of God…praise Him!

Share The Good News!