“What’s In A Name?” Part 1: The Promised Messiah
Do you know what your name means? The majority of people in the western world today don’t! On the whole, we are separated from the origin and meaning of our names. Our family names may come from our ancestor’s homeland (Holland, Parish, York, etc), or occupation (Miller, Fisher, Thatcher, etc). Our first names can have a wide variety of meanings. Regardless of your ancestry, your name has significance.
The Significance of Names
“But now thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
In the ancient Near East, names carried much more significance than they do today. They revealed a person’s true essence. In the Bible, God gave names to shape identities and He changed them to shift destinies. Here are a few examples:
Adam is the Hebrew word for “man,” derived from Adamah (“earth, soil, dust”). Out of the dust he came and to the dust he returned.
Eve (Chavah) means “living, alive.” She is the mother of all the living.
Abram (“exalted father”) became Abraham (“father of many”).
Jacob (“deceiver”) became Israel (“struggles with God”).
Moses means “drawn out.” He was drawn out from the Nile river and then later drew out the Israelites from the land of Egypt.
David means “beloved.” He was a man after God’s own heart, deeply loved despite his mistakes.
There are hundreds of instances like these. In Scripture, names are never given haphazardly.
The Names of God
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
God himself has a name, a personal name: “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). It is made up of four letters: Y-H-V-H. Today this name is not spoken. The correct pronunciation has been lost. Religious Jewish people will refer to God as “Adonai” (Lord), or even “Hashem” (literally, “the name”). Whenever you see “LORD” in all caps in your English Bible, it is standing in for this holy, personal name of God.
There are many other names of God revealed in scripture. Remember, names in the Bible are deeply meaningful. They reveal the essence, origin and destiny of a person. As God’s relational story with Israel unfolded throughout the Law, the Prophets and the Writings, he revealed more and more of himself to them. His character, nature, and attributes are expressed through his decrees, his commands, his actions, and his names.
In light of seemingly impossible odds, God revealed himself to Abraham as El Shaddai: “God Almighty” or “God All-Sufficient.” On Mt. Moriah when God provided a substitute sacrifice instead of Isaac, he was Adonai Yireh: “the Lord who Provides.” To Hagar, rejected and alone, he was El Roi: “the God who sees me.” To the Israelites in the wilderness, he was Adonai Rofecha: “the Lord who heals you.” To David in the field with his sheep, he was Adonai Ro’ee: “the Lord my Shepherd.”
The Names of Messiah: Isaiah 9
As we enter the Advent season, we remember the birth of the promised Messiah in Bethlehem. Places also have names! Bethlehem is Beit Lechem which means “House of Bread.” Jesus, the Bread of Life, was born in the “House of Bread!” Let’s look more closely at the names of the Messiah revealed in this popular passage read during the Christmas season…
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:6
I love this chapter because, though it is foretelling the birth and rule of the Messiah, the attributes given to this person are nothing short of divine. Let’s dig into the Hebrew a bit and look at each one of these names in more depth.
Wonderful Counselor: Pele Yo’etz
The word used here for “wonderful” is pele. It doesn’t just mean ‘fantastic’ or ‘awesome.’ Pele was almost exclusively used in the Bible to describe the wonders of God’s miracles. It refers to a marvel, something difficult to understand. God’s extraordinary acts of judgement and redemption: “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders (pele)?” Exodus 15:11
Mighty God: El Gibbor
El means “God.” This is among the most common words for God in the scriptures. Gibbor means “mighty” and refers to a valiant soldier or warrior. A hero. One who overcomes. This is the word used in Psalm 24:8. “Who is this King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty.”
Everlasting Father: Avi Ad
Av means “father.” Ad means “eternal, enduring continually, without beginning or end.” He is the protector and provider, the Father caring for his family...forever. Did Jesus not say “whoever has seen me has seen the Father”? (John 14:9)
Prince of Peace: Sar Shalom
Sar means “prince, government official, ruler, noble, commander.” Shalom means peace, but not just the ‘peace’ we imagine as the absence of conflict. Shalom contains wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, rest, and safety in every aspect. This is what the Messiah’s government will look like. This is his kingdom. His leadership.
In the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, his language intentionally connects this prophecy with the birth of Yeshua, Jesus:“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33
The Mighty God became a helpless baby. The Eternal Father with no beginning or end was born into finite flesh. The Wonderful Counselor had to learn to talk and walk. The Prince of Peace entered a war-torn world. Incredible. Stay tuned for part two next month: “Missing the Name...”