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Thursday, January 18, 2018

What's in a Name?

Some scholars of biblical studies have noted the ten generations from Adam to Noah, and the meaning of their names seem to be hiding a celestial message of sorts. While other biblical commentators brush it off as 'nonsense', many theologians question the significance of the cryptic story that seems to unfold as you read the name meanings in chronological order. It is a rather remarkable theory. 

Image result for lineage from adam to noah

Name                                                                                                        Meaning of Name

Adam --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- man
Seth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  appointed
Enosh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  mortal
Kenan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sorrow
Mahalalel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- blessed God
Jared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- shall come down
Enoch ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- teaching
Methusalah -------------------------------------------------------------------- his death shall bring
Lamech -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  despairing
Noah ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- rest

In reading the name meanings, the following sentences of doom emerge, "Man appointed mortal sorrow. Blessed God shall come down teaching. His death shall bring despairing rest."  Or it certainly appears a dark message of doom is hidden in the name meanings? Categorically, it seems the cryptic words indeed held a dire warning for the Pre-Flood world. 

While not many scholars have made mention of the name meanings from Noah to Jesus, this article will touch upon that subject and will include the known wives of these famous men mentioned in the Bible. Will there be a parallel to the names and their meanings like the first ten generations [of mankind] suggested to imply?

Bible Teachings - Genealogy Chart from Noah to the 12 Patriarchs. Descendants of Noah, Japheth, Shem, Ham, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - ConformingToJesus.com

The following timeline of the patriarchs and matriarchs are based on the genealogy found in Matthew 1:1-16, which most biblical scholars believe is the lineage of Joseph, Jesus' earthly father.

Name                                                                                                        Meaning of Name

Abram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ high father 
[Abraham] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- many, multitude
      Sarai -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- my princess
     [Sarah] -----------------------------------------------------------  lady, princess, noblewoman
Isaac ----------------------------------------------------------------- he will laugh, he will rejoice
      Rebekeh -------------------------------------------------------------------------- join, tie, snare
Jacob -------------------------------------------------------------  holder of the heel or supplanter
[Israel] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God contended
      Leah ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- weary 
Judah -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- praise
      Daughter of Shua ---------------------------------------------------------------- Crying, saving
Perez ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ breach, burst forth
      Tamar-------------------------------------------------------------------- date palm or palm tree
Hezron ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- court or enclosure
Ram -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  exalted
Amminadab --------------------------------------------- my people/kinsman is generous/noble
Nahshon ----------------------------------------------------------- that foretells, that conjectures 
       Rehab ------------------------------------------------------------------ to be wide or spacious
Boaz ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- swiftness 
       Ruth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- friend
Obed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- servant, worshipper
Jesse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- gift
       Nitzevet (per the Talmud) ----------------------------------------------------- sound, healthy
David ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- beloved
       Bathsheba ----------------------------------------------------------------- daughter of the oath
Solomon --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- peace
       Naamah --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pleasant
Rehoboam ------------------------------------------------------------------  he enlarges the people
       Maacah -------------------------------------------------------- pressed down, worn, fastened
Abijah -------------------------------------------------------------------------- my father is Yahweh
       Annas -------------------------------------------------------------- One who answers; humble
Asa --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- healer
       Azubah --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- desolation
Jehoshaphat --------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh has judged
Joram -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Jehovah is exalted
Uzziah ------------------------------------------------------------------------- my power is Yahweh
       Jerusha --------------------------------------------------- banished, possession, inheritance
Jotham ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh is upright
Ahaz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- has held
       Abijah ------------------------------------------------------------------- the Lord is my father
Hezekiah ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh strengthens
       Hephzibah -------------------------------------------------------------------- she is my delight
Manasseh -------------------------------------------------------------------------- causing to forget
       Meshullemeth ------------------------------------------------------- to be unbroken or whole
Amon -------------------------------------------------------------- secret; faithful; roaring stream
       Jedidah -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  beloved
Josiah ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh supports
       Zebudah -------------------------------------------------------------------- endowed, endowing
Jeconiah -------------------------------------------------------------------- established by Yahweh
Shealtiel ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have asked of God
Here it is suggested by some scholars that Shealtiel died childless; his brother, Pedaiah, married Shealtiel's widow, hence the biological father of Zerrubabel is [Pedaiah] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  redemption of the Lord
Zerubbabel -------------------------------------------------------------------------- seed of Babylon
Abiud -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Father of praise
Eliakim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God rises 
Azor ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- resurrection of God 
Zadok ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  righteous
Achim --------------------------------------------------------------- he whom Jehovah has set up
Eliud ------------------------------------------------------- God is grandeur or God is my praise
Eleazar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God has helped
Matthan ------------------------------------------------------------------- gift, or hope, of the Lord
      Esther (per Sextus Julius Africanus) ----------------------------------------------------- star 
Jacob-------------------------------------------------------------- holder of the heel or supplanter
Joseph ------------------------------------------------------------- may Jehovah add/give increase
      Mary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- wished-for child
Jesus (Yeshua) ----------------------------------------------------------------- to rescue; to deliver 
who is called Christ -------------------------------------------------------------- the anointed one 
and Emmanuel ------------------------------------------------------------------------- God with us  

"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations." ~ Matthew 1:17

Remarkably, it appears as if another celestial message develops throughout the name meanings listed in the Post-Flood world of the ancient patriarchs and matriarchs. From Abram to Perez the following sentences materialize, "[The] high father of many multitudes will laugh, he will rejoice.  [He will be a] supplanter; God contended. [Give] praise, [let it] burst forth." Likewise from Sarai to Tamar, "[His wife is a] princess and noblewoman. [She will] join, tie and snare. [Making] weary; crying. [Let us] save [the] palm tree." Palm trees were mentioned several places within the Bible, and its branches are usually symbols of victory and overcoming hardship. Whether you read the male and female names separately or read them consecutively, a story definitely unfolds that presents promises, warnings and instruction. 

"the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people." Colossians 1:26 (NIV)

     Image result for biblical chart - perez to jesus


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