What's in a name?

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1192 Location: US

Today in church we were talking about putting on the new person. About becoming a follower of Jesus. About shedding our sinful nature and gladly taking up the staff of righteousness.

I thought about those in the bible who did just that. Paul did. He started life as Saul and when he became a new man, a follower of Jesus, he took a new name: Paul.

Abram did and when he became a child of God, he was given a new name: Abraham.

God also changed the name of Sarai and she was forever-after known as Sarah.

What's in a name? When you are born, you are given a name. As a woman, when you are married, you change your name. If you divorce, many times people choose to change their name. When you are adopted, your name changes. I know of at least two instances where people chose to change their names when they 'divorced' abusive adoptive parents.

Obviously changing your name for any reason is driven by a powerful force. It's a strong personal decision or a major change in your life that would compel you to change your name.

What is it in Saul, Abram, Sarai and Jacobs cases that compelled them to change their names?

It's easy to spot in Saul/Pauls case but what about Abram, Sarai and Jacob?

What's in a name?

Luv
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Evee · Moderator Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 638

That's really interesting luv. I never thought about this before. My name's Yvette. A college friend nicknamed me Evee. Kind of a name change but not really. Sometimes I go by either name depending on my mood. I married a man named Adam. Ain't that something? The power of a name is indeed awesome.
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Nobby · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Ladies, you don't think I was born with a name like Nobby, do you? That carried over from my father. So I ended up with his nickname! Very Happy

Nobby
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Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1192 Location: US

Hey, my Grandpa saddled me with the nickname "Sugar" (shortened to 'Shug)' and it stuck for many years.

Luv Smile

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Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1192 Location: US

Evee · Moderator Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 638

LOL Luv. Yep. Sure can. Very Happy

My mom always gets a kick out of saying Adam & Eve when telling our names to others. She thinks we were meant to be b/c of that. I've always thought that is kind of curious though.
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Don't get caught in the trap of thinking you know everything God has to say b/c you've read the Bible. Remember, God is STILL speaking. And surprisingly, through people we DON'T expect.

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1192 Location: US

Hey!

I started thinking about this 'name' issue again and it occurred to me that Jesus was referred to by different names, titles, descriptive adjectives.

God himself is referred to as YHWH, Jehovah, the Alpha & Omega, God, Father....

.... And who is Melchizedek? Is this another name that refers to Jesus?

What IS in a name?.... and an equally important question: What is in a TITLE?

Luv

_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints

ChristianWoman1 · Fierce Poodle Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 290

huh...interesting topic Laughing

My name has remained the same (Barb) up until I had my first child almost 16yrs. ago...now it's mama Laughing

how cool to know Adam and Eve Wink

........

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dabmci · Ferret Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Wylie

I think in the days of old parents named there children with names that ment something. Today we just put letters together and if it sounds nice we go with it. So many children names today are just names. My name fits me well. [James] I guess my parents knew I would be a outspoken person. (Son's of Thunder)

God Bless

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6886 Location: USA

In case of most OT (and NT) names, the names had meaning in the language used - the meaning of the names often times dictated the changes.

In many languages the names have meaning, sadly this is not always, or rarely ever, the case in English. Although the root of the names we use have meanings in other languages, the meanings aren't always the consideration, but as dabmci said it is the sound of the name that makes the decision for us.
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Nobby · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject:

Many times we are named after our relatives.
My first name was my dad's first name. He didn't like his first name so he used his middle name which was Elmer!
My middle name came from my uncle.
But Nobby is a nickname that I inhereted from my dad, years after he past away. My dad was only 49 years! Sad

What's in a name?? A lot of fond memories!! Smile

God Bless
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ChristianWoman1 · Fierce Poodle Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 290