"name" doesn't have to literally mean name

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

Hi folks
I thought it might be helpful to move this issue into the appropriate sub-board as this relates to Hebrew HA-SHEM and Greek ONOMA, the question is - do they have to literally mean a literal name, as English "name" usually does.

This relates to YHWH which appears 6823 times in 36 of 66 books. (not used in Esther, Song, Ecclesiastes).

Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name YAHWEH I did not make myself known to them.

yet clearly the actual name, YHWH was known, because it's mentioned in Gen2:4, and Noah, Abraham and so on all called him YHWH.
Gen9:26 Noah also said, “Blessed be YHWH, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant

And yet we have this:

John 17:26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

From Jesus who (according to the NT Greek text) seems to have put up with the contemporary taboo and never actually pronounced YHWH, and more importantly taught his disciples to pray to "Our Father".

In Hebrew (and to a lesser extent in Greek) "name" has a second figurative meaning as a person's reputation, authority, whether or not the literal name is used. In English too "In the name of the King I command thee.."

now stand back Smile

Steven

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

Liddle Scott Greek dictionary entry for ONOMA "name"

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

For TBax

Is God's "name" ehyeh asher ehyeh?

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

Dust · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject:

Excellent points Steven.......and what a wonderful question!

yahoshea · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:53 am Post subject: Name _Character

From the ancient Hebrew Research Center
"When we see a name such as "King David" we see the word "King" as a title and "David" as a name. In our western mind a title describes a character trait while a name is simply an identifier. In the Hebrew language there is no such distinction between names and titles. Both words, King and David, are descriptions of character traits, King is "one who reigns" while David is "one who is loved". It is also common to identify the word "Elohiym" (God) as a title and YHWH (Yahweh, the LORD, Jehovah) as a name. What we do not realize is that both of these are character traits, YHWH meaning "the one who exists" and Elohiym is "one who has power and authority". The Hebrew word "shem" more literally means "character". When the Bible speaks of taking God's name to the nations, he is not talking about the name itself but his character. When the command to not take God's name in vain literally means not to represent his character in a false manner. It is similar to our expression of "having a good name" which is not about the name itself but the character of the one with that name. "

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

Hi Yahoshea,
thanks Smile

yahoshea · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: Name _Character

Steven,
That are places on Jeff's website that allow you to write in questions. You might try that.

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

hello and welcome....

atoz · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject:

"name" doesn't have to literally mean name,"

but
whatever 'name' means are words which are names,
or
whatever 'name' means are names which are all words!smile

In the name of Love for all names and for the name of no name,
atoz