“What’s in a name?
That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Romeo
& Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2
More so in ancient or in Eastern cultures, names mean a
lot. Names sometimes signify a
characteristic, either physically or in personality, in other cases, an
occupation. I first lighted upon the
idea of looking at names while working through Beth Moore’s study on
Esther. A couple of summers ago, Pastor
Denise, at Maple Avenue Ministries, encouraged me to look at the meanings of
names in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. This concept was further cemented by Beth
Moore, in her study “The Patriarchs”.
I’d like to look at some of the names in Genesis 29 that I
find interesting:
Jacob: he
deceives
Leah: tired,
weary
Rachel: to
whisper, an embalmer, sheep, innocence of a lamb
Zilpah: distillation
(purification) from the mouth
Bilhah: old,
confused
Laban: white,
shining, gentle, brittle
For anyone not familiar with the story, Jacob traveled to
Laban, his uncle, to find a wife. Laban
deceived the deceiver in giving him Leah as his wife, instead of Rachel. Jacob did get to marry Rachel as well. Leah, whose name means weary or tired, is
described in Genesis 29:17 as having “weak eyes”, meaning she had no
sparkle. Gordon J. Wenham, in the Word
Biblical Commentary, Page 235, points out that having a sparkle in the eyes is
a prized quality in Eastern civilizations.
Keeping in mind that Laban’s (Leah’s father) name means “shining” and
Rachel’s (Leah’s sister) name can mean “to whisper”, I’d like to offer a little
speculation. Please keep in mind that
this is merely speculation on my part, but I think I’m onto something. Having siblings of my own, I can see this
happening. Maybe Rachel did a lot of
whispering. Maybe she whispered even to
Leah that she (Leah) was not Laban’s daughter.
After all, she didn’t have her daddy’s sparkling, shining eyes. Haven’t any of us with siblings said and told
hurtful, hateful things like that? If I
may be so bold as to borrow a line from REO Speedwagon, don’t those tales get
taller on down the line? Scripture tells
us Leah was unloved in her marriage. I
think perhaps Leah never felt like she was loved anyway. Her own father had to trick someone into
marrying her. Leah’s story breaks my
heart. Proverbs 30:21-23 states that the
earth trembles and cannot bear up under “an unloved woman who is married.” I personally know this is true. Names mean something. Words mean something. In our words, we have the power to bless or
curse, to heal or add more wounds, to affirm or tear down. We are wise when we not only watch our words,
but make sure they line up with our actions.
In order to be true, authentic followers of Jesus, we must not “love
with words or tongue, but in actions and in truth.” 1st John 3:18
I believe God holds
the power to redeem and redefine our names.
I have a niece named Leah, who is anything but weak eyed. She is strong, a survivor, and one of my
heroes. I also have a dear friend named
Rachel, who is anything but a whisperer.
She is true and lovely. She
embodies the “innocence of lambs” her name also means. I feel particularly sorry for those
individuals whose names have no real meaning, which may have been made up, or
are nonsensical. We may tend to think
that our names mean nothing. The meaning
of my own name has special meaning.
Deanna, which is derivative of the Roman “Diana” means divine. I am a child of the King, which makes me
divine. I am called Dee, which means in
Hebrew, “speaks kind words”. That is
definitely a meaning I can hang on to and embrace. I’d much rather be known as someone who is
kind and speaks kindly. However, my
earthly name may not be the one by which my heavenly Father calls me. God created me and knows me. Psalm 139: 13-16 He alone knows my true name,
for He is the one who reveal it to me someday.
I love the words spoken by God in Isaiah 62:1-5. They hold much meaning and purpose to
me. “For Zion’s sake I will not keep
silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness
shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness and
all the kings your glory; you will be
called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s
hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah (my delight
is in her), and your land Beulah (married); for the LORD will take delight in
you, and your land will be married. As a
young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry your; as a bridegroom
rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” I once had no friends, was isolated from my
family. These verses have so much
meaning. The LORD has delivered me and
given me such a good life. I love that
He takes delight in me and rejoices over me, that He has removed desolation
from me. Someday, I will know the name
my Papa God has given me. Until then, I
will embrace the name given me. ..The Divine child of the King who speaks kind
words. If your name has no meaning, hang
onto the fact that God knows you by a different name, one that will mean
everything to you.
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new
name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”
So, what’s your name?
