What's In A Name?

“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.”  1^st 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?