Abijah ab-be-jar (traditionally male and female)
Hebrew: God is father, whose father is God. Seventh son of
Beker and a grandson of Benjamin. Others with this name: (i)
Second son of Samuel, the great Hebrew prophet. He became a judge of
Israel but proved unworthy of high office. (ii) A descendant of the first
high priest Aaron, and an ancestor of John the Baptist. (iii) A son of
King Jeroboam. He died in childhood, fulfilling a prophecy that claimed
he would. (iv) Son of King Rehoboam. He succeeded to the throne of Jerusalem
and attempted to unite the Twelve Tribes of Israel, as his great-grandfather
David had done. Reigned for three years, and in the end became corrupted.
(v) The mother of Hezekiah, a king of Judah. (vi) Two priests have this
name in the Book of Nehemiah. Variants: Abi, Abijam. [1
Chronicles 7:8]
Understand This
"It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that
bother me, it is the parts
that I do understand." Mark Twain (b.1835)
Abiram ab-be-ram (male)
Hebrew: High father, the father is exalted, greatest. Son
of Eliab the Reubenite. With Korah and Dathan, Abiram conspired against
Moses. For this crime the earth swallowed him. Others with this name:
Eldest son of Hiel the Bethelite, who rebuilt Jericho: "he laid
the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn." [Numbers 16:1]
Abishai ab-be-shay (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Father of gifts, gift of the father. The son of Zeruiah,
David's sister. He offered to kill Saul for David, saying, "God
hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day." He defeated
the Edomites and rescued David from a fight with a Philistine giant. Variants:
Abisha. [1 Samuel 26:6]
Abishua ab-be-shoo-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Father of deliverance, salvation. Other interpretations:
The father is noble. Son of the priest Phinehas. Others with the
name: Son of Bela. [1 Chronicles 6:4]
Abital ab-be-tal (female)
Hebrew: The father is dew, like the dew. One of King David's wives.
She was the mother of Shephatiah, the fifth son of David. [2 Samuel 3:4]
I Name Thee Abner...
Abner Doubleday, an American Civil War general who served at Battle
of Gettysberg, is thought to have invented the hugely popular game of baseball
in 1839, while he was still a schoolboy. The claim has been disputed but
not disproven.
Abner ab-ner (male)
Hebrew: The father is a lamp, father of light. A son of Ner.
Nephew of Kish and cousin of Saul. He was chief commander of Saul's military
forces. After Saul's demise, Abner wanted Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, to assume
the throne. But David also sought the kingship. Abner was defeated by David
at the pool of Gibeon. Shortly after, he swung his support behind David.
Abner was killed by Joab, the chief commander of David's army. Variants:
Ab, Abbey, Abby, Abiner, Avner, Eb, Ebbey, Ebby, Ebner. [1
Samuel 14:50]
Abraham ab-ra-ham (male)
Hebrew: Father of many, father of a multitude, father of the cosmos.
Son of Terah and a descendant of Shem, eldest son of Noah. His original
name was Abram, which in Hebrew meant high father or exalted
father. This was changed by God, who said, "No longer shall
your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you
the father of many nations". Abraham's first wife was his half-sister
Sarai, renamed Sarah by God. He had eight sons: Ishmael, his first born,
to the Egyptian concubine Hagar; Isaac, his beloved second son and heir,
to Sarah; and Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah, the sons
of his latter years, to his second wife Keturah. Abraham had two brothers,
Nahor and Haran. He died at the age of one hundred and seventy-five years
and was buried next to Sarah. He is recognised widely as the father of
the Jewish and Arabian nations. Variants: Ab, Abe, Abi,
Abrahan, Abram, Abramo, Abran, Avraham, Avram, Avrom, Bram, Ham, Ibrahim.
[Abram - Genesis 11:27, Abraham - Genesis 17:5]
I Name Thee Abraham...
Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States, and
arguably the greatest. He held the U.S. together during its most bitter
crisis, the Civil War. Thus the durability of democracy was proven to a
doubting world.
Abram - see Abraham
Absalom ab-sal-lom (male)
Hebrew: Father of peace. The tragic third son of King David. His
mother was Maacah and his sister was Tamar. Absalom plotted to usurp his
father, who met his forces in battle and defeated them. In seeking to escape,
Absalom's head became caught in the branches of an oak tree, perhaps ensnared
by his abundant hair. When Absalom had his yearly haircut, says the Bible,
"he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels" (about
six pounds or 2.7 kilograms). He was killed by David's men as he hung in
the tree, despite David's orders that he be taken unharmed. David's grieved
deeply for his rebellious son. Variants: Abishalom, Absolom.
[1 Kings 15:2]
Adah a-da (female)
Hebrew: Beauty, ornament. First wife of Lamech, the other being Zillah.
Ada (or Adah) had two sons, Jabal and Jubal. Hers is the second woman's
name to appear in the Bible, after Eve. Others with this name: A
wife of Esau and the daughter of Elon the Hittite. Esau also had a wife
called Basemath, which may have been just another name for Ada. In any
case, her son was Eliphaz. Variants: Adah, Adena, Adina, Dena,
Dina. [Genesis 4:19]
I Name Thee Adah...
Adah Menken, a 19th century actress and poet, was renowned
for her daring act of appearing in public semi-naked and strapped to a
running horse. Her fans included such literary lights as Charles Dickens,
Mark Twain and Alexander Dumas.
Adalia ada-li-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Fire-god. One of the ten sons of Haman the Agagite killed
by the Jews. His brothers were Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha,
Aridatha, Parmashta, Aridai, Arisai and Vaizatha. [Esther 9:8]
Adam ad-dam (male)
Hebrew: Earth, red earth, taken from the red earth, or (in
a general sense) man, humanity. The first person created by God
to live in the garden of Eden. His wife was Eve. The meaning of the name
Adam is somewhat uncertain. In the Bible, the name is used in two different
senses: firstly as the name of a person, and secondly, as a broad name
for all mankind. Adam participated in the first sin when, following Eve's
example, he ate the fruit of the tree that God had commanded them not to
eat. For this, Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden and subjected to the
curse of work, sorrow and death. Adam had three sons, Cain, Abel and Seth.
He lived nine hundred and thirty years. Variants: Ad,
Adamo, Adamson, Adan, Adao, Addison, Addos, Adekin, Adom, Edom. [Genesis
3:17]
Addi ad-di (male)
Greek, from Hebrew: Adorned. Other interpretations: My witness.
An ancestor of Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Variants:
Addei. [Luke 3:28]
Adiel ad-de-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Ornament of God. A descendant of Simeon, the son of Jacob
and Leah. Others with this name: (i) The priestly son of Jahzerah
(ii) The father of Azmaveth, who rose to high office as King David's treasurer.
[1 Chronicles 4:36]
Adin ad-deen (male)
Hebrew: Delicate. The head of an important family that returned
to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel from captivity in Babylon. Others with
this name: An unknown Adin whose sons returned from captivity with
Ezra. [Ezra 2:15]
Adina ad-deen-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Slender. A captain in David's army. [1 Chronicles 11:42]
Adnah ad-nah (male)
Hebrew: Pleasure. A captain in Saul's army who went over to David's
side. Others with this name: A captain in Jehoshaphat's army. [1
Chronicles 12:20]
Adoni ad-don-ni (male)
Hebrew: Lord. King of Bezek, captured by the men of Judah and Simeon
after his defeat in battle. He suffered the grisly punishment of having
his thumbs and big toes cut off. Adoni was a fan of this particular form
of ritual humiliation and used it on his own enemies. His full name was
Adoni-Bezek (lord of lightning). [Judges 1:5]
Adonijah ad-don-nee-jar (male)
Hebrew: My lord is God. Fourth son of King David. His mother was
Haggith. As the elder sons Ammon, Kileab and Absalom were dead, Adonijah
became heir apparent to the throne. But David selected Solomon as his successor.
Adonijah sought to overthrow him. He was unsuccessful in this attempt,
and forgiven for it. But Adonijah continued to press his claim. This time
there was no clemency: Solomon had him executed. Others with this name:
(i) A Levite teacher of the law. (ii) A tribal chief present at the sealing
of the covenant. Possible Variants: Adonikam. [2 Samuel 3:4]
Adriel ad-re-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Flock of God, belonging to God. Other interpretations:
God is my help. Son of Barzillai and son-in-law of Saul. His
wife was Merab. He was killed by the Gibeonites. [1 Samuel 18:19]
Get This Bible... Or Else!
After the appearance of Miles Coverdale's first complete English translation
of the Bible in 1535, Thomas Cranmer began at once to revise it. His edition
was published in 1540. Every church in the land was compelled to get a
copy or endure the rather steep fine of forty shillings a month. What a
splendid sales technique.
Aeneas ar-nee-us (male)
Hebrew: Deserving, laudable. A paralysed man at Lydda healed by
Peter. [Acts 9:33]
Ahab a-hab (male)
Hebrew: Uncle. Son of Omri. Seventh king of Israel; reigned for
twenty-two years. His wife was Jezebel of Tyre who introduced the blasphemous
worship of the god Baal and the goddess Ashtoreth to Israel. She also persecuted
the true followers of the God of Moses and urged Ahab to greater evils.
He did not need much urging, however, as he was naturally greedy. He was
killed in battle by a random arrow. According to the Bible, "the
dogs licked up his blood, and the harlots washed themselves in it."
[1 Kings 16:29]
Ahlai ar-lay (traditionally male and female)
Hebrew: Ornamental, beautiful. Other interpretations: O would
that! Father of Zabad, a soldier in David's army. Others with this
name: Daughter of Sheshan and wife of Jarha, a slave freed by her father.
Mother of Attai. [1 Chronicles 11:41]
Akim ar-keem (male)
Greek, from Hebrew: God will establish. Son of Sadoc. An ancestor of
Jesus Christ. Variants: Achim. [Matthew 1:14]
Alemeth al-le-meth (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Concealment, covering, veil. Son of Beker and a grandson
of Benjamin. Others with this name: A descendant of Jonathan. Variants:
Alameth. [1 Chronicles 7:8]
Alexander al-lex-zan-der (modern male and female)
Greek: Defender of men, man-defending. Son of Simon of Cyrene,
the man chosen to help Jesus bear the Cross to Calvary. His brother was
Rufus. Others with this name: (i) Kin of Annas the high priest.
(ii) A Jewish convert in Ephesus who spoke to the crowd. (iii) A false
prophet rebuked by Paul. (iv) A coppersmith who sought to harm Paul. Variants:
Al, Alastair, Alec, Aleck, Alecksander, Aleksei, Alessander, Alex, Alexis,
Alistair, Allister, Sandy, Sasha, Zander. The female forms include
Alejandra, Alessandra, Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexia, Alexis, Elke, Sacha,
Sandra, Sondra. [Mark 15:21]
I Name Thee Alexander...
Alexander the Great, an ancient Macedonian king who set out to conquer
the entire known world - and just about managed it, despite living to the
age of only 33 years. At its height, his empire reached from Greece to
India.
Almodad al-mo-dad (male)
Hebrew: Beloved. Other interpretations: Infinite, beyond measurement.
Eldest son of Joktan. His brothers were Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab.
Founder of an Arab tribe. Variants: El-Mudad. [Genesis 10:26]
Alvan al-van (male)
Hebrew: Tall. A son of Shobal and a grandson of Seir the Horite.
His brothers were Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam. Variants:
Alian. [Genesis 36:23]
Amariah am-ma-ri-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God promises, declares. Father of Ahitub. An ancestor of
the great priest, Ezra. Others with this name: (i) High priest of
Jehoshaphat. (ii) A Levite of David's time. (iii) A Levite priest under
Hezekiah. (iv) A priest with a foreign wife in the time of Ezra. (v) One
of those present with Nehemiah at the sealing of the covenant. (vi) A priest
under Zerubbabel. (vii) A son of Hezekiah and great-grandfather of Zephaniah
the prophet. [1 Chronicles 6:7]
Amasiah am-ma-si-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Whom God bears. Son of Zicri. He commanded two hundred thousand
"mighty men of valour" as a captain under King Jehoshaphat.
[2 Chronicles 17:16]
The Great Bible
The Great Bible, also known as Matthew Parker's Bible,
was published during the schismatic reign of the axe-happy King Henry VIII
of England. Matthew Parker was the Archbishop who supervised its production.
Amaziah am-ma-zi-ar (male)
Hebrew: Strength of God, whom God strengthens. Eighth king
of Judah, which he ruled for twenty-nine years. Despite successes and victories,
he fell into error by worshipping the idols of Edom. He was eventually
defeated by Jehoash of Israel and assassinated by conspirators at Lachish.
Others with this name: (i) Father of Joshah. (ii) One of Ethan's
ancestors. (iii) A wicked priest of Bethel under Jeroboam II. [2 Kings
12:21]
Ammiel am-me-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: People of God, my kinsman is God. One of the scouts commissioned
Moses to "spy out the land of Canaan." Others with
this name: (i) Father of Bathsheba, one of David's wives. (ii) Father
of Machir. (iii) Son of Obed-Edom. A gatekeeper in the temple. [Numbers
13:12]
Amos aim-mos (male)
Hebrew: Weighty, bearer of burdens, troubled. A minor prophet. Amos
reproved Israel for its spiritual impoverishment. He condemned the empty
rituals and idolatry that had sprung up and exhorted the nation to reform.
His words provoked the priests. Amaziah, a priest, accused him of treason
against King Jeroboam. [Amos 1:1]
Amoz aim-moz (male) Hebrew: Strong. Father of the
prophet Isaiah. [2 Kings 19:2]
Amraphel am-raff-fel (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Keeper of gods. The King of Shinar who, allied with Chedorlaomer,
attacked the city of Sodom. [Genesis 14:1]
Amzi em-zee (male)
Hebrew: Strong. An ancestor of Ethan. Others with this name: A
priestly ancestor of Adaiah. [1 Chronicles 6:46]
The Shortest Verse
The shortest verse of the Bible is just two words long: John 11:35
- "Jesus wept."
Anah an-nar (male)
Hebrew: Answering. A son of Seir the Horite. His brothers were Lotan,
Shobal, Zibeon, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. Timna was his sister and Oholibamah,
his daughter. His son-in-law was Esau. [Genesis 36:2]
Ananiah an-na-ni-ar (male)
Hebrew: God is a protector, shielded by God. A priestly assistant
to Nehemiah. Father of Maaseiah. [Nehemiah 3:23]
Ananias an-na-ni-us (male)
Greek, from Hebrew: God has been gracious, whom God has given. An early
Christian convert of tepid conviction. He was scolded by Peter for his
lack of faith and fell dead on the spot. Others with this name: (i)
A Jew at Damascus who helped the blinded Paul to regain his sight. (ii)
A high priest of Jerusalem before whom Paul was tried. [Acts 5:1]
Andrew an-drew (male)
Greek: Manly. A disciple of Jesus Christ and a former disciple of John
the Baptist. He was the son of Jonas of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee.
His brother was Simon, later named Peter, the leader of the disciples.
The brothers, both fisherman, were called by Jesus to follow him. Tradition
says Andrew was martyred by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross. Today this
symbol is known as the St. Andrew's cross. Variants: Anders,
Andonis, Andor, Andre, Andrea, Andreas, Andrei, Andres, Andreu, Andrey,
Andros, Andvari, Bandi, Dandi, Drew. [Matthew 4:18]
I Name Thee Andrew...
Andrew Carnegie, industrialist and philanthropist, arrived in the United
States as a poor Scottish emigrant, aged thirteen. He made his fortune,
estimated at five hundred million dollars, in steel. He gave most of it
away to worthy causes.
Andronicus an-dron-nik-cus (male)
Greek: Man conqueror, victor over men. A Christian friend of Paul who
spent time in prison with him. [Romans 16:7]
Anna an-na (female)
Greek, from Hebrew: Gracious, grace. Greek form of the Hebrew name
Hannah. Anna was the daughter of Phanuel, an Asherite. She became
a prophetess. As an old woman, she saw the infant Jesus Christ and recognised
Him at once as the long-awaited Messiah. Variants: Anca, Ania,
Anica, Anita, Anka, Anne, Annette, Anni, Annice, Anusia, Nan, Nance, Nancy,
Nanette, Nanice, Nanita, Nanny, Nansi, Nita, Panni. [Luke 2:36]
I Name Thee Anna...
Anna Pavlova, a Russian ballerina of supreme grace and power. She
was the most acclaimed dancer of her generation. Her performances of The
Dying Swan were so compelling that audiences were often reduced to
tears.
Apollos ap-poll-us (male)
Greek: Belonging to Apollo (pagan Greek god of light, music and poetry).
Influential Alexandrian Jew converted to Christianity. The Bible says he
was "an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures... fervent
in spirit." Possibly the author of Letter to the Hebrews.
Variants: Apollonius. [Acts 18:24]
Apphia af-fi-ar (female)
Greek: Productive, bountiful. A Christian woman of Colosse. She
was perhaps the wife of Philemon and the mother of Archippus. [Philemon
2]
Aquila ak-kwil-ar (male)
Latin: Eagle. The husband of Priscilla. Expelled from Rome, he moved
to Corinth and became a tent-maker. Aquila and his wife were friends and
assistants of Paul, who stayed in their home for a year and a half. [Acts
18:2]
Ardon ar-don (male)
Hebrew: Fugitive, elusive. Other interpretations: Bronze.
A son of Caleb by his wife Jerioth. His brothers were Jesher and Shobab.
[1 Chronicles 2:18]
Areli ar-rel-li (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Heroic, brave. A son of Gad. His descendants were the Arelites.
His brothers were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri and Arodi. [Genesis
46:16]
Ariel ar-re-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Lion of God. A leader of the returning captives from Babylon.
Variants: Arel, Ari, Ario, Ary, Arye, Aryll. [Ezra 8:16]
Where It All Comes From
The term canonical means to be accepted as genuine or lawful.
Thus the canon of the New Testament includes only those texts considered
to be truthful in their teaching. The New Testament did not assemble itself
by chance. Many ancient Christian texts have been excluded. The twenty-seven
books and letters from Matthew to Revelation were approved
as canonical by the Church in the fourth century A.D.
Armoni ar-mon-ni (male)
Hebrew: Of the palace. A son of Saul by the concubine Rizpah. He
was one of the party given up by David to the vengeful Gibeonites. Variants:
Armoni. [2 Samuel 21:8]
Artemas art-tem-mas (male)
Greek: Gift of Artemis (pagan Greek goddess of hunting and the moon).
An early Christian and a friend of Paul. According to tradition he became
the bishop of Lystra. [Titus 3:12]
Artemis art-tem-mis (female)
Greek: Meaning unknown. Pagan Greek goddess of the moon, animals
and hunting. She was called Diana by the Romans. Her mythical father was
Zeus, and her brother was Apollo. Variants: Artema, Artemas.
[Acts 19:24]
Asa a-za (male)
Hebrew: Healer, physician. Third king of Judah. His father was the
wicked Abijah. His grandmother was Maacah, a blasphemer. Against all odds,
Asa became a righteous king who corrected the iniquities of his forebears.
He ruled for thirty-nine years. Others with this name: A Levite
returned from the Babylonian captivity. [1 Kings 15:9]
Asaph as-saff (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Gatherer. A talented Levite musician, poet and singer. Asaph
was David's choirmaster and author of twelve Psalms. Others with this
name: (i) Father of Joah, chronicler of the reign of King Hezekiah.
(ii) The official keeper of the forests under King Artaxerxes. [1 Chronicles
6:39]
Asarel az-sa-rel (modern male and female) Hebrew: Bound
by oath. Son of Jehalelel, a descendant of Judah. [1 Chronicles 4:16]
All Greek To Them
One of the first translations of the Hebrew Old Testament
was made in Egypt twenty-two centuries ago. It was translated into Greek,
the accepted international language of that time. The finished work came
to known as the Septuagint, a word meaning seventy, for the number
of scholars who worked on it.
Asarelah az-sar-rel-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Virtuous. A Levite singer under Asaph. Variants:
Jesarelah, Jesharelah. [1 Chronicles 25:2]
Ascah az-kar (female)
Hebrew: Anklet. Daughter of Caleb and grand-daughter of Hephunneh.
She married her uncle Othniel. A bold woman for her time and culture. She
told her husband to ask her father for some land. This request was granted,
but Acsah was still unsatisfied. She also wanted water rights over the
land. Her husband was frightened to ask for more. So she asked Caleb herself,
and he gave her the rights to both the upper and lower springs. Variants:
Acsa, Acsah. [Joshua 15:16]
Asenath azzi-nath (female)
Hebrew: Devotee of Neith (Egyptian equivalent of Athena, the pagan
Greek goddess of wisdom). This is a very old name, known to have existed
in Egypt as long as four thousand years ago. Asenath was the daughter of
Potiphera, a priest. Pharoah married her to Joseph, by whom she had two
sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. [Genesis 41:45]
Ashbea ash-be-ar (male)
Hebrew: I appeal. Head of a family in Judah. A descendant
of Shelah. [1 Chronicles 4:21]
Asher ash-ah (male)
Hebrew: Happiness, luck. Son of Jacob by the concubine Zilpah, Leah's
maid. He had a brother Gad, half-sister Dinah, and half-brothers Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali.
He is one of the founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel; in this case,
the Asherites. Variants: Aser, Asser. [Genesis 30:13]
Asherah ash-ah-ra (female)
Hebrew: Straight, continuous. A pagan goddess associated with the
delusive worship of Baal. Variants: Ashtaroth. [1
Kings 16:33]
Ashtoreth ash-toe-reth (female)
Hebrew: Star. A pagan goddess associated with the blasphemous worship
of Baal. She was chief goddess of the Phoenicians. Known as Ishtar to
the Assyrians, and Astarte to the Greeks and Romans. [Judges 2:13]
Asiel az-ze-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Created by God. A Simeonite. Forefather of Jehu. [1 Chronicles
4:35]
Asriel az-ri-el (male)
Hebrew: Help of God. Son of Gilead and a descendant of Joseph through
Manasseh. His brothers were Abiezer, Helek, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida.
Others with this name: A son of Manasseh by his concubine. [Numbers
26:31]
Atarah at-tar-ra (female)
Hebrew: Crown. Mother of Onam. Her husband was Jerahmeel. [1 Chronicles
2:26]
Catholics Get More
The Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible are not identical.
The traditional Bible of the Catholic Church contains seventy-three books,
while the traditional Bible of the Protestants has but sixty-six.
Athaliah ar-thal-le-ar (female)
Hebrew: Afflicted, punished by God. A daughter of royalty. Her father
was King Ahab and her grandfather was King Omri. She married King Jehoram
of Judah. Her mother was the wicked Jezebel. Like her, Athaliah was drawn
to the blasphemous worship of Baal. After the death of Ahaziah, her son,
she ruled for six years. To hold power she killed her own grandsons, preventing
possible rival claims. But one of them, Joash, escaped. He was installed
as king and Athaliah was slain by her own guards. Others with this name:
(i) A son of Jeroham. (ii) Father of Jeshiah. [2 Kings 8:26]
Augustus or-gust-tus (male)
Latin: Venerable, majestic. More a title than a name. Augustus Caesar
was emperor of Rome when Jesus Christ was born in the province of Judea.
His personal name was Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus, or Octavian for short.
His grand-uncle was the famous Julius Caesar. The name (or title) appears
just once in the Bible. [Luke 2:1]
Azaliah az-zar-lee-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God has provided. Other interpretations: Near to God,
God has made his goodness known. Son of Meshullam. Father of Shaphan,
a scribe under King Josiah. [2 Kings 22:3]
Azaniah az-zan-ni-ar (male)
Hebrew: God has provided, set aside. Other interpretations: God
has heard. Father of Jeshua, a Levite who, with Nehemiah, signed the
covenant. [Nehemiah 10:9]
The World's Most Popular Names
The Bible is the world's richest single source of personal names. The
most popular Christian (or first) names are, for girls, Mary, and for boys,
John. Other very popular names include David, Hannah, James, Joseph, Mark,
Elizabeth, Anna and Luke.
Azarael az-zar-rail (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Whom God helps, God is my help. A Levite musician
in the procession at the dedication of Jerusalem's walls. Variants:
Azarel. [Nehemiah 12:36]
Azareel az-za-reel (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Whom God helps, God is my help. A warrior who joined forces
with David at Ziklag. Others with this name: (i) A temple musician
in David's time. (ii) A prince of the Danites who served under David as
a captain of the army. (iii) A son of Bani who divorced his foreign wife.
(iv) A priest who lived in Jerusalem. Variants: Azarel. [1
Chronicles 12:6]
Azaria az-zar-ree-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God helps, whom God helps. A very popular name in
the Bible. The first was the son of Zadok, Solomon's high priest. Others
with this name: (i) An officer at the court of King Solomon. Son of
Nathan. (ii) Tenth king of Judah - see Uzziah. (iii) A son of Ethan
the Wise. (iv) A son of Jehu with Egyptian ancestry. (v) The son of Jonanan.
A high priest under Abijah and Asa. (vi) A high priest, the son of Hilkiah.
(vii) An ancestor of Samuel. (viii) A son of Obed who became a prophet
in the reign of Asa. (ix) Two sons of King Jehoshaphat with the same name,
one also called Azariahu. (x) Ahaziah, who appears to have been
known as Azariah also (just to confuse matters!) (xi) A son of Jehoram
who helped overthrow the wicked queen Athaliah. (xii) A high priest under
Uzziah who resisted his efforts to assume the holy functions of the priests.
(xiii) Son of Johanan. A tribal prince. (xiv) Two obscure Levites. (xv)
A chief priest under King Hezekiah. (xvi) A Levite assistant to Ezra. (xvii)
Chief of a returned family. (xviii) Son of Maaseiah. He helped rebuild
the walls of Jerusalem. (xix) A priest who, with Nehemiah signed the covenant.
(xx) An opponent of Jeremiah. (xxi) A captive taken to Babylon. His name
was changed later to Abednego. (xxii) A prince of Judah. Variants:
Azariah, Azariahu, Azriel, Ozias, Uzziah. [1 Kings 4:2]
A Bitter Tale
Produced by the Clarendon Press in 1717, this edition of the Bible
refers to Luke 20 as "The parable of the Vinegar." The
word they meant to use was Vineyard.
Azaziah az-za-zee-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Whom God strengthens. A Levite harp player under King David.
Others with this name: (i) Father of Hoshea, a tribal prince. (ii)
A Levite temple custodian under King Hezekiah. [1 Chronicles 15:21]
Azel az-zel (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Distinguished, noble. A descendant of Saul through his son
Jonathan. [1 Chronicles 8:37]
Aziel az-zeel (male)
Hebrew: God is my strength. Other interpretations: Whom God comforts.
A Levite harp player. Variants: Jaaziel, Jehiel. [1 Chronicles
15:20]
Azriel az-ree-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God is my help, help of God. A chief of the Manasseh tribe.
Others with this name: (i) A Naphtalite tribesman. (ii) The father
of Seraiah. Variants: Azaria. [1 Chronicles 5:24]
Azzan az-zan (male)
Hebrew: Very strong, most powerful. A chief among the Issachar in
the time of Moses. His son was Paltiel. [Numbers 34:26]
~ B ~
Barakel bara-kel (male)
Hebrew: God blesses, blessed of God. The father of Elihu, a friend
of Job. Variants: Barachel. [Job 32:2]
Bariah bar-ri-ar (male)
Hebrew: Fugitive. One of the sons of Shemaiah. A descendant of David
and Solomon. His brothers were Hattush, Neariah and Shaphat. [1 Chronicles
3:22]
Barnabas barn-ar-bus (male)
Greek, from Aramaic: Son of comfort, son of persuasion. An early
Christian convert from Cyprus who sold his property to assist the work
of the church at Jerusalem. He is described as "a good man and
full of the Holy Spirit and faith." Acts 14 calls him an apostle.
Some say he wrote the New Testament's Letter to the Hebrews. He
travelled with Paul, who regarded him as an exemplary Christian. Variants:
Barnaba, Barnabe, Barnaby, Barney, Burnaby. [Acts 4:36]
I Name Thee Bartholomew...
Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese sea captain and explorer,
was the first European to find a way around the bottom of Africa and into
the Indian Ocean. He discovered and named the Cape of Storms, later called
the Cape of Good Hope.
Bartholomew bar-thol-lo-mew (male)
Greek, from Aramaic: Son of Tolmai, son of Talmai. One of the twelve
disciples of Jesus Christ. Very little is known of him. Bartholomew may
have been the surname or alternative name of Nathaneal. Tradition
says he preached the news of Christ in India and later in Armenia, where
he was martyred. Variants: Bardo, Bart, Bartel, Bartleot, Bartholomaus,
Bartholomieu, Bartle, Bartlemay, Bartlett, Bartley, Bartold, Bartolome,
Barton, Bate, Batly, Bertel, Mewes, Tolly, Tolomey. [Matthew 10:3]
Bartimaeus bart-tim-may-us (male)
Greek: Son of Timaeus. A blind man healed by Jesus Christ near Jericho.
[Mark 10:46]
Barush bar-roosh (male)
Hebrew: Blessed. Son of Zabbai and an assistant to Nehemiah in the
reconstruction of Jerusalem. Others with this name: (i) A priest
who, with Nehemiah, signed the covenant. (ii) Son of Colhozeh and a descendant
of Perez. (iii) Son of Neriah. Friend and faithful secretary of the prophet
Jeremiah. A controversial figure, admired and feared. The Book of Baruch
and other works are attributed to him. Variants: Baruch.
[Nehemiah 3:20]
Basemath baz-zee-math (female)
Hebrew: Pleasing, fragrant. Daughter of Elon the Hittite. A wife of
Esau. She was also known as Adah. Others with this name:
(i) Yet another wife of Esau. This one was the daughter of Ishmael and
a sister to Nebaioth. (ii) A daughter of Solomon. Her husband was the tax
collector Ahimaaz. Variants: Bashemath. [Genesis 26:34]
Tom Thumb's Bible
Published in Scotland in 1670, the diminutive Thumb Bible was small
enough fit snugly into the palm of a man's hand.
Bathsheba bath-she-ba (as in math) (female)
Hebrew: Daughter of Sheba. Other interpretations: Daughter of
the oath, excess of pleasure, seventh daughter. The origins of this
name are much disputed. A daughter of Eliam who married Uriah the Hittite.
While Uriah was away at war, David forced Bathsheba to sleep with him.
Even more shameful, he had Uriah killed so he could marry her. Together
they had four sons: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, who succeeded
to the throne. Bathsheba was famed for her beauty and intelligence. Variants:
Barsabe, Bathshua, Batsheva, Sheba, Sheva. [2 Samuel 11:3]
Bathshua bath-shoo-ar (as in math) (female)
Hebrew: Daughter of wealth. Daughter of Shua and the wife of Judah.
She bore three sons, Er, Onan and Shelah. Variants: Bathsheba,
Shua. [1 Chronicles 2:3]
Bebai be-bay (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Fatherly. Head of a family returned from captivity in Babylon.
Others with this name: The father of Zechariah. [Ezra 2:11]
Bedeiah be-di-ar (male)
Hebrew: Servant of God. A son of Bani. [Ezra 10:35]
Beker bek-er (male)
Hebrew: First born. Other interpretations: Young camel. Second
son of Benjamin. His sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri,
Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. Others with this name: A
son of Ephraim. Variants: Becher, Bered. [Genesis
46:21]
Ben ben (male)
Hebrew: Son. A Levite musician in the time of David. The word ben
is also used to show family descent, e.g., Ben-Hur means son of Hur.
[1 Chronicles 15:18]
Benaiah ben-nay-ar (male)
Hebrew: God has raised, built up. Other interpretations: Son
of the Lord. A Levite musician in the time of David. Others with
this name: (i) Son of Jehoiada. Captain of David's elite bodyguard.
He also served Solomon as general of the army. (ii) One of David's mighty
warriors. (iii) A Simeonite prince. (iv) Several obscure Levites and priests.
(v) One of the temple overseers in the days of King Hezekiah. (vi) Father
of Pelatiah. (vii) Four captives returned from Babylon. [1 Chronicles 27:5]
Benjamin ben-ja-min (male)
Hebrew: Son of my right hand. The meaning of the name suggests power
and special blessings. The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and a grandson
of Isaac. Rachel, who died during his delivery, named him Benoni, "son
of my sorrow". This was later changed by Jacob to Benjamin. His
brother was Joseph, who rose to high office in Egypt. His ten half-brothers
were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Dan and
Naphtali. He also had a half-sister, Dinah. Benjamin was one of the founders
of the Twelve Tribes; in his case, the Benjamites. Members of this tribe
included King Saul and Paul the apostle. Others with this name: (i)
A great-grandson of the first Benjamin. (ii) One who married a foreign
wife in the days of Ezra. Variants: Bannerjee, Ben, Benji, Benmajee,
Benny, Berihert. [Genesis 35:18]
I Name Thee Benjamin...
Benjamin Franklin, inventor, printer, statesman, author, scientist.
He proved lightning was electricity and invented the lightning rod and
the bifocal glasses. He was also a signatory of the Declaration of Independence
and the U.S. Constitution.
Bera bear-ra (male)
Hebrew: Gift? King of Sodom, a city destroyed by God because of its
wickedness. Some scholars say that the original meaning of the name was
son of evil, which is a lot less jolly than gift. [Genesis
14:2]
Beraiah bear-ray-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Made by God. A son of Shimei. His brothers were Jakim,
Zichri, Zabdi, Elienai, Eliel, Zilethai, Adaiah and Shimrath. [1 Chronicles
8:21]
Berekiah bear-ree-ki-ar (male)
Hebrew: God blesses, blessed of God. A son of Zerubbabel. His brothers
were Hananiah, Meshullam, Hashubah, Ohel, Hasadiah and Jushabhesed; his
sister was Shelomith. Others with this name: (i) Father of the musician
Asaph. (ii) A Levite of Jerusalem. (iii) A door-keeper, or guardian, of
the ark. (iv) A son of Meshillemoth. (v) Father of the architect Meshullam.
(vi) Father of the prophet Zechariah. Variants: Berakiah,
Berechiah, Berachaiah. [1 Chronicles 3:20]
Beri bear-ree (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Wisdom. Other interpretations: Well. An Asherite. [1
Chronicles 7:36]
Bernice bur-neice (female)
Greek: Bringing victory, victorious. Eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa.
She married her uncle and had an incestuous liaison with her brother Agrippa.
Later she was briefly wed to Ptolemy of Sicily and also had affairs with
the Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus. Variants: Barrie, Bernelle,
Berenice, Bernita, Bunni, Nicia, Nixie, Pherenice, Vernice. [Acts 25:13]
The King's Bible
Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible was first published
in 1952. Thirty-two scholars worked on it. Their goal was to modernise
the 17th century language of the hugely popular King James Version (KJV),
and to modify certain passages in the light of new discoveries in biblical
scholarship and archaeology. In this they continued the cause of earlier
Bible revisions such as the English Revised Version (ERV) of 1885
and the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901.
Bethuel beth-u-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Child of God. Other interpretations: Abode of God.
A son of Nahor by Milcah. His brothers were Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Chesed,
Hazo, Pildash and Jidlaph. His children were Rebekah, the wife of Isaac
and mother of Jacob and Esau, and Laban, the father-in-law of Jacob. He
also had three half-brothers, Tebah, Gaham and Tahash, and a half-sister,
Maacah, the offspring of Nahor's concubine, Reumah. Variants:
Bethul. [Genesis 22:22]
Bezai bez-zay (male)
Hebrew: Conqueror. The head of a family returned from captivity in
Babylon. Others with this name: Another member of the same returned
family, perhaps a century later. [Ezra 2:17]
Bilhah bil-ha (female)
Hebrew: Timid, modest. Other interpretations: Silly, weak.
A maid given by Laban to his daughter Rachel, the second wife of Jacob.
When Rachel remained childless, she gave Bilhah as a concubine to Jacob.
She bore him two sons: Dan and Naphtali, both the founders of tribes. Variants:
Baila. [Genesis 29:29]
Heathen England?
The translation of the Bible into English took place rather slowly.
Bibles existed in the French language by the 12 century and in Italian
and Spanish by the 13th. But the English had to wait until the
14th century for a complete New Testament - and as late as the 16th for
a full Bible - in their native tongue. Does this tardiness suggest a certain
spiritual indifference? Not at all. In 670 A.D., the monk Caedmon translated
parts of the Old Testament into Old English. About thirty years later,
Bishop Aldhelm and the Venerable Bede also translated portions.
Bilshan bil-shan (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Eloquent, well-spoken. A captive returned from Babylon. [Ezra
2:2]
Binea bin-nee-ar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Fountain, spring. A descendant of King Saul. [1 Chronicles
8:37]
Boaz bo-az (male)
Hebrew: Beautiful. Other interpretations: Quick, strong. A wealthy
man of Bethlehem. He married the widowed Ruth. [Ruth 2:1]
Bohan bo-han (male)
Hebrew: Thumb. A descendant of Reuben. His name was given to a stone
that marked the tribal boundary of Judah and Benjamin. [Joshua 15:6]
Bukkiah buk-ki-ar (male)
Hebrew: Wasting. A son of Heman. He served under his father as a temple
musician. His brothers were Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah,
Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir
and Mahazioth. [1 Chronicles 25:4]
~ C ~
Caesar see-sar (male)
Latin: Hairy. Other interpretations: Elephant, dark, beautiful.
Surname of the Roman general, Caius Julius Caesar and of the first emperor,
Augustus Caesar. It was adopted by later rulers as an imperial title. [Matthew
22:17]
Cain and Abel: The Real Story?
Cain, in the first act of murder, killed his brother Abel. The motive,
says the Bible, was his jealousy of Abel's good standing with God. But
according to Muslim tradition, there's more to the story. Cain had a twin
sister Aclima. Abel had a twin sister also, Jumella. Adam, their father,
wanted the brothers to marry each other's twin. But Cain did not approve.
To settle the matter, ritual offerings were made to God. Cain offered the
fruit of the ground, and Abel, sheep from his flock. The Bible says, "And
the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering
he had no regard" - which meant Abel should marry Aclima. Outraged,
Cain slew Abel.
Cain kane (male)
Hebrew: Possession. Eldest son of Adam and Eve, the first human
parents. Cain was a tiller of the earth. He became jealous of his brother
Abel and killed him, the first murder in human history. When God asked
Cain where Abel was, he answered with the infamous words, "am I
my brother's keeper?" When his crime was discovered he fled to
the Land of Nod. [Genesis 4:1]
Caleb kay-leb (male)
Hebrew: Bold, brave. Other interpretations: Able, triumphant.
Son of Jephunneh. One of the spies sent out by Moses to survey the land
of Canaan. Only he and Joshua returned with reports favourable to settlement.
He was given land near Hebron. His daughter was Acsah. Others with this
name: A son of Hezron. His brothers were Jerahmeel and Ram.
Variants: Cal, Cale, Chelubai. [Numbers 13:6]
Canaan kay-nun (male)
Hebrew: Lowland, plain. Other interpretations: Purple. Son
of Ham and a grandson of Noah. He was cursed by Noah, upset because Ham
had seen him lying drunk and naked in a tent (just what this offence had
to do with the hapless Canaan is not clear). He founded the Canaanite nation.
Their lands lay along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. His sons were
Sidon and Heth. Variants: Chanaan. [Genesis
9:18]
Candace kan-dase (female)
Greek: Queen of servants. A queen of Ethiopia. Candace may have
been more a royal title than a name, such as the title Pharoah. She is
mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles because her treasurer, an
unnamed eunuch, was an early Christian convert. Variants: Candance,
Candase, Candida, Candide, Candis, Candra, Candy. [Acts 8:27]
Carmi kar-my (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Vine dresser. Son of Reuben. Founder of the Carmites. His brothers
were Hezron, Pallu and Hanoch. Others with this name: Father of
Achan. Great-grandson of Judah. [Genesis 46:9]
Carshena kar-sheen-nar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Distinguished. One of the seven wise princes of Persia and
Media who advised King Ahasuerus. [Esther 1:14]
Cephas see-fus (male)
Greek, from Aramaic: Rock, stone. Name given to Peter by Jesus. [John
1:42]
Chloe klo-e (female)
Greek: Green plants, growing. A Christian woman of Corinth. She
advised Paul of disputes within the local church. Also the name of the
pagan Greek goddess of budding plants and crops; hence the meaning of the
name. [1 Corinthians 1:11]
Claudia clau-dee-ar (female)
Latin: Lame, limping. A Christian woman of Rome who joined with
Paul in sending greetings to Timothy. The name is the female form of Claudius.
Variants: Claudella, Claudette, Claudina, Claudine, Clodia, Gladys.
[2 Timothy 4:21]
Claudius clau-dee-us (male)
Latin: Lame, limping. Claudius Caesar, the fourth emperor of Rome.
He reigned with unanticipated talent from A.D. 45 to 54. He was physically
lame; hence his name. Others with this name: A captain of the Roman
garrison in Jerusalem, Claudius Lysias, who rescued Paul from a mob of
angry Jews. [Acts 18:2]
I Name Thee Clement...
Clement Attlee, a British political leader, served as Deputy Prime
Minister under Winston Churchill in the darkest days of World War II. In
1945, he became Prime Minister and launched a broad programme of social
reform.
Clement clem-ment (modern male and female)
Latin: Mild, merciful, kind. A Christian who worked with Paul. Some
believe that in A.D. 88 he was appointed as the fourth Bishop of Rome,
or Pope. He is remembered by Catholics as St Clement I. Thirteen papal
successors adopted his name. He may have written the Epistle to the
Corinthians. Variants: Clem, Clemens, Clemon. Female
forms include Clemence, Clementia, Clementine. [Philippians 4:3]
Cleopas klee-o-pas (male)
Greek: Distinguished, renowned father. One of two disciples to whom
the resurrected Jesus Christ appeared on the road between the towns of
Jerusalem and Emmaus. Nothing more is known of him. [Luke 24:18]
Conaniah con-nan-ni-ar (male)
Hebrew: God has founded, made by God. A Levite temple official under
Hezekiah. Others with this name: A Levite in Josiah's time. [2 Chronicles
35:9]
Cornelius cor-neel-le-us (modern male and female)
Greek: Of a horn. A Roman centurion of Caesarea who, with his household,
became the first Christian converts among the Gentiles. Variants:
Cornell, Cory, Neil. Female forms include Cornela, Cornelia, Nell,
Nellie. [Acts 10:1]
Cosam coz-zam (male)
Hebrew: Diviner, seer. An ancestor of Jesus Christ. [Luke 3:28]
Cush kush (as in bush) (male)
Hebrew: Black. Son of Ham and grandson of Noah. Cush had six sons:
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, Sabteca and Nimrod. His brothers were Egypt,
Put and Canaan. Cush was also the name for the country of Ham's descendants,
identified in some Bibles as Ethiopia. [Genesis 10:6]
Cushi kush-shy (as in bush) (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Ethiopian. A messenger sent by Joab to tell David that the
rebel Absalom was defeated. Others with this name: (i) An ancestor
of Jehudi. (ii) Father of Zephaniah the prophet. [2 Samuel 18:21]
Cyrenius sigh-ren-nee-us (male)
Greek: Of Cyrene. Roman governor of Syria when Jesus Christ was born.
Variants: Quirinius. [Luke 2:2]
I Name Thee Cyrus...
Cyrus Vance, American political leader who served in the powerful office
of U.S. Secretary of State from 1977 to 1980. In the 1990s he worked as
a UN peace advocate in troubled Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Cyrus sigh-rus (male)
Hebrew: Sun. Other interpretations: Throne. Son of Cambyses.
Called Cyrus the Great, he founded the Persian Empire. In 539 B.C. he captured
Babylon and liberated the captive Jews, encouraging them to return to their
own land. The prophet Daniel was one of his advisers. Variants:
Cy. [2 Chronicles 36:22]
~ D ~
Dalphon dal-fon (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Swift. One of the ten sons of Haman the Agagite killed
by the Jews. His brothers were Parshandatha, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia,
Aridatha, Parmashta, Aridai, Arisai and Vaizatha. [Esther 9:8]
Dan dan (male)
Hebrew: He judges. Son of Jacob by the concubine Bilhah, Rachel's maid.
Rachel chose this name because, "God has judged me, and has also
heard my voice and given me a son." Dan had a brother Naphtali,
a half-sister, Dinah, and half-brothers, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar,
Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Gad and Asher. He was one of the founders of
the Twelve Tribes of Israel; namely, the Danites. Their territory was called
Dan. [Genesis 30:6]
I Name Thee Daniel...
Daniel Boone, American pioneer and explorer, famous for his wilderness
knowledge and survival skills. Boone was admired by many, including the
Shawnee Indians, who liked him so much they adopted him into their tribe.
Daniel dan-yel (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Judge, judgment of God, God is my judge. The second
son of King David. Others with this name: (i) A priest who, with
Nehemiah, signed the covenant. Son of Ithamar. (ii) Fourth of the Bible's
great prophets. Taken captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel
was given the pagan name of Belteshazzar. He rose to high office in Babylon,
but never abandoned the faith of Israel. Even when cast into a pit of lions,
his resolute trust in God preserved him. He made important prophecies,
some of which impressively resembled later historical events. Daniel may
have written the Old Testament book that bears his name, but many scholars
have dated the work at much later than his lifetime. He died in his eighties.
Variants: Dan, Dani, Danil, Danson, Danny, Dennel. Female
forms include Dana, Danella, Danelle, Danice, Danielle, Danya. [1
Chronicles 3:1]
Dara dar-ra (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Pearl of wisdom. Descendant of Mahol and a son of Zerah.
Famed as a wise man. His brothers were Zimri, Ethan, Heman and Calcol.
Variants: Darda. [1 Kings 4:31]
Darius dar-ee-us (male)
Persian: King. The name or title of several Persian rulers. Three are
mentioned in the Bible: (i) The greatest of the Persian kings, Darius Hytaspes.
He allowed the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple. (ii) The last
king of the Persian Empire, Darius the Persian. Defeated by Alexander the
Great in 330 B.C. (iii) Darius the Mede. Took Babylon from Nebuchadnezzar.
May be the same person as Cyrus. [Ezra 4:5]
Dathan day-thun (male)
Hebrew: Of a spring. Son of Eliab the Reubenite. With his brothers
Korah and Abiram, he conspired against Moses, for which the earth swallowed
him up. [Numbers 16:1]
I Name Thee David...
David Livingstone, English explorer and missionary, journeyed into
the interior of Africa and discovered the Victoria Falls. His name is often
linked with Henry Stanley, who greeted him most famously, "Dr Livingstone,
I presume?"
David day-vid (male)
Hebrew: Beloved of God. Other interpretations: Chief, ruler.
Youngest son of Jesse and a great-grandson of Boaz. He was a glorious
warrior and Israel's greatest king. As a mere boy armed with a slingshot,
he killed the terrible giant Goliath. He was also a musician and poet,
and wrote many beautiful Psalms. The prophet Samuel predicted his rise
to the kingship. He overcame various opponents, including the insanely
jealous King Saul, the hostile Philistine nation, and the rebellious Absalom,
his third son. David welded the tribes of Israel into a single kingdom
and ruled it for thirty-three years. Solomon, a son, succeeded him on the
throne. The Davidic dynasty endured for over four centuries. Other sons
of David were Amnon, Daniel, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shimea, Shobab,
Nathan, Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama (a
second), Eliada, Eliphelet (a second). A daughter, Tamar, is named also.
His wives were Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah and Bathsheba.
David is named in the New Testament as an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Variants:
Dab, Dabney, Dafyd, Dai, Dakin, Daud, Dave, Davi, Davin, Davis, Davyd,
Dawe, Dawes, Dawood, Dawson, Deakin, Devi, Devlin, Dewer, Dewey, Dow, Tab,
Taffy. [1 Samuel 16:13]
Deborah deb-bor-ra (female)
Hebrew: Bee. Other interpretations: To speak well. The beloved
wet nurse of Rebekah. She was buried under a tree called the "oak
of weeping". Others with this name: The great prophetess and judge
of Israel. Her husband was Lapidoth. She was widely admired for
her wisdom. With Barak, she planned the divinely-assisted defeat of the
Canaanites at Mount Tabor. She and Barak sang a victory song, preserved
as the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges. She has been
called the greatest of Israel's judges and Gideon's peer. Variants:
Deb, Debbie, Debera, Debi, Debir, Debora, Debra, Deva, Devera, Devora,
Devra, Dovra, Dvera. [Genesis 35:8]
I Name Thee Deborah...
Deborah Kerr, English actress. She went to Hollywood and starred in
many classic movies, including The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp,
King Solomon's Mines, Qou Vadis, From Here to Eternity, The King and I
and Night of the Iguana.
Dedan dee-dan (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Low. Son of Raamah, grandson of Cush and great-great-grandson
of Noah through Ham. Dedan's brother was Sheba, and his uncle was the mighty
Nimrod. The descendants of Dedan, known as the Dedanites, became an important
Arabian nation. Others with this name: Son of Jokshan and grandson
of Abraham. [Genesis 10:7]
Delilah del-lie-lar (female)
Hebrew: Dainty, delicate. Other interpretations: Desire, leader,
poor, hair. The origins of this name are very uncertain. She was a
Philistine from Sorek who had a love affair with Samson, discovered the
secret of his supernatural strength, and conspired in his downfall. The
name has become associated with feminine treachery, especially in matters
of the heart. Variants: Delila, Lila. [Judges 16:4]
Demetrius dem-meet-re-us (male)
Greek: Belonging to Demeter (pagan Greek goddess of agriculture, called
Ceres by the Romans). A disciple of the early Christians, praised
by the Apostle John. Others with this name: An Ephesian silversmith
who incited a mob against Paul because the local trade in silver images
of the pagan Greek goddess Artemis had fallen off due to his evangelism.
[Acts 19:24]
Dibri dib-bri (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Speaker. A Danite whose grandson was stoned for blasphemy.
[Leviticus 24:11]
I Name Thee Dinah...
Dinah Craik was an English writer. She is best known for John Halifax,
Gentleman, which tells of a poor orphan boy who, through his own efforts,
improves his social lot. She also wrote children's books, including The
Little Lame Prince.
Dinah di-nar (female)
Hebrew: Judged, vindicated. Eldest daughter of Jacob and Leah. Her
brothers were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. She also
had six half-brothers: Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Dinah fell afoul of the lustful Shechem, who abducted her for his devious
purposes. She was rescued by Simeon and Levi. Variants: Deanna,
Deanne, Dena, Dina. [Genesis 30:21]
Dorcas see Tabitha
Drusilla drew-sill-ar (female)
Greek: Watered by dew. Other interpretations: Soft-eyed.
Youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa. Her sister was Bernice. Originally
married to King Azizus of Emesa, she later married Felix, the Roman governor
of Judea. She was reputedly very beautiful. Variants: Dru, Drucie,
Drucilla, Drusa. [Acts 24:24]
Dumah dew-ma (male)
Hebrew: Silence. Sixth son of Ishmael and a grandson of Abraham.
He was one of the twelve Arabian princes. His brothers were Nebaioth, Kedar,
Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.
His sister was Mahalath, a wife of Esau. [Genesis 25:14]
~ E ~
Ebenezer eb-ben-neez-za (male)
Hebrew: Stone of help. Although not the name of any person in the Bible,
it has become accepted as a male name over time. Ebenezer was a town in
which the Ark of God was at one time kept by the Israelites. It was also
the name of a stone set up by the prophet Samuel to memorialise God's help
in defeating the Philistines. Variants: Eb, Eban, Eben. [1
Samuel 4:1]
Eber e-bur (male)
Hebrew: Across, beyond. The son of Shelah and a great-great-grandson
of Noah. Eber had two sons, Peleg and Joktan. Others with this name:
(i) The chief of a Gadite clan. (ii) Son of Elpaal. (iii) Son of Shashak.
(iv) A priest and head of one of the families returned from Babylon. Variants:
Heber. [Genesis 10:24]
Eden e-den (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Delight. A temple porter, the son of Joah, who lived in
the time of King Hezekiah. This was also, of course, the name of the famous
garden in which God placed the first created human beings, Adam and Eve.
[2 Chron 29:12]
Ela e-la (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Oak, terebinth (a type of shady, aromatic tree, also known
as the turpentine tree). Father of Shimei, one of King Solomon's
supply officers. Variants: Elah. [1 Kings 4:18]
Elah e-lar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Oak, terebinth (see above). An Edomite chief. A descendant
of Esau. Others with this name: (i) Son and royal successor of King
Baasha of Israel. He was killed by Zimri. (ii) Father of Hoshea, the last
king of Israel. (iii) Son of Caleb. (iv) A chief of the Benjamites, returned
from captivity in Babylon. Variants: Ela. [Genesis
36:41]
Elam e-lam (male)
Hebrew: Age. A son of Shem and grandson of Noah. His brothers were
Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The mountainous region called Elam was
named after him. Others with this name: (i) Son of Shashak. (ii)
Son of Meshelemiah. A doorkeeper of the temple in David's time. (iii) Three
ancestors of captives who returned from Babylon. (iv) A clan chief who,
with Nehemiah, signed the covenant. (v) A priest in the dedication ceremony
at the wall of Jerusalem. [Genesis 10:22]
Elasah e-la-sar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God has formed, whom God has made. A priest who married
a foreign wife. Son of Pashhur. Others with this name: Son of Shaphan.
He was a messenger for the great prophet Jeremiah. [Ezra 10:22]
Elberith el-ber-rith (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God of the covenant. A pagan god worshipped at Shechem, possibly
the same as Baal-Berith. Variants: El-Berith. [Judges 9:46]
Eldaah el-dar (male)
Hebrew: Called by God, God has called. The youngest son of Midian
and a grandson of Abraham and Keturah. His brothers were Ephah, Epher,
Hanoch and Abida. [Genesis 25:4]
Eldad el-dad (male)
Hebrew: God has loved, beloved of God. One of the seventy elders of
Israel in the days of Moses. He had the gift of prophecy. [Numbers 11:26]
Elead el-le-ad (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God has spoken. Other interpretations: Praised of God.
A cattle rustler who was killed by the men of Gath during a raid on their
herds. [1 Chronicles 7:21]
Eleadah el-le-ar-dar (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God has adorned, God has blessed. A descendant of Ephraim.
[1 Chronicles 7:20]
Eleazar el-le-az-ar (male)
Hebrew: God has helped, help of God. A son of Aaron. He became the
chief priest after the death of Aaron and assisted Moses and Joshua in
important tasks such as the division of the land of Canaan. His only son
was Phineas. Others with this name: (i) A son of Abinadab. He guarded
the ark of the covenant. (ii) Son of Dodai. One of David's greatest captains
and warriors. (iii) Son of Mahli. (iv) Son of Phineas. A custodian of the
temple treasury. (v) A priest. (vi) An ancestor of Joseph, the husband
of Mary. Variants: El, Elzaro, Elie, Ely, Lazar. [Exodus
6:23]
Elhanan el-han-nan (male)
Hebrew: Grace of God. Son of Jair. A great warrior who killed Lahmi,
the brother of the Philistine giant Goliath. Others with this name:
Son of Dodo. One of David's elite royal bodyguard. [2 Samuel 21:19]
I Name Thee Eli...
Eli Whitney, American inventor of the cotton gin, which
made cotton a viable crop. Though not a trained engineer, Whitney was very
skilled with his hands. He invented machines that made mass production
possible in many industries.
Eli e-li (male)
Hebrew: Ascending, going up, on high. A descendant of Aaron through
Ithamar. A high priest and judge of Israel for forty years. He was a virtuous
man who lived to the age of ninety. Unfortunately his sons Phinehas and
Hophni, who succeeded him in office, were debauched and irresponsible.
The ashamed father was unable to correct them. [1 Samuel 1:3]
Eliab el-li-ab (male)
Hebrew: God is the father. Son of Helon. Chief of the Zebulon tribe
at the time of the great census in the wilderness. Others with this
name: (i) Son of Pallu. His sons were Nathan and Abiram. (ii) Son of
Jesse and hence, a brother of David. His daughter Abihail was wed to King
Rehoboam, David's grandson. (iii) A Levite musician in David's time. (iv)
A Gadite chief who joined forces with David. (v) An ancestor of the prophet
Samuel. Variants: Elihu, Eliel. [Numbers 1:9]
Eliada el-li-ar-dar (male)
Hebrew: Known of God. A younger son of King David. Others with this
name: (i) A celebrated Benjamite general who served under King Jehoshaphat.
(ii) Father of Rezon. Variants: Beeliada, Eliadah. [2 Samuel
5:16]
Eliam el-li-am (male)
Hebrew: People of God. Father of Bathsheba. See Ammiel. Others with
this name: Son of Ahithophel. A warrior under David. [2 Samuel 11:3]
Elidad el-li-dad (male)
Hebrew: Loved by God. A Benjamite chief. He assisted in the allocation
of lands to the tribes of Israel. [Numbers 34:21]
Eliel el-li-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God, my God. Other interpretations: God is God. A chief
of the Manasseh. Others with this name: (i) An ancestor of Samuel
the prophet. (ii) Two chiefs of the Benjamites, a son of Shimei and a son
of Shashak. (iii) Two of David's warriors. (iv) A Gadite who joined with
David at Ziklag. (v) A Levite chief. (vi) A Levite official of the temple.
[1 Chronicles 5:24]
Eliezer el-li-ez-zer (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Help of God, God is help. The chief servant of Abraham.
Abraham waited so long for the birth of a son that he feared Eliezer would
become his heir by default. Others with this name: (i) A son of
Beker and grandson of Benjamin. (ii) Son of Moses and his wife Zipporah.
(ii) A priest who assisted in the return of the ark to Jerusalem. (iii)
Son of Zicri. (iv) Son of Dodavahu. He prophesied against King Jehoshaphat.
(v) One of Ezra's messengers to the Israelites. (vi) Three Jews who divorced
their foreign wives. (vii) An ancestor of Jesus Christ. [Genesis 15:2]
Elijah el-li-jar (male)
Hebrew: God is God. One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament.
Elijah was born in Gilead and was miraculously fed bread and meat by wild
ravens. He restored a widow's dead son to life and killed the false prophets
of Baal, turning the people of Israel away from idolatrous worship. He
opposed and prophesied against the wicked King Ahab and his wife Jezebel.
Elijah did not die as others; instead, he was taken directly to heaven
in a chariot of fire. He appears again in the New Testament in the guise
of John the Baptist, but Jesus Christ perceives his true identity. Later
Elijah is seen standing on the Mount of Transfiguration "in glory"
with Moses and Jesus. Others with this name: (i) Two men who divorced
their foreign wives. (ii) Son of Jeroham. Variants: El, Eli,
Elias, Elio, Eliot, Elis, Elisio, Elison, Elliot, Ellis, Ellison, Elsen,
Ely, Elyas, Elye, Elyot, Ilija, Ilya. [1 Kings 17:1]
Blame The Media
In the so-called Printers' Bible, King David declares,
"The printers have persecuted me without cause..." The
word they (the printers) got mixed up was printers; it should have
been princes.
Eliphaz el-lif-farz (male)
Hebrew: God his strength. Other interpretations: God is gold,
precious. A son of Esau by Adah, the daughter of Elon. A grandson of
Isaac. He had six sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz and (to his concubine
Timna) Amalek. Others with this name: The leader among Job's three
friends who sought to comfort him. He was later rebuked by God for saying
the wrong things to Job. [Genesis 36:4]
Elisha el-lee-sha (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God is generous, God is my help. Apprentice and successor of
the prophet Elijah. He witnessed Elijah ascending on a chariot of fire
to heaven. Elisha continued the work of Elijah for sixty years, especially
resisting the blasphemous worship of Baal. He opposed King Jehoram, son
of the depraved Ahab and Jezebel. He encouraged the rebel Jehu to usurp
the throne of Ahab. He performed miracles, including the resurrection of
the dead. He also performed a miracle akin to the later feeding of the
five thousand by Jesus Christ, though only one hundred diners were accommodated.
He prophesied during the reigns of Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz and Joash. [1
Kings 19:16]
Elishama el-lee-sha-ma (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God has heard, whom God hears. Son of Ammihud and grandfather
of Joshua. Others with this name: (i) A name shared by two sons
of King David. (ii) Son of Jekamiah. (iii) Father of Nethaniah and grandfather
of Ishmael. (iv) A priest under Jehoshaphat. (v) A scribe under Jehoiakim.
Variants: Elishua. [Numbers 1:10]
Elisheba el-lee-she-ba (female)
Hebrew: God is her oath, promise of God. Daughter of Amminidab,
a prince of Judah, and the sister of Nahshon. She married Aaron, the brother
of Moses. Thus she linked the principal royal family and priestly family
of the time. [Exodus 6:23]
I Name Thee Elizabeth...
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leading Amercican activist in
the cause of equal rights for women. She set up the first Woman's Rights
Convention and served as first president of the National Woman Suffrage
Association.
Elizabeth el-liz-za-beth (female)
Hebrew: God is her oath, promise of God. Wife of Zechariah the priest.
God told the elderly Zechariah that his equally elderly wife would have
a son filled with the Holy Spirit, despite her former childlessness. The
son she conceived and bore was John the Baptist. During the pregnancy,
she spent three months with her also pregnant cousin Mary, the virgin mother
of Jesus Christ. Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron and, says the Bible,
"righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances
of the Lord blameless." Variants: Bab, Babette,
Bess, Beth, Betsey, Bettina, Bette, Betty, Elese, Elisa, Elisabeth, Elise,
Elisheba, Elisheva, Eliza, Elsa, Elsbet, Else, Elspet, Elspeth, Elsye,
Helsa, Isabel, Libbie, Lilian, Lilla, Lisa, Lisbet, Liz, Liza, Lizabeth.
[Luke 1:5]
Elizur el-lee-zur (male)
Hebrew: God is his rock. A prince of the Reubenites who helped Moses
in conducting the great tribal census. His father was Shedeur. [Numbers
1:5]
Elkanah el-kan-nar (male)
Hebrew: Provided of God. Other interpretations: God has possessed.
A grandson of Korah, the rebel who conspired against Moses. His brothers
were Abiasaph and Assir. Others with this name: (i) Father of the
great prophet Samuel and husband of Hannah. (ii) Chief official of the
court of King Ahaz. (iii) A warrior who joined David at Ziklag. (iv) Several
obscure Levites. All descendants of Kohath. Variants: Elkonah.
[Exodus 6:24]
Elnathan el-nay-thun (male)
Hebrew: Gift of God. Father of Nehushta and grandfather of King Jehoiachin
of Judah. Others with this name: (i) Son of Acbor. He became a servant
of King Jehoiakim. He urged his master not to destroy the prophecies of
Jeremiah. (ii) Three members of a party sent on a mission by Ezra, all
of whom shared the name. [2 Kings 24:8]
Elon e-lon (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Oak. Elon the Hittite. The father of Basemath, second wife
of Esau. Others with this name: (i) Second son of Zebulon. His brothers
were Sered and Jahleel. (ii) A judge of Israel. [Genesis 26:34]
Enoch e-nock (male)
Hebrew: Dedicated, sanctified, educated. Son of Cain and first
grandson of Adam and Eve. The first city was named after him. His son was
Irad. Others with this name: Son of Jared. He was a holy man who
"walked with God." His son was Methuselah, who reached
the overly ripe old age of nine hundred and sixty nine years and became
the Bible's oldest man. Enoch himself lived to only three hundred and sixty
five years, a short life by the sensational standards of Genesis. [Genesis
4:17]
Enosh e-nosh (male)
Hebrew: Mortal. Son of Seth. Second grandson of Adam and Eve. His
older brother was Enoch and his son was Kenan. Enosh lived for nine hundred
and five years. His name suggests fear of death, a consequence of the sin
every human being inherited from his parents. Variants: Enos.
[Genesis 4:26]
I Name Thee Ephraim...
Ephraim McDowell, a famous doctor who worked in the
rough and ready world of the American frontier. Despite the primative conditions,
McDowell pioneered new techniques in surgery, including the first operation
to remove a tumorous ovary.
Ephraim ef-fram (male)
Hebrew: Bountiful, very fruitful, double fruit. Youngest son of Joseph
and his Egyptian wife Asenath. He and his brother Manasseh were tribal
founders. His descendants, called the Ephraimites, occupied the rich central
uplands of Palestine, with Manasseh's lands to the north. Ephraim was adopted
as a son and blessed by Jacob, his grandfather. His tribe became large
and influential. Variants: Efim, Efraim, Efrem, Efron. [Genesis
41:52]
Ephron ef-fron (male)
Hebrew: Like a fawn. Son of Zohar, a Hittite. Ephron sold the
grieving Abraham the field known as Machpelah, in which to bury his dead
wife Sarah. [Genesis 23:8]
Eran er-ran (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Watcher, vigilant, guardian. Son of Shuthelah and grandson
of Ephraim. He was the forefather of the Eranites. [Numbers 26:36]
Eri er-ri (modern male and female)
Hebrew: My watcher, watching. A son of Gad. His brothers were Ziphion,
Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Arodi and Areli. [Genesis 46:16]
Esau e-saw (male)
Hebrew: Hairy. Eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah, a grandson of Abraham
and the twin brother of Jacob. He was given the name Esau because at birth
he "came forth red, all his body like a hairy mantle".
He was an accomplished hunter. Isaac, who like eating the beasts he killed,
was fond of him. For his part, Esau was fond of red pottage (a kind of
thick broth). In fact, he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob in return
for some pottage and bread. Thus the expression a mess of pottage,
meaning a contemptible or worthless reward, has entered the language. His
wives were Adah and Oholibamah, Basemath, daughter of Elon and Basemath,
daughter of Ishmael. He had five sons: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and
Korah. His descendants were the Edomites. Variants: Edom.
[Genesis 25:25]
Eshban esh-barn (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Pleasant. Son of Dishon and a great-grandson of Zibeon.
His brothers were Hemdan, Ithran and Keran. [Genesis 36:26]
Eshton esh-ton (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Effeminate. A descendant of Judah. [1 Chronicles 4:11]
Esli es-lie (modern male and female)
Greek: Shy, reserved. Ancestor of Joseph, husband of Mary. [Luke
3:25]
I Name Thee Esther...
Esther Morris, a pioneer in the fight for women's rights.
She was the first woman in America to become a justice of the peace. In
1869, her home state of Wyoming, as a result of her efforts, was the first
to give women the vote.
Esther es-ter (female)
Hebrew, from Akkadian: Venus, morning star. A Jewish orphan living
in the city of Susa in Persia. Esther was her Persian name. Her Hebrew
name was Hadassah, which means myrtle (a type of aromatic
plant). She was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai, an official
under King Ahasuerus. She married Ahasuerus and became his queen. But Mordecai
offended the King by refusing to bow before Haman, the new prime minister.
In revenge, Ahasuerus decided to butcher the captive Jews of Persia. Esther
intervened, persuading him to spare the Jews and instead to destroy the
scheming Haman. The seventeenth book of the Old Testament bears her name.
Variants: Eister, Essa, Essie, Esta, Estee, Estella, Estrella,
Etty, Heddy, Heidi, Hester, Hettie, Trella. [Esther]
Ethan e-thun (male)
Hebrew: Strong, powerful. Other interpretations: Enduring, guaranteed.
A wise man in the time of Solomon. Others with this name: (i) Son
of Zerah and grandson of Judah. His brothers were Zimri, Heman, Calcol
and Dara. (ii) A descendant of Gershon. (iii) A Levite singer, a descendant
of Merari. Variants: Etan, Ethe. [1 Kings 4:31]
I Name Thee Ethan...
Ethan Allen, hero of the American Revolution, founded
the Green Mountain Boys, a Vermont milita troop in 1770. This group captured
Fort Ticonderoga, the first victory for the American side in the Revolution.
Eunice u-niss (female)
Greek: Good victory. Daughter of Lois and mother of Timothy, a leading
assistant and beloved friend of the apostle Paul. Eunice was married to
a pagan Greek. She was probably converted to Christianity by Paul. She
lived at Lystra and taught Timothy as a child to understand the Old Testament
scriptures. Variants: Niki, Nikki, Unice. [Acts 16:1]
Euodia u-oh-de-ar (female)
Greek: Prosperous journey. Other interpretations: Fragrant, sweet.
A Christian woman of Philippi. Variants: Euodias.
[Philippians 4:2]
Eve eve (female)
Hebrew: Life, living, breath of life, mother of all life. The first
woman and second human being created by God. Her husband was Adam, the
first human being. Eve was made from the rib of Adam. Satan, in the guise
of a serpent, tricked her into eating the fruit of the tree which God had
forbidden. She gave Adam some of the fruit to eat also. For this sin, the
parents of humanity were expelled from the paradise of Eden. Adam gave
Eve her name. Variants: Eva, Evaline, Evita, Evleen, Evonne.
[Genesis 3:20]
I Name Thee Eve...
Eve Balfour, an English agriculturalist born in 1898, was a pioneer
of modern organic farming. Way ahead of her time, she promoted the (now
fashionable) idea of sustainable agriculture through a series of field
agriculture trials over a thirty year period.
Evi ev-vi (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Desire. One of five kings of Midian killed by the Israelites.
His lands were taken by Reuben. [Numbers 31:8]
Ezbai ez-bay (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Shining, radiant. Father of Naarai, one of David's great warriors.
[1 Chronicles 11:37]
Ezekiel ez-zeek-ke-el (male)
Hebrew: May God give strength, strength of God. One of the great
Hebrew prophets. As a young man he was taken captive to Babylon. After
five years there he received his call to prophecy. Little is known of his
personal life except that he was married and his wife died unexpectedly.
Ezekiel warned the Jews against the blasphemous worship of false idols.
He said that ungodly practices would bring disaster upon the nation. But
he also prophesied that Israel would be divinely restored to glory and
spiritual wholeness. These events were perceived in rich visions which,
according to Ezekiel, he saw when the Spirit lifted him up. The twenty-sixth
book of the Old Testament bears his name. Variants: Ezechial,
Ezell, Haskel, Hehezkel, Zeke. [Ezekiel]
Ezra ez-ra (male)
Hebrew: Help. The priest and scribe who came from Babylon to reform
the religious and social life of Jerusalem. Temple rituals had been forgotten,
immorality was rife, and the priesthood had intermarried with pagans. Learning
of this, Ezra tore out his hair in anguish. He persuaded Jerusalem's people
to return to the law of Moses. He instituted a mass divorce court where
many pagan wives were "put away". Ezra also worked with
Nehemiah, acting as his chief priest and aide. The fifteenth book of the
Old Testament, which he may have wrote, is named after him. Tradition asserts
that he was also wrote 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles and
possibly the Nehemiah as well. He was a descendant of Aaron.
Others with this name: Another priest who returned from Babylon. Variants:
Azariah, Esdras, Esra, Ezar, Ezer, Ezri. [Ezra]
I Name Thee Ezra...
Ezra Pound, a famous American poet who wrote mostly incomprehensible
poetry and was widely imitated by other poets, including T.S. Eliot, who
tried to write even more obscure verse - a quite difficult thing to do.
Ezrah ez-ra (male)
Hebrew: Help. A man of the tribe of Judah. His sons were Jether,
Mered, Epher and Jalon. Variants: Ezra. [1 Chronicles 4:17]
Ezri ez-ri (male)
Hebrew: My help. An agricultural overseer who served under David. Son
of Kelub. [1 Chronicles 27:26]
~ F ~
Felix fe-licks (male)
Greek: Happy. Originally a Greek slave with the name Antonius. He
was granted his freedom by the Emperor Claudius, who renamed him Felix.
He became the Roman governor of Judea and held Paul captive for two years,
hoping the apostle would offer bribery to get out. Four popes and many
saints were called Felix. It may be the male form of Felicia, the Roman
goddess of luck and happiness. [Acts 23:26]
I Name Thee Felix...
Felix Mendelssohn, a German musical composer. He wrote
his first music at the tender age of just ten years. Every bride and groom
knows his famous Wedding March, just one of some two hundred works
in an immensely productive career.
Festus fes-tus (male)
Greek, from Latin?: Joyful, happy. Festus Porcius, successor of Felix
as the Roman governor of Judea. An able and fair administrator. He sent
the imprisoned Paul to Rome to appeal before Caesar. On the way Paul escaped
from custody. [Acts 24:27]
~ G ~
Gabriel gab-ree-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Man of God, strong man of God. A messenger angel who appears
in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Luke. Announcing the
birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, he said, "I am Gabriel.
I stand in the presence of God and I was sent to speak to you and to tell
you this good news." He also announced the destined birth of Jesus
Christ to the Virgin Mary. Variants: Gabe, Gabryel. Female
forms include Gabby, Gabriela, Gabrielle. [Daniel 8:16]
I Name Thee Gabriel...
Gabriel Fahrenheit, a German physicist, invented the famous
temperature scale which bears his name. He also developed a mercury thermometer
which was more accurate than existing alcohol thermometers.
Gaddiel gad-dee-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Fortune of God. Son of Sodi. One of the twelve spies sent out
to inspect and report upon the land of Canaan. [Numbers 13:10]
Gaius guy-us (male)
Greek: Lord, master. A Macedonian friend of Paul who travelled with
him to Ephesus and was trapped there by an angry mob. Others with this
name: (i) A Christian from Derbe who travelled with Paul from Macedonia
to Asia. (ii) A Christian of Corinth who gave food and shelter to other
Christians and who was baptised by Paul. (iii) A Christian friend of John
to whom his third letter was addressed. Variants: Caius.
[Acts 19:29]
Gamaliel gam-ma-li-el (male)
Hebrew: Recompense, reward of God, my reward is God. Son of Pedahzur.
A prince of the Manasseh. He helped organise the great tribal census in
the wilderness. Others with this name: An eminent rabbi or teacher.
One of his pupils was Paul, then called Saul. When angry Jews wanted to
kill the early Christians, Gamaliel called for restraint. Variants:
Gamliel. [Numbers 1:10]
Gedaliah jed-da-li-ar (male)
Hebrew: God is great, God is my greatness. Son of Shaphan.
Secretary to King Josiah. Appointed governor of Judea. He became a friend
and protector of the prophet Jeremiah. He was murdered by Ishmael, son
of Nethaniah. His death is commemorated by the Jews even today. Others
with this name: (i) A Levite harpist, one of the sons of Jeduthun.
(ii) A priest who married a foreign wife. (iii) A prince, the son of Passhur,
who had Jeremiah imprisoned. (iv) Grandfather of the prophet Zephaniah.
Variants: Gedalia, Gedelio. [2 Kings 25:22]
Gehazi ja-haz-zi (male)
Hebrew: Valley of vision. Servant and messenger of the great prophet
Elisha. Despite his admirable loyalty to the prophet, he lusted for worldly
riches. It earned him the curse of leprosy. [2 Kings 4:12]
Gemalli jem-mal-lee (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Camel owner, rider, driver. Father of Ammiel one of the spies
sent out by Moses to inspect and report upon the land of Canaan. [Numbers
13:12]
Gemariah jem-ma-ri-ar (male)
Hebrew: Perfected by God. Other interpretations: Achievement of
the Lord, God has done it. The son of Shaphan the scribe. With
Elnathan and Delaiah, he urged King Johoiakim not to burn the scrolls of
Jeremiah. Others with this name: Son of Hilkiah. He served King
Hezekiah as an ambassador to Babylon. [Jeremiah 36:10]
Gershom gur-shom (male)
Hebrew: Exile, to cast out, stranger. Eldest son of Moses by his wife
Zipporah, born in Midian. Others with this name: (i) A descendant
of Phinehas. (ii) The father of Jonathan, who became the priest of the
idolatrous Danites. Variants: Gershon. [Exodus 2:22]
Gershon gur-shon (male)
Hebrew: Exile, to cast out, stranger. Eldest son of Levi. Forefather
of the Gershonite clan. His brothers were Kohath and Merari. Variants:
Gershom. [Genesis 46:11]
Geshem jes-shem (male)
Hebrew: Rain. An Arab who, with Sanballat and Tobiah, scoffed at the
idea of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Variants: Gashmu. [Nehemiah
2:19]
Gideon gid-de-an (male)
Hebrew: One who cuts down, destroyer, mighty warrior. Other interpretations:
Maimed. Son of Joash. One of the greatest warriors in the history of
Israel. His army numbered only three hundred men, yet defeated far larger
forces. In the dead of night, Gideon used psychological tactics to rout
the sleeping enemy. He also destroyed the temples of the pagan god Baal.
Gideon was as a judge of Israel for forty years. He fathered a total of
seventy-one sons. Despite this colossal issue, only two survived: Jotham
and Abimelech (who murdered the rest). Also known by his surnames, Jerub-Baal
and Jerub-Besheth. Variants: Gidi. [Judges 6:11]
Chapter and Verse
The books of the early Bible lacked chapter and verse
markers. The division of the Bible into chapters was completed by either
Cardinal Hugo de Sancto-Caro in 1236, or by Stephen Langton, an archbishop
of Canterbury who died in 1228. Scholars disagree over who was first. The
further division of the Old Testament into verses was done by Rabbi Mordecai
Nathan, and of the New Testament, by the French printer Robert Stephens.
According to tradition, Stephens completed his task in 1544 while - of
all things - travelling on horseback.
Gideoni gid-de-an-nee (male)
Hebrew: One who cuts down, destroyer, mighty warrior. Other interpretations:
Maimed. A chief or prince of the Benjamites. [Numbers 7:60]
Goliath go-lie-ath (male)
Hebrew: Splendour, magnificence. Other interpretations: Foreigner,
exile. The gigantic warrior of the Philistine army. For forty days,
Goliath, who stood at least three meters tall, declared that he would fight
any man of Saul's opposing Israelite forces. Only the young David, a shepherd
boy, accepted. He killed Goliath with a single stone from a slingshot and
then cut off the giant's head. The Philistines were so astounded they fell
immediately to a panicky retreat. Goliath was a native of Gath, a city
famous for its giant soldiery. [1 Samuel 17:4]
Gomer go-mer (traditionally male and female)
Hebrew: Complete, finished, God accomplishes it. First son
of Japheth and a grandson of Noah. He had three sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath
and Togarmah. His brothers were Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and
Tiras. Forefather of the Cimmerians. Others with this name: A daughter
of Diblaim. She married the prophet Hosea. Mother of Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah
and Lo-Ammi. [Genesis 10:2]
~ H ~
Hadad ha-dad (male)
Hebrew: Fierce, brave. Eighth son of Ishmael and a grandson
of Abraham. He was one of the twelve Arabian princes promised by God. His
brothers were Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Tema,
Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. His sister was Mahalath, one of Esau's wives.
Others with this name: (i) Two of the early Edomite kings. (ii) An
Edomite prince who fled from David to the Pharoah of Egypt. He later opposed
King Solomon. His son was Genubath. (iii) A pagan god of Syria, Ben-Hadad.
[Genesis 25:15]
Hadoram had-dor-ram (male)
Hebrew: Strength, power. Son of Joktan. A descendant of Noah
through Shem. His brothers were Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Uzal,
Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. Others with
this name: (i) Overseer of the forced labourers in the time of David
and Solomon. (ii) A son of King Hamath who was sent as an ambassador to
David. Variants: Adoniram, Joram. [Genesis 10:27]
Hagar hay-gar (female)
Hebrew: Emigration, flight. The Egyptian maid of Sarah. When Sarah
had been childless many years, she offered Hagar to her husband Abraham
as a way to get an heir. Thus Hagar became the mother of Ishmael, forefather
of the Arab nations. After Sarah unexpectedly conceived and bore Isaac,
a son of her own, she resented the presence of Hagar and Ishmael in the
house of Abraham. She complained to Abraham, who banished the concubine
and her son to the wilderness. [Genesis 16:1]
Haggi ha-guy (male)
Hebrew: Festive, happy. Son of Gad and grandson of Jacob. His
descendants were the Arelites. His brothers were Ziphion, Ezbon, Shuni,
Areli, Eri and Arodi. [Genesis 46:16]
Haggiah ha-guy-ar (male)
Hebrew: Festival of God. Other interpretations: The Lord's feast.
Son of Shimea the Levite. He fathered Asaiah. [1 Chronicles 6:30]
Ham ham (male)
Hebrew: Hot. Other interpretations: Swarthy. Youngest son
of Noah. His brothers were Shem and Japheth. From these sons, says the
Bible, "the whole world was peopled." Ham displeased Noah
because he saw him lying drunk and naked and told his brothers about it.
He had four sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan, all founders of nations.
[Genesis 6:10]
One For Trivia Night
Here's one for trivia night: which Bible verse contains
all the letters of the alphabet, except the letter J? Answer: Ezra 7:21
(true at least of the King James and the Revised Standard versions of the
Bible.)
Haman ha-man (male)
Hebrew: Renowned, famed. Haman the Agagite. Son of Hammedatha. King
Ahasuerus of Persia appointed him prime minister. He plotted to destroy
the Jews because Mordecai, a Jewish official, refused to bow to him. Esther,
the Jewish wife of Ahasuerus, foiled the plot. Haman died on the gallows
he had raised for Mordecai. [Esther 3:1]
Hamutal ham-mu-tal (female)
Hebrew: Like the dew. The daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. She married
King Josiah of Judah and was the mother of two later kings, Jehoahaz and
Zedekiah. [2 Kings 23:31]
Hanameel ha-nam-me-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Gift of God. A cousin of Jeremiah who sold the prophet a
field. Variants: Hanamel. [Jeremiah 32:7]
Hanan ha-nan (male)
Hebrew: Gracious. A son of Shashak. His brothers were Ishpan, Eber,
Eliel, Abdon, Zichri, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah and Penuel.
Others with this name: (i) A son of Azel. (ii) Son of Maacah. One
of the mighty warriors under David. (iii) A temple servant returned from
the Babylonian captivity. (iv) A Levite teacher of the Law under Nehemiah.
(v) Three persons who, with Nehemiah, signed the covenant. (vi) Son of
Zaccur. A tithe-keeper. (vii) Son of Igdaliah. Apparently wealthy and a
"man of God". [1 Chronicles 8:22]
Hananiah han-nan-ni-ar (male)
Hebrew: God is gracious. A son of Zerubbabel. His brothers were
Meshullam, Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah and Jushabhesed. His sister
was Shelomith. He had two sons, Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. Others with this
name: (i) A son of Shashak. (ii) A temple musician, the son of Heman.
(iii) A commander of the army under Uzziah. (iv) The father of Zedekiah,
a prince under Jehoiakim. (v) Grandfather of Irijah, the sentry who arrested
Jeremiah. (vi) The original Hebrew name of Shadrach, a friend of the prophet
Daniel. He survived the fiery furnace. (vii) A priest with a foreign wife.
(viii) Two men who helped to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. (ix) An official
of Jerusalem who was "faithful and God-fearing". (x) One
who, with Nehemiah, signed the covenant. (xi) A priestly official under
Joiakim. (xii) A false prophet of Gibeon who opposed Jeremiah. [1 Chronicles
3:19]
Haniel han-ne-el (male)
Hebrew: Grace of God, favour of God. Son of Ephod. A prince of the
Manasseh. He helped Moses with the division of Canaan among the tribes.
Others with this name: Son of Ulla, a descendant of Asher. Variants:
Hanniel. [Numbers 34:23]
Hannah han-nar (female)
Hebrew: God has favoured, God has blessed. One of the two wives
of Elkanah. She remained childless while Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife,
had children. Peninnah resented the fact that Elkanah still loved Hannah
despite her barrenness. She taunted Hannah cruelly. But Hannah did not
lose her faith. She prayed for a son and God answered, blessing her with
three sons and two daughters. One was Samuel, the glorious warrior and
judge of Israel. Variants: Chanah, Chani, Hanita, Hanna, Hanny,
Nan, Nana. [Samuel 1:2]
I Name Thee Hannah...
Hannah Glasse, born in England in 1708, wrote one of the
earliest known collected recipe books, called The Art of Cookery Made
Plain and Easy. It was published in 1747, and is regarded a classic
of culinary literature.
Hanoch han-nock (male)
Hebrew: Initiation. Other interpretations: Dedicated.
Son of Midian and a grandson of Abraham and Keturah. His brothers were
Ephah, Epher, Abida and Eldaah. Others with this name: Eldest son
of Reuben. His brothers were Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. Variants:
Henoch. [Genesis 25:4]
Hanun han-non (male)
Hebrew: Gracious. A king of Ammon. Son of Nahash. He mistreated the
servants of David, thinking them spies. David destroyed him in battle.
Others with this name: (i) The architect of the Valley Gate in the
wall of Jerusalem. (ii) One who helped rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. [2
Samuel 10.1]
Haran har-ran (male)
Hebrew: Rugged, mountainous, mountain climber. Son of Terah and
a descendant of Noah through Shem. His brothers were Abraham and Nahor.
His son Lot survived the destruction of Sodom. Milcah and Iscah were his
daughters. Others with this name: (i) A son of Caleb by the concubine
Ephah. His son was Gazez. (ii) A son of Shimei. [Genesis 11:27]
Havilah hav-vil-lar (male)
Hebrew: Circle. Other interpretations: Sandy ground. Son
of Cush and a great-grandson of Noah through Ham. His brothers were Nimrod,
Seba, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. Others with this name: A son of
Joktan. [Genesis 10:7]
Hazaiah haz-zay-ar (male)
Hebrew: Whom God sees, God sees. Son of Adaiah. A descendant of Judah.
[Nehemiah 11:5]
Haziel haz-zee-el (modern male and female)
Hebrew: God sees, vision. A Levite in the time of David. [1 Chronicles
23:9]
Helah hel-lar (female)
Hebrew: Rust. One of the two wives of Asshur, the other being Naarah.
She had three sons: Zereth, Izhar and Ethnan. [1 Chronicles 4:5]
Heldai hel-day (male)
Hebrew: Worldly. One of David's mighty warriors. Others with this
name: A noble Jew who returned from the Babylonian captivity with precious
metals for the crown of Joshua. Variants: Heled, Heleb,
Helem. [1 Chronicles 27:15]
Crazy About... Bibles?
A bibliomaniac is not a person crazy about the
Bible; rather, it is a person crazy about collecting books - any books.
A bibliolater, on the other hand, is a person crazy about
the Bible, so much so that their adulation becomes a form of worship.
Helez hel-lez (male)
Hebrew: Strong. Son of Azariah. Father of Eleasah. Others with this
name: One of David's mighty warriors. Variants: Palti,
Paltite. [1 Chronicles 2:39]
Helkai hel-kay (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Portion, share. A priest under Joiakim. [Nehemiah 12:15]
Helon hel-lon (modern male and female)
Hebrew: Brave, strong. Father of Eliab. [Numbers 1:9]
Henadad hen-na-dad (male)
Hebrew: Favour of Hadad. Head of a family who returned from captivity
in Babylon. His descendants helped to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
[Ezra 3:9]
Heresh her-resch (male)
Hebrew: Carpenter. Other interpretations: Silent, mute. The
meaning of this name is uncertain. One of the captives returned
from Babylon. [1 Chronicles 9:15]
Hermes herm-eeze (male)
Greek: Stone, rock, boundary marker. Pagan Greek god of messages,
commerce and travel, known as Mercury to the Romans. The name was
shared by two Christian friends of Paul mentioned in the New Testament's
Letter to the Romans. One was known as Hermas, the other, Hermes.
Paul was mistaken for the pagan god Hermes by a crowd in Lystra. Doubtless
he was unimpressed by their acclaim. Variants: Hermas,
Mercurius. [Acts 14:12]
Herod hair-rod (male)
Greek: Heroic, brave. Other interpretations: Guardian, protector.
