What’s in a Name?


When I read genealogies in Scripture, I often have to remind myself that every word of Scripture is there for a reason.  So I thought it would be interesting to see what genealogies may tell us. 

I started with the genealogy in Genesis 5:1-31, which describes the line descending from Adam to Noah.  I consulted two sources for my exercise: the NET Bible and Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary

I was surprised to learn that some of the names listed in the King James Version have different spellings in the New International Version (the alternates are in parentheses). 

Adam: Earthy, red, the first man
Seth (Sheth): Put, who puts, fixed, compensation
Enos (Enosh): Man, mortal man, sick, despaired of, forgetful
Cainan (Kenan): Possessor, possession, purchaser, buyer, owner
Mahalaleel (Mahalalel): Praise of God, praising God
Jared (Jered): descent, a ruling, commanding, coming down
Enoch: Dedicated, disciplined
Methuselah (Mathusala): He has sent his death, man of the dart
Lamech: Poor, made low, powerful
Noah: Repose, consolation, rest

Chuck Missler has written that this Genesis genealogy describes the first advent of Jesus Christ.  The references he used are different from mine, but I think we do get this picture.
 
I then chose the genealogy from Matthew 1:1-20, since it marks the beginning of the New Testament. Once again, I found it interesting that many of the names of the ancestors of Jesus also tell us about some the attributes of our Lord. 

But when you break the list up into separate blocks as I’ve done below, you might argue that it results in several “mini-stories,” that allude to the first or second advents of Christ Jesus.

Abraham: Father of a great multitude
Isaac: Laughter
Jacob: Heel-catcher or supplanter
Judas (Judah): The praise of the Lord, confession
Phares (Perez): A breach
Zara (Zerah): A rising as the sun
Esrom (Hezron): Enclosed, dart of joy, division of son
Aram (Ram): Elevated, high
Aminadab (Amminadab): One of the prince’s people, my people is liberal
Naashon (Nahshon): Enchanter; that foretells, conjectures
Salmon: A raiment; a garment, peaceful, he who rewards
Booz (Boaz): In him is strength

Obed: Serving, a servant; a workman
Jesse: A gift, oblation, wealth
David: Well beloved, dear
Solomon: Peaceful, perfect, one who recompenses
Roboam (Rehoboam): Enlarger of the people, who sets people at liberty
Abia (Abijah): The Lord is my father

Asa: Physician, cure
Josaphat (Jehoshaphat): Whom Jehovah judges, the Lord is judge
Joram (Jehoram): Whom Jehovah has exalted, exaltation of the Lord
Ozias (Uzziah): Strength of Jehovah, strength of the Lord
Jotham (Joatham): Jehovah is upright, perfection of the Lord
Achaz (Ahaz): Possessor, one that takes or possesses
Ezekais (Hezekiah): Might of Jehovah, strength of the Lord

Manasseh (Manasses): Forgetting, he that is forgotten
Amon: Faithful, true, builder
Josiah (Josias): Whom Jehovah heals, the Lord burns, the fire of the Lord
Jechoniah (Jechonias, Jehoiachin): Whom Jehovah establishes, preparation or strength of the Lord

Shealtiel (Salathiel): I have asked of God, or lent of God
Zerubbabel (Zorobabel): Born at Babel, a stranger at Babylon, dispersion of confusion
Abiud (Abihud): My father is majesty, father of praise
Eliakim: Raising up by God, resurrection of God
Azor: Helper, a court
Zadok (Sadoc): Just, righteous
Achim: The Lord will establish, preparing, revenging, confirming

Eliud: God is my praise
Eleazar: Help of God, court of God
Matthan (Mattan): Gift
Jacob: Heel-catcher or supplanter
Joseph: Let him add, increase, addition
Jesus: Jehovah is salvation, savior, deliverer

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