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Symbolic Names of People in Hebrew
Name in Hebrew* | Meaning | Reference |
Ishmael | God hears | |
Abraham | Father of a multitude | |
Sarah | Princess | |
Isaac | He laughs | |
Jacob | He grabs by the heel, or He cheats | |
Edom | Red | |
Reuben | See, a son | |
Naphtali | My struggle | |
Gad | Good fortune, or A Troop | |
Asher | Happy | |
Joseph | May he add | |
Israel | He strives with God, or God strives | |
Benjamin | Son of my right hand | |
Perez | A breach | |
Eliezer | My God is help | |
Jerubbaal | Let Baal contend | Judg 6:28–32 (compare 2 Sam 11:21) |
Ichabod | Glory has departed | |
Shear-jashub | A remnant shall return | |
Immanuel | God is with us | |
Maher-shalal-hash-baz | The spoil speeds, the prey hastens | |
Ariel | Lion of God, or Altar hearth | Isa 29:1, 2, 7 (compare 2 Sam 2:20; Ezek 43:15–16) |
Rahab | Arrogant/Raging | |
Jeshurun | Upright one | Isa 44:2 (compare Deut 32:15; 33:5) |
Hephzibah | My delight is in her | |
Beulah | Married | |
Magor-missabib | Terror on every side | |
Merathaim | Double rebellion | |
Pekod | Punishment | |
Oholah | Her tent | |
Oholibah | perhaps “My tent (is) in her” | |
Jezreel | [Predicts defeat at Jezreel]; God will sow/scatter | |
Lo-ruhama | She has not received mercy | |
Lo-ammi | Not my people | |
Achor | Trouble | Hos 2:15 (compare Josh 7:22–26) |
Malachi | My servant |
* Although almost any Hebrew name can be interpreted as a sentence or label with an external referent (see Ruth 1:20), symbolic names are meant to warn or encourage a wide audience with reference to God’s purposes.
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