TIP OF THE DAY 32: Name.meaning > Theophoric

MJ. Smith · October 18

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TOPIC: Name.meaning.theophoric

QUESTION: What is the structure and the elements of theophoric names?

SOFTWARE: An all search with a search argument of “theophoric name” surfaced several discussions in Logos/Verbum.

ANSWER: Synopsis from Logos/Verbum:

Theophoric names are personal or geographic names that contain a reference to a deity. These names often make statements about or express petitions to the deity mentioned. In ancient Israelite culture, the most common divine element in personal names was a form of YHWH, followed by the generic 'ēl' meaning "god". Examples include Isaiah ("YHWH is salvation") and Ezekiel ("God strengthens"). Theophoric names were also common in other ancient Semitic societies, differing mainly in the divine name or epithet used[2]. In early Christian communities, while names derived directly from Jesus were rare, theophoric names like Deogratias ("thanks to God") and Theodulus ("servant of God") were common. Some Christians also adopted names expressing Christian ideas such as Anastasius ("resurrected") and Fides ("faith"). The prevalence of theophoric names in ancient societies demonstrates the significant role of the divine in people's lives and can provide valuable insights into the attributes associated with specific deities.[1]

The results included this excerpt from Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible Dictionary. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985.

Personal Names: The majority of Israelite names, and ancient Semitic names in general, had a readily understandable meaning. That parents consciously chose a child’s name is implied by the content of these names, many of which are translatable sentences.

Compound names, usually consisting of two elements, are attested in a variety of grammatical constructions, especially statements, which occur in nominal, adjectival, and verbal forms. Interrogative and imperative constructions are infrequent. Most compound pns are theophoric, containing a divine name (dn) or title. The most common dn in Israelite pns was Yahweh (Jehovah is an anglicized, hybrid form of this), appearing as Jo-/Jehoor -iah/-jah. The next most attested element was the generic el, meaning ‘god’ (El was also the dn of the head of the Canaanite pantheon). Titles such as adon (‘lord’), baal (‘master,’ also a Canaanite dn), melek (‘king’), zur (‘rock’) as well as kinship terms like ab (‘father’), ah (‘brother’), and am (‘kinsman/[paternal] uncle’) were sometimes used instead of a dn. Confusion can arise, however, regarding elements used both generically and as dns, such as baal, el, and several others; or with kinship terms, which might be associated with a deceased relative rather than a deity.

Different types of compound pns include: names expressing parents’ recognition of divine assistance, such as Mattaniah (‘gift of Yahweh’), Elnathan/Nathanael (‘God has given [this child]’), and Shemaiah (‘Yahweh has heard [the parents’ prayer]’); names expressing parental desires for the child, such as Jeberechiah (‘may Yahweh bless [this child]’), Ezekiel (‘may God strengthen [this child]’), and Jehiel (‘may God preserve [this child]’); names expressing parents’ convictions, such as Elijah/Joel (‘Yahweh is [my] God’), Uzziel (‘God is my strength’), Adoniram (‘my lord is exalted’), and Ahimelek (‘my [divine] brother is king’); and names reflecting circumstances at the child’s birth, such as Ben-oni (‘son of my sorrow,’ Gen. 35:16–20), and Ichabod (‘where is the glory?’ 1 Sam. 4:19–22). Names like Menachem (‘comforter’) and Eliashub (‘God restores’) may suggest that a newborn was regarded as a substitute for a deceased family member.

The elements of a compound name could also be employed singly, making a shortened, or hypocoristic form, as in Mattan, Nathan, Uzzi, and so on. There were other types of simple or one-element pns too. Some were originally animal or plant names like Caleb (‘dog’), Deborah (‘bee’), Jonah (‘dove’), Tamar (‘palm tree’), and Allon (‘oak’). Others reflected circumstances at birth, such as Haggai (‘[born on] a festival day’) and Becorath (‘firstborn’); physical characteristics, like Zuar (‘little one’) and Laban (‘white [fair-skinned]’); or qualities hoped for, as in Amon (‘reliable’). Evidence available from the nt and contemporary Jewish writings indicates that these types of simple and compound pns continued in use, but with a trend towards hypocoristic forms of the latter. There was also a greater tendency toward adopting a foreign name or a name showing foreign influence.^{^[2]}

QUESTION: How does one classify theophoric names?

SOFTWARE: To find classification schemes, method 1: An all search with a search argument of “theophoric name” surfaced several discussions in Logos/Verbum.

Method 2: A book search with a search argument of headword:(name OR naming). The latter allows you to see all your encyclopedias/dictionaries with an entry on name regardless of their use of the technical term “theophoric”.

ANSWER: from Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible Dictionary. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985.

By deity:

Identify the theophoric portion of the name.
Identify the theophoric portion as a name of a god or a title of a god.
Note if the name is shorted (hypocoristic).
Identify the deity referenced and the religious tradition to which it belongs.
Sort by religious tradition and deity name OR simply by deity name depending upon your purpose.

By type of compound:

names expressing parents’ recognition of divine assistance^{^[3]}
names expressing parental desires for the child^{^[4]}
names expressing parents’ convictions^{^[5]}
names reflecting circumstances at the child’s birth
names … may suggest that a newborn was regarded as a substitute for a deceased family member.^{^[7]}

QUESTION: Give examples of the diversity of theophoric names in Scripture.

SOFTWARE: Method 1: Factbook

Open Factbook via the check mark icon on the application toolbar.
Enter “Theophoric names” into navigation box.
Go to the Dig Deeper section at the bottom.
Select Wikipedia under Further Reading.
Unfortunately, as of 12 October 2024 the Wikipedia entry is missing.

Method 2: Browser

Using the Browser of your choice, navigate to Wikipedia in the language of your choice. For me, this is https://en.wikipedia.org/.
Enter “Theophoric names” into the search box.
The resulting page contains the following related information:

Christian theophoric names

Abdelmasih: (Arabic) "servant of the Messiah"

Abdisho: (Syriac) "servant of Jesus"

Ahadabui, also Ahidabu: (Syriac) "brother to the Father"

Ahischema: (Syriac) "brother of the schema"

Aitillaha: (Syriac) "God exists"

Amadeus: (Latin) "lover of God"

Attallah: (Arabic) "gift of God"

Bakhtishu: (Syriac) "redeemed by Jesus"

Bogdan: (Slavic) "God given"

Bogomil: (Slavic) "dear to God"

Bozhidar: (Slavic) "gift of God"

Christian: (Greek) "believer in Christ"

Christodoulos: (Greek) "servant of Christ"

Christopher: (Greek) "Christ-bearer".

Deodatus/Deusdedit: (Latin) "God-given"

Dorotheus/Dorothea: (Greek) "gift to God"

Fürchtgott: (Germanic) "God-fearing"

Gebreamlak: (Ge'ez) "servant of God"

Geoffrey/Gottfried: (Germanic) "God's peace"

Gottlieb: (Germanic) "God's love"

Ishodad: (Syriac) "given by Jesus"

Ishosabran or Sabrisho: (Syriac) "patient for Jesus"

Ishoyahb or Yahbisho: (Syriac) "Jesus has given"

Marnazka: (Syriac) "the Lord has conquered"

Philothea/Philothei/Philotheos: (Greek) "lover of God"

Sabrisho or Ishosabran: (Syriac) "patient for Jesus"

Shubhalisho, also Shubhisho: (Syriac) "praise to Jesus"

Shenouda: (Coptic) "son of God"

Slibazka: (Syriac) "the Cross has conquered"

Theodore/Theodora: (Greek) "gift of God"

Theodosius/Theodosia, Theodotos/Theodotē and Dositheus/Dosithea: (Greek) "God-given"

Theodotus: (Greek): "given by God"

Theodulus: (Greek) "servant of God"

Theophilus: (Greek) "one who loves God"

Theognis: (Greek) "God-knowing"

Theophanes/Theophania, Tiffany: (Greek) "manifestation of God"

Theophrastus: (Greek) "godly speech"

Theaetetus: (Greek) "one who pleads to God"

Timothy/Timotheus: (Greek) "one who honors God"

Yahballaha: (Syriac) "God has given"

Some Christian saints have polytheistic theophoric names (such as Saint Dionysius, Saint Mercurius, Saint Saturninus, Saint Hermes, Saint Martin of Tours, Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki).

. . .

Islam

Further information: List of Arabic theophoric names

See also: Allah

Abdullah: "servant of God"

Judaism

Main article: Theophory in the Bible

This article contains Hebrew text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hebrew letters.

Much Hebrew theophory occurs in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. The most prominent theophoric names are:

names containing El, a word meaning might, power and (a) god in general, and hence in Judaism, God and among the Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of Baal.
names containing Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh.
names referring to Levantine deities (especially the storm god, Hadad) by the epithet Baal, meaning lord.

In later times, as the conflict between Yahwism and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and Baal was replaced with Bosheth, meaning shameful one. But the name Yahweh does not appear in theophoric names until the time of Joshua, and for the most part is very rare until the time of King Saul, when it began to be very popular.

El

See also: El (deity)

Abdiel: "Servant of God"
Ariel: "lion of God"
Daniel: "God is my judge" or "justice from God"
Elijah: "my God is YHWH"
Elihu: "He is my God"
Elisha: "my God is salvation"
Elisheba (Elizabeth): "my God is an oath" or "my God is abundance"
Immanuel: "God is with us"
Yehezkel (Ezekiel): "God will strengthen"
Gabriel: "man of God" or "power of God"
Ishmael: "God listens"
Israel: "who struggles with God"
Lemuel: "Dedicated/Devoted to God"
Michael: "Who is like God?"
Nathaniel: "God-given" or "gift of God"
Raphael: "God heals/God is great"
Samuel: "God heard"
Uriel: "God is my light"
Uzziel: "God is my strength"

Yahweh

See also: Yahweh and YHWH

The name of the Israelite deity YHWH (usually shortened to Yah or Yahu, and Yeho or Yo) appears as a prefix or suffix in many theophoric names of the First Temple Period. For example, Yirme-yahu (Jeremiah), Yesha-yahu (Isaiah), Netan-yah, Yedid-yah, Adoni-yah, Nekhem-yah, Yeho-natan (Jonathan), Yeho-chanan (John), Yeho-shua (Joshua), Yeho-tzedek, Zekharya (Zechariah).

"Yahū" or "Yah" is the abbreviation of YHWH when used as a suffix in Hebrew names; as a prefix it appears as "Y^ehō-", or "Yo". It was formerly thought to be abbreviated from the Masoretic pronunciation "Yehovah". There is an opinion^[ that, as Yahweh is likely an imperfective verb form, "Yahu" is its corresponding preterite or jussive short form: compare yiŝt^ahawe^h (imperfective), yiŝtáhû (preterit or jussive short form) = "do obeisance".

Abijah: "my father is YHWH"
Adonijah: "YHWH is the Lord"
Hezekiah: "YHWH strengthens"
Isaiah: "YHWH is salvation"
Jedediah: "friend of YHWH"
Jehu: "YHWH is He"
Jeremiah (Jeremy): "YHWH will raise"
Joel: "YHWH is God"
Jonathan: "YHWH has given"
Joseph: "YHWH shall increase"
Josiah: "YHWH saves"
Matityahu (Matthew): "gift of YHWH"
Micah/Micaiah: "who is like YHWH?"
Nehemiah: "YHWH comforts"
Obadiah: "servant of YHWH"
Toviyahu (Tobias): "the goodness of YHWH"
Uriah: "YHWH is my light"
Uzziah: "YHWH is my strength"
Yeho'ezer (Yoʼezer): "YHWH is my help"
Yehoshua (Joshua)/Yeshua (Jesus): "YHWH will save"
Yohanan (John): "graced by YHWH" or "YHWH is gracious"
Zechariah (Zachary): "YHWH has remembered"
Zephaniah: "hidden by YHWH"

In the table below, 13 theophoric names with "Yeho" have corresponding forms where the letters eh have been omitted. There is a theory by Christian Ginsburg that this is because Hebrew scribes omitted the "h", changing Jeho (יְהוֹ‎) into Jo (יוֹ‎), to make the start of "Y^eho-" names not sound like an attempt to pronounce the Divine Name.

Strong's #		the name				other element	English conventional form
long form	short form	long form		short form		other element	long form	short form
3059	3099	יְהוֹאָחָז‎	Yᵉho'achaz	יוֹאָחָז‎	Yo'achaz	achaz [# 270]	Jehoahaz	Joahaz
3060	3101	יְהוֹאָש‎	Yᵉho'ash	יוֹאָש‎	Yo'ash	'esh [# 784]	Jehoash	Joash
3075	3107	יְהוֹזָבָד‎	Yᵉhozabad	יוֹזָבָד‎	Yozabad	zabad [# 2064]	Jehozabad	Jozabad
3076	3110	יְהוֹחָנָן‎	Yᵉhowchanan	יוֹחָנָן‎	Yochanan	chanan [# 2603]	Yehochanan	Jochanan
3077	3111	יְהוֹיָדָע‎	Yᵉhoyada	יוֹיָדָע‎	Yoyada	yada [# 3045]	Jehoiada	Joiada
3078	3112	יְהוֹיָכִין‎	Yᵉhoyakin	יוֹיָכִין‎	Yoyakin	kun [# 3559]	Yehoyakin	Joiakin
3079	3113	יְהוֹיָקִים‎	Yᵉhoyaqim	יוֹיָקִים‎	Yoyaqim	qum [# 3965]	Yehoyakim	Joakim
3080	3114	יְהוֹיָרִיב‎	Yᵉhoyarib	יוֹיָרִיב‎	Yoyarib	rib [# 7378]	Jehoiarib	Joiarib
3082	3122	יְהוֹנָדָב‎	Yᵉhonadab	יוֹנָדָב‎	Yonadab	nadab [# 5068]	Jehonadab	Jonadab
3083	3129	יְהוֹנָתָן‎	Yᵉhonathan	יוֹנָתָן‎	Yonathan	nathan [# 5414]	Yehonathan	Jonathan
3085	—	יְהוֹעַדָּה‎	Yᵉho'addah	—	—	'adah [# 5710]	Jehoaddah	—
3087	3136	יְהוֹצָדָק‎	Yᵉhotsadaq	יוֹצָדָק‎	Yotsadaq	tsadaq [# 6663]	Jehozadak	Jozadak
3088	3141	יְהוֹרָם‎	Yᵉhoram	יוֹרָם‎	Yoram	rum [# 7311]	Jehoram	Joram
3092	3146	יְהוֹשָפָט‎	Yᵉhoshaphat	יוֹשָפָט‎	Yoshaphat	shaphat [# 8199]	Jehoshaphat	Joshaphat

3470a	3470	יְשַׁעְיָהוּ‎	Yᵉsha'yahu	יְשַׁעְיָה‎	Yᵉsha'yah	yasha [# 3467]	Yeshayahu	Isaiah
5418a	5418	נְתַנְיָהוּ‎	Nᵉthanyahu	נְתַנְיָה‎	Nᵉthanyah	nathan [# 5414]	Netanyahu	Netaniah
138a	138	אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ‎	'Adoniyahu	אֲדֹנִיָּה‎	'Adoniyah	'adown [# 113]	Adoniyahu	Adonijah
452a	452	אֵלִיָּהוּ‎	'Eliyahu	אֵלִיָּה‎	'Eliyah	'el [# 410]	Eliyahu	Elijah
3414a	3414	יִרְמְיָהוּ‎	Yirmᵉyahu	יִרְמְיָה‎	Yirmᵉyah	rum [# 7311]	Yirmeyahu	Jeremiah
—	5166	—	—	נְחֶמְיָה‎	Nᵉchemyah	nacham [# 5162]	—	Nechemiah

Referring to other gods

Jerubbaal, the alternate name of Gideon, variously translated as "Baal will contend"
Jezebel: "glory to Baal"
Ishbaal: "man of Baal"
Balthazar and Belshazzar (Babylonian): "Baal, protect the king"
Abijam: "my father is Yam"
Shalmaneser (Assyrian): "Shulmanu is foremost"
Sennacherib (Assyrian): "Sîn has replaced the brothers"
Pygmalion (Phoenician via Greek): "Pummay has given"
Nebuchadnezzar (in Babylonian: Nabu-kudurri-usur): "Nabu, watch over my heir"
Mordecai: "from Marduk"
Ben-Hadad: in Hebrew means "son of Hadad", but his original Aramaic name is Hadadezer: "Hadad is help"

Theophoric names containing "Baal" were sometimes "censored" as -bosheth = "shameful one", whence Ishbosheth etc.

Using the link within the wikipage to “Theophory in the Bible”:

Theophory is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a deity in, usually, a proper name.[note 1] Much Hebrew theophory occurs in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. The most prominent theophory involves names referring to:

El, a word meaning might, power and (a) god in general, and hence in Judaism, God and among the Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of Baal.

Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh.

Levantine deities (especially the storm god, Hadad) by the epithet baal, meaning lord. In later times, as the conflict between Yahwism and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and baal was replaced with bosheth, meaning "shame".

El theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El and their meanings in Hebrew:

Abdiel – Servant of God

Abiel – God my Father

Abimael – A Father sent from God

Adbeel – Disciplined of God[1]

Adiel – Witness of God

Adriel – Flock of God

Ammiel – People of God

Ariel, Auriel – Lioness of God

Azael – Whom God Strengthens

Azazel – God Strengthens or Arrogant to God

Azrael – Help of God

Barachel – Blessed of God

Bethel – House of God

Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God

Daniel – Judged by God or Judgement of God

Elead – God Forever

Eliana – My God Answers

Elijah – My God is Jah

Elisha – Salvation of God

Elishama – My God Hears

Elishua – God is my salvation

Eliezer – My God Helps

Elimelech – My God is King

Elizabeth – My God is Oath

Elkanah – God has Possessed, or God has Created

Emmanuel – God is with us

Ezekiel – God will Strengthen

Gabriel – Man of God, God has shown Himself Mighty, Hero of God or Strong one of God

Gamaliel – Reward of God

Hanniel – Glory of God

Immanuel – God with us

Ishmael – Heard by God, Named by God, or God Hearkens

Israel, Yisrael – Struggles with God or Prince of God

Jekuthiel – God will support

Jerahmeel – God's exaltation

Jezreel – God will sow

Joel – Jah is God

Lemuel – Dedicated to God

Mahalalel – The blessed God, The shining light of God, or The glory of God

Michael – Who is like God? a question

Mishael – Who is what God is? a question

Nathanael, Nathaniel – Given by God or God has Given or "Gift of God"

Nemuel – Day of God

Nuriel – Fire of God or Light of God

Othniel – Hour of God

Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – Face of God

Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God

Reuel – Friend of God

Samuel – Name/Heard of God

Shealtiel – I asked God [for this child]

Uriel – Sun of God, Light of God or Fire of God

Uzziel – Power from God

Incorrect El theophory

The name Abel, which appears to refer to El, in fact is not an instance of theophory. Abel can be translated as "breath", "temporary" or "meaninglessness" and is the word translated as "vanity" in Ecclesiastes 1:2 in the King James Version.

The name Jael also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than the aleph of El.

The name Eli also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than aleph.

The name Rachel also appears to refer to El in English, but contains chet.

Shaddai theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Shaddai and their meanings in Hebrew:

Zurishaddai – Shaddai is my rock

Yah theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Yah/Yahweh and their meanings in Hebrew:

Abiah – Yahweh is my father

Abijah – Yahweh is my father (2 Chron. 13:3)

Adaiah – ornament of Yahweh

Adonijah – my lord is Yahweh

Ahaziah – vision of Yahweh

Ahiah – brother of Yahweh

Ahijah – brother of Yahweh

Amariah – Yahweh says; integrity of Yahweh

Amaziah – strength of Yahweh

Ananiah – Protected by Yah

Athaliah – Yahweh is exalted

Azariah – Yahweh has helped

Bathiah – Daughter of Yah

Bealiah – Yahweh is Lord[2]

Dodavah(u) – Beloved of Yahweh

Elijah – My God is Yah

Hananiah – Yahweh is gracious

Gedaliah – Yahweh is great

Hezekiah – Yahweh has strengthened

Hodaviah/Hodiah – Give thanks to Yahweh, The splendour of Yahweh

Isaiah – Salvation of Yahweh

Isshiah – Yahweh exists

Jeconiah – Yahweh has firmly established

Jedaiah – Yah knows

Jedidiah – Beloved of Yah

Jehiah – Yahweh lives

Jehoiachin – Yahweh is firmly established

Jehoiada – Yahweh knows

Jehoshaphat – Yahweh is judge

Jehosheba – Yahweh is my oath

Jehozadak – Righteous is Yahweh

Jekamiah – Yahweh raises

Jeremiah – Yah exalts

Jeshaiah – Salvation of Yahweh

Joab – Yahweh is father

Jochebed – Yahweh is glory

Joel – Yahweh is El/God

John – Yahweh is gracious

Jonathan – gift of Yahweh

Joshua – Yahweh saves/is (my) Saviour/Salvation or Yahweh is lordly (Niqqud dependent)

Josiah – supported of Yahweh

Malchijah – Yahweh is king

Micaiah – Who is like Yahweh

Matityahu – Gift from Yah

Neariah – Servant of Yahweh

Nedabiah – Yahweh impels

Nehemiah – Yah comforts

Nethaniah – gift of Yahweh

Obadiah – Yahweh's servant or worshiper

Pedaiah – Redemption of Yahweh

Pelatiah – Yah has delivered

Pelaiah – Yah has distinguished

Pelaliah – Yah has judged

Pekahiah – Yah has observed

Reaiah – Yahweh has seen

Rephaiah – Yah has healed

Seraiah – Servant/prince of Yahweh

Shecaniah – One intimate with Yahweh

Shephatiah – Judged of Yahweh

Toviah – Good of Yahweh or Yahweh is Good

Uriah – My light is Yahweh

Uzziah – Yahweh is my strength

Zebadiah, Zabdi – Gift of Yahweh

Zedekiah – justice of or righteous is Yahweh

Zephaniah – Yahweh hides or protects

Zechariah – Yahweh remembers

Baal theophory

Ba'al is a generic term meaning master; it can also be translated "Lord". In the Bible, it is frequently a reference to Hadad, although it is sometimes used to refer to other specific deities, including Yahweh, and on other occasions is used to refer to an arbitrary lord of this area.

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Ba'al, and their meanings in Hebrew:

Baalah – her lord; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse

Baalath – a rejoicing; our proud lord

Baalath-Beer – subjected pit

Baal-berith – lord of the covenant

Baale – same as Baalath

Baal-gad – lord Gad, or lord of Gad, or lord of fortune/felicity

Baal-hamon – he who rules a crowd

Baal-hanan – Ba'al is gracious

Baal-hermon – lord of destruction / of a cursed-thing

Baali – my lord; lord over me

Baalim – lords; masters; (later Jewish use: false gods)

Baalis – a rejoicing/proud lord

Baal-meon – lord/master of the house

Baal-Peor – master of Peor; master of the opening

Baal-perazim – lord of divisions

Baal-shalisha – the lord that presides over three; the third idol

Baal-tamar – master of the palm-tree

Baal-zebub – lord of the fly (satirical corruption of Ba'al-zebul - lord of princes)

Baal-zephon – the lord/possession of the north/hidden/secret

Jerub-baal – the lord contends

Bosheth

In later biblical and Jewish writing, some of the theophories in Ba'al were bowdlerised, with ba'al replaced by bosheth ((the) shameful (thing)):

Ishbosheth, from Ishba'al, man of ba'al.

Jerubbeshet, from Jerubbaal "Ba'al contends"

Mephibosheth, from Mephibaal "from the mouth of Ba'al"

Yam theophory

Yam is the Canaanite god of the Sea.

Abiyam – My father is Yam (1 Kgs. 14:31)

Zedek theophory

Zedek (or Sydyk or Sedek) was the name of a Phoenician deity worshiped in Canaan. In Hebrew, "tzedek" (from the root tz-d-k) means "righteous".

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Zedek, and their meanings in Hebrew:

Melchi-zedek – My king is Zedek

Adoni-zedek – My lord is Zedek

Hadad

Apart from oblique references to Hadad by means of the word ba'al, some theophory references him directly:

Hadadezer – Hadad is my help

Rib-Hadda – Great is Hadad

Ben-hadad – Son of Hadad

Others

Asenappar – Ashur is creator of an heir

Belshazzar – Bel, protect the king

Chedorlaomer – Servant of Lagamar

Nebuchadnezzar – Nabu, preserve my firstborn son

Sennacherib – Sin has replaced brothers

Shalmaneser – Shulmanu is the best[9]

Method 3: Utilize the information gathered for the etymology [MS1] of the name.

Method 4: Utilize a tool such as Perplexity with a query such as “Give a list of diverse gods who appear in theophoric name in Scripture including apocrypha and New Testament.”.

Here is a list of diverse gods who appear in theophoric names in Scripture, including the Apocrypha and New Testament:

1. Yahweh/Yah - Appears in many names like Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.

2. El - Found in names like Daniel, Ezekiel, Israel, etc.

3. Baal - Appears in some early Israelite names like Jerub-baal, Eshbaal, Merib-baal

4. Hadad - In names like Ben-Hadad

5. Nebo/Nabu - In Nebuchadnezzar, Abednego

6. Marduk - In Evil-Merodach

7. Anu - Possibly in Anani

8. Shamash - Possibly in Sheshan

9. Sin (moon god) - In Sennacherib

10. Hermes - In Hermas (Romans 16:14)

11. Zeus - In Sosipater (Romans 16:21)

12. Artemis - In Artemas (Titus 3:12)

13. Tyche (Fortune) - In Tychicus (Titus 3:12)

14. Apis - Possibly referenced in Septuagint version of Jeremiah 46:15

15. Bethel - In names like Bethuel

16. Eshem - In some Aramaic names from Elephantine

17. Anat - In place name Anathoth

18. Shemesh (sun god) - In Beth-shemesh

This list showcases the diverse religious influences reflected in biblical names, ranging from Israelite, Canaanite, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greco-Roman deities. However, it's important to note that the presence of a deity's name does not necessarily imply active worship by the name-bearer, especially in later periods[10].

QUESTION: How is knowing that a name is theophoric helpful in Bible studies?

SOFTWARE: A simple search for “Is Samson theophoric” for a smart search or Samson WITHIN 10 WORDS theophoric” for a precise search, uncovered examples. I generally find better examples of use by this sort of oblique method than when I try specifically to find examples of interpretative use.

ANSWER: from Koopmans, William T. Joshua 24 as Poetic Narrative. Vol. 93. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990.

The emphasis of exclusive worship of Yahweh as an alternative to Canaanite polytheism fits the religious context of Joshua’s time. Moreover, it also receives support from a study of theophoric names in the OT.⁸⁰ Recent studies by J.H. Tigay⁸¹ and J.D. Fowler⁸² affirm the value of studying theophoric names. Via the study of theophoric names among people who regularly reflect the name(s) of their deity in the names given to their children, it is possible to get a picture of which gods they worshipped. It is therefore striking that the first Yahwistic name encountered in the OT is that of Jochabed,⁸³ the mother of Moses. The only other Yahwistic name in Israel attested to the time of the settlement in Canaan is that of Joshua.⁸⁴ This suggests that in the time of the exodus the employment of Yahwistic theophoric names was rare.

Whereas at the time of the exodus and settlement the Israelites unequivocally preferred to use names composed with the element El rather than Yahweh or Yah, by the time of David Yahwistic names were firmly established.⁸⁵ Therefore, the period of the judges was critical for the transition from worship of Israel’s one God as El to the recognition that their God was to be worshipped as Yahweh. As is noted by Oosterhoff,⁸⁶ Yahwistic names are still relatively rare in the earlier period of the judges. But the names which are recorded may be of considerable significance.

Joash, the father of Gideon, is involved in the struggle between Baalism and Yahwism (Judg. 6:11–32). He was a Manassite, from Ophrah.⁸⁷ Gideon’s son Jotham (Judg. 9:5) is inextricably connected with the struggle climaxing in Shechem at the sanctuary of ’l bryt or b‘l bryt (8:33; 9:4, 46). Jonathan, the grandson of Moses (Judg. 18:11), serves as a priest in the house of Micah, which significantly is also in the hill country of Ephraim (Judg. 18:2). Is it coincidental that the Danites ask him to inquire of Elohim, and he responds that they may go in peace because Yahweh is watching over them?⁸⁸ This Ephraimite, Micah, is presented in 17:1, 4 with the explicitly Yahwistic name mykyhw. Samuel, whose lineage is listed alternatively with Levi or Ephraim, gives Yahwistic names to two of his sons, Joel and Abijah (1 Sam. 8:2). The name Joel is a form which either deliberately identifies Yahweh and El or is to be read “Yahweh is God.” Moreover, 1 Chron. 6:36(21) mentions an ‘zryh as an ancestor of Samuel. What these various accounts all have in common is a setting in the hill country of Ephraim and Manasseh, precisely in the area where Joshua is said to have impressed upon Israel the necessity of unequivocally embracing Yahweh as their exclusive God. These observations reinforce conclusions drawn by other scholars with respect to the establishment of the Mosaic faith in the hill country and the struggle there of Yahwism against polytheism^{^[11]}

QUESTION: How do I know if a name is theophoric?

SOFTWARE: A simple search for “Is Samson theophoric” for a smart search or Samson WITHIN 10 WORDS theophoric” for a precise search is my first attempt. If that does not provide a satisfactory answer, I resort to “Is Samson theophoric” in an external tool such as Perplexity. Or, if I have already found the etymology of Samson, I simply copy the material.

ANSWER: from Logos/Verbum, the smart search synopsis:

The name Samson (Hebrew: Shimshon) is likely derived from the Hebrew word "shemesh," meaning "sun" or "solar deity". While this name is not explicitly theophoric in the sense of containing a divine name like Yahweh or El, it has been suggested that the biblical stories associated with Samson may have their origins in solar mythology. Samson's tale, found in Judges 13-16, is believed to have developed from oral traditions and was later incorporated into the larger narrative structure of the Book of Judges. Interestingly, the articles do not directly address whether Samson's name is considered theophoric in the traditional sense. However, they do mention that during the time of the Judges, which includes Samson's era, there was a transition in Israelite naming practices from predominantly El-based names to more Yahweh-based names, though Yahwistic names were still relatively rare in this earlier period.[12]

QUESTION: How do I know if a deity has related theophoric names?

SOFTWARE: A simple search for “theophoric names based on Anath” for a smart search or Anath WITHIN 10 WORDS theophoric” for a precise search is my first attempt. If that does not provide a satisfactory answer, I resort to “Biblical theophoric names based on Anath” in an external tool such as Perplexity. Or, if I have already found an name with an etymology of based on Anath, I simply copy the material.

ANSWER: from Logos/Verbum, the smart search synopsis:

Theophoric names based on Anath, an ancient Near Eastern goddess, appear in various biblical and historical contexts. In the Hebrew Bible, names like Anathoth and Anathothiyah contain a plural form of Anath, raising questions about its significance[1]. Anath was also associated with Yahweh in the Jewish colony at Elephantine, as evidenced by names like Anath-bethel and Anath-yahu. Some scholars interpret these as hypostatized aspects of Yahweh, meaning "Providence" or "Sign" of God, rather than indicating Anath as a consort[2]. The name Shamgar ben Anath, mentioned in Judges 3:31 and 5:6, is particularly noteworthy. While some consider Shamgar to be of Hurrian origin, others propose it could be a West Semitic theophoric name meaning "the deity makes X submit"[3]. Recent archaeological findings suggest Shamgar may have been a member of 'Apiru mercenary troops fighting under Rameses III against the Philistines in northern Palestine around 1198 BC[4]. Anath's worship extended beyond Israel, with evidence of her veneration in Egypt, particularly during the 19th Dynasty, and later in Cyprus and possibly as late as the 3rd century AD in Palmyra.[13]

[end of post 32]

[1] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000). and Dana M. Pike, “Names, Theophoric,” in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 1019. and Richard S. Hess, “Names,” in Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical & Post-Biblical Antiquity (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2016), 454. and Karla G. Bohmbach, “Names and Naming,” in Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 945.

nt New Testament

^{^[2]} Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 682–683.

^{^[3]} Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 682.

^{^[4]} Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 682.

^{^[5]} Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 682.

Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 682.

^{^[7]} Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 682.

Theophoric name - Wikipedia accessed 10/12/2024 8:33:49 PM

[9] Theophory in the Bible - Wikipedia accessed 10/12/2024 8:32:11 PM

[10] https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicBiblical/comments/17qawo3/how_do_el_baal_and_hadad_relate_to_yahweh/ and https://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2018/07/10/bethel-the-forgotten-god-of-israel/ and https://www.ezrabrand.com/p/godly-nomenclature-theophoric-names and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophory_in_the_Bible and http://contradictionsinthebible.com/are-yahweh-and-el-the-same-god/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_Hosts and https://www.cfhu.org/news/hu-scholar-says-names-reveal-whats-true-and-whats-not-in-the-bible/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophoric_name and https://markhaughwout.com/Bible/Prefixes_suffixes_divine_names_Genesis.htm and https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/god-names and https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/whats-in-a-name-2/ and http://www.bibleorigins.net/YahwehYawUgarit.html and https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/Further_Research/e-books/Dictionary-of-Deities-and-Demons-in-the-Bible.pdf

⁸⁰ The present writer was privileged to assist professor J.C. de Moor in a study of theophoric names in the OT to the time of the early monarchy, with a particular emphasis upon tribal distribution. For a summary of the conclusions see de Moor, Rise of Yahwism, 10–41.

⁸¹ J.H. Tigay, You Shall Have No Other Gods: Israelite Religion in the Light of Hebrew Inscriptions (Atlanta, 1986); “Israelite Religion,” 157–194.

⁸² J.D. Fowler, Theophoric Personal Names in Ancient Hebrew (Sheffield, 1988).

⁸³ De Moor, Uw God, 157f., following the vocalization of the LXX.

⁸⁴ De Moor, Uw God, 59. Cf. already B.J. Oosterhoff, Israëlitische persoonsnamen. Exegetica 4 (Delft, 1953), 23.

⁸⁵ De Moor, Rise of Yahwism, 33.

⁸⁶ Oosterhoff, “Israelitische persoonsnamen,” 23.

⁸⁷ Cf. above, re Gideon.

⁸⁸ Judg. 18:5f.

^{^[11]} William T. Koopmans, Joshua 24 as Poetic Narrative, vol. 93, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series (Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990), 432–433.

[12] David L. Jeffrey, A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1992). and Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 908. and John F. A. Sawyer, “Samson,” in A Concise Dictionary of the Bible and Its Reception (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), 231. and William T. Koopmans, Joshua 24 as Poetic Narrative, vol. 93, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series (Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990), 432.

[13] Peter R. Ackroyd, The Chronicler in His Age, vol. 101, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series (Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991), 374. and Walter A. III Maier, “Anath (Deity),” in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 226. and J. Alberto Soggin, Judges: A Commentary, ed. Peter Ackroyd et al., trans. John Bowden, The Old Testament Library (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1981), 57. and William Sailer et al., Religious and Theological Abstracts (Myerstown, PA: Religious and Theological Abstracts, 2012).

[MS1]Add link when merged back together