Theophory in the Bible

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The word "theophory" refers to the practice of embedding the name of a god or a deity in, usually, a proper name. 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 amongst the Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of Baal.
• names referring to Yah, a shortened form of tetragrammaton
• names referring to Levantine deities (especially the storm god, Hadad) by the epithet Baal, meaning lord. In later times, as the conflict between the Mosaic law and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and Baal was replaced with Bosheth, meaning shameful one.

Contents 1 Notes on Translating Theophoric Names 2 El theophory 2.1 False El theophory 3 Yah theophory 4 Baal theophory 5 References 6 See also

[edit] Notes on Translating Theophoric Names

It is important to remember when translating Hebrew theophoric names (particularly those using the "[noun] of God" formula) that the "of" has varying meanings, depending on the name. For example, the translation of Iruel reads "Fear of God." This does not mean "God-fearing," "Feared by God", or even "a Fear belonging to God," rather it means "Fear (as in Fear incarnate) in the service of God."

[edit] 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

Advachiel – Happiness of God

Ambriel – Energy of God

Ammiel – People of God

Arael – Light of God or Vision of God

Ariel, Auriel – Lion of God

Armisael – Mountain of Judgment of God

Asmodel – Greatness of God

Azael – Whom God Strengthens

Azazel – God Strengthens

Azrael – Help of God

Barakiel, Baraquiel – Lightning of God

Barbiel – Illumination of God

Barchiel – Kindness of God or Ray of God

Bardiel – Humilliated Son of God

Bethel – House of God

Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God

Boel – God is in Him

Camael – He who Sees God

Chakel – Wisdom of God

Chamuel – He who Seeks God

Daniel – Judged by God or Judgement of God

Elad – God Forever

Eli – a variant on the name of God, or "my God"

Eliana – My God Answers

Elias, Elijah – Whose God is the Lord, God the Lord, The Strong Lord, God of the Lord, My God is the Lord My God is Jehovah, or My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (Eli)-(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

Ezequeel – Strength of God

Ezrael – Help of God

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

Gaghiel – Roaring Beast of God

Gamaliel – Reward of God

Hamaliel – Grace of God

Hanael – Glory of God

Immanuel – God with us

Iruel – Fear of God

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

Israel – Struggles with God

Joel – Jah is God

Lee-El, Lee-el, Leeel – For God

Leliel – Jaws of God

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

Malahidael – King of God

Matarael – Premonition of God

Michael – Who is like God? a question

Muriel – Fragrance of God

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

Othniel – Hour of God

Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – Face of God

Priel – Fruit of God

Ramiel – Thunder of God

Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God

Raziel – Secret of God

Reuel – Friend of God

Sachiel – Price of God or Covering of God

Salatheel – I have asked God

Sahaquiel – Ingenuity of God

Samael – Venom of God

Samiel – Blind God, epithet for Baal or the Demiurge

Samuel – Name/Heard of God

Sariel – Moon of God

Satanael – Adversary of God

Shamshel – Lonely Conqueror of God

Suriel – Command of God

Tamiel – Perfection of God

Tarfiel – God Nourishes

Tzaphquiel – Contemplation of God

Uriel – Sun of God or Fire of God

Ussiel or Uzziel Light from God

Verchiel – Shining of God

Yael – Delivered from God

Za'afiel – Wrath of God

Zadkiel – Righteousness of God

Zagzagel – Splendor of God

Zaphkiel – Knowledge of God

Zeruel – Arm of God

Zophiel – Beauty of God

Hellas – Stone of God

[edit] False 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".

[edit] 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

Abijam – Yam is my father (Yam is another name for Yah)

Adaiah – witness of Yahweh/Jehovah's witness

Adalia – Yahweh is just

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

Athaliah – Yahweh is exalted

Hezekiah – Yahweh has strengthened

Jael – Yahweh is El/God

Jabin – Son of Yahweh/Yahweh is a son

Jeremiah – (uncertain) Yahweh exalts or establishes or throws

Joab – Yahweh is father

Jonathan – gift of Yahweh

Josiah – supported of Yahweh

Matityahu – Gift from Yah

Obadiah – Yahweh's servant or worshipper

Odelia – Thanks to Yah

Pelatiah – Yah has delievered

Pelaiah – Yah has distinguished

Pelaliah – Yah has judged

Pekahiah – Yah has observed

Yehoshua (Joshua, Jesus) – Yah saves

Zebadiah, Zabdi – Gift of Yahweh

Zedekiah – justice of or righteous is Yahweh

Zephaniah – Yahweh hides or protects

Zechariah – Yahweh remembers

[edit] Baal theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Hadad/Baal/Bosheth and their meanings in Hebrew:

Baal, master; lord

Baalah, her idol; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse

Baalath, a rejoicing; our proud lord

Baalath-Beer, subjected pit

Baal-berith, idol of the covenant

Baale, same as Baalath

Baal-gad, idol of fortune or felicity

Baal-hamon, who rules a crowd

Baal-hanan, Baal is gracious

Baal-hermon, possessor of destruction or of a thing cursed

Baali, my idol; lord over me

Baalim, idols; masters; false gods

Baalis, a rejoicing; a proud lord

Baal-meon, idol or master of the house

Baal-peor, master of the opening

Baal-perazim, god of divisions

Baal-shalisha, the god that presides over three; the third idol

Baal-tamar, master of the palm-tree

Baal-zebub, god of the fly (Origin of the book title "Lord of the Flies")

Baal-zephon, the idol or possession of the north; hidden; secret

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of Biblical names