Theophory In The Bible

Theophory is 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 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''
:Adiel – ''Witness of God''
:Adirael – ''Magnificence of God''
: Adriel – ''Flock of God''
:Advachiel – ''Happiness of God''
:Ambriel – ''Energy of God''
:Ammiel – ''People of God''
: Ariel, Auriel – ''Lion of God''
: Armisael – ''Mountain of Judgment of God''
: Azael – ''Whom God Strengthens''
:Azazel – ''God Strengthens'' or ''Arrogant to God''
:Azrael – ''Help of God''
:Barakiel, Baraquiel – ''Lightning of God''
: Barachiel, Bardiel – ''Kindness of God'' or ''Ray of God''
:Bethel – ''House of God''
: Betzalel – ''Shadow/Path of God''
: Bithiel – ''Daughter of God''
: Boel – ''God is in Him''
: Chakel – ''Wisdom of God''
: Chamuel – ''He who Seeks God''
: Cassiel – ''Speed of God'' or ''God is my anger''
:Castiel - ''My Cover is God''
: Denzel – Fortress of God
:Daniel – ''Judged by God'' or ''Judgement of God''
:Elad – ''God Forever''
:Eliana – ''My God Answers''
:Elijah (Elias) – ''Whose God is Jah'', ''God Jah'', ''The Strong Jah'', ''God of Jah'', ''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''
: Harel – ''Mountain of God''
:Isabel – ''God is my oath''
:Immanuel – ''God with us''
: Imriel – ''Eloquence of God''
: Iruel – ''Fear of God''
:Ishmael, Ishamael – ''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''
: Jeremiel – ''God's mercy''
: Jezreel – ''God will sow''
:Joel – ''Jah is God''
:Jegudiel – ''Glorifier of God''
: Katriel – ''Crown of God''
:Kazbiel – ''He who lies to God''
:Kushiel – ''Rigid One of God''
: Lee-El, Lee-el, Leeel – ''For God''
:Leliel – ''Jaws of God''
: Lemuel – ''Dedicated to 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
: 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''
:Othniel – ''Hour of God''
: Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – ''Face of God''
: Priel – ''Fruit of God''
: Rachmiel – ''God is my Comforter''
: Ramiel/Remiel – ''Thunder of God''
:Raphael – ''God is Healing'' or ''Healing one of God''
: Raziel – ''Secret of God''
: Rameel – ''Mercy of God'' or ''Compassion of God''
:Reuel – ''Friend of God''
: Sachiel – ''Price of God'' or ''Covering of God''
: Sahaquiel – ''Ingenuity of God''
:Samael – ''Venom of God''
: Samiel – ''Blind God'', epithet for Baal or the Demiurge
:Samuel – ''Name/Heard of God''
:Sariel – ''Command of God''
:Sealtiel – ''Intercessor of God''
:Shamsiel – ''Lonely Conqueror of God''
:Shealtiel – ''I asked God or this child'
:Suriel – ''Moon of God''
: Tamiel – ''Perfection of God''
: Tarfiel – ''God Nourishes''
: Tzaphkiel – ''Beholder of God''
: Tzaphquiel – ''Contemplation of God''
:Uriel – ''Sun of God'', ''Light of God'' or ''Fire of God''
:Uzziel – ''Power from God''
: Verchiel – ''Shining of God''
: Yophiel – ''Beauty of God''
: Za'afiel – ''Wrath of God''
:Zadkiel – ''Righteousness of God'' (rabbinic)
: Zagzagel – ''Splendor of God''
:Zaphkiel – ''Knowledge of God''
:Zeruel – ''Arm of God''
: Zophiel – ''Watchman of God''
:Zuriel – ''Rock of 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 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''
: Batyah – ''Daughter of Yah''
: Bealiah – ''Yahweh is Lord''Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. ''International Standard Bible Encyclopedia'', "Bealiah" (1915)

/ref>
: Dodavah, Dodavah(u) – ''Beloved of Yahweh''
:Elijah – ''My God is Yah'', ''God Yah''. Reference to the meaning of both ( Eli)-(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''
:Jayden, Jaden/Yahden – ''Yahweh has heard''
:Jeconiah – ''Yahweh has firmly established''
:Jedaiah – ''Yah knows''
:Jedidiah – ''Beloved of Yah''
:Obed-Edom, 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''
:Jesiah, Jeshaiah – ''Salvation of Yahweh''
:Jesse (biblical figure), Jesse – ''Yahweh exists''
:Joab – ''Yahweh is father''
:Jochebed – ''Yahweh is glory''
:Joel – ''Yahweh is El/God''
:John (given name), John – ''Yahweh is gracious''
:Jonathan (name), Jonathan – ''gift of Yahweh''
:Joseph (name), Joseph – ''Yah has increased''
:Joshua – (Yahoshua, Jesus) – ''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 (disambiguation), Nethaniah – ''gift of Yahweh''
:Netanyahu – ''gift of Yahweh''
:Obadiah – ''Yahweh's servant'' or ''worshiper''
:Odelia – ''Thanks to Yah''
:Pedaiah – ''Redemption of Yahweh''
:Pelatiah – ''Yah has delivered''
:Pelaiah – ''Yah has distinguished''
:List of minor Old Testament figures, L–Z#Pelaliah, Pelaliah – ''Yah has judged''
:Pekahiah – ''Yah has observed''
:List of minor biblical tribes#Reaiah, Reaiah – ''Yahweh has seen''
:Rephaiah – ''Yah has healed''
:Seraiah – ''Servant/prince of Yahweh''
:Shecaniah – ''One intimate with Yahweh''
:Shephatiah – ''Judged of Yahweh''
:Moses, Toviah – ''Good of Yahweh'' or ''Yahweh is Good''
:Uriah the Hittite, 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 (given name), Zechariah – ''Yahweh remembers''

Baal theophory

''Ba'al'' is a generic term meaning ''master''; it can also be translated "Lord#Religion, 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:
:Baal – master; lord
:''Baalah (Bible), 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 of Judah, Baale'' – same as Baalath
:''Baal-gad'' – lord Gad (deity), Gad, or lord of Gad (tribe), 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 (title), 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
:''Beelzebub, 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
:''Jerubbaal, Jerub-baal'' the lord contends

Bosheth

In later biblical and Jewish writing, some of the theophories in Ba'al were bowdlerisation, 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 (god), Yam is the Canaanite god of the Sea.

:''Abijah, 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:

:''Melchizedek, Melchi-zedek'' – My king is Zedek
:''Adoni-zedek'' – My lord is Zedek
:''Rabi-zedki'' – My great one/master is Zedek (Amarna Letters, EA 170)

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''

Others

:''Ashurbanipal, Asenappar'' - ''Ashur (god), Ashur is creator of an heir''
:''Nebuchadnezzar'' - ''Nabu, preserve my firstborn son''
:''Sennacherib'' - ''Sin (mythology), Sin has replaced brothers''
:''Shalmaneser V, Shalmaneser'' - ''Shulmanu is the best''

See also

* List of Biblical names

Notes

References

{{Reflist

Theophoric names, Bible
Biblical topics