I. THE ROMANTIC HISTORY OF BIBLE NAMES All poetry is but a giving of names.…Biography is the only true history:…History is the garb of biography.…Thomas Carlyle The beginning of all instruction is the study of names.-Antisthenes, c. 400 b.c. Many readers of the Bible treat its genealogical lists as despised regions, and wonder why they […]

“What should we learn from the life of Isaac?”……Answer: The name Isaac, which means "he laughs," was derived from his parents' reaction when God told Abraham that he, at 100 years old, and his wife Sarah, at the age of 90, would have a son (Genesis 17:1718:12). Isaac was Abraham's second son; his first, Ishmael, […]

Hilkiah[HÔöÇ┬ílkÔöÇ┬¢’ah]…Portion of jehovah or jehovah is protection. The father of Eliakim who was over Hezekiah's household (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37Isa. 22:2036:3, 22). High priest in king Josiah's reign (2 Kings 22:4-1423:4, 24). A descendant of Merari, son of Levi (1 Chron. 6:45). A son of Hosah, descendant of Merari, and a gatekeeper at the […]

Hosea, Oshea, Osee, Hoshea [HÔö╝├¼zÔöÇ├┤’ÔöÇ├ó, Ôö╝├« shÔöÇ├┤’ÔöÇ├ó, HÔö╝├¼shÔöÇ├┤’ÔöÇ├ó]-jehovah is help or salvation. 1. The son of Beeri and first of the so-called Minor Prophets (Hosea 1:1). Hosea His name means: “Yahweh Has Delivered” His work: Hosea was a prophet in Israel. Like other prophets, his charge was to call the people to repentance. However, he […]

Ichabod [ÔöÇ┬╝’chabÔö╝├àd] THE GLORY IS NOT, WHERE IS THE GLORY or INGLORIOUS. The posthumous son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli. His name commemorated a tragic crisis in Israel's history, namely, the great slaughter of the people, including Hophni and Phinehas, and the capture of the Ark by the Philistines. Such terrible calamity resulted in […]

“What should we learn from the life of Esther?”……Esther, the Jewish maiden, was taken from her familiar surroundings and the care of her beloved uncle, Mordecai, and placed in the palace to become one of the women who would be used to satisfy the sexual desires of the king. King Ahasuerus was the son of […]

Elisha His name means: “My God Saves” His work: Elisha was Elijah’s successor. A prophet and miracle worker active in the northern kingdom from 850-800 BC, his ministry involved rebuking Israel’s unfaithful kings, inaugurating a new royal line, and helping to sustain the faith of all those in Israel who believed in God. His character: […]