Biblical Scripture and Names Study Guide
 
There are many texts in the Bible that deal with names or the process of naming.  This guide is to help individuals, groups, or congregations explore the process of naming as documented in the Bible.  Please contact us with any reflections or insights that you might have.

  1. Look up the following biblical passages.
  2. Discuss the significance of each text in relation to names and naming
  3. Discuss how these biblical stories might inform or relate to the conversation about our denominational name.

You’ll notice that many of the passages come from Genesis. Genesis highlights the tradition of honoring significant moments, births and places with special names. These texts are useful for considering the significance of names and naming.
  • Genesis 16:1-15 (Story of Hagar. She names God "El-roi," which means "God of seeing" or "God who sees," and names the place of her encounter with God "Beer-lahai-roi," which means the "Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.")
  • Genesis 17:1-8 (the story of God naming Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, and the naming of Isaac, which means, "he laughs.")
  • Genesis 21:25-34 (naming of Beer-sheba, which means "well of the oath.")
  • Genesis 28:16-22 (the naming of the Bethel, which means, "the house of God.")
  • Genesis 33:22-32 (Story of Jacob wrestling with the angel at the Jabbok river. At the end of the encounter, Jacob is given the name of "Israel")
  • Genesis 30:22-24 and 35:1620 (The stories of Rachel naming of her two children: Joseph, which means "He adds" and Ben-oni, which means "Son of my sorrow." Jacob calls their second son, Benjamin, which means "Son of the right hand," or "Son of the South."
  • Ecclesiastes 7:1a (wisdom saying)
  • Luke 2:21 (the naming of Jesus)
  • John 2:35-42 (the naming of Peter/Cephas, which means "the rock")
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