Theophory is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a deity in, usually, a proper name.[ note 1] Hebrew theophory occurs in the Bible , particularly in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible ). 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 the 70 Sons of God , including Yahweh and 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
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 – Lion 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 GodLemuel – Dedicated to God Mahalalel – The blessed God , The shining light of God , or The glory of God Michael – Who is like God? a questionMishael – Who is what God is? a questionNathanael , 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 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 ayin rather than the aleph of El.
The name Eli ayin rather than aleph .
The name Rachel 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 Baalath Baalath-Beer Baal-berith Baale Baal-gad Gad , or lord of Gad , or lord of fortune/felicityBaal-hamon Baal-hanan Baal-hermon Baali Baalim Baalis Baal-meon Baal-Peor Baal-perazim Baal-shalisha Baal-tamar Baal-zebub Ba'al-zebul - lord of princes)Baal-zephon Jerub-baal
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 Adoni-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 heirBelshazzar Bel , protect the kingChedorlaomer Servant of Lagamar Nebuchadnezzar Nabu , preserve my firstborn sonSennacherib Sin has replaced brothersShalmaneser Shulmanu is the best
See also
Notes
^ From the Greek θεοφορία from θεοφόρος from Θεός "God" and φόρος "bearer" from φέρειν "to bear"; confer Φωσφόρος .
References
