Lexical Summary onomazó: To name, to call, to give a name to, to mention Original Word: ὀνομάζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance call, name. From onoma; to name, i.e. Assign an appellation; by extension, to utter, mention, profess -- call, name. see GREEK onoma NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom onoma Definition to name, to give a name NASB Translation derives its name (1), name (1), named (5), names (1), so-called (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3687: ὀνομάζωὀνομάζω; 1 aorist ὠνόμασα; passive, present ὀνομάζομαι; 1 aorist ὠνομασθην; (ὄνομα); from Homer down; to name (cf. Winers Grammar, 615 (572)); a. τό ὄνομα, to name i. e. to utter: passive Ephesians 1:21; τοῦ κυρίου (Rec. Χριστοῦ), the name of the Lord (Christ) namely, as his Lord, 2 Timothy 2:19 (the Sept. for יְהוָה שֵׁם הִזְכִּיר, to make mention of the name of Jehovah in praise, said of his worshippers, Isaiah 26:13; Amos 6:10); τό ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ ἐπί τινα, Acts 19:13, see ἐπί, C. I. 1 c., p. 234{b} middle b. τινα, with a proper or an appellative name as predicate accusative, to name, i. e. give name to, one: Luke 6:13f; passive to be named, i. e. bear the name of, 1 Corinthians 5:11; ἐκ with the genitive of the one from whom the received name is derived, Ephesians 3:15 (Homer Iliad 10, 68; Xenophon, mem. 4, 5, 12). c. τινα or τί, to utter the name of a person or thing: ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός, of the lands into which the knowledge of Christ has been carried, Romans 15:20 (1 Macc. 3:9); ὀνομάζεσθαι of things which are called by their own name because they are present or exist (as opposed to those which are unheard of), 1 Corinthians 5:1 Rec.; Ephesians 5:3. (Compare: ἐπονομάζω.) More than a label, naming in biblical thought conveys identity, assigns purpose, and acknowledges authority. Wherever the verb appears, it marks a decisive moment when reality is defined before God and people. Divine Initiative in Naming Jesus “designated” the Twelve (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13–14), a sovereign act that established both their identity and their mission. In cosmic scope, the Father is the One “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15), anchoring every lineage in His creative and redemptive intention. Authority Conferred through Naming When the Twelve are named, they are simultaneously commissioned “to be sent out to preach” (Mark 3:14). The same dynamic underlies Ephesians 1:21, where Christ is exalted “far above… every name that is named.” To name Christ is to confess His supremacy; to be named by Him is to receive delegated authority. Missionary Strategy and Unreached Peoples Paul writes, “I have been eager to preach the gospel where Christ was not named” (Romans 15:20). The verb sets the agenda for pioneer evangelism: take the Name to those who have never heard it, so they too may come under His saving lordship. Spiritual Warfare and Invocation of Names Acts 19:13 records itinerant exorcists who try to “invoke the name of the Lord Jesus” without belonging to Him. The attempt fails, revealing that spiritual authority accompanies genuine relationship, not mere formula. The Church must wield the Name with faith, not superstition. Holiness and What Must Not Be Named “Among you… there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality” (Ephesians 5:3). Certain sins are not to be “named” in the sense of being tolerated or normalized within the fellowship. 1 Corinthians 5:11 reinforces this boundary, refusing the label “brother” to the unrepentant. Covenant Identity and Perseverance “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). Confession and conduct are inseparable; naming the Lord demands a life that mirrors His holiness. Eschatological Supremacy of Christ’s Name Christ reigns “far above… every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). No future power will eclipse Him; His Name is eternally unrivaled. Historical and Ministry Significance • Worship and baptism revolve around His Name. Practical Applications 1. Advance frontier missions where Christ is not yet named. Summary Strong’s 3687 threads through the New Testament as a vibrant theology of naming. It defines identity, bestows authority, propels mission, demands holiness, and magnifies the unrivaled supremacy of Jesus Christ—“the Name that is above every name.” Englishman's Concordance Mark 3:14 V-AIA-3SGRK: καὶ ἀποστόλους ὠνόμασεν ἵνα ὦσιν INT: and apostles he calls that they might be Luke 6:13 V-AIA-3S Luke 6:14 V-AIA-3S Acts 19:13 V-PNA Romans 15:20 V-AIP-3S 1 Corinthians 5:11 V-PPM/P-NMS Ephesians 1:21 V-PPM/P-GNS Ephesians 3:15 V-PIM/P-3S Ephesians 5:3 V-PMM/P-3S 2 Timothy 2:19 V-PPA-NMS Strong's Greek 3687 |
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