Topical Bible: Children were Named: from Remarkable Events

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In biblical times, the naming of children often held significant meaning, reflecting circumstances surrounding their birth, prophetic insights, or divine interventions. Names were not merely identifiers but carried deep spiritual and cultural significance, often serving as a testament to God's actions or promises.

Isaac
Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, was named for the remarkable event of his birth, which was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Despite their advanced age, God assured Abraham that Sarah would bear a son. The name "Isaac" means "he laughs," reflecting both Abraham's initial laughter at the promise (Genesis 17:17) and Sarah's later joy. As recorded in Genesis 21:6 , Sarah declared, "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me."

Ichabod
The name Ichabod, meaning "the glory has departed," was given to the son of Phinehas, Eli's son, during a time of national tragedy for Israel. When the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines, and Eli's sons were killed, Phinehas' wife named her son Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4:21). This name encapsulated the despair and loss felt by Israel at the time.

Samuel
Hannah, the mother of Samuel, named her son in response to God's answer to her fervent prayers for a child. The name Samuel is often understood to mean "heard by God" or "asked of God," signifying Hannah's acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. In 1 Samuel 1:20 , it is noted, "So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I have asked for him from the LORD.'"

Benjamin
Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, was originally named Ben-Oni, meaning "son of my sorrow," by his dying mother. However, Jacob renamed him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand" or "son of the south," as recorded in Genesis 35:18 . This change reflected Jacob's desire to bestow a more positive and hopeful identity upon his son, despite the sorrowful circumstances of his birth.

Perez
The birth of Perez, one of the twin sons of Judah and Tamar, was marked by an unusual event. During childbirth, Perez's brother Zerah extended his hand first, but Perez ultimately emerged first. His name, meaning "breach" or "breakthrough," was given because he broke through ahead of his brother. Genesis 38:29 states, "But as he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, 'How you have broken out!' So he was named Perez."

Moses
Moses, the great leader and prophet of Israel, was named by Pharaoh's daughter who drew him out of the Nile River. The name Moses is derived from the Hebrew verb "mashah," meaning "to draw out." Exodus 2:10 recounts, "When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, 'I drew him out of the water.'"

These examples illustrate how names in the Bible often encapsulate significant events, divine interactions, or prophetic insights, serving as enduring reminders of God's presence and actions in the lives of His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 21:3,6
And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 18:13
And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 2:10
And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 18:3,4
And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Child-Life in Nazareth
... of the New Testament) was named his successor ... prejudices to overcome, before his
remarkable talents and ... But the children were gathered in the Synagogues, or in ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the child-life in.htm

Cambyses.
... probably, was the origin of the remarkable dream ... and beautiful captive princess in
his court named Nitetis ... and anguish on account of his children were too great ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter i cambyses.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... the connection in which it is named (1:13 ... The remarkable prophecy concerning the
Messiah's birth (chap.5 ... Egypt, also called Thebes, whose children were dashed in ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

The Princesses of the Comneni
... extraordinary intelligence, inexhaustible energy, remarkable political astuteness ...
had a son named Alexius, who ... her two illegitimate children were later captured ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/xiv the princesses of the.htm

The New Temple and Its Worship
... And the children of Israel, which were come again out ... deep truth that first in order
is named, as the ... in both clauses underscores, as it were, the remarkable ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the new temple and its.htm

The Founding of Herrnhut, 1722-1727.
... He named his house Bethel; his estate was his parish ... trust, Who knew their frames,
that they were dust, Pitied ... of Jesus and His Name, God's children all uniting ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter iii the founding of.htm

Women of the Frankish Church
... by the allegations of a servant named Taland, who was ... His children included several
girls, all beautiful; but for ... He considered that if they were united to the ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/viii women of the frankish.htm

Why Saul Became Paul
... death.' 'For as much as the children were partakers of ... here, at once, the fields
were white already to the ... Great conquerors have been named from their victories ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/why saul became paul.htm

In Judaea
... rose the castle which Herod had named after himself ... could assemble 6,000 men, women,
and children, in its ... most of the calves for sacrifices were brought from ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

How the Books were Written.
... and most valuable manuscripts among those named by Professor ... Godly lives there were
in all these dark times ... truth and love in the characters of his children. ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xii how the books.htm