Have you ever looked up the meaning of your name? Over the past several years, the most common names for baby girls are Olivia and Emma. Olivia means “ancestor’s descendant,” and Emma means “universal.” The most common name for baby boys is Liam and Noah. Liam means “with gilded helmet,” and Noah means “rest or peace.” I am not sure if parents are paying too much attention to the meaning of these names.
Many of us start thinking about what we’ll name our future children when we’re still children ourselves. There is a lot that goes into choosing a name. Maybe it is the name of a favorite sports player or an inspiring book character. Perhaps it is the name of a favorite relative or even a geographical location. The fascination with names reflects the fact that names carry weight. Historically, especially in the Bible, names are significant. God names the first human “Adam,” likely derived from the Hebrew word for “ground” and reminding us that Adam was created from dust. When God told the 100-year-old Abraham and his 90-year-old wife, Sarah, that they would give birth to a son, they both laughed (Genesis 17:17). Sarah went on to give birth to a son and named him Isaac, which means “laughter.” Even the name Jesus is steeped in symbolism meaning “savior” and “deliverer.”
Many Bible scholars consider Philippians 2:5-11 to be a poem describing the nature of Christ and His act of redemption. The first four verses speak of Christ’s humanity. Verse seven is an important verse when it comes to Christology as it speaks of the kenosis or Christ’s self-emptying of Himself. Verse nine transitions to speak of Christ’s deity and highlights the significance of His name, the name which is above every name. There is coming a day when every knee will bow to the name of Jesus. There is coming a day when every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Hopefully, you have already done this. If not, why not today?
- Do you know why your parents gave you the name they gave you? What is the meaning of your name?
- Why do you think names carry such significance in the Bible? What is an example of someone’s name that God changed in the Bible? What led to their name being changed?
- How does it make you feel knowing that one day every knee will bow at the name of Jesus, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord?
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