Names

My name is Shantra. Fortunately, I have some creative parents who really liked another name similar to the one that I have- they just decided to change it a bit. Everyone always asks, “What does it mean?” Depending on how I’m feeling that day, my answers vary. Sometimes I’m named after a fun- perky girl who used to work at KFC and sometimes it means Greek Goddess or Princess… sometimes it means both.

Names in the Old Testament period and early New Testament (from approx. 3975 BC- 33 AD) were given to someone or something as a way of declaring one’s power over the person or object being named. In other words, it was a way to identify somebody/ something & their relationship with the one who gives the name

Example:
Adam names all the animals (Gen 2:19)
Adam names his wife Eve (Gen 3:20)
David takes a city and gives it his name (2 Sam 12:28)

Women would take a man and seek his name, therefore acquiring his protection & authority (Isa. 4:1) “For seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach!”

In Gen. 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds o the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth”

Some suggest that this was not a passage only explaining dominion over them by act of naming but through the act, discover what impression they would make upon him and how he would record them in relation to himself.

“To call over” something declares you belong to him. Therefore, you are under his protection and care.
(2 Chron. 7:14, Isa. 63:19, Jer. 14:9, Gen 32:24-30, 2 Sam. 12:28, Ps. 49:11, Isa. 4:1)

2 Chron. 7:13-14 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”

Some say that the reason for God not revealing his name was due to the fact that whoever knew his name would possess the secret of His character and therefore have access to the power in which he possesses. This is interesting to me. Also, when speaking in His name, it meant that it was spoken under God’s inspiration and with his authority. Mt. 7:22, Lk 10:17, Mk 9:39, Acts 4:7-10) FYI- Baptizing in the name of Jesus means agreeing that Jesus has dominion over him/ her. The name of Yahweh was named over Israel with a result leading to Israel becoming His people.

Mt. 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?

Lk 10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord even the demons are subject to us in Your name”

Last but not least, name and reputation are used synonymously (Mk 6:14, Lk 6:22, Phil 2:9, Rev. 3:1).

Mark 6:14 And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.

Phil 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name

More Interesting facts:
On praying in Jesus’ name Jn 14:13, 15:16 is to ask as a representative on earth. Names were not chosen before a baby was born, but after. A name change signified a relationship status change or a change in circumstances.