Click here for the method of decoding names code
(Also see the Name-Code's acrostic)
The
meaning of a name was considered very important in bible days. Sometimes the
bible itself informs the reader what a name means. Such renowned persons as
Adam, Cain, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (and all 12 sons), Perez, Peleg
and Jesus all have the meaning of their name explicitly given in the bible.
Their names tell the story of why or how they were born. Some
students of the bible have wondered whether these names (with their meanings)
might not be strung together in succession to tell some larger story. For if
the meaning of these names do indeed tell a story then this would imply that
God Himself arranged these names providentially throughout the ages. This
would help prove that the genealogy of Christ is of divine origin in spite
the tacit denials by such popular books as "The Da Vinci Code". Already
there have been attempts to string together the first 10 names in the bible
from Adam to Noah. In general, this is what the first 10 names of the bible
can read when each name is rendered one after the other in succession. "A
man is appointed, a man of sorrow. The Blessed God shall come down teaching
that His death shall bring the grieving rest." But
some of the meanings of these first 10 names in the genealogy of Christ
remain in doubt. And regrettably, this is true also of the next 10 names from
Noah to Abraham. But all is not lost. Fortunately, the next 40 names after
that, as recorded in Matthew's genealogy of Abraham to Jesus, are reasonably
certain. And the meaning of these latter 40 names supports the renderings of
the first 20 names. A
fascinating prophecy emerges when all 60 names from Adam to Jesus are
sequentially read. In the following reading, several names omitted in
Matthew's genealogy are here added, and when one person has more than one name
all names are used. Also, the genealogy of Cain's line (who eventually
perished in the flood of Noah) are also added here. Moreover,
recently another type of bible code was discovered within the first 20 names
of this same genealogy of Christ. The first letter of each consecutive name
from Adam to Abraham in the original Hebrew forms an acrostic prophecy. It is
clear by the what this prophecy reads that it is intended to be affixed to
the Meaning-of-Names Code. (The acrostic bible prophecy will be examined
separately in the second part of this study.) The
words in brackets have been added as an aid to help identify the historic
time period in which a particular name (with its meaning) refers to as the
genealogical code scrolls down from Adam to Christ. Simplified Rendering
of the
|
|
e |
d |
c |
b |
a |
A |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
|
Increase of fame |
Praise |
State of safety vs prayer for
help |
Trial, healing, resurrection |
Taking hold of strength |
"Mighty is the Lord!" |
Taking hold of strength |
Trial, healing, resurrection |
State of safety vs prayer for
help |
Praise |
Increase of fame |
Names follow the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew (ch. 1)
coupled with Gen. 5, 11, (Luke 3); which in turn is mainly taken directly
from the Old Testament records. Exceptions are noted.
(Luke
has 77 names ---the number
of forgiveness --- from Jesus to Adam "the son of
God". The names after David differ from that of Matthew's genealogy
due to another method of tracing the lineage of Jesus.)
Matthew
has 60 names from Adam to Jesus if we complete it back to Adam, and 65
if the extra 4 or 5 names are added that Matthew purposely left out for
numeric reasons.
We
have numbered the following according to Matthew's reckoning.
This represents the most complete list of names that the bible records.
#
|
Names
|
Literal meaning of names
"And", "but",
"of", "the", "is/are" are included in the
meaning as mere connector words. Other additions are bracketed. |
Notes and Possible Meanings
(The notes concentrate on the more
difficult meanings. |
|
0 |
God |
The God- |
"God", (from the word meaning, "to be
strong/mighty"). Luke's genealogy begins with Jesus as the son of
God" (Luke 3:22), and ends with "Adam, who was the son of
God". (Luke 3:38.) |
|
1 |
Adam |
Man |
"Man"; "Mankind" (Comes from the
word meaning, "to be red", as in the red earth [or red blood?]) |
|
2 |
Seth |
is appointed; |
"Appointed"; "placed";
"put". |
|
3 |
Enosh |
A mortal man of |
"Man"; "mortal/frail man". |
|
4 |
Kenan |
sorrow. |
“Possession”; "owner"; "spearman";
"smith"; but sounds like, and may be related to the word for a
'dirge' or a 'wailing chant', hence "sorrow". (See #12a. Also see
endnotes for names as puns.) |
|
5 |
Mahalalel |
The Glory of God |
“The Praise of God”; "The Fame of God";
"The Glory of God". (The messiah is "the Glory and Praise of
God", Heb. 1.) Note the contrast of the fame/Glory of God here with
the fame of Babylon in #11-12. Also, #5-10 is being contrasted with #11-15. |
|
6 |
Jared |
shall come down |
“Coming down". (See note #25.) |
|
7 |
Enoch |
instructing that |
“Initiated”; "dedicated". Strongs says,
"A primitive root; properly to narrow; figuratively to initiate or
discipline: - dedicate, train up." |
|
8 |
Methuselah |
His death shall bring |
“Man of the missile/dart”; "His death shall
bring". The latter reading is the more sure (though not according to
etymology) in that "His death brought" the flood; that is,
Methuselah died just months before the flood. Nevertheless, even the name
"Man of the dart/spear" perhaps suggests the type of death that
Messiah would die, for "He was pierced for our transgressions,"
(Isa. 53). Also compare Methuselah to his ungodly counterpart, Methushael,
which can mean, "His death is of God," or, "A Man who is of
God". (See next chart and also endnotes.) The two similar sounding names help
decipher the intended meaning in the code because in both lists the idea of
"His death" is present and fits the context. |
|
9 |
Lamech |
those sinking down in despair |
"Grieving", "poor"; "the
strikerdown"; "the wildman"; "a strong youth";
"powerful". These are all possible meanings, but none are certain.
What is for sure, however, is that the name sounds like the Hebrew phrase,
"Lamoch", meaning, "To sink down in despair", and so it
is rendered here. (Also see endnotes for
names as puns.) |
|
10 |
Noah |
comfort/rest. |
"Rest"; "to comfort". |
|
11 |
Shem |
The fame of |
"Fame", "Name". |
|
12 |
Arphaxad |
the stronghold of Babylon and its boundary --- but I will make Babylon sink
down and fade away! --- |
"Stronghold of Babylon"; "Boundary of
Babylon"; "Wall of Babylon"; "(City of) Ur of
Babylonia/Chalidees" "Healer/Releaser". Sounds like,
"I will abandon Babylon"; or, "I will make Babylon
sink down/fade away", or, "He cursed the breast". This is a key
name, and nearly all the
possible meanings fit well and have been included. While there are several
different possibilities, there is increasing agreement among scholars that
the name refers to Babylon in some way. (See endnote
quoting from "The Jewish Encyclopedia" concerning its connection
with Babylon.) This line of names that reads, "The fame and/of the
stronghold/boundary of Babylon extends beyond the border/divide," ends
with Peleg and this is also where the genealogy branches out into the
period of the tower of Babel. Babel is also where they sought to make a
"name" (fame) for themselves. Therefore, perhaps the
"stronghold of Babylon," is just another name for the "tower
of Babel" in Babylon. (Or may read, "I will make Babylon
sink down/fade away!") I believe both are intended as a play on words,
and this is reflected in the code. (Also see endnotes
for names as puns. See note in #20.) |
|
a |
Cainan(?) |
and sorrow |
“Possession”; "owner"; "spearman";
"smith"; but sounds like, and may be related to the word for a
'dirge' or a 'wailing chant', hence "sorrow". (See #4. Also see endnotes for names as puns.) Gospel of Luke (ch. 3:36) follows the
LXX version that adds the name Cainan between Arphaxad and Shelah. Though
almost certainly a textual error in the LXX (a repeating of #4), yet
because Luke used it so have we. However, the names code can read fine
without it. |
|
13 |
Shelah |
extend like a plant |
"To sprout"; "send";
"extend". |
|
14 |
Eber |
beyond the region |
"The region beyond", "The other
side" (of the river Euphrates), Gen. 11:31. |
|
15 |
Peleg |
of division (at the tower of Babel). |
"Division"; "watercourse";
"water channel"; "divide". Peleg is a play on words for
many things here, including the division at Babylon, Gen. 11:9. Perhaps it
is also subtle reference to the Euphrates river which acts as a border for
Babylon? (See previous name.) At any rate, the name carries with it the
idea of a divider and division (as at Babel) and is reflected in the
translation of Eber and Peleg when keeping in mind the events at the time
of Peleg. |
|
16 |
Reu |
A friend |
"Friend". |
|
17 |
Serug |
(also) branches out, |
"Branch of a vine"; See Gen. 40:10,12. (The
word denotes intertwining vine branches.) |
|
18 |
Nahor |
snorting |
"Snorting"; "snoring". (As a verb it
is found twice in the bible. Both times it refers to the intense snorting of
a horse. Job 39:20; Jer. 8:16.) In the context of the code it is understood
as 'an undaunted determination stemming from fury' since the flaring of the
nostrils is also associated with anger in Hebrew. See next name.) (See #19.
For "blast of nostrils" see notes #25.) |
|
19 |
Terah |
with fury! (lit., "when breathing!") |
"To breathe"; "scent";
"blow". This name is uncertain, but one possible meanings is,
"to breathe hard", and this connects well with the previous name
so that together we have the imagery of a wild horse 'snorting in anger'.
(See #18. For "blast of nostrils" see notes #25.) |
|
20 |
Abram/ Abraham |
The glorious father --- the father of a great multitude
--- |
"Exalted father". Abram had his name changed
to Abraham, meaning, "Father of a great multitude"; "Father
of many". It is interesting that both names here are Babylonian, since
Abram was called out of Babylon. Some scholars believe that Abraham derived
its meaning more by what it sounded like to Hebrew ears rather than actual
etymology. Some suggest that the actual etymology for Abraham means, “he
loves the (his) father,” but that it only sounded like, "Father of a
multitude" to Hebrew-speaking people. (International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.) But rather than speculate, we have gone by what the bible
expressly says in Gen. 17:5, "Neither shall thy name any more be
called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many
nations have I made thee." Nevertheless, this is likely another
example of how some names have their meaning, not in their true etymology,
but rather in what the name would sound like to the Hebrew ear. (Also see endnotes for names as puns.) Some of the names
before Abraham are also Babylonian, and this methodology for deriving a
name's meaning appears to be the case for a few of these names, such as
Arphaxad and Cainan. |
|
21 |
Isaac |
laughs (triumphantly) |
“He laughs”; "Laughter"; "He mocks".
(The word implied a triumphant laugh, especially in the context of the code.
God is mocking his enemy. |
|
22 |
Jacob/ Israel |
as He outwits (his enemy)! A mighty one struggles (in
prayer)! A righteous Prince sees God! |
Jacob/Israel are difficult to decode. There are several valid
layers of meaning in both Jacob and Israel that the bible itself alludes
to. All are intended! But this complexity is fitting considering the
importance of these names, for both names represent the nation to
which the code speaks, as well as the person. (See note for #58.) I have
used the compilation of each name, that is, a composite meaning that
attempts to capture the several meanings. Jacob: "He holds back";
"he takes the heel"; "One who follows on another's
heels" figuratively meaning, "A deceiver"; "He will
deceive". In the context of the bible in keeping with the context of
this code it seems to mean, "he outwits", or, "he
outmaneuvers". The name may also mean, "He will recompense";
"He will reward"; "He will keep guard over"; "He
will protect". (Jacob is likely a shortened form of, Jacobel (יעקבאל), meaning, "God will
reward/recompense"; "God will keep guard over". ISBE.) Jacob had his name changed to Israel.
However, like Jacob, the name can means several things, and the bible
appears to use each meaning. Israel can mean "One who wrestles with
God", "God/Mighty-one will fight"; "Let God
contend"; "God prevails"; or, "A prince with God".
"God will rule as a prince"; "He will rule as God".
(The key Hebrew word here, sara, can mean both a 'prince' or "to
fight". Compare Jacob/Israel to Abraham's wife. She had her name
changed from Sari, meaning "to struggle/fight," to Sarah,
meaning, "Princess", Gen. 17:15.) Also it may be related to or
sounds like, "A man sees God". {From איש ish,
a man, (the א aleph
being dropped), and ראה raah,
he saw, אל el,
God. (Clark's Commentary.) Moreover, this agrees with what Jacob said at
the place he wrestled, "I have seen God..." Gen. 32:30.} It is interesting that the names' Jacob
and Israel are applied to the Lord in the code because the same is implied
in Gen. 32:29 when Jacob asks what the Lord's name, the One who was
"wrestling/fighting" with him. The name(s) given to Jacob are
really God's own name(s)! (See Ps. 18:26, "With the pure Thou showest
Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler", YLT.) Gen. 32:25-27 "And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he said, Jacob." Gen. 32:28-30 "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked [him], and said, Tell [me], I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore [is] it [that] thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God |