Theophory is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a deity in, usually, a proper name. Much Hebrew theophory occurs in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). The most prominent theophory involves names referring to: El, a word meaning might, power and (a) god in general, and hence in Judaism, God and among the Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of Baal. Yah/Jah, a shortened form of Yahweh/Jahweh, the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יהוה). They are also known as Yahveh/Jahveh and Yehovah/Jehovah. Levantine deities (especially the storm god, Hadad) by the epithet baal, meaning lord. In later times, as the conflict between Yahwism and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and baal was replaced with bosheth, meaning "shame".
El theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El (אל) and their meanings in Hebrew:
Abdiel – Servant of God Abiel – God my Father Abimael – A Father sent from God Adbeel – Disciplined of God"Adbeel" retrieved from "Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon" Adiel – Witness of God Adriel – Flock of God Ammiel – People of God Ariel, Auriel – Lion of God Azael – Whom God Strengthens Azazel – God Strengthens or Arrogant to God Azrael – Help of God Barachel – Blessed of God Bethel – House of God Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God Daniel – Judged by God or Judgement of God Elead – God Forever Eliana – My God Answers Elijah – My God is Jah Elisha – Salvation of God Elishama – My God Hears Elishua – God is my salvation Eliezer – My God Helps Elimelech – My God is King Elizabeth – My God is Oath Elkanah – God has Possessed, or God has Created Emmanuel – God is with us Ezekiel – God will Strengthen Gabriel – Man of God, God has shown Himself Mighty, Hero of God or Strong one of God Gamaliel – Reward of God Hanniel – Glory of God Immanuel – God with us Ishmael – Heard by God, Named by God, or God Hearkens Israel, Yisrael – Struggles with God or Prince of God Jekuthiel – God will support Jerahmeel – God's exaltation Jezreel – God will sow Joel – Jah is God Lemuel – Dedicated to God Mahalalel – The blessed God, The shining light of God, or The glory of God Michael – Who is like God? a question Mishael – Who is what God is? a question Nathanael, Nathaniel – Given by God or God has Given or "Gift of God" Nemuel – Day of God Nuriel – Fire of God or Light of God Othniel – Hour of God Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – Face of God Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God Reuel – Friend of God Samuel – Name/Heard of God Shealtiel – I asked God [for this child] Uriel – Sun of God, Light of God or Fire of God Uzziel – Power from God
Incorrect El theophory The name Abel (), which appears to refer to El, in fact is not an instance of theophory. Abel can be translated as "breath", "temporary" or "meaninglessness" and is the word translated as "vanity" in in the King James Version. The name Jael/Yael (; pronounced or ) also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than the aleph of El. The name Eli () also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than aleph. The name Rachel () also appears to refer to El in English, but contains chet.
Yahweh theophory The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Yah/Jah (יה) and their meanings in Hebrew:
Prefix theophors
Jehoiachin – Yahweh is firmly established Jehoiada – Yahweh knows Jehoshaphat – Yahweh is judge Jehosheba – Yahweh is my oath Jehozadak – Righteous is Yahweh Joab – Yahweh is father John – Yahweh is gracious Jonathan – gift of Yahweh Jochebed – Yahweh is glory Joel – Yahweh is El/God Joshua – Yahweh saves/is (my) Saviour/Salvation or Yahweh is lordly (Niqqud dependent)
Suffix theophors Abiah – Yahweh is my father Abijah – Yahweh is my father (2 Chron. 13:3) Adaiah – ornament of Yahweh Adonijah – my lord is Yahweh Ahaziah – vision of Yahweh Ahiah – brother of Yahweh Ahijah – brother of Yahweh Amariah – Yahweh says; integrity of Yahweh Amaziah – strength of Yahweh Ananiah – Protected by Yah Athaliah – Yahweh is exalted Azariah – Yahweh has helped Bathiah – Daughter of Yah Bealiah – Yahweh is LordOrr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "Bealiah" (1915). Dodavah(u) – Beloved of Yahweh Elijah – My God is Yah Hananiah – Yahweh is gracious Gedaliah – Yahweh is great Hezekiah – Yahweh has strengthened Hodaviah/Hodiah – Give thanks to Yahweh, The splendour of Yahweh Isaiah – Salvation of Yahweh Isshiah – Yahweh exists Jeconiah – Yahweh has firmly established Jedaiah – Yah knows Jedidiah – Beloved of Yah Jehiah – Yahweh lives Jekamiah – Yahweh raises Jeremiah – Yah exalts Jeshaiah – Salvation of Yahweh Josiah – supported of Yahweh Malchijah – Yahweh is king Micaiah – Who is like Yahweh Matityahu – Gift from Yah Neariah – Servant of Yahweh Nedabiah – Yahweh impels Nehemiah – Yah comforts Nethaniah – gift of Yahweh Obadiah – Yahweh's servant or worshiper Pedaiah – Redemption of Yahweh Pelatiah – Yah has delivered Pelaiah – Yah has distinguished Pelaliah – Yah has judged Pekahiah – Yah has observed Reaiah – Yahweh has seen Rephaiah – Yah has healed Seraiah – Servant/prince of Yahweh Shecaniah – One intimate with Yahweh Shephatiah – Judged of Yahweh Toviah – Good of Yahweh or Yahweh is Good Uriah – My light is Yahweh Uzziah – Yahweh is my strength Zebadiah, Zabdi – Gift of Yahweh Zechariah – Yah has remembered Zedekiah – justice of or righteous is Yahweh Zephaniah – Yahweh hides or protects
Baal theophory Ba'al is a generic term meaning master; it can also be translated "Lord". In the Bible, it is frequently a reference to Hadad, although it is sometimes used to refer to other specific deities, including Yahweh, and on other occasions is used to refer to an arbitrary lord of this area.
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Ba'al, and their meanings in Hebrew:
Baalah – her lord; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse Baalath – a rejoicing; our proud lord Baalath-Beer – subjected pit Baal-berith – lord of the covenant Baale – same as Baalath Baal-gad – lord Gad, or lord of Gad, or lord of fortune/felicity Baal-hamon – he who rules a crowd Baal-hanan – Ba'al is gracious Baal-hermon – lord of destruction / of a cursed-thing Baali – my lord; lord over me Baalim – lords; masters; (later Jewish use: false gods) Baalis – a rejoicing/proud lord Baal-meon – lord/master of the house Baal-Peor – master of Peor; master of the opening Baal-perazim – lord of divisions Baal-shalisha – the lord that presides over three; the third idol Baal-tamar – master of the palm-tree Baal-zebub – lord of the fly (satirical corruption of Ba'al-zebul - lord of princes) Baal-zephon – the lord/possession of the north/hidden/secret Jerub-baal – the lord contends Eth-baal – with Baal
Bosheth In later biblical and Jewish writing, some of the theophories in Ba'al were bowdlerised, with ba'al replaced by bosheth ((the) shameful (thing)): Ish-bosheth, from Ishba'al, man of ba'al. Josheb-basshebeth, seemingly a corruption of the preceding form Jerubbeshet, from Jerubbaal "Ba'al contends" Mephibosheth, from Mephibaal "from the mouth of Ba'al"
Shaddai theophory The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Shaddai and their meanings in Hebrew: Zurishaddai – Shaddai is my rock
Yam theophory Yam is the Canaanite god of the Sea.
Abijam – My father is Yam (1 Kgs. 14:31)
Zedek theophory Zedek (or Sydyk or Sedek) was the name of a Phoenician deity worshiped in Canaan. In Hebrew, "tzedek" (from the root tz-d-k) means "righteous", but Tzedek as a proper noun is the name of the planet Jupiter.
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Zedek, and their meanings in Hebrew:
Melchi-zedek – My king is Zedek Adoni-zedek – My lord is Zedek
Hadad theophory Apart from oblique references to Hadad by means of the word ba'al, some theophory references him directly: Hadadezer – Hadad is my help Ben-hadad – Son of Hadad
Nabu theophory Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom, is featured in several names within the Bible:
Nebosarsekim – Nabu, protect the prince Nebuchadrezzar – Nabu, preserve the heir, mocked as Nebuchadnezzer – Nabu, preserve the donkey Nebuzaradan – Nabu has given a seed
Assur theophory Assur, or Ashur, was the national god of the Assyrian people:
Asenappar – Assur is creator of an heir Esar-Haddon – Assur has given me a brother Osnappar – Assur is the creator of the heir
Others Barkos – Son of Qos Belshazzar – Bel, protect the king Chedorlaomer – Servant of Lagamar Sennacherib – Sin has replaced brothers Shalmaneser – Shulmanu is the best
See also List of Biblical names
Notes
References