Theophory in the Bible
The word theophory[1] refers to 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. 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 amongst the Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of Baal.
- names referring to Yah, a shortened form of tetragrammaton
- names referring to Levantine deities (especially the storm god, Hadad) by the epithet Baal, meaning lord. In later times, as the conflict between the Mosaic law and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and Baal was replaced with Bosheth, meaning shameful one.
Notes on translating theophoric names
It is important to remember when translating Hebrew theophoric names (particularly those using the "[noun] of God" formula) that the "of" has varying meanings, depending on the name. For example, the translation of Iruel reads "Fear of God". This does not mean "God-fearing". "Feared by God", or even "a Fear belonging to God"; rather, it means "Fear (as in Fear incarnate) in the service of God".
El theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El and their meanings in Hebrew:
- Abdiel – Servant of God
- Abiel – God my Father
- Abimael – A Father sent from God
- Adbeel – Disciplined of God[2]
- Adiel – Witness of God
- Adirael – Magnificence of God
- Adriel – Flock of God
- Advachiel – Happiness of God
- Ambriel – Energy of God
- Ammiel – People of God
- Arael – Light of God or Vision of God
- Ariel, Auriel – Lion of God
- Armisael – Mountain of Judgment of God
- Asmodel – Greatness of God
- Axel – Peace of God
- Azael – Whom God Strengthens
- Azazel – God Strengthens or Arrogant to God
- Azrael – Help of God
- Barakiel, Baraquiel – Lightning of God
- Barbiel – Illumination of God
- Barchiel – Kindness of God or Ray of God
- Bardiel – Humiliated Son of God
- Bethel – House of God
- Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God
- Bithiel – Daughter of God
- Boel – God is in Him
- Camael – He who Sees God
- Castiel – My cover is God
- Chakel – Wisdom of God
- Chamuel – He who Seeks God
- Daniel – Judged by God or Judgement of God
- Elad – God Forever
- Eli – a variant on the name of God, or "my God"
- Eliana – My God Answers
- Elias, Elijah – Whose God is Jah, God Jah, The Strong[dubious – discuss] Jah, God of Jah, My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (Eli)-(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
- Ezequeel – Strength of God
- Ezrael – Help of God
- Gabriel, Gavriel – Man of God, God has shown Himself Mighty, Hero of God or Strong one of God
- Gaghiel – Roaring Beast of God
- Gamaliel – Reward of God
- Hamaliel – Grace of God
- Hanael – Glory of God
- Immanuel – God with us
- Iruel – Fear of God
- Ishmael, Ishamael – Heard by God, Named by God, or God Hearkens
- Yisrael – Struggles with God or Prince of God
- Jekuthiel – God will support
- Jezreel – God will sow
- Joel – Jah is God
- Lee-El, Lee-el, Leeel – For God
- Leliel – Jaws of God
- Lemuel – Dedicated to God
- Mahalalel – The blessed God, The shining light of God, or The glory of God
- Malahidael – King of God
- Matarael – Premonition of God
- Michael – Who is like God? a question
- Muriel – Fragrance of God
- Nathanael, Nathaniel – Given by God or God has Given or "Gift of God"
- Nemuel – Day of God
- Othniel – Hour of God
- Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – Face of God
- Priel – Fruit of God
- Ramiel – Thunder of God
- Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God
- Raziel – Secret of God
- Reuel – Friend of God
- Sachiel – Price of God or Covering of God
- Salatheel – I have asked God
- Sahaquiel – Ingenuity of God
- Samael – Venom of God
- Samiel – Blind God, epithet for Baal or the Demiurge
- Samuel – Name/Heard of God
- Sariel – Moon of God
- Satanael – Adversary of God
- Shamshel – Lonely Conqueror of God
- Shealtiel – I asked God [for this child]
- Suriel – Command of God
- Tamiel – Perfection of God
- Tarfiel – God Nourishes
- Tzaphquiel – Contemplation of God
- Uriel – Sun of God or Fire of God
- Uzziel Power from God
- Verchiel – Shining of God
- Za'afiel – Wrath of God
- Zadkiel – Righteousness of God
- Zagzagel – Splendor of God
- Zaphkiel – Knowledge of God
- Zeruel – Arm of God
- Zophiel – Beauty of God
False 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".
The name Jael also appears to refer to El in English, but contains ayin rather than than the aleph of El.
Shaddai theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Shaddai and their meanings in Hebrew:
- Zurishaddai – Shaddai is my rock
Yah theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Yah/Yahweh and their meanings in Hebrew:
- Abiah – Yahweh is my father
- Abijah – Yahweh is my father
- Abijam – Yam is my father (Yam is another name for Yah)
- Adaiah – ornament of Yahweh
- Adalia – Yahweh is just
- 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
- Athaliah – Yahweh is exalted
- Hananiah – Yahweh has given
- Hezekiah – Yahweh has strengthened
- Hodiah – The splendour of Yahweh
- Hodaviah – Give thanks to the Lord
- Isaiah – Salvation of the Lord
- Jabin – Son of Yahweh/Yahweh is a son
- Jekamiah – Yahweh raises
- Jeremiah – "Raised by YahwehYahweh exalts"Yahweh Appointed""Yahweh's Chosen"
- Joab – Yahweh is father
- Joel – Yahweh is El/God
- Jonathan – gift of Yahweh
- Josiah – supported of Yahweh
- Matityahu – Gift from Yah
- Neariah – Servant of Yahweh
- Nedabiah – Yahweh impels
- Obadiah – Yahweh's servant or worshiper
- Odelia – Thanks to Yah
- Pedaiah – Redemption of the Lord
- Pelatiah – Yah has delivered
- Pelaiah – Yah has distinguished
- Pelaliah – Yah has judged
- Pekahiah – Yah has observed
- Seraiah – Servant/prince of the Lord
- Shecaniah – One intimate with Yahweh
- Shephatiah – Judged of the Lord
- Yehoshua (Joshua, Jesus) – Yah saves"YAh is Savour" Yaweh is my Salvation"
- Zebadiah, Zabdi – Gift of Yahweh
- Zedekiah – justice of or righteous is Yahweh
- Zephaniah – Yahweh hides or protects
- Zechariah – Yahweh remembers
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:
- Baal – master; lord
- 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
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)):
- Ishbosheth, from Ishba'al, man of ba'al.
Hadad
Apart from oblique references to Hadad by means of the word ba'al, some theophory references him directly:
- Hadadezer - Hadad is my help
Others
- Asenappar - Ashur is creator of an heir
- Nebuchadnezzar - Nabu, preserve my firstborn son
- Sennacherib - Sin has replaced brothers
- Shalmaneser - Shulmanu is the best