View source for Theophory in the Bible

{{Short description|none}}
[[Theophory]] is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a [[deity]] in, usually, a proper name.{{NoteTag|From the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] θεοφορία from θεοφόρος from Θεός "God" and φόρος "bearer" from φέρειν "to bear"; confer [[wikt:Φωσφόρος|Φωσφόρος]].}} Much [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] theophory occurs in the [[Bible]], particularly in the [[Old Testament]] ([[Hebrew Bible]]). The most prominent theophory involves names referring to:
* [[El (deity)|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|Yah/Jah]], a shortened form of [[Yahweh|Yahweh/Jahweh]], the pronunciation of the [[Tetragrammaton]] YHWH (יהוה). 
**They are also known as [[Yahveh|Yahveh/Jahveh]] and [[Yehovah|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==
{{anchor|El theophory}}
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El (אל) and their meanings in Hebrew:

:[[Abdiel]] &ndash; ''Servant of God''
:[[Abiel]] &ndash; ''God my Father''
:[[Abimael]] &ndash; ''A Father sent from God''
:[[Adbeel]] &ndash; ''Disciplined of God''<ref>[http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=adbeel "Adbeel"] retrieved from [http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html "Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon"]</ref>
:[[Adiel]] &ndash; ''Witness of God''
:[[Adriel]] &ndash; ''Flock of God''
:[[Ammiel]] &ndash; ''People of God''
:[[Ariel (angel)|Ariel]], Auriel &ndash; ''Lion of God''
:[[Azael]] &ndash; ''Whom God Strengthens''
:[[Azazel]] &ndash; ''God Strengthens'' or ''Arrogant to God''
:[[Azrael]] &ndash; ''Help of God''
:[[Barachel, father of Elihu|Barachel]] &ndash; ''Blessed of God''
:[[Bethel]] &ndash; ''House of God''
:[[Betzalel]] &ndash; ''Shadow/Path of God''
:[[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]] &ndash; ''Judged by God'' or ''Judgement of God''
:[[Elead]] &ndash; ''God Forever''
:[[Eliana]] &ndash; ''My God Answers''
:[[Elijah]] &ndash; ''My God is Jah''
:[[Elisha]] &ndash; ''Salvation of God''
:[[Elishama ben Ammihud|Elishama]] &ndash; ''My God Hears''
:[[Elishua]] &ndash; ''God is my salvation''
:[[Eliezer]] &ndash; ''My God Helps''
:[[Elimelech]] &ndash; ''My God is King''
:[[Elizabeth (given name)|Elizabeth]] &ndash; ''My God is Oath''
:[[Elkanah]] &ndash; ''God has Possessed'', or ''God has Created''
:[[Emmanuel]] &ndash; ''God is with us''
:[[Ezekiel]] &ndash; ''God will Strengthen''
:[[Gabriel]] &ndash; ''Man of God'', ''God has shown Himself Mighty'', ''Hero of God'' or ''Strong one of God''
:[[Gamaliel]] &ndash; ''Reward of God''
:[[Hanniel]] &ndash; ''Glory of God''
:[[Immanuel]] &ndash; ''God with us''
:[[Ishmael]] &ndash; ''Heard by God'', ''Named by God'', or ''God Hearkens''
:[[Jacob|Israel, Yisrael]] &ndash; ''Struggles with God'' or ''Prince of God''
:[[Jekuthiel]] &ndash; ''God will support''
:[[Jerahmeel]] &ndash; ''God's exaltation''
:[[Jezreel (city)|Jezreel]] &ndash; ''God will sow''
:[[Joel (prophet)|Joel]] &ndash; ''[[Jah]] is God''
:[[Lemuel (biblical king)|Lemuel]] &ndash; ''Dedicated to God''
:[[Mahalalel]] &ndash; ''The blessed God'', ''The shining light of God'', or ''The glory of God''
:[[Michael (given name)|Michael]] &ndash; ''Who is like God?'' a question
:[[Mishael]] &ndash; ''Who is what God is?'' a question
:[[Nathanael]], [[Nathaniel]] &ndash; ''Given by God'' or ''God has Given'' or "Gift of God"
:[[Nemuel]] &ndash; ''Day of God''
:[[Nuriel]] &ndash; ''Fire of God'' or ''Light of God''
:[[Othniel]] &ndash; ''Hour of God''
:[[Peniel (biblical)|Peniel]], [[Penuel]], Phanuel &ndash; ''Face of God''
:[[Raphael (angel)|Raphael]] &ndash; ''God is Healing'' or ''Healing one of God''
:[[Reuel]] &ndash; ''Friend of God''
:[[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]] &ndash; ''Name/Heard of God''
:[[Shealtiel]] &ndash; ''I asked God [for this child]''
:[[Uriel]] &ndash; ''Sun of God'', ''Light of God'' or ''Fire of God''
:[[Uzziel]] &ndash; ''Power from God''

===Incorrect El theophory===
* The name ''[[Abel]]'' ({{Langx|he|{{Script/Hebr|הֶבֶל}}|Hébel}}), 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 {{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:2|KJV}} in the King James Version. 
* The name ''[[Jael]]/Yael'' ({{langx|he|{{Script/Hebr|יָעֵל}}|Yāʿēl}}; pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|eɪ|əl}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|eɪ|əl}}) also appears to refer to El in English, but contains [[ayin]] rather than the [[aleph]] of El.
* The name ''[[Eli (Bible)|Eli]]'' ({{Hebrew Name|{{Script/Hebr|עֵלִי}}|ʿElī|ʿĒlī}}) also appears to refer to El in English, but contains [[ayin]] rather than [[aleph]].
* The name ''[[Rachel]]'' ({{Langx|he|{{Script/Hebr|רָחֵל}}|translit=Rāḥēl|lit=[[Sheep|ewe]]}}) also appears to refer to El in English, but contains [[Heth|chet]].

==Yah theophory==
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Yah/Jah (יה) and their meanings in Hebrew:
:[[Abiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is my father''
:[[Abijah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is my father'' (2 Chron. 13:3)
:[[Adaiah]] &ndash; ''ornament of Yahweh''
:[[Adonijah]] &ndash; ''my lord is Yahweh''
:[[Ahaziah]] &ndash; ''vision of Yahweh''
:[[Ahiah]] &ndash; ''brother of Yahweh''
:[[Ahijah]] &ndash; ''brother of Yahweh''
:[[Amariah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh says''; ''integrity of Yahweh''
:[[Amaziah]] &ndash; ''strength of Yahweh''
:[[Ananiah]] &ndash; ''Protected by Yah''
:[[Athaliah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is exalted''
:[[Azariah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh has helped''
:[[Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus)|Bathiah]] &ndash; ''Daughter of Yah''
:[[Bealiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is Lord''<ref>Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. ''International Standard Bible Encyclopedia'', "Bealiah" (1915). [http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/bealiah.html]</ref>
:[[Dodavah|Dodavah(u)]] &ndash; ''Beloved of Yahweh''
:[[Elijah]] &ndash; ''My God is Yah''
:[[Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego|Hananiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is gracious''
:[[Gedaliah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is great''
:[[Hezekiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh has strengthened''
:[[Hodaviah]]/[[Hodaviah|Hodiah]] &ndash; ''Give thanks to Yahweh'', ''The splendour of Yahweh''
:[[Isaiah]] &ndash; ''Salvation of Yahweh''
:[[Jesiah|Isshiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh exists''
:[[Jeconiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh has firmly established''
:[[Jedaiah]] &ndash; ''Yah knows''
:[[Jedidiah]] &ndash; ''Beloved of Yah''
:[[Obed-Edom|Jehiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh lives''
:[[Jehoiachin]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is firmly established''
:[[Jehoiada]] &ndash; ''Yahweh knows''
:[[Jehoshaphat]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is judge''
:[[Jehosheba]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is my oath''
:[[Jehozadak]] &ndash; ''Righteous is Yahweh''
:[[Jekamiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh raises''
:[[Jeremiah]] &ndash; ''Yah exalts''
:[[Jesiah|Jeshaiah]] &ndash; ''Salvation of Yahweh''
:[[Joab]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is father''
:[[Jochebed]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is glory''
:[[Joel (prophet)|Joel]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is El/God''
:[[John (given name)|John]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is gracious''
:[[Jonathan (name)|Jonathan]] &ndash; ''gift of Yahweh''
:[[Joshua]] &ndash; ''Yahweh saves/is (my) Saviour/Salvation'' or ''Yahweh is lordly'' ([[Niqqud]] dependent)
:[[Josiah]] &ndash; ''supported of Yahweh''
:[[Malchijah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is king''
:[[Micaiah]] &ndash; ''Who is like Yahweh''
:[[Matityahu]] &ndash; ''Gift from Yah''
:[[Neariah]] &ndash; ''Servant of Yahweh''
:[[Nedabiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh impels''
:[[Nehemiah]] &ndash; ''Yah comforts''
:[[Nethaniah (disambiguation)|Nethaniah]] &ndash; ''gift of Yahweh''
:[[Obadiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh's servant'' or ''worshiper''
:[[Pedaiah]] &ndash; ''Redemption of Yahweh''
:[[Pelatiah]] &ndash; ''Yah has delivered''
:[[Pelaiah]] &ndash; ''Yah has distinguished''
:[[List of minor Old Testament figures, L–Z#Pelaliah|Pelaliah]] &ndash; ''Yah has judged''
:[[Pekahiah]] &ndash; ''Yah has observed''
:[[List of minor biblical tribes#Reaiah|Reaiah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh has seen''
:[[Rephaiah]] &ndash; ''Yah has healed''
:[[Seraiah]] &ndash; ''Servant/prince of Yahweh''
:[[Shecaniah]] &ndash; ''One intimate with Yahweh''
:[[Shephatiah]] &ndash; ''Judged of Yahweh''
:[[Tobias|Toviah]] &ndash; ''Good of Yahweh'' or ''Yahweh is Good''
:[[Uriah the Hittite|Uriah]] &ndash; ''My light is Yahweh''
:[[Uzziah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh is my strength''
:[[Zebadiah]], [[Zabdi]] &ndash; ''Gift of Yahweh''
:[[Zedekiah]] &ndash; ''justice of'' or ''righteous is Yahweh''
:[[Zephaniah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh hides'' or ''protects''
:[[Zechariah (given name)|Zechariah]] &ndash; ''Yahweh remembers''

==Baal theophory==
''Ba'al'' is a generic term meaning ''master''; it can also be translated "[[Lord#Religion|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 (disambiguation)|Baalah]]'' &ndash; her lord; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse
:''[[Baalath]]'' &ndash; a rejoicing; our proud lord
:''[[Baalath-Beer]]'' &ndash; subjected pit
:''[[Baal-berith]]'' &ndash; lord of the covenant
:''[[Baale of Judah|Baale]]'' &ndash; same as Baalath
:''[[Baal-gad]]'' &ndash; lord [[Gad (deity)|Gad]], or lord of [[Gad (tribe)|Gad]], or lord of fortune/felicity
:''[[Baal-hamon]]'' &ndash; he who rules a crowd
:''[[Baal-hanan]]'' &ndash; Ba'al is gracious
:''[[Baal-hermon]]'' &ndash; lord of destruction / of a cursed-thing
:''[[Baali (title)|Baali]]'' &ndash; my lord; lord over me
:''[[Baalim]]'' &ndash; lords; masters; (later Jewish use: false gods)
:''[[Baalis]]'' &ndash; a rejoicing/proud lord
:''[[Baal-meon]]'' &ndash; lord/master of the house
:''[[Baal-Peor]]'' &ndash; master of Peor; master of the opening
:''[[Baal-perazim]]'' &ndash; lord of divisions
:''[[Baal-shalisha]]'' &ndash; the lord that presides over three; the third idol
:''[[Baal-tamar]]'' &ndash; master of the palm-tree
:''[[Beelzebub|Baal-zebub]]'' &ndash; lord of the fly (satirical corruption of ''Ba'al-zebul'' - lord of princes)
:''[[Baal-zephon]]'' &ndash; the lord/possession of the north/hidden/secret
:''[[Jerubbaal|Jerub-baal]]'' &ndash; the lord contends

===Bosheth===
In later biblical and Jewish writing, some of the theophories in Ba'al were [[bowdlerisation|bowdlerised]], with ''ba'al'' replaced by ''bosheth'' (''(the) shameful (thing)''):
:Ishbosheth, from [[Ishba'al]], ''man of ba'al''.
: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 (god)|Shaddai]] and their meanings in Hebrew:
:[[Zurishaddai]] &ndash; ''Shaddai is my rock''

==Yam theophory==
[[Yam (god)|Yam]] is the Canaanite god of the Sea.

:Abiyam &ndash; 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".
 
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Zedek, and their meanings in Hebrew:

:''[[Melchizedek|Melchi-zedek]]'' &ndash; My king is Zedek
:''[[Adoni-zedek]]'' &ndash; My lord is Zedek

==Hadad==
Apart from oblique references to [[Hadad]] by means of the word ''ba'al'', some theophory references him directly:
:''[[Hadadezer]]'' &ndash; ''Hadad is my help''
:''[[Ben-hadad]]'' &ndash; ''Son of Hadad''

==Others==
:''[[Ashurbanipal|Asenappar]]'' &ndash; ''[[Ashur (god)|Ashur]] is creator of an heir''
:''[[Barkos]]'' &ndash; ''Son of [[Qos (deity)|Qos]]''
:''[[Belshazzar]]'' &ndash; ''[[Bel (mythology)|Bel]], protect the king''
:''[[Chedorlaomer]]'' &ndash; ''Servant of [[Lagamal|Lagamar]]''
:''[[Esarhaddon|Esar-Haddon]]'' &ndash; ''[[Ashur (god)|Assur]] has given me a brother''
:''[[Nebuchadnezzar]]'' &ndash; ''[[Nabu]], preserve my firstborn son''
:''[[Sennacherib]]'' &ndash; ''[[Sin (mythology)|Sin]] has replaced brothers''
:''[[Shalmaneser V|Shalmaneser]]'' &ndash; ''[[Shulmanu]] is the best''

== See also ==
* [[List of Biblical names]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Theophoric names| ]]
[[Category:Biblical topics]]