Namely What? … Part2

When is A Name … More?

My own name is of Scottish descent and yet seems to be a troublesome one for most. Many mispronunciations and considerably more misspellings. I have even gotten a birthday card from dear ole grandma with my name spelled wrong! But alas there is hope there too.

The Hebrew word for “name” is “shem”. Shem is not only a title but refers to the essence or character of the being.  We can see this same theme in the Rino- (nose) saurus (great beast) and in the name of the flowering plant Clematis which will “climb-at-us”.

In the Bible we see Adam (ruddy; red) from the root adamah (ground; earth). The word “ha-adamah” means ‘set apart ground’.  Eve’s Hebrew name is Havah which means life, because she was the mother of all living. Understanding the meaning of names enlivens all of Scripture.

Name meanings and genealogies are important or God would not have preserved them for us. So let’s tackle our first one here (one you’re probably familiar with):
Genesis 5:3-4  “And Adam (man) lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth (appointed) were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

Genesis 5:6-18 “And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: (mortal)  And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Kenan: (sorrow)  And Enos lived after he begat Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.  And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel: (the blessed God)

 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: (shall come down) And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: (teaching)

Genesis 5:21-29 “And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: (his death shall bring)  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech. (the despairing)  And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.  And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:  And he called his name Noah, (rest, comfort) saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.”

Did you see the beautiful thing YHVH did with the names? this has been pointed out by others, but watch again…..

Adam (man)   Seth (appointed)  Enos: (mortal)  Kenan: (sorrow)  Mahalaleel: (the blessed God)

Jared: (shall come down)  Enoch: (teaching)   Methuselah: (his death shall bring)  

Lamech. (the despairing) Noah, (rest, comfort)

**You will notice that Noah was in Seth’s line. Notice also that Noah’s father’s name was Lamech. This is NOT the same Lamech that was the fifth in line from Cain. Just like today when there are thousands, if not millions, of people who have the same name (Fred, Rebecca, Kathy, Elizabeth) so it was then. Lots of people had the same name so we have to be careful as we read the Bible not to mix up people simply because they bore the same name.