In biblical times, a name often had a significance far deeper than that of a mere personal label.

1. A name was given by a person in a position of authority, Gen 2:18ff.

2. The giving of a name signified the appointment of the person to a specific function or relationship, Gen 35:17-18.

3. The giving of a name sometimes expressed a hope, Gen 29:32-35, or prophecy, Hos 1:4.

4. Often, names were given as a result of some circumstance at birth, Gen 10:25; 19:22; 25:30. In some case, this circumstance was itself prophetic, and described the character of the person to be, Gen 25:26.

5. When a person gives his name to another, this signifies their joining to each other in the closest unity, Isa 4:1; Deut 28:9-10.

6. In the NT, to ‘baptise into the name’ signifies identification, new ownership, union, loyalty, and fellowship.

7. The Scripture, the name frequently stands for the person himself, and the idea of total personal extinction is expressed by ‘cutting off’, ‘destroying’, ‘taking away’, or ‘blotting out’, the name. To ’forget’ the name is to forget the person, Jer 23:27.

8. God’s name often stands for his manifested attributes. Thus, his name is holy, because he is holy. To declare God’s name is to tell of his character and deeds, Ps 22:22; cf Mt 6:9.

9. God’s name is often suggestive of his active presence, 1 Kings 18:24.

10. To go or speak in someone’s name is to go or speak with his authority – as if he were personally present and active.