The third in a three-part series on why God is interested in people’s names.*
In meetings for Church and business, we wear name tags to identify who we are for people who don’t know us. We are uniquely identified, from medical records to tax filings, by our name. Bible genealogies also show something unique about a person.
When a person steals our name that’s identity fraud. With the expansion of information on the internet, this is now a serious problem. Names mentioned in the Bible are also important. They’re more than just people identifiers. They mean something. Names reflect the character of a person.
The Gospel in a Bible Genealogy
In our first article about “What’s in a Name,” we contrasted Cain’s evil descendants with godly Seth’s. Seth’s family returned to the Lord. They called on the Lord in faith to save them. Through the genealogy of Genesis chapter 5, we learned that from the very beginning of human creation faith is critical to redemption. And, saving faith influences future generations. This genealogy was the first revelation of how the gospel of grace trickles down to the next generation.
But this genealogy does more than just identify Seth’s goldy line (the sons of God). There’s a second level of understanding that reveals the message of the gospel in Genesis chapter 5 in a deeper manner. The genealogy of Seth connects the names of his posterity (his family tree) to God’s redemptive plan. In other words, there’s more to this list than just a list of faithful men.
A Name’s Meaning is Important
The gospel is prophetically and symbolically revealed in the meaning of their names. The name of each father contains a meaning related to the purpose of their lives that extends to reveal the redemptive purposes of God. Their names describe significant characteristics of who they are. But, on a spiritual level, their names, when understood as a group, reveals God’s master plan for redeeming a people for himself.
Some of the meanings of their names are unclear. A few names have alternate meanings. None the less, each name mentioned in this genealogy reflects not only their father’s faith but symbolically describes in detail God’s salvation plan. Here are the meanings of each of the names of these men.
The Meaning of a Name
- Adam means earthy, red, or man. He was the first man created from the red clay of the earth.
- Seth means the appointed one. Adam and Eve thought he was the fulfillment of the promise of an appointed redeemer and substitute.
- Enosh means a mortal man. His name expressed his father’s dependence on God for life, knowing how fragile life can be.
- Kenan’s name derives from the word for a dwelling place or room. His father trusted God to make room for him and his family so they could dwell on earth and eventually live in heaven.
- Mahalalel’s name is constructed from two Hebrew words meaning the fame of God or to praise God. His name sounds a lot like Hallelujah. Hallelujah is an expression used in worship (Rev 19:1,3-4, 6). In Hebrew, naming Mahalalel was his father’s way of boasting, not in himself or his accomplishments, but in the Lord.
- Jared means servant or the one who comes down or descends. This name reveals his father’s humble obedience and trust in God. His dad hoped God would visit him even though he was undeserving of enjoying the presence of the Lord.
- Enoch means the dedicated and disciplined one. His walking with God clearly shows this. He was so holy that death couldn’t contain him. Enoch was the one person whom God used to show that when a person is properly related to God, the curse of death has no power.
- Methuselah has two meanings. One is a combination of two Hebrew words, to die and to send. You could say his name means when he dies it (God’s judgment) will come. There’s a prophetic element in his name.
- Lamech’s name’s meaning is lost. But some think his names comes from the verb used to describe the idea of being made low or poor. If so, then his name reflected his father’s awareness of his need to trust God for life’s sustenance. Lamech is mentioned by Luke in Jesus’ genealogy (Lk 3:36).
- Noah’s name means rest, repose, or consolation. Only in trusting God can a person find peace. Lamech hoped sin’s curse would be lifted through his son. So, he trusted that God would restore peace between himself and his people through the birth of Noah.
A Bible Genealogy Reveals the Gospel
Within these ten names, there appears a family tree representing individuals who returned to God in faith. It’s a faith-tree of people who placed their hopes and dreams in God to save them. These fathers learned that to please God one must placing faith in the Lord. That would establish a godly heritage for them.
Let’s take this list of names and their meanings to a deeper level. If we string the meanings of each of these ten names together, it will create a short paragraph. And in this paragraph what appears is a description of the gospel. We see in these names the accumulated impact of a godly genealogy. And a powerful redemptive theme emerges. It reads as follows:
“An earthly man shall be appointed as a substitute. He will be mortal and dependent on God. In him shall dwell the fame and praise of God. He will obediently descend as a humble and dedicated servant; and at his death judgment will come. He will come from lowly means; poor and meek, yet he will provide consolation and rest to all who trust in God.”
A Description of the Gospel
The meanings associated with these ten names, when assembled, reveal God’s salvation plan for all ages. This genealogy is about God acting on behave of individuals who are unable to redeem themselves. These fathers received the gift of saving faith and passed it on to their sons.
Notice in this description that God appoints a substitute person to bridge the gap between sinful people and a holy God. We cannot save ourselves. We need a mediator (1 Tim 2:5).
This appointed one fully depends on God as he descends as a humble servant (Phil 2:6-8). He will die to pay for the judgment sentenced against rebellion and sin (Mt 26:28). And though he will come from a poor family he will be rich in providing consolation to all who trust God (Lk 2:25-26).
Who is Described?
Who does this description refer to? Only one person fits this description perfectly. It is Jesus (Lk 24:27).
Jesus became flesh. And God appointed him a substitute for our sins. Jesus, in his humanity, faced temptation as a mortal and learned to obey God. Jesus left heavenly glory and humbled himself to the point of death. He acted as our servant; dedicated to redeeming us. Jesus paid for the punishment for our sins.
Even though the world considered Jesus unimportant, he was rich in God’s grace and mercy–the very things necessary for salvation. Now, as the Savior of the world, Jesus brings peace and rest between us and God by grace through faith to those whom God saves (Eph 2:14).
The accumulated impact of the meaning of these names describes Jesus. And a description of Jesus’ redemptive work is behind the significance of each of these names. In other words, in the naming of these sons, each father unknowingly pointed us to Jesus as the Christ.
The Difference Faith Makes
Can you see what difference placing trust in Jesus has in a person’s life? It adds a depth of meaning to life. Just as these names reflect a deeper spiritual reality, so, when we live for Christ, we display a life filled with the joy and abundance Christ offers. The key to having a fulfilling life is faith in God’s Redeemer. Each of these fathers hoped God would restore and sustain their relationship with him. This is something each one of us must do too.
God promises to make a way for anyone who desires to know him to have a personal relationship with him (Jn 14:6). It’s through the only Mediator and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one who knows us and our needs because he became one of us (Heb 4:15-16). And through his death and resurrection, he offers hope and an abundantly fulfilling future.
To know God is to know the Lord through Jesus the Messiah. And to know God is to testify to God’s goodness, mercy, and grace. I hope your name reflects the saving nature of Jesus being your Lord. And I trust that your character will grow in its ability to reflect the meaning of your name as well as God’s saving work in your life. This is what the names in this genealogy reflect. Let people see the difference God has made in your life as you live up to the biblical meaning of your name.
More Meaning in Bible Genealogies
In the last article of this three-part series “What’s In A Name,” we’ll explore a third and final revealing of the gospel in this Bible genealogy. At the third level of understanding, we discover the primary reason God included this genealogy in the Bible.
*The cover slide is a picture of the Voice of Martyrs’ Memorial Wall. It’s a sobering reminder of the battle between faith in God and rejection of Jesus’ rightful place as Lord.
Photo Attributions: Memorial Wall at the headquarters of the Voice of the Martyrs, Picasso’s signature @ Pixabay.com, family tree @ pexels.com, Jesus @ Pixabay.com, Heb 7:25 verse @ heartlight.org.
