What is in a name? Let me count the ways.

Shakespeare famously said that "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." If this were our only guide, it would mean that names are no more than labels of convenience. But common experience suggests otherwise. And the Bible sheds even more light on the matter.

In the Bible, a name is not only a label, but also reveals the nature of a person. For example, in one of the first actions of man, God told Adam to name the animals. It was in doing so that Adam realized he had need of a kind of companionship the animals could not provide. So God gave him Eve.

Nowadays post-modern thinkers delight in telling us that names are merely arbitrary labels for things. And since all words are names in a way, because all words "name" something, all meaning is essentially arbitrary. But from a Biblical perspective, this is just another chapter in the ancient battle of fallen man to suppress the obvious presence of God in nature.

I jotted down 5 levels of meaning names have:

First, names are indeed labels. For example, an unidentified person is often called a Jane or a John Doe. This is using name as a label.

Second, names classify. In the above, at least Jane or John tells us the gender of that unknown person. And last names classify family lineage -- the "Doe" precisely means we do not know this person's family origins. Names can also betray ethnic categories (consider: James versus Jamal, or my last name, Wang). Even year of birth can be classified by names. Recently many of my students have names like Cassidy, Caitlyn, or Carlene -- because "C" names were all the rage about 20 years ago.

Third, a name places a person or thing into cultural systems of meaning. Our language is dependable and our society stable because names do not change. We have all been confused, for example, by the name of a road changing in midstream -- there are several of those in my town. Or, I can recall two cases of close friends changing their first names in midlife (for example, from Joan to Maggie). Very confusing. Imagine the mess if everybody started doing that.

These first three levels of meaning are more or less enough to make human relations go. But God deals with at least two more levels of meaning when it comes to names:

Fourth, a name is meant to reveal a nature, or the shape of a soul. Jacob, for example, means "supplanter." Jacob supplanted his brother out of his birthright. He cheated Laban out of daughters and flocks. Jacob even bargained with God: "if you bless me I'll give you a tenth." And when God finally changed Jacob, he changed his name -- to Israel, which means "prince with God" (according to one interpretation).

But it is deeply meaningful that God continued to refer to Himself (to name Himself) as the God of Jacob throughout the Scriptures. In other words, God puts up with a lot in us without giving up on us.

Finally, names are so profound that there is an aspect about them that we can't even grasp in this life. The Bible says that God will give those who overcome a secret name only that person will know.

What in the world does that mean? What use is a name that nobody knows? Well, eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love him.

Logos2Go

Psalm 147.4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.

Genesis 2.20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

Romans 1.18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth ...

Jacob supplants Esau's birthright: Genesis 27

Jacob bargains with God: if God blesses him, he'll give back a tenth: Genesis 28.20-22

Jacob's shenanigans with Laban: Genesis 29

Jacob renamed Israel; Genesis 32.28. Israel can mean "wrestles with God," or "prince with God."

Psalm 20.1 (this is one of many times "God of Jacob" is mentioned in the Old Testament): May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

Revelation 2.17 ... To him who overcomes ... I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

1 Corinthians 2.9 (quoting Isaiah 64.4) However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"