I learned the Bible moderately well while growing up, but in all of my childhood years I never noticed something that should have been obvious. I never clued in to the fact that the name and title of the Most High God (Elohiym) was built into the names of many biblical characters. My ignorance of the words Yah and El, and of the Hebrew language in general, caused me to miss out on part of the message of the Hebrew scriptures.
So many of the prophets and heroes of our faith had names that praised YHVH in some fashion. Below is a list of the most well-known names and their meanings.
List of Popular Biblical Names
Amos—from Amosyah, meaning “Corroborated by YHVH”
Ariel—from Ahriy'el, meaning "Lion of God"
Daniel—from Daniy'el, meaning "God is my judge"
Elijah—from Eliyyahu, meaning "My God is YHVH”
Emmanuel—from Immanu'el, meaning "God with us"
Ezekiel—from Yechezq'el, meaning "God strengthens"
Gabriel—from Gabriy'el, meaning "God is my strength"
Haggai—from Chagyah, meaning "Feast of YHVH"
Hosea—from Hosheyahu, meaning “YHVH saves”
Isaiah—from Yesha’Yahu, meaning "YHVH is salvation"
James/Jacob—from Yah'aqov, meaning "May YHVH preserve"
Jeremiah—from Yirmeyahu, meaning "YHVH has uplifted"
Joel—from Yahyl, meaning “YHVH is our strength”
John—from Yahukanan, meaning “YHVH is merciful”
Jonathan—from Yahonatan, meaning "YHVH has given"
Jonah—from Yahnah, meaning “Ornament of YHVH”
Jude/Judah—from Yahudah, meaning "Praise YHVH"
Matthew—from Mattithyahu, meaning “Gift of YHVH”
Micah—from Mikahyah, meaning “Who is like YHVH?”
Michael—from Mikay'el, meaning "Who is like God?"
Nathaniel—from Natan'el, meaning "God has given"
Nehemiah—from Nekemyah, meaning "comforted by YHVH"
Obadiah—from Obeadyah, meaning “Worshipper of YHVH”
Samuel—from Shemu'el, meaning “Heard of YHVH”
Tobiah/Tobias—from Toviyyahu, meaning "YHVH is good"
Zachary/Zechariah—from Zakaryahu, meaning “Remembrance of YHVH”
Zebediah—from Zebadyahu, meaning "YHVH has bestowed"
Zephaniah—from Tsephanyahu, meaning “Protected by YHVH”
Ariel—from Ahriy'el, meaning "Lion of God"
Daniel—from Daniy'el, meaning "God is my judge"
Elijah—from Eliyyahu, meaning "My God is YHVH”
Emmanuel—from Immanu'el, meaning "God with us"
Ezekiel—from Yechezq'el, meaning "God strengthens"
Gabriel—from Gabriy'el, meaning "God is my strength"
Haggai—from Chagyah, meaning "Feast of YHVH"
Hosea—from Hosheyahu, meaning “YHVH saves”
Isaiah—from Yesha’Yahu, meaning "YHVH is salvation"
James/Jacob—from Yah'aqov, meaning "May YHVH preserve"
Jeremiah—from Yirmeyahu, meaning "YHVH has uplifted"
Joel—from Yahyl, meaning “YHVH is our strength”
John—from Yahukanan, meaning “YHVH is merciful”
Jonathan—from Yahonatan, meaning "YHVH has given"
Jonah—from Yahnah, meaning “Ornament of YHVH”
Jude/Judah—from Yahudah, meaning "Praise YHVH"
Matthew—from Mattithyahu, meaning “Gift of YHVH”
Micah—from Mikahyah, meaning “Who is like YHVH?”
Michael—from Mikay'el, meaning "Who is like God?"
Nathaniel—from Natan'el, meaning "God has given"
Nehemiah—from Nekemyah, meaning "comforted by YHVH"
Obadiah—from Obeadyah, meaning “Worshipper of YHVH”
Samuel—from Shemu'el, meaning “Heard of YHVH”
Tobiah/Tobias—from Toviyyahu, meaning "YHVH is good"
Zachary/Zechariah—from Zakaryahu, meaning “Remembrance of YHVH”
Zebediah—from Zebadyahu, meaning "YHVH has bestowed"
Zephaniah—from Tsephanyahu, meaning “Protected by YHVH”
The Messiah
Jesus/Joshua—from Yahusha, meaning “YHVH is salvation”
Did you know that the name of our Mashiach (Messiah) is recorded in the Tanakh (Old Testament)? Not only was the prophet Joshua a foreshadow of Y'shua ha-Mashiach, but many times we find phrases like "Yah is my salvation" and "YHVH saves us." Take this example from Isaiah, which Y'shua himself quoted during the festival of Sukkot:
"Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Yah, Yahweh, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation." Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation.
(Isa. 12:2-3, WEB)
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