Theophory is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a
deity in, usually, a proper name.[note 1] Much
Hebrew theophory occurs in the
Bible, particularly in the
Old Testament. The most prominent theophory involves names referring to:
El, a word meaning might, power and (a) god in general, and hence in
Judaism, God and among the
Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of
Baal.
Levantine deities (especially the storm god,
Hadad) by the
epithetbaal, meaning lord. In later times, as the conflict between
Yahwism and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and baal was replaced with bosheth, meaning "shame".
El theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El and their meanings in Hebrew:
Elijah (Elias) – Whose God is Jah, God Jah, The Strong[dubious –
discuss] Jah, God of Jah, My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (
Eli)-(
Jah)
The name Abel, which appears to refer to El, in fact is not an instance of theophory. Abel can be translated as "breath", "temporary" or "meaninglessness" and is the word translated as "vanity" in
Ecclesiastes 1:2 in the King James Version.
The name Jael also appears to refer to El in English, but contains
ayin rather than the
aleph of El.
The name Eli also appears to refer to El in English, but contains
ayin rather than
aleph.
The name Rachel also appears to refer to El in English, but contains
chet.
Shaddai theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to
Shaddai and their meanings in Hebrew:
Ba'al is a generic term meaning master; it can also be translated "
Lord". In the Bible, it is frequently a reference to
Hadad, although it is sometimes used to refer to other specific deities, including
Yahweh, and on other occasions is used to refer to an arbitrary lord of this area.
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Ba'al, and their meanings in Hebrew:
Baal – master; lord
Baalah – her lord; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse
^A footnote would be useful because James Strong in „Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary” wrote that: "{3895} לחי — lchiy, lekh-ee'; from an unused root meaning to be soft; the cheek (from its fleshiness); hence, the jaw-bone: — cheek (bone), jaw (bone).", and: "{3915} לַיְלָ — layil, lah'-yil; or (Isaiah 21:11) לַיְלָ leyl, lale; also לַיְלָה laylah, lah'- yel-aw; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity: — ((mid-)) night (season). see SH3883".
^Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "Bealiah" (1915).
[1]
Theophory is the practice of embedding the name of a god or a
deity in, usually, a proper name.[note 1] Much
Hebrew theophory occurs in the
Bible, particularly in the
Old Testament. The most prominent theophory involves names referring to:
El, a word meaning might, power and (a) god in general, and hence in
Judaism, God and among the
Canaanites the name of the god who was the father of
Baal.
Levantine deities (especially the storm god,
Hadad) by the
epithetbaal, meaning lord. In later times, as the conflict between
Yahwism and the more popular pagan practices became increasingly intense, these names were censored and baal was replaced with bosheth, meaning "shame".
El theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El and their meanings in Hebrew:
Elijah (Elias) – Whose God is Jah, God Jah, The Strong[dubious –
discuss] Jah, God of Jah, My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (
Eli)-(
Jah)
The name Abel, which appears to refer to El, in fact is not an instance of theophory. Abel can be translated as "breath", "temporary" or "meaninglessness" and is the word translated as "vanity" in
Ecclesiastes 1:2 in the King James Version.
The name Jael also appears to refer to El in English, but contains
ayin rather than the
aleph of El.
The name Eli also appears to refer to El in English, but contains
ayin rather than
aleph.
The name Rachel also appears to refer to El in English, but contains
chet.
Shaddai theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to
Shaddai and their meanings in Hebrew:
Ba'al is a generic term meaning master; it can also be translated "
Lord". In the Bible, it is frequently a reference to
Hadad, although it is sometimes used to refer to other specific deities, including
Yahweh, and on other occasions is used to refer to an arbitrary lord of this area.
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Ba'al, and their meanings in Hebrew:
Baal – master; lord
Baalah – her lord; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse
^A footnote would be useful because James Strong in „Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary” wrote that: "{3895} לחי — lchiy, lekh-ee'; from an unused root meaning to be soft; the cheek (from its fleshiness); hence, the jaw-bone: — cheek (bone), jaw (bone).", and: "{3915} לַיְלָ — layil, lah'-yil; or (Isaiah 21:11) לַיְלָ leyl, lale; also לַיְלָה laylah, lah'- yel-aw; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity: — ((mid-)) night (season). see SH3883".
^Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "Bealiah" (1915).
[1]