In the name of…

It’s been over two decades since I began to explore the more Hebraic side of the Christian faith. I was looking for better context, I wanted to make deeper connections between the NT and OT. Going down this path of study made sense to me, after all, Jesus was Jewish, the apostles were Jewish, and they all lived in Judea. I am grateful to God that, during my journey, I have been blessed to have made some of those deeper connections. One of which, I would like to share with you today.

There are a number of places within Scripture where we read the phrase, “in the name of.” Exactly what does “in the name of” mean? Is it something we say? Is it something we do? I know people who believe God doesn’t hear your prayer unless you finish with, “in the name of Jesus.” I also know some who believe that to “proclaim His name” means that we have to speak whatever pronunciation of God’s name we prefer, to any and all who will hear. But what if “name of” in context is rarely connected to anything we speak, and is instead, is dealing with our actions and lifestyle? Let’s briefly take this apart and try to give the phrase some true biblical context:

In English, the meaning of the word name is tied more to what we might call somebody. But it wasn’t that long ago that the word name was also tied to the character and reputation of a person, i.e. “I can trust John to watch our children, he has a good name.” In Hebrew, a person’s name points to them as it does in English, but the Hebrew word shem (name) actually places more weight on the character, reputation and authority of the name bearer, than it does on what we call that person. Let’s look at a few sources and see if we can’t get a better picture of that concept.

The Strong’s Concordance defines shem as name, as does the Brown Driver Briggs Lexicon, but both also define shem as a mark or memorial of individuality. Both sources go on to tie shem to character, authority, honor, reputation and fame. In other words, in Western English, especially that spoken in the United States, a person’s name is what we call him. But in the Semitic mindset, shem might be dealing with what we call somebody, but it is more in line with the type of person the name bearer is. I found a really good explanation in the Explanatory Notes of the 1998 version of “The Scriptures” (by ISR) we read this under this topic Name:

“The Hebrew word is shĕm, which means much more than “name” in English. It is not a mere label of identification; it is an expression of the essential nature of the bearer of that name. In Hebrew, in the Scriptures, it speaks foremost of His authority. The Name of יהוה reveals Him, His character, the remembrance of Him, and His authority.”

So to put these together, the shem (or name) of an individual in Hebrew is an expression of the nature of the name bearer. Shem reveals the person, his character, his reputation, his authority, and in the case of God, even His power.

With that understanding, let’s look at a few bible verses and see if we can derive a deeper meaning than the one we have had until this point.

Micah 4:5 For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the name of the LORD our God Forever and ever.

At some point in the past I gave a talk on this subject and facetiously suggested that “walking in God’s name” meant we needed to write His name with a Sharpie on our pants before going out for a walk. Of course that idea is silly, but it was meant to draw the contrast so that others would better understand how doing something in His name was dealing more with our words and actions, our life. Remember, name in Hebrew is dealing with the name bearer’s character, reputation and authority. Thus walking in God’s name is living in a manner that reflects His character, adds to His reputation, and is within the scope of His will and authority. This next verse is actually dealing with the opposite:

Proverbs 30:9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Even in this verse, you get the notion that actions are how we profane His name. Indeed, to profane His name is to do the opposite of how one might walk in His name. When we claim to be His and go out and do not reflect His character, or we take from His reputation, and we’re walking outside of His will and authority, that, by definition, is profaning His name.

There are many other examples. To exalt His name is to elevate His character, His authority, His greatness, for all to see. When we are baptized into “the name of” we are not immersed into a word, letters, or a certain pronunciation. We are actually being immersed into God’s authority over death and the grave. Hence being, “buried with him in baptism, and raised to walk in the newness of life.” How about when we pray in his name? Did he mean that if we don’t actually say his name at the end of a prayer that he doesn’t hear us? I don’t believe so, in fact, I think we need to be careful with that because we are giving a collection of letters power, not much different than the concept of using abracadabra. To pray in his name is to pray according to his will, in a manner consistent with his character as revealed through the examples he gave us. Can we end a pray using or saying is name? Sure, but if we think it’s necessary for God to hear us than we don’t (yet) understand the concept of name in Hebrew.

Here is one last example that will surely draw the ire of some. It’s a from a verse found in Philippians 2:9 which reads:

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”

Every church I have attended has taken this to mean that “Jesus” (or Yeshua) is the name that is above every name. The first problem is, it isn’t a unique name. The successor to Moses, whom we know as Joshua, has the exact same name. If you take “Jesus” back through the transliteration process to its origin you’ll find this to be true. Second, Paul says God gave him the “name above all others names.” Meaning, God gave him authority above all others. Yeshua said this himself:

Matthew 28:18 And Yeshua came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

The above verse is what Paul is referencing when he said, “ God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” It isn’t that we are to exalt a word, or a collection of letters that point to our Messiah, it’s that the Messiah those letters point to has been given authority above all, thus his name is above all names.