Biblical Concept of “Name”

The concept of the "name" is an important one in biblical worship. In fact, a synonym for "worship" in the Scriptures is the expression "call upon the name of the Lord" (Gen. 26:25; Pss. 80:18; 99:6; 105:1; 116:13, 17). Often we hear the summons to praise, bless, or exalt his name (Pss. 34:3; 96:2; 100:4; 135:3; 148:13; 149:3) or to ascribe glory to his name (Pss. 29:2; 66:2; 96:8; 115:1). The worshiper may speak of lifting his or her hands to the name of the Lord (Ps. 63:4) in the universal ancient gesture of homage. Importance of the Name In biblical thought, a name is more than a designation differentiating persons or things. A person's name encompasses his complete identity, reputation, and character and refers to his whole self or person. In the Scripture, the phrase "my name" is often used in place of "I" or "me," and "his name" means "him. " Thus, the Lord assures Moses that his name will be in the angel who goes before Israel, meaning that the Lord himself will be present (…