Theophory in the Bible

El theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to El and their meanings in Hebrew:

Abdiel – Servant of God Abiel – God my Father Abimael – A Father sent from God Adbeel – Disciplined of God Adiel – Witness of God Adirael – Magnificence of God Adriel – Flock of God Advachiel – Happiness of God Ambriel – Energy of God Ammiel – People of God Ananiel – Rain of God Arael – Light of God or Vision of God Ariel, Auriel – Lion of God Armisael – Mountain of Judgment of God Asmodel – Greatness of God Azael – Whom God Strengthens Azazel – God Strengthens or Arrogant to God Azrael – Help of God Barakiel, Baraquiel – Lightning of God Barbiel – Illumination of God Barachiel – Kindness of God or Ray of God Bardiel – Humiliated Son of God Bethel – House of God Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God Bithiel – Daughter of God Boel – God is in Him Camael – He who Sees God Cassiel – Speed of God Castiel – Shield of God Chakel – Wisdom of God Chamuel – He who Seeks God Daniel – Judged by God or Judgement of God Elad – God Forever Eli – a variant on the name of God, or "my God" Eliana – My God Answers Elijah (Elias) – Whose God is Jah, God Jah, The Strong Jah, God of Jah, My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (Eli)-(Jah) Elisha – Salvation of God Elishama – My God Hears Elishua – God is my salvation Eliezer – My God Helps Elimelech – My God is King Elizabeth – My God is Oath Elkanah – God has Possessed, or God has Created Emmanuel – God is with us Ezekiel – God will Strengthen Ezequeel – Strength of God Ezrael – Help of God Gabriel, Gavriel – Man of God, God has shown Himself Mighty, Hero of God or Strong one of God Gadreel, Gadriel – wall of God Gaghiel – Roaring Beast of God Gamaliel – Reward of God Hamaliel – Grace of God Hanael – Glory of God Immanuel – God with us Imriel – Eloquence of God Iruel – Fear of God Ishmael, Ishamael – Heard by God, Named by God, or God Hearkens Israel, Yisrael – Struggles with God or Prince of God Jekuthiel – God will support Jerahmeel – God's exaltation Jeremiel – God's mercy Jezreel – God will sow Joel – Jah is God Jegudiel – Glorifier of God Jophiel, Lophiel, Yofiel, Zophiel - Beauty of God Katriel – Crown of God Kazbiel – He who lies to God Kushiel – Rigid One of God Lee-El, Lee-el, Leeel – For God Leliel – Jaws of God Lemuel – Dedicated to God Mahalalel – The blessed God, The shining light of God, or The glory of God Malahidael – King of God Matarael – Premonition of God Michael – Who is like God? a question Mishael – Who is what God is? a question Nathanael, Nathaniel – Given by God or God has Given or "Gift of God" Nemuel – Day of God Othniel – Hour of God Peniel, Penuel, Phanuel – Face of God Priel – Fruit of God Rachmiel – God is my Comforter Ramiel – Thunder of God Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God Raziel – Secret of God Remiel – Mercy of God or Compassion of God Reuel – Friend of God Sachiel – Price of God or Covering of God Salatheel – I have asked God Sahaquiel – Ingenuity of God Samael, Sammael – Severity of God, see also Samael (disambiguation) Samiel – Blind God, epithet for Baal or the Demiurge Samuel – Name/Heard of God Sariel – Command of God Sealtiel – Intercessor of God Shamshel – Lonely Conqueror of God Shealtiel – I asked God [for this child] Suriel – Moon of God Tamiel – Perfection of God Tarfiel – God Nourishes Tzaphkiel – Beholder of God Tzaphquiel – Contemplation of God Uriel – Sun of God, Light of God or Fire of God Uzziel – Power from God Verchiel – Shining of God Za'afiel – Wrath of God Zadkiel – Righteousness of God (rabbibic) Zagzagel – Splendor of God Zaphkiel – Knowledge of God Zeruel – Arm of God Zophiel – Beauty of God

False El theophory

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 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:

Zurishaddai – Shaddai is my rock

Yah theophory

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Yah/Yahweh and their meanings in Hebrew:

Abiah – Yahweh is my father Abijah – Yahweh is my father (2 Chron. 13:3) Adaiah – ornament of Yahweh Adalia – Yahweh is just Adonijah – my lord is Yahweh Ahaziah – vision of Yahweh Ahiah – brother of Yahweh Ahijah – brother of Yahweh Amariah – Yahweh says; integrity of Yahweh Amaziah – strength of Yahweh Ananiah – Protected by Yah Athaliah – Yahweh is exalted Azariah – Yahweh has helped Batyah – Daughter of Yah Bealiah – Yahweh is Lord Dodavah(u) – Beloved of Yahweh Elijah (Elias) – Whose God is Jah, God Jah, The Strong Jah, God of Jah, My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (Eli)-(Jah) Hananiah – Yahweh is gracious Gedaliah – Yahweh is great Hezekiah – Yahweh has strengthened Hodiah – The splendour of Yahweh Hodaviah – Give thanks to Yahweh Isaiah – Salvation of Yahweh Isshiah – Yahweh exists Jeconiah – Yahweh has firmly established Jedaiah – Yah knows Jedidiah – Beloved of Yah Jehoiachin – Yahweh is firmly established Jehoiada – Yahweh knows Jehoshaphat – Yahweh is judge Jehosheba – Yahweh is my oath Jehozadak – Righteous is Yahweh Jekamiah – Yahweh raises Jeremiah – Yah exalts Jeshaiah – Salvation of Yahweh Jesse – Yahweh exists Joab – Yahweh is father Jochebed – Yahweh is glory Joel – Yahweh is El/God John – Yahweh is gracious Jonathan – gift of Yahweh Joseph – Yah has increased Josiah – supported of Yahweh Malchijah – Yahweh is king Micaiah – Who is like Yahweh Matityahu – Gift from Yah Neariah – Servant of Yahweh Nedabiah – Yahweh impels Nehemiah – Yah comforts Nethaniah – gift of Yahweh Netanyahu – gift of Yahweh Obadiah – Yahweh's servant or worshiper Odelia – Thanks to Yah Pedaiah – Redemption of Yahweh Pelatiah – Yah has delivered Pelaiah – Yah has distinguished Pelaliah – Yah has judged Pekahiah – Yah has observed Rannaniah – Yah is the reason I shout for joy, Yah is my Joy Reaiah – Yahweh has seen Rephaiah – Yah has healed Seraiah – Servant/prince of Yahweh Shecaniah – One intimate with Yahweh Shephatiah – Judged of Yahweh Toviah – Good of Yahweh or Yahweh is Good Uriah – My light is Yahweh Uzziah – Yahweh is my strength Yehoshua (Joshua, Jesus) – Yahweh saves, Yahweh is Savour, Yahweh is my Salvation Zebadiah, Zabdi – Gift of Yahweh Zedekiah – justice of or righteous is Yahweh Zephaniah – Yahweh hides or protects Zechariah – Yahweh remembers

Baal theophory

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 Baalath – a rejoicing; our proud lord Baalath-Beer – subjected pit Baal-berith – lord of the covenant Baale – same as Baalath Baal-gad – lord Gad, or lord of Gad, or lord of fortune/felicity Baal-hamon – he who rules a crowd Baal-hanan – Ba'al is gracious Baal-hermon – lord of destruction / of a cursed-thing Baali – my lord; lord over me Baalim – lords; masters; (later Jewish use: false gods) Baalis – a rejoicing/proud lord Baal-meon – lord/master of the house Baal-Peor – master of Peor; master of the opening Baal-perazim – lord of divisions Baal-shalisha – the lord that presides over three; the third idol Baal-tamar – master of the palm-tree Baal-zebub – lord of the fly (satirical corruption of Ba'al-zebul - lord of princes) Baal-zephon – the lord/possession of the north/hidden/secret

Bosheth

In later biblical and Jewish writing, some of the theophories in Ba'al were bowdlerised, with ba'al replaced by bosheth ((the) shameful (thing)):

Ishbosheth, from Ishba'al, man of ba'al.

Yam theophory

Yam is the Canaanite god of the Sea.

Abiyam – My father is Yam (1 Kgs. 14:31)

Zedek theophory

Zedek (or Sydyk or Sedek) was the name of a Phoenician deity worshiped in Canaan. In Hebrew, "zedek" (from the root tz-d-k) means "righteous".

The following is an alphabetical list of names referring Zedek, and their meanings in Hebrew:

Melchi-zedek – My king is Zedek Adoni-zedek – My lord is Zedek Rabi-zedki – My great one/master is Zedek (EA 170)

Hadad

Apart from oblique references to Hadad by means of the word ba'al, some theophory references him directly:

Hadadezer - Hadad is my help Rib-Hadda - Great is Hadad

Others

Asenappar - Ashur is creator of an heir Nebuchadnezzar - Nabu, preserve my firstborn son Sennacherib - Sin has replaced brothers Shalmaneser - Shulmanu is the best