Onomastics or onomatology is the study of the significance and etymology of names.
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Signficance of name change from Saul to Paul
Acts 13:9 appears to record the moment Saul's name changes to Paul:
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said...
(Prior to this time, ...
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Jacob's name is Israel. So why is he still called Jacob?
When born, Jacob is given the name "Jacob" meaning, "trickster, supplanter, heel grabber." After he wrestles at Jabbok, he is renamed "Israel" meaning "strives with God." However, after this ...
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Significance of the “Son of Man” appellation in Ezekiel
Ezekiel is the only prophet regularly referred to by God as "son of man" (ben adam). This is particularly interested to Christians since Jesus took the title "Son of Man" upon himself (ὁ υἱός τοῦ ...
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What is the significance of the names of the pillars in Solomon's temple?
The Bible doesn't include extraneous, meaningless information, and names have great significance in the Old Testament. 2 Chronicles 3:17 records,
[Solomon] set up the two pillars at the entrance ...
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Three Valleys in Joel 3
Three valleys are mentioned in Joel 3:
The Valley of Jehoshaphat (2, 12)
The Valley of Decision (twice in 14)
The Valley of Shittim (18)
I'm wondering:
Are any of these known, historical places? ...
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Why is Beer-Sheva' called Beer-Sheva'?
There is a place in Israel called Be-er-Sheva', which is given two different stories to justify the name. The word Be-er means well, as in a well of water, and the word Sheva means "seven" or more ...
