Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Another thread raised my curiosity.... the name of Saul aka Paul came up.... and so I began to search who had their name changed, why, and who changed the names. I know I did not find every one... can you add to my list?

Abram – Abraham: high father – father of many. At the time, Abram wasn't father of anyone directly, although he was the patriarch and acting father of his clan. G*d changed his name as a sign of His promise that Abraham would be the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:5)

Sarai – Sarah: my princess – mother of nations. Despite Sarah's doubts, G*d intended her to be the mother of many nations as well. (Genesis 17:15)

Jacob – Israel: supplanter – he who has the power of G*d. Jacob rose to position by manipulating his brother into giving him his firstborn birthright and then tricking his father, Isaac, into giving him the firstborn blessing. G*d wanted to make it clear that it was He who gave Israel power and position, not his own conniving ways. (Genesis 32:28)

Simon – Peter: G*d has heard – rock. On his own Peter was not a rock. He ran hot and cold depending on the circumstances. With the Holy Spirit, however, Peter became the stabilizing influence for the new church. (John 1:42)

There were also a few characters who went through a name change that was not ordained specifically by G*d.

Naomi – Mara: beautiful – bitter (Ruth 1:20). After her husband and sons died, Naomi attempted to change her name to Mara, or bitterness, to reflect her hard circumstances. Neither history nor her daughter-in-law Ruth indulged her, and before long, G*d again blessed her with a family.

Saul – Paul: Some think that G*d changed Saul's name to Paul after his conversion, but this isn't true. And Paul is not the Greek translation for Saul, Paul is the name his Roman citizen father gave him. Saul was a Roman citizen... (Acts 13:9)

Joseph – Zaphenath-Paneah: When the Hebrew Joseph came into the service of the Pharaoh, he was given a new Egyptian name. (Genesis 41:45)

Daniel – Belteshazzar: When Daniel was taken into captivity to Babylon, and then taken to the court of Nebuchadnezzar, he was given a Persian name to replace his Hebrew name. See also Hananiah/Shadrach, Mishael/Meshach, and Azariah/Abednego. (Daniel 1:7)

Hadassah – Esther: The Jewess girl Hadassah (Myrtle) was also given a new name, Esther (star), when she was taken to be in Xerxes court. Incidentally, the name of the king, Ahasuerus, is a Jewish name, given in honor for Xerxes's decision to save the Jews. (Esther 2:7)

susanblange Loc: USA

Adam's name was changed to Satan when he died and went to Heaven, and Jesus's name was changed to Lucifer when he died and went to Heaven. Lucifer means "morning star" and that is who Jesus claimed to be. Revelation 22:16. He has also been reincarnated and his new name is Bill. Revelation 3:12 "...and I will write upon him my new name". This time he will die by bursting into flames. Ezekiel 28:18-19.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

Susan, you must have a strange Bible translation.

susanblange Loc: USA

[quote=Armageddun]Susan, you must have a strange Bible translation.


I only read the KJV. I am a fundamentalist and I take the scriptures at their plain literal meaning. There are only about 5000 words in the Hebrew language and each word can have several different meanings. I think that is the main reason there are so many different English translations. The KJV makes a lot of sense to me, there are no contradictions in the OT, and I've seem multitudes of Messianic prophecies fulfilled. I have read the OT scriptures thousands of times and I can quote entire chapters verbatim from memory. If I read other versions it would confuse things and if something doesn't make sense, I look at the Hebrew.