Bible Dictionaries
Name

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

is used (I) in general of the "name" by which a person or thing is called, e.g., Mark 3:16,17 , "(He) surnamed," lit., "(He added) the name;" Mark 14:32 , lit., "(of which) the name (was);" Luke 1:63; John 18:10; sometimes translated "named," e.g., Luke 1:5 , "named (Zacharias)," lit., "by name;" in the same verse, "named (Elizabeth)," lit., "the name of her," an elliptical phrase, with "was" understood; Acts 8:9 , RV, "by name," Acts 10:1; the "name" is put for the reality in Revelation 3:1; in Philippians 2:9 , the "Name" represents "the title and dignity" of the Lord, as in Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:4;

(II) for all that a "name" implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc., of everything that the "name" covers: (a) of the "Name" of God as expressing His attributes, etc., e.g., Matthew 6:9; Luke 1:49; John 12:28; 17:6,26; Romans 15:9; 1 Timothy 6:1; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 13:6; (b) of the "Name" of Christ, e.g., Matthew 10:22; 19:29; John 1:12; 2:23; 3:18; Acts 26:9; Romans 1:5; James 2:7; 1 John 3:23; 3 John 1:7; Revelation 2:13; 3:8; also the phrases rendered "in the name;" these may be analyzed as follows: (1) representing the authority of Christ, e.g., Matthew 18:5 (with epi, "on the ground of My authority"); so Matthew 24:5 (falsely) and parallel passages; as substantiated by the Father, John 14:26; 16:23 (last clause), RV; (2) in the power of (with en, "in"), e.g., Mark 16:17; Luke 10:17; Acts 3:6; 4:10; 16:18; James 5:14; (3) in acknowledgement or confession of, e.g., Acts 4:12; 8:16; 9:27,28; (4) in recognition of the authority of (sometimes combined with the thought of relying or resting on), Matthew 18:20; cp. 28:19; Acts 8:16; 9:2 (eis, "into"); John 14:13; 15:16; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:17; (5) owing to the fact that one is called by Christ's "Name" or is identified with Him, e.g. 1 Peter 4:14 (with en, "in"); with heneken, "for the sake of," e.g., Matthew 19:29; with dia, "on account of," Matthew 10:22; 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:17; John 15:21; 1 John 2:12; Revelation 2:3 (for 1 Peter 4:16 , see Note below);

(III) as standing, by metonymy, for "persons," Acts 1:15; Revelation 3:4; 11:13 (RV, "persons").

Note: In Mark 9:41 , the use of the phrase en with the dative case of onoma (as in the best mss.) suggests the idea of "by reason of" or "on the ground of" (i.e., "because ye are My disciples"); 1 Peter 4:16 , RV, "in this Name" (AV, "on this behalf"), may be taken in the same way.

denotes (a) "to name," "mention," or "address by name," Acts 19:13 , RV, "to name" (AV, "to call"); in the Passive Voice, Romans 15:20; Ephesians 1:21; 5:3; to make mention of the "Name" of the Lord in praise and worship, 2 Timothy 2:19; (b) "to name, call, give a name to," Luke 6:13,14; Passive Voice, 1 Corinthians 5:11 , RV, "is named" (AV, "is called"); Ephesians 3:15 (some mss. have the verb in this sense in Mark 3:14; 1 Corinthians 5:1 ). See CALL , Note (1).

"to call by a name, surname" (epi, "on," and No. 1), is used in Romans 2:17 , Passive Voice, RV, "bearest the name of" (AV, "art called"). See CALL , Note (1).

primarily denotes "to address, greet, salute;" hence, "to call by name," Hebrews 5:10 , RV, "named (of God a High Priest)" (AV, "called"), expressing the formal ascription of the title to Him whose it is; "called" does not adequately express the significance. Some suggest the meaning "addressed," but this is doubtful. The reference is to Psalm 110:4 , a prophecy confirmed at the Ascension. In the Sept., Deuteronomy 23:6 .

"to call," is translated "named" in Acts 7:58 , RV (AV, "whose name was"). See CALL , No. 1 (b).

Notes: (1) In Luke 19:2 , AV, kaleo, "to call" (with the dative case of onoma, "by name"), is translated "named" (RV, "called by name"); in Luke 2:21 , AV, the verb alone is rendered "named" (RV, "called"). (2) In Matthew 9:9; Mark 15:7 , AV, the verb lego, "to speak, to call by name," is rendered "named" (RV, "called"). See CALL , No. 9.