Bible Lexicons

ὄνομα, ὀνόματος, τό (ΝΟΜ (others ΓΝΟ; see Vanicek, p. 1239), cf. Latinnomen (English name), with the prefixed omicron ὀ (but see Curtius, § 446)), the Sept. for שֵׁם (from Homer down), the name by which a person or a thing is called, and distinguished from others;

1. universally: of proper names, Mark 3:16; Mark 6:14; Acts 13:8, etc.; τῶν ἀποστόλων τά ὀνόματα, Matthew 10:2; Revelation 21:14; ἄνθρωπος or ἀνήρ ᾧ ὄνομα, πόλις ἡ ὄνομα, namely, ἦν, named, followed by the name in the nominative (cf. Buttmann, § 129, 20, 3): Luke 1:26; Luke 2:25; Luke 8:41; Luke 24:13, 18; Acts 13:6 (Xenophon, mem. 3, 11, 1); οὗ (L ᾧ) τό ὄνομα, Mark 14:32; καί τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, αὐτῆς, etc., Luke 1:5, 27; ὄνομα αὐτῷ namely, ἦν or ἐστιν (Buttmann, as above), John 1:6; John 3:1; John 18:10; Revelation 6:8; ὀνόματι, followed by the name (cf. Buttmann, § 129 a. 3; Winer's Grammar, 182 (171)), Matthew 27:32; Mark 5:22; Luke 1:5; Luke 10:38; Luke 16:20; Luke 23:50; Acts 5:1, 34; Acts 8:9; Acts 9:10-12, 33, 36; Acts 10:1; Acts 11:28; Acts 12:13; Acts 16:1, 14; Acts 17:34; Acts 18:2, 7, 24; Acts 19:24; Acts 20:9; Acts 21:10; Acts 27:1; Acts 28:7; Revelation 9:11 (Xenophon, anab. 1, 4, 11); τοὔνομα (i. e. τό ὄνομα), the accusative absolute (Buttmann, § 131, 12; cf. Winer's Grammar, 230 (216)), i. e. by name, Matthew 27:57; ὄνομα μοι namely, ἐστιν, my name is, Mark 5:9; Luke 8:30 (οὔτις ἐμοιγ ὄνομα, Homer, Odyssey 9, 366); ἔχειν ὄνομα, followed by the name in the nominative, Revelation 9:11; καλεῖν τό ὄνομα τίνος, followed by the accusative of the name, see καλέω, 2 a.; καλεῖν τινα ὀνόματι τίνι, Luke 1:61; ὀνόματι καλούμενος, Luke 19:2; καλεῖν τινα ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι, Luke 1:59 (see ἐπί, B. 2 a. εε., p. 233b); κατ' ὄνομα (see κατά, II. 3 a. γ., p. 328a); τά ὀνόματα ὑμῶν ἐγράφη (ἐγγέγραπται T WH Tr) ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, your names have been enrolled by God in the register of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, Luke 10:20; τό ὄνομα τίνος (ἐγράφη) ἐν βίβλῳ (τῷ βιβλίῳ) ζωῆς, Philippians 4:3; Revelation 13:8; ἐπί τό βιβλίον τῆς ζῇς Revelation 17:8; ἐκβάλλειν (which see 1 h.) τό ὄνομα τίνος ὡς πονηρόν, since the wickedness of the man is called to mind by his name, Luke 6:22; ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τό ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου, see ἐπικαλέω, 5; ἐπικέκληται τό ὄνομα τίνος ἐπί τινα, see ἐπικαλέω, 2; ὀνόματα (ὄνομα) βλασφημίας equivalent to βλάσφημα (βλασπηημον) (cf. Winers Grammar, § 34, 3 b.; Buttmann, § 132, 10), names by which God is blasphemed, his majesty assailed, Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:3 (R G Tr, see γέμω). so used that the name is opposed to the reality: ὄνομα ἔχεις, ὅτι ζῇς, καί νεκρός εἰ, thou art said (A. V. hast a name) to live, Revelation 3:1 (ὄνομα εἶχεν, ὡς ἐπ' Ἀθηνας ἐλαυνει, Herodotus 7, 138). equivalent to title: περί ὀνομάτων, about titles (as of the Messiah), Acts 18:15; κληρονομεῖν ὄνομα, Hebrews 1:4; χαρίζεσθαί τίνι ὄνομα τί, Philippians 2:9 (here the title ὁ κύριος is meant (but critical texts read τό ὄνομα etc., which many take either strictly or absolutely; cf. Meyer and Lightfoot at the passage (see below just before 3))); specifically, a title of honor and authority, Ephesians 1:21 (but see Meyer); ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ, in devout recognition of the title conferred on him by God (i. e. the title ὁ κύριος), Philippians 2:10 (but the interpretation of ὄνομα here follows that of ὄνομα in Philippians 2:9 above; see Meyer and Lightfoot, and cf. Winer's Grammar, 390 (365)).

2. By a usage chiefly Hebraistic the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is roused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i. e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds, etc.; thus, εἰς ὄνομα προφήτου, out of regard for (see εἰς, B. II. 2 d.) the name of prophet which he bears, equivalent to because he is a prophet, Matthew 10:41; βαπτίζειν τινα εἰς ὄνομα τίνος, by baptism to bind anyone to recognize and publicly acknowledge the dignity and authority of one (cf. βαπτίζω, II.

b. (aa.)), Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:16; Acts 19:5; 1 Corinthians 1:13, 15. to do a thing ἐν ὀνόματι τίνος, i. e. by one's command and authority, acting on his behalf, promoting his cause (cf. Winers Grammar, 390 (365); Buttmann, § 147, 10); as, ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου (from Psalm 117:26 ()), of the Messiah, Matthew 21:9; Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; Luke 19:38; John 12:13; ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρός μου, John 5:43; John 10:25; ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τῷ ἰδίῳ, of his own free-will and authority, John 5:43; to do a thing ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι of Jesus, Acts 10:48; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; and L T Tr WH in James 5:10 (but surely κυρίου here denotes God; cf. 2 f. below). According to a very frequent usage in the O. T. (cf. יְהוָה שֵׁם), the name of God in the N. T. is used for all those qualities which to his worshippers are summed up in that name, and by which God makes himself known to men; it is therefore equivalent to his divinity, Latinnumen (not his nature or essence as it is in itself), the divine majesty and perfections, so far forth as these are apprehended, named, magnified (cf. Winer, Lex. Hebrew et Chald., p. 993; Oehler in Herzog x., p. 196ff; Wittichen in Schenkel iv., p. 282ff); so in the phrases ἅγιον τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ namely, ἐστιν, Luke 1:49; ἁγιάζειν τό ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2; ὁμολογεῖν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, Hebrews 13:15; ψάλλειν, Romans 15:9; δοξάζειν, John 12:28; (Revelation 15:4); φανερουν, γνωρίζειν, John 17:6, 26; φοβεῖσθαι τό ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, Revelation 11:18; Revelation 15:4 (G L T Tr WH); διαγγέλλειν, Romans 9:17; ἀπαγγέλλειν, Hebrews 2:12; βλασφημεῖν, Romans 2:24; 1 Timothy 6:1; Revelation 13:6; Revelation 16:9; ἀγάπην ἐνδείκνυσθαι εἰς τό ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, Hebrews 6:10; τήρησον αὐτούς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι σου, ᾧ (by attraction for ὁ (cf. Buttmann, § 143, 8, p. 286; Winers Grammar, § 24, 1; Rec. incorrectly οὕς)) δέδωκάς μοι, keep them consecrated and united to thy name (character), which thou didst commit to me to declare and manifest (cf. verse 6), John 17:11; (cf. ὑπέρ τοῦ ἁγίου ὀνόματος σου, οὗ κατεσκήνωσας ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν, 'Teaching etc., chapter 10, 2 [ET]). After the analogy of the preceding expression, the name of Christ (Ἰησοῦ, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, etc.) is used in the N. T. of all those things which, in hearing or recalling that name, we are bidden to recognize in Jesus and to profess; accordingly, of "his Messianic dignity, divine authority, memorable sufferings, in a word the peculiar services and blessings conferred by him on men," so far forth as these are believed, confessed, commemorated (cf. Westcott on the Epistles of John, p. 232): hence, the phrases εὐαγγελίζεσθαι τά περί τοῦ ὀνοματου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Acts 8:12; μεγαλύνειν τό ὄνομα Acts 19:17; τῷ ὀνόματι (Rec. ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι) αὐτοῦ ἐλπίζειν, Matthew 12:21 (Buttmann, 156 (153)); πιστεύειν, 1 John 3:23; πιστεύουσιν εἰς τό ὄνομα, John 1:12; John 2:23; John 3:18; 1 John 5:13a (Rec., 13b); πίστις τοῦ ὄνομα, Acts 3:16; ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα κυρίου, whoever nameth the name of the Lord namely, as his Lord (see ὀνομάζω, a.), 2 Timothy 2:19; κρατεῖν, to hold fast i. e. persevere in professing, Revelation 2:13; οὐκ ἀρνεῖσθαι, Revelation 3:8; τό ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ ἐνδοξάζεται ἐν ὑμῖν, 2 Thessalonians 1:12; βαστάζειν τό ὄνομα ἐνώπιον ἐθνῶν (see βαστάζω, 3), Acts 9:15; to do or to suffer anything ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ, see ἐπί, B. 2 a. β., p. 232b. The phrase ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ is used in various senses:

a. by the command and authority of Christ: see examples just above.

b. in the use of the name of Christ i. e. the power of his name being invoked for assistance, Mark 9:38 Relz L T Tr WH (see f. below); Luke 10:17; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 16:18; James 5:14; universally, ἐν ποιῶ ὀνόματι ἐποιήσατε τοῦτο; Acts 4:7.

c. through the power of Christ's name, pervading and governing their souls, Mark 16:17.

d. in acknowledging, embracing, professing, the name of Christ: σωθῆναι, Acts 4:12; δικαιωθῆναι, 1 Corinthians 6:11; ζωήν ἔχειν, John 20:31; in professing and proclaiming the name of Christ, παρρησιάζεσθαι, Acts 9:27, 28 (29).

e. relying or resting on the name of Christ, rooted (so to speak) in his name, i. e. mindful of Christ: ποιεῖν τί, Colossians 3:17; εὐχαριστεῖν, Ephesians 5:20; αἰτεῖν τί, i. e. (for substance) "to ask a thing, as prompted by the mind of Christ and in reliance on the bond which unites us to him," John 14:13; John 15:16; John 16:24,(26), and R G L in 23; cf. Ebrard, Gebet im Namen Jesu, in Herzog iv. 692ff. God is said to do a thing ἐν ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ, regardful of the name of Christ, i. e. moved by the name of Christ, for Christ's sake, διδόναι the thing asked, John 16:23 T Tr WH; πέμπειν τό πνεῦμα τό ἅγιον John 14:26f. ἐν ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ (A. V. for the name of Christ) (German auf Grund Namens Christi), i. e. because one calls himself or is called by the name of Christ: ὀνειδίζεσθαι, 1 Peter 4:14 (equivalent to ὡς Χριστιανός, 16). The simple dative τῷ ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ signifies by the power of Christ's name, pervading and prompting souls, Matthew 7:22; so also τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου (i. e. of God) λαλεῖν, of the prophets, James 5:10 R G; τῷ ὀνόματι σου, by uttering thy name as a spell, Mark 9:38 Rst bez G (see b. above). εἰς τό ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνάγεσθαι is used of those who come together to deliberate concerning any matter relating to Christ's cause (German auf den Namen), with the mind directed unto, having regard unto, his name, Matthew 18:20. ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνοματου (A. V. for my name's sake), i. e. on account of professing my name, Matthew 19:29; also διά τό ὄνομα μου, αὐτοῦ, etc.: Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:17; John 15:21; 1 John 2:12; Revelation 2:3. διά τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου παρακαλεῖν τινα, to beseech one by employing Christ's name as a motive or incentive (cf. Winer's Grammar, 381 (357)), 1 Corinthians 1:10; by embracing and avowing his name, ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν λαβεῖν, Acts 10:43. ὑπέρ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ, equivalent to for defending, spreading, strengthening, the authority of Christ, Acts 5:41 (see below); ; Romans 1:5; 3 John 1:7; — (but according to the better texts in Acts 5:41; 3 John 1:7, τό ὄνομα is used absolutely, the Name, namely, κυρίου, of the Lord Jesus; so Vat. James 5:14; cf. Leviticus 24:11, 16; Lightfoot on Ignatius ad Eph. 3, 1 [ET]; Buttmann, 163 (142) note; Winers Grammar, 594 (553). So Lightfoot in Philippians 2:9; (see 1 above)). πρός τό ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου ... ἐναντία πρᾶξαι, Acts 26:9.

3. In imitation of the Hebrew שֵׁמות (Numbers 1:2, 18, 20; Numbers 3:40, 43; Numbers 26:53), the plural ὀνόματα is used equivalent to persons reckoned up by name: Acts 1:15; Revelation 3:4; Revelation 11:13.

4. Like the Latinnomen, equivalent to the cause or reason named: ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ, in this cause, i. e. on this account, namely, because he suffers as a Christian, 1 Peter 4:16 L T Tr WH (others, more simply, take ὄνομα here as referring to Χριστιανός preceding); ἐν ὀνόματι, ὅτι (as in Syriac d )MSB []) Χριστοῦ ἐστε, in this name, i. e. for this reason, because ye are Christ's (disciples), Mark 9:41.