Theophory in the Bible
Much Hebrew theophory occurs in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. The most prominent theophory involves
- names referring to El, a Canaanite deity, and later a word meaning (a) god in general, and hence God.
- names referring to Yah, a Canaanite deity, and also cognate to Yahweh, which the names were later taken to refer to
- names referring to Hadad, a Canaanite deity, by the epiphet Baal, meaning lord. In later times these names were censored and Baal was replaced with Bosheth, meaning shameful one.
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 – Cloud of God
- Adriel – Flock of God
- Advachiel – Happiness of God
- Ambriel – Energy of God
- Arael – Light of God or Vision of God
- Ariel – Lion of God
- Armisael – Mountain of Judgment of God
- Asmodel – Greatness of God
- Azael – Whom God Strengthens
- Azazel – God Strengthens
- Azrael – Whom God Helps
- Barakiel – Lighting of God
- Barbiel – Illumination of God
- Barchiel – Kindness of God or Ray of God
- Bardiel – Humilliated Son of God
- Bethuael – House of God
- Betzalel – Shadow/Path of God
- Boel – God is in Him
- Camael – He who Sees God
- Chamuel – He who Seeks God
- Daniel – My Judge is God, or God has Judged
- Elad – God Forever
- Eli – a variant on the name of God
- Elias, Elijah – Whose God is the Lord, God the Lord, The Strong Lord, God of the Lord, My God is the Lord My God is Jehovah, or My God is Jah. Reference to the meaning of both (Eli)-(Jah)
- Elisha – My God is Salvation
- Elishama – My God Hears
- 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
- Gaghiel – Roaring Beast of God
- Gamaliel – Reward of God
- Hamaliel – Grace of God
- Hanael – Glory of God
- Immanuel – God is with Us
- Ishmael – God will Hear
- Israel – One who has struggled with God
- Joel – Jah is God
- Leliel – Jaws of God
- Malahidael – King of God
- Matarael – Premonition of God
- Michael – Who is like God? a question, or Likened unto God
- Muriel – Fragance of God
- Nathanael, Nathaniel – Gift of God or God has Given
- Ramiel – Elevated of God
- Raphael – God is Healing or Healing one of God
- Raziel – Secret of God
- Sachiel – Price of God or Covering of God
- Salatheel – I have asked God
- Sahaquiel – Ingenuity of God
- Samael – Venom of God
- Samiel – Blind God, epithet for Baal or the Demiurge
- Samuel – Name/Heard of God
- Satanael – Adversary of God
- Shamshel – Lonely Conqueror of God
- Suriel – Command of God
- Tamiel – Perfection of God
- Tarfiel – God Nourishes
- Tzaphquiel –; Contemplation of God
- Uriel – Sun of God or Fire of God
- Verchiel – Shining of God
- Yael – Delivered from God
- Za'afiel – Wrath of God
- Zadkiel – Righteousness of God
- Zagzagel – Splendor of God
- Zaphkiel – Knowledge of God
- Zeruel – Arm of God
- Zophiel – Spy 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".
Yah theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Yah/Yahweh and their meanings in Hebrew:
- Abdiel – Servant of Yahweh
- Abiah – Yahweh is my father
- Abijah – Yahweh is my father
- Abijam – Yam is my father (Yam is another name for Yah)
- Adaiah – witness of Yahweh/Jehovah's witness
- 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
- Jael – Yahweh is El/God
- Jabin – Son of Yahweh/Yahweh is a son
- Yehoshua (Joshua, Jesus)
- Zebadiah, Zabdi – Gift of Yahweh
- Zephaniah – Yahweh Hides or protects
- Zechariah – Yahweh remembers
- this list is woefully incomplete, you can help wikipedia by expanding it.
Baal theophory
The following is an alphabetical list of names referring to Hadad/Baal/Bosheth and their meanings in Hebrew:
- Baal, master; lord
- Baalah, her idol; she that is governed or subdued; a spouse
- Baalath, a rejoicing; our proud lord
- Baalath-Beer, subjected pit
- Baal-berith, idol of the covenant
- Baale, same as Baalath
- Baal-gad, idol of fortune or felicity
- Baal-hamon, who rules a crowd
- Baal-hanan, Baal is gracious
- Baal-hermon, possessor of destruction or of a thing cursed
- Baali, my idol; lord over me
- Baalim, idols; masters; false gods
- Baalis, a rejoicing; a proud lord
- Baal-meon, idol or master of the house
- Baal-peor, master of the opening
- Baal-perazim, god of divisions
- Baal-shalisha, the god that presides over three; the third idol
- Baal-tamar, master of the palm-tree
- Baal-zebub, god of the fly
- Baal-zephon, the idol or possession of the north; hidden; secret