A person’s name has meaning, as does each word in the dictionary and onomastics, which focuses with all naming, is the study of names. Individuals can learn a great deal about their predecessors’ lives through their names, even learning where the name comes or any general information associated with the name. In order to assess the origin of words with the persons who used them as their names and the history behind the names, the study of names commonly integrates linguistic study with historical techniques. In this research, the names Joseph, Abraham, and Ruth will be the emphasis.
The biblical name Joseph is most frequently given to boys. Additionally, it originates from the Hebrew name Yosef, which means add or increase and is inherited from the word Yasaf, which is the Latinized Greek name Ioseph. Its earliest references can be traced in the Old Testament of the Bible, where Joseph is recognized as Jacob’s eleventh child and the supposed ancestor of the Israelite population (Hagan 206). His envious siblings manipulated him into being sold into slavery, but ended up being a renowned counsel to the pharaoh. According to the New Testament, Joseph was Christ’ earthly dad. Despite the fact that name Joseph is typically often given to boys, its shortened form is regularly given to girls. The name similarly occurs frequently in a variety of feminine forms.
Hebrew in origin, the name Ruth is primarily given to girls and means friend, friendship, or “compassionate friend. Its root is the Hebrew word re’ut, that means friend (Hagan 205). The Book of Ruth in the Old Testament is one of the only two books labeled after a woman and has the name as its central character. The biblical Ruth was Naomi’s daughter-in-law and a descendant of David. Ruth traveled to Bethlehem alongside her mother-in-law after the passing of her spouse. The popularity of the name Ruth in Europe and the British Isles dates back to the 1500s. In reference to the moment Ruth told Naomi, “Wherever you go, I’ll go; and wherever you go, I’ll go; your people shall be my people, and your Lord my Lord,” the name Ruth is also seen as a symbol of loyalty and selflessness.
The name Abraham, which means “father of multitudes,” is a boy’s name derived from the Hebrew shortened form Avraham assigned to a Biblical progenitor. This name is taken from the Old Testament book called Genesis. Abraham is regarded as the father of the Jewish people as well as the patriarch of all Monotheistic faiths, such as Islam and Christianity, where in Islam he is credited with establishing all Semitic peoples, including the Hebrew and Arab. In the Middle Ages, members of many diverse cultures from Europe to southern India frequently used the name Abraham, including both Christians and Jews. Moreover, it is a Christian given name in India, and people from Kerala in the United States currently adopt it as a family name. Irish: Mac a Bhreitheamhan, denoting “Son of the Judge,” was Anglicized to its English Equivalent (Felix. 130). Overall names are used in designating an individual entity and they frequently have multiple meanings and, in most cases, have a history. Therefore, it is fundamental for all individuals to know the meanings behind different names and one should undertake extensive research to comprehend all the aspects and meanings surrounding a particular name.
Work Cited
Felix. Chukwuma Aguboshim. “An Exploration into the Conceptual, Factual and Biblical Significance of Names.”World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, vol. 11, no. 3, 2021, pp. 127–133., Web.
Hagan, Harry. “Basic Plots in the Bible.”Biblical Theology Bulletin: Journal of Bible and Culture, vol. 49, no. 4, 2019, pp. 198–213., Web.