Why you should pay attention to names in the Bible and Book of Mormon. Ep. 174

In this episode, David Snell looks at how understanding names in scripture can often unlock additional meaning — both in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon.

Video transcript: https://bit.ly/3SSGhkF

— “What’s in a Biblical name” via Christian Science Monitor: https://bit.ly/3rWSuZH
— “The Power of a Name: The Power of Naming” via MyJewishLearning: https://bit.ly/3ILcbuj
— “Hebrew Wordplays in the Book of Mormon Text: Possible Evidence of Ancient Origins” via Jeff Lindsay: https://bit.ly/3oajPqq
— “A Nickname and a Slam Dunk: Notes on the Book of Mormon Names Zeezrom and Jershon” by Stephen Ricks (Interpreter Journal): https://bit.ly/3uv1yrV
— “‘They Were Moved with Compassion’ (Alma 27:4; 53:13): Toponymic Wordplay on Zarahemla and Jershon” by Matthew Bowen (Interpreter Journal): https://bit.ly/3L0IAPk
— “Father Is a Man: The Remarkable Mention of the Name Abish in Alma 19:16 and Its Narrative Context” by Matthew Bowen (Interpreter Journal): https://bit.ly/3GhiUuc
— “‘And There Wrestled a Man with Him’ (Genesis 32:24): Enos’s Adaptations of the Onomastic Wordplay of Genesis” by Matthew Bowen (Interpreter Foundation): https://bit.ly/3AOTy5P
— “Alma: Young Man, Hidden Prophet” by Matthew Bowen (Interpreter): https://bit.ly/3gcVPyr
— “‘He Did Go About Secretly’: Additional Thoughts on the Literary Use of Alma’s Name” by Matthew Bowen (Interpreter Foundation): https://bit.ly/3odoacr
— “What Is So Good about Nephi’s Name?” via Book of Mormon Central: https://bit.ly/3KZdXd7
— “A Note on the Name Nephi” by John Gee (BYU Studies): https://bit.ly/3IMCLTQ
— “Nephi’s Good Inclusion” by Matthew Bowen (Interpreter Foundation): https://bit.ly/3AP4PU4
— “Nephi” in Book of Mormon Onomasticon: https://bit.ly/3rgjoN7
— “Why Was Jershon Called a Land of Inheritance?” via Book of Mormon Central: https://bit.ly/369kRZi
— “Rameumptom” via the Book of Mormon Onomasticon: https://bit.ly/3KUjMsm
— “Ramah” via the Book of Mormon Onomasticon: https://bit.ly/3gdhlTF

Notes

— Genesis 14:18 teaches that a guy named Melchizedek was the king of a place called Salem. Hebrews 7:2 explains that Salem means Peace. It’s a detail the Book of Mormon plays on in Alma 13: 17-18, “Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem … and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem…”. Latter-day Saints would find this nugget fascinating. Skeptics might simply claim that Joseph Smith must have picked up on this detail from Hebrews 7:2 and purposefully incorporated it into the Book of Mormon. As is often the case, there is ambiguity and a choice to be made.

— One of Nephi’s descendants was named Alma. “The best explanation for the name Alma is that it derives from the Semitic term ǵlm (Hebrew ʿelem), [meaning] ‘young man,’ ‘youth,’ ‘lad.’” In Mosiah 17:2 we read: “But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi. And he [Alma, or “young man”] was a young man….” It’s almost like an ancient dad joke. Source: https://bit.ly/3gcVPyr

— Matthew 1:21 talks about the birth of Christ: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “God is help” or “Savior”. When the scriptures give you a name, and then give you a reason why that name is given, that’s a dead giveaway that that name means something relevant to the story. More: https://bit.ly/3okdclk

— Fun fact: David spares Nabal, but Nabal ends up dying about 10 days later nonetheless. David then marries Nabal’s widow, Abigail.

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