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- Among the Hebrews each person received but a single
- name. In the case of boys this was conferred upon the
- eighth day, in connection with the rite of circumcision. To
- distinguish an individual from others of the same name it
- was customary to add to his own proper name that of his
- father or ancestors. Sometimes the mother's was used
- instead. Simple names in Hebrew, as in all languages, were
- largely borrowed from nature; e.g. Deborah, "bee;" Tamar, "a
- palm tree;" Jonah, "dove." The majority of compound names
- have special religious or social significance, being
- compounded either 1) with terms denoting relationship, as
- "Abi" or "Ab", [father], as Abihud, "father of praise,"
- Abimelech, "father of the king;" "Ben," [son], as Benoni,
- "son of my sorrow," Benjamin, "son of the right hand;" or 2)
- with names of God, as "El," [God], and "Jah" or "Yah",
- shortened from "Yahweh."
- (Smith, William, (Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co.,
- 1948) pg. 432).o.,
- 1948) pg. 432).
-
- For a list of names and their meanings, press <N>,
- else <ESC> to exit.