NATIONS FROM OUR CHRISTIAN NAMES DERIVED. 219

CHAPTER X.

The four nations from whom our Christian names are principally derived, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Teutonic Dominant note in each Characteristics of Hebrew and Arabic names, of Greek, of Latin, of Teutonic — Origin of some-Celtic and Gaelic names Cherished names, their undying value-‘Le premier Grenadier de France' a Breton.

INDI

NDIVIDUAL names may be broadly classed under four heads:

1st. Names of Religion.

2ndly. Abstract Qualities, and figures typical

of them.

3rdly. Personal Characteristics, and figures typical of them.

4thly. Miscellaneous.

The nations from whom the Christian names in general use amongst us are principally, almost entirely, derived are four:

Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Teutonic.

Hebrew names we shall principally find in Class 1, Names of Religion. There, too, would be found almost all the names of highest antiquity—Assyrian, Persian, Egyptian, and Pho

nician.

Names from the Greek (some of them of great beauty) will for the most part be included in Class 2, Abstract Qualities.

The practical Romans, whose conquests and discoveries lay not so much in the realms of thought, were indebted to the Greeks for many of their finest names. Those of their own invention, and in their own tongue, are most numerous in Class 3, Personal Characteristics; and Class 4, Miscellaneous.

Names from the Teutonic, which, as the mother tongue (to simplify classing), may include those of the Germans, Anglo-Saxons, and Scandinavians, will be found to predominate in Class 3, Abstract Qualities and figures typical of them.

In a word, the dominant note in Hebrew and their kindred Arabic names is Religion; in those of the Greeks, Mind; in names from the Teutonic, Power) in those from the Latin, Personal Appearance.

But few, comparatively, of our names are derived from the Celtic. Separately classed (of course) from the Teutonic, they will be found. to bear a resemblance to them in the character of their significations.

As a first step towards understanding the Babel of voices, as a list of names may appear to some, when it is acknowledged that each name has a voice, the recollection of a few of the words principally used in the composition of names may be useful. These words will of themselves be characteristics of the several

nations.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEBREW NAMES. 221

Hebrew names have naturally been always a subject of interest to learned Christian men, from St. Jerome of the fifth century to the scholars of our own day. We learn from such authorities that more than a thousand Hebrew names are compounded of the titles of Jehovah; so that a knowledge of the prefixes and affixes which signify the sacred names will help us at once to understand a large number of Hebrew

names.

'It has been observed that the great epochs of the history of the chosen people are marked by the several names by which in each the Divine nature is indicated.' 'In the Patriarchal age, the oldest Hebrew form by, which the most general idea of Divinity is expressed is "ElElohim," "the Strong One," "the Strong Ones." As El-Shaddai, "God Almighty," was He also known to them; but the New Name revealed to Moses was Jehovah, the great "I AM," expressive of self-existence, "the same yesterday, today, and for ever." In "Adonai " and " Kurios," "the Lord," was beheld the approaching dawn of "the Sun of Righteousness," even Christ, "our Lord."'*

Jehovah is contracted to Jeho, Jo, Jah, and Iah. 'El' sig. God; 'Shaddai,' the Almighty. Thus Ahaz-iah, Jeho-ahaz, and Jah-azi-el, all sig. Sustained of God.' The latter name, containing a repetition of the Holy Name, seems yet

Stanley's Jewish Church, pp. 110, 111.

more significant, and may, one would think, be read as Jehovah is God, He sustaineth me.

Such emphatic repetitions are not unusual in Hebrew names. As a nation, stiff-necked, alas! and idolatrous, God's true servants in the land seemed all the more earnestly to desire to set forth their entire devotedness to Him. Their love for God was absolute worship—not a cold acknowledgment of a Superintending Power, a chilly act of reason alone, unaccompanied by love, which can never warm the heart or animate the life.

Ab, father; Abd, or Obed, servant; Ah, brother; Bar and Ben, son; Ur and Ner, light and fire; and Hanan, grace, are a few of the ideas most commonly expressed by Hebrew names.

*

Ab and Abi, father, was sometimes used metaphorically, as it is in the present day. Abi-noam may have signified father of Noam (handsome), or, as 'Father of beauty,' may have been significant of an exceedingly handsome man.

So, also, the Arabs say Abu-Saadat, Father of Prosperities;' figuratively, ' a fortunate person.' A traveller is spoken of by the Arabs as Ibn-esSebil, son of the road.' The name is also used figuratively of one who is journeying to Paradise by the way of good works.†

In some of the Hebrew feminine names, there are also metaphors of great beauty: Keren

*

Sunday School Teacher's Treasury.

t See Knight's monthly vols., ' Middle Ages.'

HEBREW NAMES.

6

223

happuch, my box of eye-ointment;' expressive of one the sight of whom was good for sair een' —a healing presence!

6

Zillah, a name of sweeter sound, and more fit for general use, signifies Shadow,' a word which, in an Eastern land, is doubly significant.*

In a hot climate, shadow is expressive of refreshing coolness; and in a land where oppression is life, shadow is figurative of protection. For a man's name, Ab-ner, the father's lamp,' exquisitely suggests a darling son, as the light of his parents' home.

In following out the meaning of Hebrew names, the Bible itself derives additional interest. In the name which unhappy Cain gives to his firstborn, Enoch, dedicated,' is there not a welcome whisper of repentance—an offering which was made in faith? In the next generation, Mehu-ja-el, Smitten of God,' tells of the awful curse still darkly brooding over the unhappy race; but then, with a dawning of hope in the end, comes Methusa-el,' Man of God.'

The waters of the Deluge have rolled between the crumbling bones of those men and ourselves; but in their names we hear living voices still! For many successive years the conquering sons

Whenever the abbreviation sig. is used, signification, or some tense of the verb to signify, is to be understood; but when, as now, the separate meanings of signification and significance come together, to prevent mistake both words are written in full.