What is the lexical meaning of the word "name" in the Bible?

[tonychanyt]

Mt 6:

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

What is the Father's name?

Leviticus 22:

32 Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who made you holy

John 14:

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Acts 4:

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

The word "name" could mean:

1. the label of a person, i.e., the spelling of a person's name, e.g., "YHWH"
2. the person's character, Lev 22:32 above
3. the person's authority, John 14:13
4. the person's title, e.g., Immanuel
5. the person's reputation, e.g., Jacob's name means supplanter
6. even the person himself, Acts 4:13.

In the Bible, the word "name" usually does not refer to the label (meaning #1).

Even today, we accept these usages:

She began making a name (reputation) for herself as a portrait photographer.

They kill in the name (authority) of religion.

This multi-layered meaning explains why phrases like "in the name of the Lord" carry such weight - they invoke not just a label but God's character, authority, and presence.

 

[YCGP]

Awesome. Is one's real name one's true nature? What are the implications of this?